Thursday 28 May 2015

Watch Points begin on Saturday (and report back)

If you are new to this blog - Welcome! If want to find out more about the peregrines and their three chicks please scroll down to previous posts where you'll find video clips and news about them.
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This Saturday (30th May) sees the start of a series of public Watch Point events on the green behind the cathedral, organised by Ian Layton, our Engagement Officer.
There will be further Watch Points every Saturday up to and including 4th July.
They begin at 10 am and finish around 1.30pm but, as usual, will be dependent on the weather. If it is really very wet - they won't happen. Otherwise they will!
From the Green you get an excellent view of the nest (circled)
So do come along and see the chicks and adults 'for real', especially if you have only watched them on screen. It's a whole different experience! And you should see other birds too if you are lucky as they fly over the city or nest nearby. If you have binoculars bring them. If you don't - fear not - the views through the telescopes are brilliant!
Given some sunshine, the Green is a pleasant place
to stand and watch the birds
They are entirely free though should you wish to put something in a donations box we won't stop you!
The Watch Points are run by our faithful band of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust volunteers who will be on hand to answer your every question and make sure the telescopes are pointing in the right direction.
Hope to see you soon!

Watch Points for local businesses
This year, with help from Cathedral Quarter, an organisation that promotes this part of the city and which is a partner in our project, we are inviting staff from local businesses to see the birds from The Green. These mid-week (usually Wednesday lunchtime) Watch Points will have to be pre-booked so if you run or work for a local business, please get in touch with Ian via peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk .

Nick B (DWT)

First Watch Point a Success!
Helen Naylor, one of our regular volunteers, reported back from the first watch Point:
"Today's watch point was very well attended, with some familiar faces and plenty of new ones too! A big welcome to those people who came down to the Cathedral after attending the recent events run by the Peregrine Project at a couple of local libraries in Derby.
We were lucky to have both of the adult birds around for most of the morning, often sitting on the edge of the nest platform together and giving us great views through the telescopes. At times they left the platform, flying right overhead. The chicks were also clearly visible today as they moved towards the front of the scrape. Their juvenile feathers are starting to show through, and were particularly noticeable during several bouts of vigorous wing flapping. Hopefully the weather will stay fine for future watch points!"

Next Watch Point: Saturday 6th June, 10 am to 1.30 pm. 

29 comments:

Nick B (DWT) said...

It's a rainy day in Derby today (Friday) and we certainly need some rain - it has been very dry for some time and creatures that eat worms, especially those that feed their young on them are struggling to find food.
Fortunately, the first Watch Point tomorrow will be bathed in sunshine if the forecast is correct, though with more rain on Sunday! Hope to see some of you there.
Nick B (DWT)

Abby-Lynn said...

Cam 4 not working.

Anonymous said...

Cam 2 and 4 not working again,Gone off to watch Chichester Chicks, At least there Camera works all the time.

Kate said...

Hi all
Sorry to see the cams having so many problems this year, and top of that I missed the ringing of the chicks this year is there a video anywhere??? would love to watch..

Hope the Watch point was a success this morning, am sure the birds were cooperative in giving some good views.
Kate

Helen said...

Today's watch point was very well attended, with some familiar faces and plenty of new ones too! A big welcome to those people who came down to the Cathedral after attending other recent events run by the Peregrine Project at a couple of local libraries in Derby. We were lucky to have both of the adult birds around for most of the morning, often sitting on the edge of the nest platform together and giving us great views through the telescopes. At times they left the platform, flying right overhead. The chicks were also clearly visible today as they moved towards the front of the scrape. Their juvenile feathers are starting to show through, and were particularly noticeable during several bouts of vigorous wing flapping. Hopefully the weather will stay fine for future watch points!

Unknown said...

Not sure if I dare ask, but does anyone know what's happened to the Nottingham chicks?

Kate said...

Thank you for the update HELEN ( appreciated)

Do we have a VIDEO of the ringing???

Kate

Kate said...

Lesley re Nottingham .
I do not follow but understand their FB page showed all four last evening, and two showing today.
Kate

Nick B (DWT) said...

