Tuesday 26 September 2017

Up the tower

Two trainees from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Peter Eley and Steph Woodhead, visited the project and the cathedral today (26th September). I took them up the top of the tower to admire the views and see the set up in general. Fortunately it was a lovely autumn afternoon!
I think they were impressed by what has been achieved.

Steph and Peter pose on the top of the world
(well, nearly.......)

There were no peregrines to be seen but we did find the remains of a common tern, a species we've found before once or twice over the many years the project has been running.
The roof work will be completely finished by Friday with just a few scaffold poles to be taken down and some clearing up to be carried out.
I had a brief chat to Bruce, the project manager and thanked him for his helpful cooperation throughout the whole period. He and his team have had close-up views of the birds through the summer and have been interested to watch and learn about them.
The new roof looks great and should last many years - though the peregrines are already doing their best to cover it in prey remains apparently.....

Nick B
Project Team member

14 comments:

kate said...

Am sure the trainees were impressed, and have a bench mark, to use when visiting other projects..You say...
"The new roof looks great and should last many years - though the peregrines are already doing their best to cover it in prey remains apparently....."
Well they have to make their mark CHOL:):)

Still some activity at times and have put a few pictures on Group, this Morning ,saw youngster having a little scrape, only to be chased of by adult( dont get ideas son!!!!)this MY territory.

Md.Riday Khan said...
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Phoebe said...

Inappropriate post needs deleting.

Project Member (DWT) said...

Post deleted. Thanks Kate/Phoebe.
Nick B

Helen said...

There was a peregrine sitting on the platform a little while ago, probably female. I've seen one on the cameras a few times lately. Yesterday I was also watching a peregrine elsewhere. The bird had caught a wigeon and was busy plucking it on the ground. I'm guessing it might have been a female peregrine as a wigeon is a fairly large bird. Perhaps too big for the peregrine to carry off since it was plucking it on the ground. Wigeon doesn't seem to be on the Derby list of prey remains.

Helen said...

A really interesting report about urban peregrines in Woking on this evening's One Show. It included some great film footage of juveniles taking prey from an adult bird in mid air. Here is the link for it on iplayer;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09bztfy/the-one-show-30102017

It's about 13 minutes and 30 seconds into the programme.

kate said...

Thanks Helen
Interesting re the wigeon...and some excellent captures from Woking ,especially of youngsters lessons.

Wendy Bartter said...

Set recording on cam today & Mrs DP didn't disappoint, good long visit in sunny & calm weather
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o0eL1r7qDY

Wendy Bartter said...


Mrs DP again today with her prey on the scrape ledge
https://youtu.be/73Nj46bjP70

kate said...

Wendy....Good to see you keeping the cams rolling xx

kate said...

Managed to capture a visit to both sides of the scrape this morning( if you look at the screen caps,the clock timing has not changed, so is showing one hour ahead.) all will be sorted before the full season begins..

Unknown said...
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Wendy Bartter said...

Catching up with some vids to keep us going of Mrs DP making quite frequent visits to scrape with substantial prey items

10th Nov ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvIv_0b126c

12th Nov ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYCYDJzdURs
@ 12.50

12th Nov ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bqG2ZjPpEQ
@ 16.19

13th Nov ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypA1aipSmUU

16th Nov ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMOKsNk7aSY

17th Nov ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z304bttWtwA

Wonder if that ledge on the nestbox has become a bit slippery in the damp & chilly weather?

kate said...

Thanks Wendy,getting excited at others on the patch....