Thursday 31 May 2012

Of Peregrines, People and Places plus the latest news

Update Tuesday 12th June: THE LIVE STREAM with audio IS WORKING AGAIN!!! Tuesday evening and it's bell ringing practice time - what a noise as heard via the live stream! The chicks seem to be moving in time with the bells too! NB.
Saturday 9th June: Andy and Chris Marshall had a busy watch point today and took over £50 worth of donations (including two £10 notes - so special thanks for those donors!) Chris Marshall wrote:

Another cold and dull day for the watchpoint. Although the wind had dropped from the overnight levels it was still very breezy on the green.
We started with the female on the waterspout and the female juvenile showing well on the platform. My word you can clearly see a difference even from Tuesday when the chicks had the appearance of “ugly ducklings” (a mixture of down and feathers)! They now have very little down and look very pretty with their plumage consisting mainly of feathers.
We had either juveniles or adults visible for most of the time, with the adults completing a few flights. The female at one point collected a prey item from a cache but had to make a few laps of the tower with it to gain height to reach the water spout.  At times we had some very good views of juvies with the large female complaining loudly that she was still hungry despite a good feed at 8am. One of the little males has decided that it is now time to start developing his muscles and was spending time on the ledge flapping.  The adult male put in an appearance late on in the session and managed to sit at the top of the louvered windows.
As always with the watch point it was great to meet old friends and enable first time visitors to enjoy the experience.
If you intend to visit don’t forget time is running out for this year.......Watch Points run each Wednesday. Thursday and Saturday until the end of June, 11 am to 1.30 pm.


News of Derby on BBC Springwatch last night (Wednesday): along with some great footage of peregrines in Bath (and some of Ed Drewitt, who identifies our prey remains for us) there was a brief showing from our famous video clip of a peregrine bringing back a live woodcock at 11pm one December night, the first ever film in the world of peregrines hunting at night! To see the whole clip go to the blog and search for video clips 2009. Using iplayer you can see the Springwatch programme again for the next 15 days (probably from tomorrow morning when they have put it up).
News of Live Streaming: unfortunately we are still unable to fix the problem with the live stream. We do apologise but it seems the only person who knows how to solve the problem is on leave all week so we may well not get the stream running until Monday at the earliest.  NB (DWT)

News of Yesterday  (Tuesday 5th)
It was our Special Open Day today, jointly organised by the cathedral and the wildlife trust - and amazingly it stayed dry throughout too - the rain beginning about 6pm!
We ran a watch point all day, there were five tours up to the top of the tower, some displays about the birds and their prey and there were a
couple of talks during the day too.
It was great to put faces to some 'comment' names and to meet old friends too. We had a steady stream of visitors (about 150) during the day including tourists from Italy, Spain and the USA as well as many locals. Our oldest visitor was 93 and our youngest about 5!
Caroline Hawkridge (who wrote the poem that was on the blog recently) came over from Cheshire and among our band of willing volunteers, Hilary M came up from Birmingham to help out. A big thanks to her, to Andy, Chris, Helen, Ian, Joyce and of course to Tony G who masterminded the whole exercise. Thanks also to John Armitage and his volunteers who ran the tower tours and the 'cafe' and to Matt the duty verger.
The adults themselves weren't particularly active but the chicks could be seen from time to time and one was even flapping its wings I gather!

BBC Radio Derby kindly ran an impromptu live interview with me at about 9.30 and a few extra people turned up as a result....even though I managed to underestimate the cost of the tower tours! You just can't get the staff eh......
Nick B 


The original post started:
We've been itching to tell everyone for several weeks that a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for money to help us run and develop the Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project has indeed been successful.

We are naturally extremely pleased!

We needed to obtain official approval from HLF before going public, which we've only just received today. Our bid was for just under £50,000 (the maximum allowed) to be spent over three years, starting now. This might sound like a lot of money but when you break it down into its constituent parts, it's not quite so much.

Flying falcon by Andy Byron
What we intend to do is to use some of the money to employ a new 'Engagement Officer' for the project later in the year. Their job will be to work with a wide range of community groups in Derby and the wider county to help them and local schools to experience the wonders of our peregrines. This officer will be employed by the Wildlife Trust for three days a week for about three months each year, ie just in the nesting season. (More on this later).
We also need someone able to do all the highly technical work which keeps the web cams and blog running, and to develop the project throughout the year.
In addition we need money for the Watch Points, some new 'gear' in the tower to ensure the pictures get to you successfully, and funds for live streaming and so on. For now that is probably enough detail. (But see the exciting news further down)

The bid was put together last autumn and we must thank the people who undertook the bulk of the work and who's skills resulted in us being successful:
Nick Moyes was employed part-time by the Wildlife Trust last autumn to do all the research required for the bid. He made contact with all manner of people and organisations, getting their support and planning how we can work alongside them to get the peregrine pictures into more schools, community centres and so forth. Tim Brooks, at the Wildlife Trust, then assembled the bid, worked out the budget, got everything together and sent the final application off to HLF in December. So we owe those two people a big debt of gratitude for all their hard work and skill. Getting a grant from HLF isn't easy these days. There is fierce competition. So a mighty big 'thank you' is due to Nick M and to Tim.
Many other people helped behind the scenes and we thank everyone of you who has enthused about our project.
Now the work really begins! Because of the lateness of the current season, we are now unlikely to recruit the Engagement Officer until autumn - at the earliest. However, as they say, 'watch this space'! We will keep you informed as we progress.

