The fourth egg was spotted about 7 am on Tuesday morning and was probably laid about 3 am.
Thanks to Roger in Austria who sent me this picture, taken this morning.
Incubation will start (or continue) in earnest now and will last for about 30-33 days. Last year the first egg hatched on 4th May (and on 9th May in 2007) so we can expect it to be about five days earlier this year....around the end of April maybe.
As the female gets older so she lays a bit earlier each year. A clutch of four is the norm, fives being exceptional.....and four chicks on that platform is quite enough thank you!
The female does the lion's share of the incubation, the male spending most of his time off the eggs and hunting to provide the food for the female, who doesn't hunt during incubation or when the chicks are small, relying entirely on the male.
Please scroll down to read about Jennie from Hong Kong........and a big thanks to Jennie from me for being such a good sport and coping with the massed media in a such a calm way! AND for giving the project such a generous donation....you're a star!
We may not get some of the national publicity of other peregrine sites, but we more than make up for it locally and regionally...and no site has such splendid donors and commentators! Thanks to one and all.Nick B (DWT)
Ps By the way - and despite some poo and a spider, our web cam views are second to none (thanks to Nick Moyes' wizardry).....and anyway, who said there were other urban peregrine nests in the UK? It is just a rumour.....don't believe a word of it or be tempted to look elsewhere! Stick with us....we're sure you will.
82 comments:
Pax Canada 12.39am
Well after a wonderful evening, it is my turn to toddle off to bed.
PS I live on the west coast about 30 miles east of Vancouver
100000 views already!!!!!
This website is awesome, thank you all for sharing your expertise, I'm a mere novice but completely hooked, and like everyone else I'm shattered!!
Well done Mrs Peregrine (incidentally do you ahev pet names for these beauties or do you just call them the Male & Female?)
I call them Penelope and Percival, but that's just me. Ha ha.
I got a pic of the 4 eggs this morning.
http://i39.tinypic.com/35b8769.jpg
This has got to be one of the best webcams ever - and I view quite a lot!! Congrats to all concerned. Cannot wait for the hatching to commence............
It's great to watch them. I tune in every day :)
Wow!
Amazing Pictures! Who's operating the Camera? Is it you Nick?
Anyway Keep them coming!
Lynne
Derby
This is fantastic, we shall be constantly watching now and can't wait for the chicks. Thanks to the organisers, a brilliant job. Joy
I don't want to criticise but is it possible to have the later comments first and the earliest lower down? Just a thought.
At last another clear view of the 4 eggs during the shift change. I have put the file on http://www.rogersharp.name/Derby_Peregrine.html caution 2MB png file. I think Nick will post a skinnier version!
It's one Nick or another! In fact I'm off work with a horrid chest infection and a fever today (do hope I didn't give anything to Jennie yesterday), so am sitting editing an article for work with the webcam bubbling in the corner.
I got some nice changeover shots - but then saw Nick B had already been sent some from Austria earlier this morning. For which many thanks, and to dn31, too.
I'm afraid we can't put your comments in reverse order - we have been asked that before. However, although there is a bit of a time lag, you can see all comments - latest first- on the left hand bar of the blog.
Nick M.
Thanks for all your helpful and interesting comments. Please be patient....Nick M has a nasty cold today and isn't feeling at all well and Nick B is trying to hold down his day job...although peregrine work is part of it, he has many other calls on his time.
He'll try to respond this afternoon or evening.
Nick B (DWT)
Any idea in the whereabots/welfare of last yars fledgelings?
I have some pictures at my blog http://slechtvalken.blogspot.com/2009/03/derby-inmiddels-4-eieren.html
No confirmed sightings of last year's young since they left the cathedral environs in August 2009.
Nick B (DWT)
Sorry that should be August 2008 on my comment above...getting ahead of myself!
Nick B
Those are great pictures, Arjen!
Nick B is telling fibs - there ARE other urban peregrine sites in the UK - sadly NOT on Bucks County Hall, Aylesbury though (we just have a "Derby model" nesting tray, unoccupied!) Many are in beautiful places, on cathedrals. Where Nick is correct though is to say DERBY is the very best project, so wonderfully run. I said it before and I'll say it again, DERBY will always be my first love!!! I think I could quite happily move to Derby.
I am glued to the webcams every year!
I love coming here and reading all the 'viewers' comments.
GREAT WORK EVERYONE.
Arjen what fantastic photos and a video I watched. Joy
Thanks for yet more kind comments about the site and also your questions....though we've struggled to keep pace with you these last few days especially!
Now incubation is underway, things will quieten down..in fact, they get quite boring by comparison, the only action being the occasional nest change-overs....
This will give Nick M, Tony and me the task to keep you interested and returning to look at the site and read the blog and its comments during the next 30 days or so.
We'll do our best....
Meanwhile please do let us know where you are...especially if you are somewhere remote, interesting and/or full of wildlife!
Good coverage of Jennie in today's local paper I gather and news of the fourth (and last?) egg in tomorrow's.
Meanwhile spring in the UK moves on apace with swallows and martins arriving from Africa along with ospreys coming back from West Africa and Spain...more on that later perhaps.
