At 13:45 I've was called to say it had landed on the Cathedral Roof - fingers crossed it can take off from there. I suspect it'll stay there for an hour or two - again, lets hope the weather stays dry.
At 16:00 I can report that both chicks are settled - one on the gargoyle ridge at the top of Derby Cathedral Tower on the west side. The newly fl;edged chick (dare we still call her that, now?) spent an hour on the roof of a shop on Irongate, just nearby. We had great views of a parent flying back with a pigeon, eventually landing on the platfrom after flying low over fledgling number 2. She stayed resolutely where she was on the roof. The rain then got harder and harder as I left. So now I'm off to process the video clips.
At 23.00 - I'm back from the pub after a meeting to discuss a different project: "The Flora of Derbyshire" which we've been working on for over 10 years! Great comments from everyone tonight - and a hint of sadness that the webcam side of things may be winding down. But we'll want to bring you news of all the action outside as our birds learn to be peregrines in the weeks ahead.
Some of you asked about the regional TV news clip. Until Tuesday evening you can find it 10 minutes in at this address: http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastmidlandstoday/index.shtml
Sorry - the video upload to Google has faled after 6 hours. Will try again - but the BBC TV clip does include the highlights I guess you've all been wanting to see.
The shots below were captured direct and live from the Cathedral's video server at 1:35 today, showing both camera images side by side.
60 comments:
oh happy days, bit miffed though because i missed the 2nd bird taking off by about 3 mins, when i checked her she looked dry and ready to go, i went to the project page and back and she'd gone, never mind hope they both do return because its horrible looking at an empty nest and wondering where they are.
somebody popped back to the nest at 14.08-9 who was that?
Must be a parent bird it has come back with dinner for the babies that arent there time is 14.12 about.
That's a parent - possibly Dad, but as I respond to this, it's just flown off again, so i can't be sure.
I have watched for two and a half days,having my evening meal two hours late on Saturday and Sunday, and I find I missed the chicks leaving today by five minutes!
I am going for a long lie-down...
Hope they come back to visit. Happy for them, but I really have "empty nest" feelings.
Sue, I have gotten to be quite hyper about planet stuff - recycle all the bits and pieces, nag manufacturers about minimal packaging, replaced my light bulbs with compact fluorescents, minimize water and energy use, organic yard, organic or local food, vegetarian (I was surprised to learn being a vegetarian saves as much energy as driving a hybrid car vs. a regular one.)
We really have a very short time span to turn things around, and I don't know if we are going to make it.
Wow, what a good news! Both of them lift off at last. Hope to see them back soon for an afternoon tea. Jennie, Hong Kong.
14.50 Just logged in only to see an empty nest!!!!!! I feel bereft - just like when my daughter left home - lovely that they both took off pretty much together though. What wonderful parents Mum and Dad have been.
Anna Ripley
Just been near the Cathedral, heard squarking and someone landed in the nest, but couldn't decide who - probably a parent. I see it's an empty nest again now that I'm back at work. It's spotting with rain now, hope they find shelter.
PASS ME THE TISSUES SOMEONE PLEASE,
I FEEL BEREAVED, OH I DO HOPE THEY ARE OK.
I WILL MISS MY DAILY CHICK FIX.
they would have been better off being born as ducks with this weather, how many feilds look like lakes today came through oakerthorpe how scary are the what once was feilds, hope the girls are ok please keep us informed especially before bed time as i cant sleep otherwise thanks
16:00 it looks like one of the chicks are back - but I can't see a ring
who is that?????
16.02 a small(ish) peregrine with a catch - white/grey feathers possibly a dove or young type of pigeon
but who is the peregrine and if its a chick did she catch it herself?????
oh the tension these birds cause me! im worried out of my skin for them, its worse than having my own children
think its a parent bird possibly the male with a very large dinner
I am guessing, as an ignoramus, that a chick has not caught her dinner. I think it takes them a few weeks(?) after fledging to learn from the parents how to do that.
Maybe Dad is waiting for someone to show up to be fed?
Yes Karen Anne, he seems to be looking around for someone. It's raining quite a bit here so maybe the dynamic duo are hiding and missing out on a meal.