Our first achievement under this bid is the ability to announce that we now have LIVE STREAMING WITH SOUND!. Check out this link  http://www.derby.gov.uk/apps/peregrines/webcam3.asp
It will eventually have a timeout on it, meaning it will stop after 5 or 10 minutes. Please don't leave it running continuously for now. Not only might you exceed your data bandwidth limit - and you'll probably exceed ours, too! We'll talk more of this later. (We only wish we could have brought it to you earlier)

Meanwhile, the peregrines themselves carry on their wild lives high above the urban landscape of Derby, completely unaware of the developmental work going on below and around them. And that's how it should be.....they have a family to bring up after all, as you can see below!



Nick B (DWT) on behalf of the project partners



143 comments:

Rej (AT) said...

Speechless with admiration! What a splendid achievement.

Rej (AT) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Simon Wig said...

Great news, my dad would have been delighted.

jan t said...

so so please well done to all

jan t said...

so so please well done to all

AnnieF. said...

That's absolutely brilliant news, well done all of you, especially Nick M. and Tim. So many more people will be able to enjoy seeing -and hearing - the Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project in its full glory, and just think of all the children who'll be taking part!
Thanks to all of you for everything you've done for us, and more importantly, for Derby Cathedral's peregrines.

Anonymous said...

Such fantastic news! So exciting to come home from work, log in and be able to see the live stream complete with sound. I expect it will be very noisy at feeding times! Well done to all the dedicated folk at this very worthwhile project - you truly have done a fantastic job and can be well and truly proud of yourselves.

Mary T (Belper)

Phoebe said...

That is fabulaous news, really well done to everyone involved and thank you. The live cam is brilliant. Also the video, it's so good to hear the birds.

Phoebe said...

Fabulous to have live streaming, I have just look in for a moment and heard what sounded like gulls calling, I don't think it was the peregrines but it could have been.

Anonymous said...

Just clicked on the link and nothing appears can someone tell me what is wrong
carol

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

If the link doesn't appear to work, try refreshing your browser (F5), or closing it entirely and reopening it.

During testing we did find it was prone to freezing up, and at the moment we rely on the kindness of SERCO's technical staff to sort it out. So please bear with us whilst everything beds in. (it could take some time!)

Phoebe said...

The good new for The Derby Peregrines was on the East Midlands News tonight :))

Mo and Pete Cole said...

How fantastic well done to all for all the hard work over the years...We have come a long way..... Mo and Pete x

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joyce S Derby said...

Live webcam has frozen

Thursday's webcam
In spite of some light rain we set up the Watchpoint under the horse chestnut tree on Cathedral Green.
During the morning we had 46 visitors from near and far. Two of our visitors came from the USA, and we had more local and regular visitors too.
We had some pictures of the newly ringed chicks to show, which was a good back-up as our chicks remained hidden from view, except for one who peeped out from behind the female a few times.

There was a school party visiting the Cathedral, and they were all delighted to see the adult birds, both perched and in flight around the tower and Jury's Inn.

Thanks are due to all the generous people who made donations, some having come down especially to make a donation - which all helps to keep the project up and running.

Next Watchpoint is tomorrow, Saturday from 11am to 1.30pm

There is also a special Open Day at the Cathedral on Bank Holiday Tuesday 5th June when there will be a Watchpoint, Tower Climbs, and exhibition about the peregrines and refreshments. Do come along - we open at 10.30am.

Julie said...

If I click on the link for the live streaming, and no matter what I try, I just get "Page Not Found". Have no idea what the problem is - but I can be patient if teething problems need to be sorted!
I'm really happy about all that is happening for this project.

Anonymous said...

WELL DONE on all of the hard work to progess this amazing project to new heights. Thanks for the sneak preview, it's obviously got some wrinkles to be tidied up (as I write, live streaming is inexplicably still cloaked in darkness) but it will all be fabulous when it gets there. Just when I think this project can't get any better, it does!

Erica said...

Congratulations on the successful bed!

This morning clinking on the link to the new cam takes you to a message that says 'page not found'. I guess it's teething problems. I haven't seen it yet and am so eager.

Caroline said...

