Wednesday 9 September 2009

Peregrine Falcons get to bat

(Updated 11/09/09)
It came as a delightful surprise, but we've just learnt that Derbyshire County Cricket Club have decided that from next year they are changing their name for their limited-over cricket team from the "Derbyshire Phantoms" to the "Derbyshire Falcons". What an honour!

It surely reflects the increasing awareness that our majestic peregrines have become very special to the city and to the county of Derbyshire. They really are becoming big hitters!

Interestingly, peregrines have very occasionally been known to include bats amongst their very wide range of prey species though not, as yet, here in Derby. But next season won't it be great to see lots of wickets being taken by the Derbyshire Falcons, too?

We understand that a new mascot will be created, and that a name has not yet been chosen for him. As well as being a graphic image there will also be a human-sized mascot created to attend matches, events and even make school visits. We look forward to welcoming him or her to Derby Cathedral in due course. No name has been decided upon yet, but two are currently under consideration. The cricket club would welcome any suggestions you might care to make. The mascot probably needs both a cricketing and a peregrine-related name, hinting at a fast, furious ability to take wickets and strike at balls. Remember, we're trying to help them name a cricketing mascot, not one of our real birds. Just leave a comment on this blog, and we'll pass the best ones on to the Derbyshire Cricket Club, and maybe you'll meet up with "??????? The Falcon" next year!

The Peregrine Project is a partnership between Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Derby City Council's Museum Service and, of course, Derby Cathedral, without whom none of this would have been possible.
We're also grateful to all our supporters and their donations which help keep the webcam and the project up and running.

19 comments:

Phoebe said...

That is brilliant! Such an honour as you say.

Also great photos again. I like the close-up with the cathedral in the background, which peregrine is that in the photo?

Karen Anne said...

Yeah, cricket folk! :-)

Anonymous said...

Phoebe
I would have thought it's either Cathy and/or a photoshop montage

Ann ( Canada ) said...

What a fantastic idea. Love that photo too. Now if we can just teach them to play cricket :0)

They may be as good as the human team. Where is the cricket club?

I wonder who had the idea?

Getting excited about my visit, time is going so fast now.

Gio said...

Oh please, let me know who's the falcon or it's a photoshop montage.
Great image! :D

Gio from Italy

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

Photoshop montage, Gio? How could you? ;-)
No, the image used here is of one of last year's falcons (male 005) which came down to earth after its maiden flight and had to be captured and re-released. It was carefuly held by Nick B. whilst I took the snaps. See more via our blog archive for 13th June 2008 entitled "Britain's Got Talons!"

The other picture of the adult in flight was taken by John Salloway and posterized a bit by me in photoshop.

Joy said...

How is 0010 getting on? Not heard any news of late.

Phoebe said...

Good to see a youngster on the tower cam spending the night watching the city!

Pax Canada said...

close up shot on the pudding cam

Pax Canada said...

How about "Derby" the falcon,or is that too simple

Colin said...

cathy 010 is well, I will take some upto date photos soon.
Regards
Colin

MEL said...

2 falcons - one on pudding cam, one below - lovely to see again.

Anonymous said...

My suggestion for the name of the new Derbyshire County Cricket Club mascot: Super Stooper.

Marilyn

John L said...

How about 'Dickie' as the name for the new mascot, which would also pay homage to one of the greatest cricket umpires of all time?

Joy said...

Thrilled to see Derbyshire renaming their team after the Peregrins, much better than Dickie. I do know who they refer to but the Peregrins are so more relevant.

I believe we are getting off the point again!

Pax Canada said...

one on the pudding cam

Gio said...

"Photoshop montage, Gio? How could you? ;-)"

Sorry! Shame on me!! ;-))
Gorgeous , symbolic Derby falcons' image! :D

Pax Canada said...

one on the scrape

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

Please Note: we plan to update the software inside our AXIS241QA video server this afternoon between 2:30 -3:30 local time. If all goes well the interuption to the webcam feed should be less than 10 minutes, and we hope will result in fewer camera "freezes".