8.56am B.C. Canaada, the parent just left the nest, looks like they took the food with them.
What an experience it has been to watch all this, thank you:-)
Speaking of wonderful parents, in Dayton a Dad raised three chicks singlehanded as Mom vanished. Just seeing how thin parent peregrines get by the time the chicks fledge, I think this is a feat.
Just to let you all know that are watching the webcam all across this country and around the world, its 5.06pm in Derby and the 2 chicks are still both sitting in same places and there fine, although very wet.
Congratulations, Andrew @ Derby, That really was a Classic:- "the dynamic duo"!!! I think they are causing us watchers more dynamics than they are performing. Or perhaps not...
i couldnt agree more with our viewer from canada ; this truly has been an awesome experiance,
from the end of the snooker @the crucible in may to start of wimbledon is usually for me a very long drawn out time - only filled by the fortnightly F1 grand prix, until now,
these birds have entertained me every single day and continue doing so even now, even when henman is on now i'm sat at the p.c blogging, and waiting for the next chapter of the pergrine saga
thank you to you all,ive been en-lightened
lyndsey, chesterfield
I guess they'll be around for quite a while to come? (I certainly hope so!) They have to master this flight business and learn to catch their own food. I suppose the time will come when mum and dad will get territorial and "encourage" them to go and find their own territory - where around Derby might that be?
Karen Anne - again, I'm with you on the environment issue. I'm more pessimistic than you though - feel the tipping point has already happened The Chinese are in full-blown industrial expansion mode - opening 2 coal-fired power stations per week. Poor old earth - poor old us - poor old mother nature. We can't give in though - we must keep doing what we can! Kepp doing that one thing as hard as you can all!!
Having watched for weeks, but missed the chicks flying off today, excellent to have so much info. from the project members, and to have such super pics.of the take-off.
Looking forward to the next few days/weeks of aerial displays.
I am glad they successfully fledged. I turned on the cam this morning and they were both there. Left for and instant and only one remained. I did see the other one leave. Hopefully they are under cover for the rain.
We have had nothing but rain here in Alberta Cananda. hopefully yours doesn't last long.
12:00 P.M. Alberta time. Will check in again later. My fingers are crossed.
and then there was none!!
2000 and the nest is bare!! unlike us there home is not water logged. The bottom of our street is almost knee deep in water!!
hope our girls and of course mummy and daddy are safe where ever they are. unlike us humans they can perch at the top of a very high tree!!
Well done, girls! Peeking in today after running around downtown looking for our wandering chicks in Dayton, it's good to see that they have made the leap. (For now, all is well, whew!) It's very bittersweet, as your chicks and ours were all hatched within days of each other, so now ALL my peregrine chicks have flown off for their own lives - the nerve!
I've read all your comments to get updated, but you shouldn't worry too much for our father falcon, named "Mercury". He manages to fly across the street to a small ledge where he can oversee the kids but so far they can't land there. He is fine and experienced father - he has had 37 or so children with 3 different mates. I hope we all get to see our chicks on the cams for a few more weeks.
Yes, everyone I know is conserving water & energy, recycling, and so on. In contrast to your rain, we're very dry and hot for this time of year, alas.
Congratulations to all for hanging in during this dangerous time.
Love from Jan in Dayton
Nick looked like a very proud father on the tv tonight, i Know that their a lot of others who work very, very hard in the back gound. Derby have a first class team and can show the rest of the world how to do it, you have to be be good to get over 170,000 plus hits on your site world wide. BBC stand back, the derby team will out perform you. autumn and spring watch in derby????????? well done chaps.
20:26-8 It looks like mum is preparing some food - it looks red between her talons... Thought I just saw a bird with similar tail feathers in a tree near centre of Derby, but can't be sure... And the bird flew off before I got close enough...
20.25 Dad appeared in the nesting box with the girls evening meal, but they were obviously otherwise engaged, so he flew off with it.