Let the bells ring! What brilliant news about the bid! Getting that funding is a truly incredible achievement. I have been involved with applying for grants for some years and it is very tough indeed in the current climate and likely to get worse. We're extremely lucky and so are all the schools and community groups who will benefit from the forthcoming work. A big WELL DONE to Nick M and Tim, Nick B and all the many people who made this bid possible. Let the bells ring - especially now we can hear them ;)

cherrill james said...

Great news derby you've, earnt it. Huge thanks go to all. Just wonderful viewing for us all

Joy said...

Good news for Derby. However I have just been on the link and it says its either been moved or incorrect. Please can someone enlighten me. Looking forward to seeing it running

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Felicitations, Mazel Tov, Way to Go!!! What a grand achievement for all concerned and what a treat for us, your loyal watchers from around the globe, who are fascinated by the wonders of the Derby Falcons. Thank you for all of your dedication to the birds and to us. Well done indeed! Carol From San Francisco

Green class, aged 6 and 7 said...

The peregrine chiks are very brown and a bit white. We can see that the chiks are growing up. The chiks are getting there juvinile feathers.

Joy said...

Hi thanks for info have tried F5 and also refresh and rebooting but still nothing? I'm sure I'll get it one day. They are growing up so quickly and all look good and healthy.

Anonymous said...

Are we going to see Tony Grantham involved in the Peregrine project? We don't seem to have heard from him for quite a while.

Anonymous said...

Have sneaked another look and re-read the diary post (I should be revising for exams) and the live stream is now working fine for me. I should have timed it for bell-ringing time to get the full impact! It is so good to see how much further this project aims to go in sharing the story of the Peregrines of Derby. And how good it is to see that a proper job, albeit on a modest scale, will emerge for an Engagement Officer. So much of this project runs on volunteer effort (and will continue to do so I don't doubt) but good to see some part of it can be paid. What a fabulous job it will be too, if I wasn't an old pensioner, I'd be first in the queue!

AnnieF. said...

The live feed has been working well in the last few minutes - the largest chick (? juvenile?) had a massive wingflap which took it round both sides of the scrape and had its siblings flattening themselves against the sides.

AnnieF. said...

The falcon flew in with a tasty morsel and fed the two smallest on the lhs of the scrape. By the time the other two felt confident enough to stop watching and barge in, it had all gone & she flew off. Cue what looked like a sulky stomp to the other side!

JO - Mickleover said...

Its great news about the funding and the live feed view - but Ive been trying all day with no joy :( any ideas - tried refresh and re-booting

Anonymous said...

Hi just wondered are you going 2 keep webcam 2 as my fone is not supported 2 get live streaming i could get b4 but nt now u have changed over! Il Have 2 buy a new fone. Thanx

Ren13 said...

Huge congrats on getting the grant, thank you to Nick M. Tim, and all who helped on the project!
I cannot get the live stream to work, I still get a 404 Page Not Found no matter how I try to get there :(
I assume this is one of the wrinkles about which we were warned, so I will be patient and keep checking.

Anonymous said...

Hi i just wrote a message about my fone not being able 2 get live streaming! Bcause my fones nt supported i cant get the abdobe flash player so just wondered if your going 2 leave webcam 2 as it is? At least i can still watch the peregrines ! Thanx

Project Member (Derby Cathedral) said...

Hi Anonymous,
Yes, I am still around and thanks for remembering me!! I left the Cathedral as Head Verger at the beginning of February to take up a position within the family business but have been asked to remain as the Cathedral Representative on this wonderful Project. So I am still working in the background.

Anonymous said...

Hi tony its Christina just wondered did you see my messages bout fone nt being supported 2 livestreaming nt got adobe flashplayer will u keep webcam 2 running i can still watch webcam then thanx

Ian (superbrad) said...

great news on the funding.
well done to all concerned.
About the live feed I have not yet managed to get anything but a 404 error
Win 7 & firefox = Cam 1 updates as usual
cam 2 no update even using F5 I have to restart firefox and it will show current frame & time but will not update.
new link to cam 3 straight to 404 error.
.
.
Win 7 & Explorer 9 = cam 1 ok refresh as usual
Cam 2 ok refresh as usual.
New link Cam 3 = always 404 error.

I prefere firefox to explorer
Hope to view soon also I hope this feedback helps in some way.


Regards Ian (superbrad)

Anonymous said...

There, I rest my case about volunteers, prompted by Tony Grantham's comments. He talks of working but this of course is work as a labour of love. And he is far from alone in this, we watchers are in the debt of so many volunteers. How are folks doing with livestream now? I wonder if you're just unlucky and try to access it when there's heavy demand?

