Tiddler, 007, has just been rescued from the car park of The Dolphin, a local pub close to the cathedral.
Nick Moyes received a call from the police about 8pm this evening and, with Tony Grantham, the cathedral head verger, headed for town.
Apparently, a member of the public found 007 on the ground, picked him up and put him in a basket and took him to the pub itself.
Nick and Tony took him back up to the top of the tower to release him as the light began to fade.
So all's well that ends well for 007......but we still have concerns for one of the other fledglings since we have only seen three youngsters all day. ...unless 007 is indeed the fourth.
Hopefully the missing bird will turn up somewhere in the morning.
Nick B (DWT)
Peregrine Falcons first nested on Derby's Cathedral, England, in 2006. Our Peregrine Project is now run by a partnership between Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Derby City Council, Derby Cathedral and the Cathedral Quarter. Here is what's happening in 2024. . .
19 comments:
Perhaps the parents know where the missing young one is and you could tell by watching an area they are paying attention to? If they know where he or she is, they are perhaps trying to feed it? or encourage it to get into a tree?
Probably it gone to another pub in the city, being they like there beer. !
But I hope it's spotted soon.
I was lucky the other week to see a pair of Red Footed Falcons flying above me while having a walk in the countryside.
Poor Tiddler - the ignominity of it! Well, if you will award him an 007 licence...They are certainly having adventures! Sadder end for one of baby blackbirds fledging today from above our back door: neighbour's cat got it. xxx Penny
The story of how the juvie falcons gain 'their wings' on Froona's blog is very interesting. It is good that so much assistance is given by 'the team in Derby'. As I look there is a bird near the pudding cam, but no signs of activity in the nest.
At 10 am Tues I visited the cathedral and there were 2 birds at the nest and 2 on the ledge above (one of those the wrong side of the camera). All were juveniles. Just thought I would let you know as the diary indicated that there had only been 3 all day.
Rita B. Derby
Pax Canada 12.16am
bird on the pudding cam
Please could anyone tell me if the missing chick has returned or not, i am in derby later today and would willingly walk round for a while to try and help find it. Sorry just a worried watcher. Debbie, from Derby
Hi Debbie: I've just heard from the folk who ran the watch point yesterday that they were quite sure they saw all four young so that takes the pressure off quite a bit doesn't it. It would be nice to have confirmation of that again today and maybe the (same) folk runnning the WP today will be able to let us know later.
So, if you do want to go down (and it is quite rainy in Derby today) please ask the watch point folk what they have seen today before going off to search.
In fact I spent over an hour early this morning looking in all the likely places with no joy at all -so maybe they are all safe and sound up the tower or perching on other high buildings.
Thee will come a time soon when we just have to let them get on with their (wild) lives....though in these early days it clearly makes 100% sense to rescue any that fall and generally keep an eye open for them.
Nick B (DWT)
Is it only the juveniles that can't 'take off' from the ground? On Springwatch there was a Peregrine family in a disused quarry and one was drinking by the waterside, so clearly it had no problems flying off from the ground.
Anna, Ripley
Yes, Anna, just the juveniles. They aren't strong or adept enough yet....even the adults would struggle if they had to take off vertically....
Nick B (DWT)
Swifts are also unable to take off from ground. I used to live in pantiled house with nests under roof. Found 2 on ground including one with legs entangled by thread discarded on guttering by sparrows (ie originally by humans), and I had to relaunch them, throwing them upwards and forwards, gently but firmly, into the air. The larger peregrines obviously need much higher launch pad! xxx Penny
This is all such heart-stopping stuff - last year was a real doddle by comparison. I'm sure we should all be very hard hearted and pragmatic and say "well, there are 4 of them, so some attrition is inevitable" ... but it's just not possible, we're too involved. Thank you to everyone who has helped in the rescues and fingers and everything crossed for those who are desperately searching - we hope for good news soon on this blog.
MEANWHILE - back in Bucks ... we have huge success with our red kites but our web-cam isn't so lucky. Setting this up in the wild is much more tricky than on a wonderful old cathedral. It's not worked out this year, but they have been able to salvage something and some kestrels have taken up residence in what was hoped to be a red kite site. For anyone with severe chick withdrawal, try googleing "red kites" and "chilterns" - am not sure if the web-cam is on the internet or just at a local Bucks Garden Centre (am just off to look)
SueH, Bucks
Hi Sue: the watch point volunteers have just emailed to say they have seen all six of the family this morning, so that is great news and we should now be able to relax a little (we hope!).
Nick B (DWT)
Thanks for the news Nick - phew, we can all relax a little for now. Lets hope they avoid getting into any more scrapes (and I don't mean the "nest" sort of "scrape")for a while! Us "remote" watchers may have had our webcam opportunity taken away from us, but there is certainly still plenty to see for anyone lucky enough to be able to get into Derby. At least I can go shopping now - and with a smile on my face!
SueH, Wendover Bucks
I have just watched a trailer of tonight's east midlands today.
There will be a report of the rescue of the chick last night.
Mr Grantham smiling for the cameras!!!
Are you intending to sell autographs for the fund raising now Tony!!
Only kidding all that rushing around is appreciated especially by the chicks.
are all four birds sighted yet? Watching them for so long now I feel attached.......Linda Knight.
Hi, Linda, you probably by now saw above that all 4 young and both parents were seen by the watch point folks yesterday, also by Rita.
Yes Linda, according to Nick a few posts ago (12:47pm above).
Great view from pudding cam of one of the chicks learning to de-feather a pigeon (4:30pm)....or wondering why dinner still has the wrapping on :)
Oops, I think somebody's largish late afternoon snack just slid off the pudding cam area, despite his or her efforts to keep it there.
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