The sun broke through during a lull in our stormy UK weather this morning, revealing both of our peregrine falcons on top of Derby Cathedral through our new camera (dubbed by some as “pudding-cam” on account of its shape). We’re all still getting used to the scale of images seen through this new camera, but eventually it became clear that it was our male standing patiently in the foreground, whilst the adult female was on the farthest of the three gargoyle, busily plucking feathers from a fresh prey item.
The wind whipped these up into the air as she rendered her meal. This may well have been an item that he had caught and presented to her as part of their courtship. (Note: a later check of the video recordings showed clearly that the female caught this bird and brought it back all on her own. The male just sat and watched) Shortly afterwards they flew off and reappeared in the other cameras – the female below the nest ledge with her meal, the male standing on the platform itself. He then did a little bit of nest-scraping by lying on his front and pushing backwards with his feet to help maintain the hollow in the gravel tray, but mostly stood quietly on guard at the nest.
6 comments:
Great images of the peregrines, when roughly will the eggs be laid, do you think?
Thanks
Anna
I'll start the ball rolling and guess 30th March and pledge £10 towards your excellent project.
A third feed so we can see the gargoyle action via the pud cam would be great - but I do realise you are very short of funds.
If the first egg is laid on either 29th or 31st you'll get £5.
I'll email you so you know who I am if you remoind me of the email address to use.
Jane T
It's 0854. One bird on nest ledge and one on the top of the tower - both looking windswept! Excellent to see three views all together. Pam - Derby
hi Nick, see if you can post the image of the pudding-cam at around 10:43am, there's a rainbow in the sky with our lovely birdie resting on the gargoyle. Amazing view! Jennie, HK.
Hi Jenni - glad to hear from you again.
I've been watching the live pictures here in my office in Derby Museum, and can hear the win whistling aorund the old cathedral tower. I saw the rainbow too, and captured a picture (I think). But I' rather busy right now, so I'll see what I can do later.
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