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

Thanks for all your best wishes. I've abandoned my family (and you guys ) for a week, and have gone awayon a walking holiday in Northumberland. So there is little anyone can do about the IT over the long weekend.
However fhe live stream is still working - I can see it on my Smartphone in the tent here using a special link I have access too
It's the Derby Council page which seems not to be workings, which is beyond my control.
I'll try and send Nick B some instructions 2moro to try and rig up a temporary fix for you.
For those worried about losingthe still pictures, we intend to keep these running, too.
@Nick B - can you either text the Peregrine project mobile number, or let me know via this blog that you're able to go in to that speial page I built for the webcam test. I need you to go open the page in edit mode, click the html tab, then delete the very last line of script for the second feed. Preview the page to check that only feed 1 is visible, then save/publish. Let me know wen you've done that, so I can test and tell everyone how to find it.
Hope this makes sense. - apols for any typos.
N.

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

Or @Tony G - maybe you could try this too, if you're around.
G'night all.

Anonymous said...

Thanx nick i didnt think i wud b able 2 watch the peregrines at all from my fone nw! Nw you are keeping webcam 2 on i will b able 2 ! Thanx from Christine

Caroline said...

@ Joyce S - very many thanks for info about the June 5 Open Day. I am really excited about coming down from Cheshire for it. Plenty to celebrate!

@ Nick M - abandoning us and your family means not taking your mobile with you ;) Turn it off and have a great holiday. You deserve it!!!

AnnieF. said...

Live feed working well at the moment.

AnnieF. said...

There's a meal being fed to what looks like the smallest chick but it's hard to tell even though the live stream's on because they're right under the camera.

AnnieF. said...

Three of them were crowding together to grab titbits, the live stream is still ok.

Caroline said...

Big feed for all the 'chimney sweep chicks' from 18.00ish. Whole family on the platform. Put some shots on Flickr. Superb view via new webcam3 - thank you so much team! Just love the sound of the chicks though remember that we get belting bells on the hour and more now ;) Enjoy your weekend everyone. I was working at my screen today but glad to have the peregrines for company. The chicks waddle around as if they've got oversize fur coats slung over their shoulders.

Helen said...

What a difference a week makes. After the very warm weather last Saturday it was cold and drizzly for today's Watch Point. The adult birds were around for most of the morning, with both of them spending quite a lot of time on the nearby hotel lettering. The female peregrine circled the tower several times calling, and giving visitors excellent views of her. Many people were amazed at just how loud her calls were and so were keen to get a closer look through the telescopes. The chicks could be seen flapping their wings a lot, showing how well their juvenile feathers are developing. We didn't see any prey being brought in so there was no lunchtime feed today!

Ian and Helen

Anonymous said...

I'm wrong again about "Storm", the Nottingham juvenile. It's NOT fledged! It keeps wandering off around the corner of the parapet and do you know, I don't think it's EVER going to bother to fly, it's got a lovely parapet and nice parents that keep feeding it! It's so hard to think back to that awful day when the storm nearly did for the whole brood, however did Storm survive?

Phoebe said...

Those poor juveniles are soaking wet, a good job most of their waterproof feathers are through. The rain has perked them up, they are all over the place flapping and moving about. Both adults are out of sight. The rain is going to be heavier tomorrow.

AnnieF. said...

An adult is standing over the smallest chick in a corner of the lhs, trying to shelter it from the rain, while the other three are huddled together on the other side. All of them look rather bedraggled. What vile weather!

Nick Brown (DWT) said...

Sunday morning and the sun is shining. the chicks look dried out too.
Tomorrow, Tuesday 5th June, we have our special open day plus watch point day. I am trying to arrange some extra last minute additions to the day and will put up a new post about the day later on so please do check the blog and if you can come down to Derby tomorrow between 10.30 and 3pm then we'd love to see you.
The weather should start OK but then go downhill but we have things inside the cathedral to see and do and it is always good to meet folk.
Do revisit the blog later on to see what's happening over and above tours up to the top of the tower, a watch point, children's activities and a display of prey remains and photos (the prey remains sounds grim but is rather interesting and includes the Swedish ring found on the leg of an arctic tern discovered on the nave roof in 2007).
See you soon.
Nick B
Nick M: please ring me when you get the chance.

Nick B (DWT) said...

Just had message from Nick M to say the live stream can't be fixed until Wednesday when the IT people at Serco return to work. Sorry about that.
Nick B

Anonymous said...

Well, Storm @ Notts has DEFINITELY fledged successfully now. I think we're all trying to dry out and warm up after Sunday. I went up to London to see the River Pageant and whilst it was wonderful it was freezing cold and so wet. I don't know how any of our wildlife has coped with this topsy-turvey season, I'm sure I would never be able to if I had to survive outside! I'd LOVE to be with you tomorrow at the watchpoint but I dare not neglect my exam revision. Your plans sound fabulous, I'd so love to see the prey collection. I'll give you a tweet on twitter to advertise - but seeing as my main follower is Nick Moyes, it won't be very effective advertising! Have a wonderful day though - and I have especially ordered some sunshine for you all.

