THIS photograph shows Worcester’s favourite peregrine falcon Bobbin has returned to her city perch after a break of nearly five months.

The three-year-old was spotted back on St And-rew’s Spire in Deansway in late July after leaving the area in March.

No one knows where she was during her hiatus as no sightings have been reported of her from other areas, but it is unlikely she bred during her time away.

Dave Grubb, of Electro-designs CCTV, based in Worcester, said: “We don’t know where she has been, she has never been seen.

“It’s not uncommon. In Derby, there are a group of peregrines who have never been seen out of the area once they have fledged. We don’t think she’s bred yet as they normally keep their young around them until September or October so it’s very unlikely that she’s bred and come back on her own.”

Bobbin was one of four chicks hatched on the spire in 2009. She was named by the winners of a competition run by your Worcester News .

Mr Grubb said Bobbin left Worcester for roughly the same time last year.

He said: “They do have a pattern. They will leave the territory during the summer and come back.

“It’s quite common but as for where she’s been, we don’t know. She still disappears for five days to a week, but spends a lot of time on the perch. She knows that as home.”

Mr Grubb said Bobbin also rests on Worcester Cathedral a lot, but brings in prey from other areas.

As we previously reported, another, younger, female peregrine was spotted on the cathedral this year. Mr Grubb said she left the area a week before Bobbin returned.

He said because Bobbin has not bred in Worcester yet, she cannot claim it as her territory. He said that peregrines normally pair up in February and March, so it is unlikely Bobbin has a mate.