Anna, Ripley
Which tv program was Nick and the peregrines featured on? Thanks
There was mention somewhere of "East Midlands Today" which I guess is a BBC regional programme (we only get as far as Oxford Today round these parts). It's a real shame, I'd love to see our hero (would that be "Nick"?) on the telly!
Has anyone seen the fledglings actually get fed, now that they are out and about?
Hi, Jan in Dayton,
We souls out here watching the Dayton web cam have no idea what the fledglings there are up to. Just that they've disappeared from the nest box. There is no blog, is there?
It looks from photos like the Dayton nest box is on the roof of a building, so they had lots of space to do practice runs?
Any news on the Dayton Mom, I assume the worst...
(Sorry to highjack the Derby blog for a moment.)
The BBC East Midlands is available on www.bbc.co.uk/eastmidlandstoday/index.shtml
John
The falcon's flights are on 10 minutes into the show today.
I coudn't find today's program online, but here is a url for a search on that site for Derby peregrine with various stories, including a video with Nick. It looks like this url will get clipped, so I have broken it into lines, you will have to paste it together:
http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/
results.pl?q=derby+peregrine&x=0&y=0
&scope=all&tab=all&recipe=all
Hi Karen Anne -
No, we have no blog on the Dayton cams, I believe you can comment in "Photo Gallery", but likely no "answer" to your questions. There is a falcon forum for many of the North Amer. cams and they are a bit more interactive.
The chicks have a nice roof to make practice runs on, yes, and many people are watching both inside the buildings and on the street. No word on missing mother "Snowball", tho I'm sure it's the worst news at this point.
I see your young ladies are out and about this evening, sigh. I supposed they all must simply get used to a very rough way to go at some point.
Take care.
Jan
Try leaving the 's' in shtml out, Or do a Google search for BBC East Midlands Today. The recorded show is in the top right hand corner. Happy searching
No one home so I guess I will check back later.
to Jan from Dayton. I also was following your cam and Was wondering how your fledglings were doing?
Bev. In Alberta
I will have to check the news stories for Cathedral that are [posted.
2230 and the box is very sadly empty
Good night god bless to our girls and be safe
Well, it's incredibly easy to watch "East Midlands Today" on the PC. Just go to the BBC website, then to "TV". Search "East Midlands Today" or get there by any other way. Once you get to that page, just click on "watch latest episode". Simple! Even I can do it. I never realised you could do that. The peregrines spot was great (but brief!). The floods though - just awful! I hadn't realised just how awful the weather had been up there today. Our birds have done so incredibly well in the circumstances - no wonder thay looked a bit on the miserable side this morning. I hope they've found themselves a nice safe place to roost tonight.
It's so quiet for us living in a different time zone, nothing happened overnight, just an empty nest. Not sure if the birds are coming back for food. God bless. Jennie, Hong Kong.
05:12 No girls! Has anybody checked the local nightclubs?? (Roof's that is...) Just the remains of last night's meal in the right side nest...
That's hilarious! Jennie
05:33 Somebody is home! Look on the battlements (below the nest)
05:39 Is that 'mum' or one of the chicks? You can see her on the bottom of the right hand camera.
John
morning all
0600 hours and a bare nest once again.
wonder where they spent the night?
The video clips above are absolutely Fantastic. Excellent. Well done!
John
All that fuss - sulking, squawking and flapping for days, and then she just - takes off as though she's done it a hundred times before. Wonderful. Thank you.
when will they return
I think most of us will keep peeking in and out ... Jennie, HK
Hello,
Its been an amazing experience watching these birds for the past 6-7 weeks.Our sincere thanks to the Derby Peregrine Project team for doing a great job.We will still be taking a look at the box every now and then and you can be assured that we will be there to watch this wonderful natural phenomenon again.Lets hope that next year all the eggs hatch.
Fingers Crossed,
Kadhir & Helen
Fantastic! it has been a great experience watching them, and i hope it will be just as good next year which i am sure it will be!
Getting withdrawal symptoms. Not able to find the BBC website given for the midlands. However, very many thanks for last few weeks of fantastic viewing, looking forward to next year. A big thank you to all concerned. S
Nice Article.
Hello all!
Good job!
hinbQ4 Wonderful blog.
actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
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