Anonymous said...

You were blessed if you had dry weather. Down here in Bucks, once again we had cold and rain. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to be affecting our two peregrine chicks, but they are very lucky to have a bit of cover over their platform thanks to the wonderful Vale Barn Owl Project (serious consideration now being given to a new name as it's now so much more than exclusively Barn Owls)

Caroline said...

I may be a poet but I was lost for words when I turned the corner into Amen Alley this morning. I found myself quickly tracing all the familiar landmarks like old friends: the grotesques at the top of the tower, the gutter where food is stashed, the louvres of the windows down to the nest platform with its webcams - and yes THERE on the right hand corner was one of the adults. Having lived in the virtual world of the birds for so long, HERE I was... with the cathedral's sandstone rearing up above me and 'those bells' striking 10.00 as a cold wind tossed the summer trees. The Peregrines are amazing but so is the Place and the People - to echo the title of a certain successful HLF bid! Of course it was a particular pleasure to meet Nick B & Tony G but also the volunteers and Ian aka superbrad. You all do a great job supporting this project and were so welcoming. John who led the Tower tour was fascinating about the history and the cathedral tea & cake were excellent. I wasn't much help at the Watchpoint as the current volunteers are brilliant but I was watching and listening and am happy to be roped in if you need an extra pair of hands sometime. I'm not that far away.

Since Nick B was kind enough to mention my peregrine poem again, I'm delighted to say that Derby Poetry Society have invited me to read on Oct 12. However, I hope to visit again in the next 6 weeks. Well done everyone!

Project Member (Derby Cathedral) said...

I would just like to thank all the volunteers who helped to make today's event a success. This includes the many friends at the Cathedral who manned the Tower Tours, the 'Box Office' and the refreshments. Thanks to Nick B for being so active in the organisation of the day, and to our great volunteers who manned the Watchpoint and helped with the tower tours. Don't forget that the Watchpoints continue every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday until the end of the month.

Nick B (DWT) said...

Re. the live streaming failure; Adam, the fellow at Serco who has the skills to restart the system is on leave all week but even so he picked up my email and tried to get the system to work again. I can't get it to work on this machine so perhaps it has failed again (or my machine isn't of sufficient upgradedness!) so probably we will now have to wait until next week.
Sorry about that.....

Nick B (DWT)

RJ said...

Derby peregrines just got a mention and video on Springwatch – for hunting at night.

RJ

Phoebe said...

I was about to say that RJ. Has anyone been watching the Bath peregrines on springwatch, it's very interesting how the third bird, a male youngster from last year has brooded the eggs and is bringing in food. The youngsters look about the same age as our Derby ones.

Phoebe said...

After a good breakfast served by the falcon, the tiercel brought in a large piece of food. He began to eat it in front of the juveniles for over 10 minutes but they were not interested. They had a wing flapping contest but rain has stopped play.

They are looking extremely fit and healthy!

from Claire said...

The chicks are growing adult feathers. They look quite big !

Jon Salloway said...

Great to see our birds on spring watch last night.

The bath Video footage Is fantastic and I loved the easy access for ringing the chicks!

Not sure if the box is big enough though, the juveniles will struggle to gain strength in there wings as theres no room to flap!

Slumpy said...

Does anyone know what's happened at the De Mortel tower in Holland. The eggs haven't hatched yet and seem to be abandoned

AnnieF. said...

This weather is grim for the youngsters, they look so fed up. Unfortunately the forecast isn't any better.
I saw Springwatch last night, with the Derby night-hunting clip and the Bath peregrine extended family. In Rome this year a female juvenile also helped out with feeds and baby-sitting so it's not entirely new. It's a pity the Bath young were fed corncrake though, we can't really spare those!

Anonymous said...

Oh yes John, you remind me. I too loved the little door at the back of the Bath platform. How the Aylesbury ringers must envy that (their platform backs onto a piece of solid concrete so it has to be a reach over the top exercise!)
Slumpy, I have no knowledge of any Dutch sites, but I do know that success in England has been patchy. At Aylesbury, we only had 2 out of 3 eggs hatch. Lincoln appears to have failed entirely. I wonder if the weather has played a part - it has been such a cold wet spring, now summer. How some of the incubating birds kept their precious eggs warm and dry, I don't know.

Jean Burton said...

slumpy the falcon is sitting on the eggs in Holland tonight so don't know whats going on. For anyone else here is the link http://www.beleefdelente.nl/vogel/slechtvalk

Slumpy said...

Re De Mortel tower earlier post. An adult is on the eggs. May be they're just very late

AnnieF. said...

Luncheon is served and all are keen.

Anonymous said...

It's blowing a gale down here in Bucks and our chicks keep flapping near the edge - is it similar in Derby? Are your nerves managing to stand it (not sure mine are)

Nick B (DWT) said...

