In the centre of Inverness is the Falcon Square Mercat Cross sundial. At first this does not appear to be a sundial but on each side of the plinth there are hemispherical bowl sundials telling the time and the astrological periods and calibrated for the latitude of Inverness. Even in midsummer at this latitude the dial on the north side indicates the time early in the morning. It seems appropriate that this sculpture created in 2003 by Gerald Laing shows a peregrine falcon with a unicorn on top as is common on market crosses in Scotland.
The sculpture shows a peregrine falcon in four different stages of a hunting attack. The prey is a wood pigeon, which is the favourite quarry of the peregrine. The four images, all of the same bird, are attached to the sides of the column so it appears to be circling as it descends. At the top of the column the bird has gained height and is searching for its prey. Behind the Unicorn, it has begun its attack. Its wings are folded back so that it has assumed a dart-like configuration and is plummeting downward achieving speeds of over l00mph. As it nears its quarry it spreads its wings to slow down and level out in greater control for the final attack. The lowest image shows the completion of the stoop and the pigeon clutched firmly in the peregrine’s formidable talons.


This is the 28 th of my sundials which can be seen in the tags