Hi: we are sorry the cameras have been playing up. Our key operator was on holiday all week but now he is back we hope things will be fixed tomorrow or by Monday at the latest.
And re. a video of the ringing - sorry we didn't have a video camera so the answer is no, we don't have a recording this year.
Nick B (DWT)

Unknown said...

Kate, re Nottingham. Thank you; I was worried as I couldn't see any chicks on their live cams. Probably worrying needlessly, as usual!

Abby-Lynn said...

Because of the cams not working well, I haven't seen much. But looking forward to next week when the cams will be up and running. Thanks guys.

Nick B (DWT) said...

Hi: a wet and miserable day in Derby today - but at least stream 2 is now working!
NB

Anonymous said...

It may be "wet and miserable in Derby" but you're hot, Nick B. I was just about to email you to say the video server had been rebooted and then saw that you'd already posted that. :-)

Abby-Lynn said...

Yes, cam 1 & 2 seem fine. The chicks with their juvenile feathers look so different. Growing up!

Abby-Lynn said...

Cam 4 is working very nicely. Thanks a bunch!! The little darlings are sleeping peacefully with mom on guard.

Abby-Lynn said...

Are the Nottingham chicks pretty much full grown and ready to take off? The 2 I see right now look full grown with all their dark feathers. One was walking along flapping its wings so I figure it has to be the juveniles. They do lift off a bit. Are they that far ahead of our Derby chicks who are still mostly white?

kate said...

Thanks Nick re the Video ( or non video CHOL:):)

That is a shame not only for us , but also yourselves, you all do such sterling work, Thank you.
Kate

Kate said...

Abby and others interested in Nottigham.
Here are a couple of Video You Tube that may be of help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQXnmRkrdD8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r93CYivrhNk

Kate

Unknown said...

Thanks Abby-Lynn and Kate. Yes they are a bit ahead of ours, but I didn't think they
would be going yet. I still haven't caught them on their cams!

Lindsay said...

Hi Lesley, I've been watching the Nottingham chicks too..I was so worried as I could only see 3 when 4 definitely hatched!

All is well though, the chicks seem to wander around the nest a lot and unfortunately, the webcam doesn't pick them up! They were all at the far end of the building yesterday...you could barely see them.

Maybe a couple of weeks left before they fledge, certainly preparing well for it.

Unknown said...

Thanks Lindsay. Don't we worry?! Its as bad as with children!

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

Our webcameras are all now working again. My apologies for the frozen Stream 2, which we were unable to fix whilst I was away on holiday. Huge thanks to Roger Lawson, a cathedral bell-ringer who attempted to fix things for us last week, then tried again successfully on Sunday. Live a/v Stream 3 has been changed to give a better view of the developing chicks at the far side of the platform.
I was disappointed to miss this year's chick-ringing. Thanks to everyone involved.
Nick M.

Heather said...

Many thanks to Nick M, Roger Lawson and all others involved in trying to rectify camera problems. Nice to know they are all working ok once again. Technology is a marvellous thing - when it works! Shame about the video of chicks being ringed, but with the dangerous conditions you all had to contend with i.e. ongoing repairs to Cathedral, we were lucky to get the chicks ringed at all. Looks like we are in for a few windy, wet cold days ahead but fortunately chicks should be able to withstand the elements now.

Abby-Lynn said...

I have tried many times today to check on the Nottingham chicks and have not seen them once. Kate I did go to utube but I wanted to see them today at the next. They must spend most of their time out of camera range. Right now our chicks are stretching their wings a lot. They are growing so fast now.

Anonymous said...

I can`t seem to get any of the Webcams to load today.

Unknown said...

Neither can I !!

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

Sorry folks. I thin someone at Derby Council turned off all the redirects to our webcams today.
Please delete any stored bookmarks you may have, and use the new, updated links provided on our blog.
All our cameras are still working correctly! Honest!

Be aware that the internet addresses of all our cameras are due to change yet again again in a month's time. So today's problem may occur again - my apologies

Nick M.

Unknown said...

Thanks Nick for letting us know.
I thought it was my laptop!

Anonymous said...

Many thanks Nick, would be very upset if I missed anything.