Sue - a really wild evening now. Not so much rain but plenty of wind. The trees in the garden are really thrashing about.
Fingers crossed for the chicks - and for yours too, in fact chicks everywhere.
Nick B (DWT)

Joyce S Derby said...

Who stole our fluffy white chicks and replaced them with big brown birds?!
I can't believe that only two weeks ago they were all white. How quickly they grow - I expect they will be trying out their wings more and more now.

Slumpy said...

Re De Mortel. The eggs were laid at least 6 weeks ago. I have the impression the falcon was left to her own devices for food so the eggs weren't incubated properly. It may have something to do with a male interloper earlier in the year

Joy said...

Does anyone know when the Notts Peregrin flew the nest?
Ours are growing so quickly.

Phoebe said...

Watching the webcams today and the youngsters were very active around 12:30 so the Watchpoint will have had a good display. Hope all went well today. I hope to be there next week, Saturday possibly. Any idea when they are likely to fledge?

@Joy - someone posted on here when the Notts bird fledged, not sure if it's this blog or the previous one. Take a look back an see.

Phoebe said...

Both the falcon and the tiercel are on the corbel below the scrape. I havn't seen this very often before. There is a feather hanging over the cam glowing pink in the sunset.

Holland said...

The eggs at The Mortel here in Holland were abandoned for too long when the mother got in a fight with another female, sad! No-one knows yet exactly what happened to the female.
The male took over but the eggs had been abandoned for too long, he is often seeen on the eggs.

Holland said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jan t said...

sad news at Norwich the third chick has died in the night

Phoebe said...

Jan t - I am very saddened by the news of Norwich Juveniles, it seems so unlikely for a youngster to die at such an age. I am shocked! I don't know the history of these youngsters but what on earth could cause one almost ready to fledge to die like that. Very derpessing indeed.

Our birds here in Derby seem fit and well but it certainly makes you stop and think.

Anonymous said...

female peregrine sitting on silk mill chimney calling and trying to entice juvrnile of scrape 8am
one might fledge this week .comment
from cliff jon ian

Helen said...

The juveniles are starting to find their feet now and are standing on the edge of the platform!

Phoebe said...

I've looked at details of fledging times and it seems the Derby birds could well fledge any day now 35-42 days according to one report.

Our oldest two are 36 days old.

jan t said...

Phoebe just back from Norwich it seams the beak was dislocated and was very weak on legs so sad at this age

Phoebe said...

The youngster are being served a very welcome dinner. The falcon arrived a few minutes ago.

Anonymous said...

@Joy, I believe Notts fledged 1st June. Derby, although "late" starting (maybe the wise adults somehow sensed the extreme weather and avoided it) seem to be coming on in leaps and bounds and doing very well (touch wood) Aylesbury are giving us all palpitations by fast approaching fledge - lots of teetering on the edge and flapping vigorously. The adults behaviour is also changing in ways that seem designed to encourage the juvs to fledge. I calculated at one stage that our (Aylesbury) fledge should be around 14th but maybe it'll be sooner? Sad news from Norwich :( - but look for the silver lining, the remaining two have a better chance now, they will get more attention each from the adults. And the adults have fulfilled their life's mission, to reproduce themselves. :)

Joy said...

@Sue Peregrino, thanks for info on Notts must have missed whilst celebrating.
Derby Pergrins, looks as tho there are only 3 today? Perhaps one is hiding.
Still can't get movie cam can anyone help?

Joy said...

Panic over just seen all four, they are looking so grown up

Anonymous said...

Hi don,t know if anyone can help, yesterday all the birds were trying their wings out and one hit his on the bar holding the nest up he was then very still for a long time was wondering if he has damaged his wing

Carol

Phoebe said...

Well today is much colder and the youngsters are being quiet and huddled down.

Carol - do you know roughly what time this happened, I have a lot of screen captures I could look through.

Phoebe said...

This is the first time I have seen the falcon bring food and leave it for the youngsters to help themselves.

Joyce S Derby said...

Live cam is working again
http://www.derby.gov.uk/apps/peregrines/webcam3.asp

Anonymous said...

Lovely to welcome you back, livecam!
Hope the Derby peregrines are faring OK in this awful weather; it's calmed their Aylesbury "cousins" down. We thought there was a real chance one was going to fledge yesterday - and it went out in the pitch dark and had a flap too, but they've decided to postpone and snuggle to the back of the covered part of their platform. I do so wish the weather would get kind for the sake of ALL of our wildlife (and indeed for us humans)

Phoebe said...

I've put some interesting screen grabs on flickr in case anyone missed them.

The youngsters don't look like they will be leaving just yet.

Penny said...

Just logged into Derby Web cams on the offchance of seeing a 'live' transmission and - oh joy - there they all were, snuggled up together, clear as day on the beautiful new web cam! I am so delighted for you Derby, how wonderful it is to see them on the live stream, and in time for the fledging!

Anonymous said...

Phoebe I think it was around five on Sunday when the falcon hit his wing

Carol

Craig said...

12.11 A midday snooze. If only that was possible for me.

jan t said...

both Juveniles have left the nest at Norwich today

jan t said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Green class, aged 6 and 7 said...

This moning we looked at the perergrin blog. All of us sure the chiks sleeping. The chiks have there jurvniyl fethers now. The bell didn,t wake them up. They shud be staring to flej biy now. The perings are looking for there food. The Perings and the babby pergrings are sitting down now. somtimes they flap there wings.

Joy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joy said...

Great to be able to watch little ones live. Thank you to those concerned. First day we have been able to get it. One of the youngsters appears to be more adventurous is it the female?

Anonymous said...

Exciting but scarey day for Derby's "cousins" in Aylesbury today - they FLEDGED! They've been itching to do it since Sunday but the weather held them back. They've not gone far yet so it's still tense times for us Aylesbury ducklings!

Phoebe said...

I paid a short visit to Derby today and went to see the peregrines, it was around 2pm. The youngsters were sitting quietly on the ledge looking out. The adults were not on the tower. I looked around and saw both tiercel and falcon each sitting on a letter 'n' of the Inn opposite. It is so good to see them for real and I forgot just how the warm cream colour of the youngsters show up, something you don't see on the webcams. They are just beautiful!

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

Great news about Aylesbury's birds - you must be so pleased and so proud, Sue.
Any guesses when our birds will fly? We'll be on standby this weekend just in case of incidents.

Phoebe said...

Welcome back Nick M, I hope you had a good break.

The youngsters are still being fed by the adults, I haven't seen very much self feeding yet, which makes me think they are not quite ready to go. I don't know if they all wait until the youngest one is ready or not. They are exercising their wings but not as much as I remember in previous years. Maybe by the weekend they may be ready but I think it will be into next week, Tuesday is my guess for the first to make the big leap.

Ps. did my last post go through?

Phoebe said...

Jan T - That is such sad news of the Norwich youngsters. They grow to an almost adult size and then that happens. Thanks for updating us.

Carol - I have some screen grabs around 6:30 pm I will post them to flickr, it could be what you saw. I have nothing for 5pm-ish that looks likely.

The sunset glow on one of the youngsters who was on the ledge if beautiful. I will put a screen grab on flickr.

Joy said...

Is there only 3? I couldn't see the 4th. They are certainly growing

Joy said...

Now I can only see 2

Penny said...

Unfortunately I cannot seem to get the live streaming, although I have viewed it once, so I know it works on my PC, and I have got the neccessary Flash Player. It goes to Buffering and that's it. Because of this I cannot be sure, but I have flicked between both time lapse cams several times and I can only see 3 chicks - has one fledged or (hopefully not) fallen?

Joy said...

Just looked again and 3 youngsters this time. Perhaps one has fledged?

Joy said...

Is it possible on the live streaming to widen the camera to get more of both sides of the nest? Perhaps I am asking too much. Its great watching live.

Joy said...

Just been watching the Manton Res Ospreys, she has just left the little ones fast asleep, they are certainly growing.

Julie said...

3 chicks still in scrape but one has definitely gone - hopefully it was an intentional departure!

Penny said...

Well, panic over, I can now definitely see all 4! I am glad it was not just me though Joy, I wonder where No. 4 was hiding when we were looking?

AnnieF. said...

@ Penny
There are still four juveniles in the nestbox, but all look ready to fledge. Lots of talon-grooming being carried out - they've mastered the art of standing on one leg!

Julie said...

There are 4 again now! OK - where was No 4 hiding as it definitely wasn't in view earlier... I think in the past they have managed to get up on to the camera supports/tray fixings so maybe that was where it was?

Nick B (Derbyshire Wildlife Trust) said...

Relax guys, all four are present still (1.30 pm, 13th June). I have just returned from the watch point - rather quiet today both on the human and peregrine fronts. Some considerable wing flapping from a couple of the chicks but nothing much else happening.
Tomorrow at the watch point on The Green at 11.45 there will be a short photocall to launch the new lottery grant. The Deputy Mayor of Derby will attend and there'll be short speeches and some looking through telescopes so if anyone wants to come along they are very welcome to do so.
No refreshments though I'm afraid! The grant didn't stretch to that.
Nick B (DWT)

Hilary, B'ham said...

I have just watched "live cam 3" for the first time. Now we can appreciate the really great positioning of the cameras. Wonderful. One of them is having a serious flap. Thank you so much everyone involved this is much better than I ever dreamed it could be.

Erica said...

I don't usually have the sound on and I was only able to see the streaming video yesterday any way, but my, what a noise when I switch on the sound just now at the feed.

Ash class, Holmesdale Infants, 7 yrs said...

We have been watching the live webcam today for the first time... we were surprised to hear what the peregrines actually sound like! We thought they would have a deeper voice.
We got to see them feeding too... thats why they were making all the noise!

Hom said...

Anna and Elizabeth holmsdaial infent school we have been watching webcam 3.They are realy big and they have their grownup fethers they have a very good cheep.

Nick B (DWT) said...

all four present at 16.13.....they do manage to get where the cameras can't see them which makes it impossible to tell if they are still on the platform or not. personally I think it could be a few more days before one leaps off. They usually do a few days of intensive wing flapping before feeling the urge to depart. Of course one could get the push from another...so who knows when things may start to happen.
We have rescue gear and contact numbers in place down at the cathedral so if any chick is found on the ground we can get down there quickly and rescue it.
Nick B (DWT)

Jane (Belper) said...

To the Nicks and everyone else in the team. It's that time of year again when we are all wondering when they will take that leap of faith! Our chicks look fabulous, don't they? As always, thank you all for everything you do - our peregrine family don't know how lucky they are to have you all. Hoping that a rescue will not be necessary, but time will tell!
Be well and, hopefully, see you soon. Jane

Anonymous said...

Thank you Derby project for your congratulations on Aylesbury - it makes me feel like a broody hen myself! We had our first hatch on 2nd May to yours on 5th May. Ours was "late" due to our pair being young but yours, an old pair, were even later. We fledged yesterday but I am struck with how quickly your juvs have developed. There are 4 of them too, to our 2 so your adults have done a fine job of raising them. Yours look really ready and eager to go, I've just witnessed some vigorous wing exercising, some teetering on the edge and a bit of short hop "flights" over the platform. I reckon it's going to be fledge day for you tomorrow or Friday, weather permitting. I just made a special effort to have the live feed on for 8pm so I could listen to the cathedral bells too - it's remarkable the way the birds totaly ignore them.

Rej (AT) said...

Oh! One is missing! No - it is back again!

I remember this fun from previous years. Just before fledging - the rascals like to flit up to the top of the tray or onto the camera brackets where they are out of camera shot. We all think one has fledged - only to spot the tip of a tail at the top of the screen, or the sudden re-appearance of the missing bird.

Then just as we get used to the game .... one really flies, and we cannot believe it to be true.

Oh! To be in Derby now that fledgings near.

(Apologies to R. Browning, but he really should have included a peregrine)

Phoebe said...

On my visit to the Catherdral yesterday I took a short video of the peregrines, it's a bit shaky as it was hand held but I have put it on youtube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvcza9NTT1I&feature=g-upl

It does contain bells! it was 2pm.

Moderator please delete if it's not allowed to put a link in here.

Phoebe said...

I can only see three juveniles but there is a shadow behind the one sitting on the right ledge that could be one lying down. ?

Rej (AT) said...

08:20 Thursday: Only 3 in the platform.Has she flown? or just out of sight?
08:52 Still just the 3. Any news from watchers?

Anonymous said...

Phoebe's video is great even though as she states it is a bit shaky - very impressive sight of the juvvies wing flapping. I found the night hunting video also interesting and was struck by the Jury's sign in the background. I wonder do they make any donations to the project? They seem to get an impressive amount of free (?) advertising

Phoebe said...

OK I saw 4 birds at 08:14 and only 3 birds at 08:15 - has one flown?

Joy said...

Can only see 3 this morning

Joy said...

Think the righthand camera stuck on 9.02. Can only see 3 birds but shadow of one flying?

Joy said...

The video camera has also frozen last night 23.00? A little bit after. Can get thrugh to the camera but no up to date pictures.

Penny said...

I have also found that the live cam is frozen Joy but at the moment, 10.03, the other two seem to be fine. I also can see only 3 birds in the scrape now - one has either gone or found a really good hiding place!

Joy said...

Can still see only 3 birds, perhaps the female has gone?

Anonymous said...

One has fledged..

Anonymous said...

can only see 3 birds has one flown

zulu98 said...

Fledged juvenile(i think) "popped" back for a visit at 12:48 - only stayed a matter of seconds but got the two juveniles on the left-hand side of the scrape "flapping-about". Dont think it'll be long before they take their leap!

Phoebe said...

That was the falcon that landed at 12:48 and got the remaining juveniles flapping. I think she is trying to get them to leap!

Anonymous said...

c

Phoebe said...

Any news of where the fledged juvie is? and is it okay?

holmsdai infants school age 7 megan zoe baylie rona florence said...

we sor them eat. and we sor them stand on the edge.

felix and finnley said...

can the joovernile fly.

trav and finn-7 Holmesdale said...

We or eggsitd to see them fly.I hope thay donet get hert.

florence and megan 7 and 6 said...

ash class are a fan of your website.Carn't believe how massive the chicks have got.