Nick B (DWT)
There was an article on BBC Midlands To-day yesterday evening about the peregrines at Birmingham. TWO large nest boxes ( not trays ) had been installed and fitted with webcams. The falcon had laid one egg on each tray, then tried to divide her time between the two, before finally giving up and departing. Can anyone tell me if there was any rationale about constructing 2 boxes?
Just to let you know Nick i was down at the cathedral this morning and at 9.45am our time a juvenille female peregrine falcon arrived and circled the tower a few times and was then chased away by our resident male. Don,t know if it was one of our juvenilles from past years though, (what do you think).I let tony know to relay you the message to you both.Hope you feel a bit better soon nick m. Andy.
Pax Canada
nice to see a pic. of the four eggs,hope you feel better soon Nick, I stumbled on this Cam through Streamways in 2006 and have never left,great pics, information and good company, Thanks to the Nick's and others who do all the work it just keeps getting better every year.
Andy: an interesting observation. The only way we can tell if the bird was one of 'our' young from a previous year would be to glimpse the red colour ring which 2007 and 2008 young have (2006 young only had the metal, numbered ring). To do that the bird would have to have landed and then be seen through a telescope - obviously not possible with the bird this morning...so it will have to remain a mystery I'm afraid.
There are many young, unmated falcons reared in urban nests flying about the UK so the bird could have come from any other site really....even as far away as London potentially.....
Nick B (DWT)
17.29 local time....excellent view of all 4 eggs.
steph (canada)
Anyone know if Froona is still watching our Falcons ?
Yes, here is Froona's blog. She's 3 eggs behind :-)
http://falcoperegrinus-froona.blogspot.com/
Re the question about 'Froona' and this site. Unfortunately she is in hospital in 'intensive care' and has been for over a week. It seems she contacted some type of virus. Her blog has not been updated since 23/3. The info re her illness was on another site. I know she was a fan of Derby.
Do you have a link to some place where info about how froona is doing is being updated?
I hope Froona is soon well.
Really sorry to hear she is unwell.
Wish her well.
Regards
Colin
First of all, best wishes to all of the "team" who are poorly - especially Nick M and Froona. Get well very soon, we miss you.
As to concerns over "defections" during the quiet time of incubation, well, it won't happen a) because we're all hooked and b) because all other peregrine sites are at exactly the same stage, and many (most?) don't have a webcam. As an example of how similar the sites are, the Lincoln cathedral pair of peregrines fledged their young on 11th June last year, the very same day as Derby's. I'm not sure ablot their dates this year, but they are bound to be very similar - so all of the other nests are now just sitting tight incubating. It'll be a nice tranquil time for us all before we start the anxious time of waiting for that first flight.
Just noticed the top 500 birding site down on the left hand side of the main diary blog page, we are currently ranked at 18. Dont know if any one eles has noticed but only a few weeks ago we were still up in the 80,s which was still a great aceivement in its self, but to get to where we are now is fantastic. I think that goes to show that not only do we have a fantastic project team here, but also to all those involved from volunteers, to us bloggers and avid watches from all over the world. I think all involved can give yourself a pat on the back for all having some kind of input in helping make this project so successful for all to enjoy. Well done to all of you, and thanks. Andy. Derby. Also to wish you well Froona.
Lovely close-up shot of (I assume Mum) just now. What a beauty!!
Yes the close ups are beautiful aren't they, and two lovely stills on the blog page captured today. It's really quite hard to tell the male and female apart from the head shots, but it's quite clear that the male is smaller (and more angular maybe) when you see a full body view. They really are beautiful birds and we are all so privileged to be able to watch them so closely (without disturbing them in any way...) Ooh I'm feeling all emotional now!
(oops, male photographed yesterday)
In my experience Peregrine tiercels look like they've just come out of the laundry, while their larger spouses tend to look a tad grubby. This might be down to her spending more time than he does sat on the nest scrape.
I'm just leaving a message to wish Froona all the best and a speedy recovery. This is my third year of Peregrine watching so have got used to seeing Froona's messages which I've missed.
I'm not sure I should be letting myself in for another nail biting episode in our Peregrines' lives. It really is compulsive viewing (my whole domestic routine goes to pot) but also pretty nerve racking stuff.....tissues at the ready in a month's time.
Anna, Ripley, Derbyshire
The webcams only seem to be refreshing every 14 minutes right now. I've emailed Nick B, but with Nick M temporarily out of the picture it may take a short while to get back to cruising refresh speed. It does make for more suspense when the image refreshes IMHO :-)
I'm only slightly out of the picture today, Ruth! (Just trying to plod through easy tasks with a heavy chest cold. I don't need sympathy - but I am concerned to learn about Froona in Holland, and join in wishing her a speedy recovery.
At 17:00 today camera streams were both refreshing as normal - ie every few seconds, but it's always helpful to have problems brought to our attention quickly.
Nick M.
Pax Canad
I was sorry to hear about Froona, I hope she will be on the mend soon.
It is snowing here this morning, I think it is Mother Natures April fools joke :-)
Looks like a beautiful spring day up there in Derby - no snow for us, tough luck Pax. Mrs peregrine looks a bit warm with her feathers all sort of fluffed out. All looks very tranquil - given a choice of London or Derby today, I know where I'd rather be (although that's always the case, but today even more so)
Sending My Best Wishes to Nick & Froona.
Get Well Soon
Kindest Regards
LYNNE
Derby
I have never watched anything like this before but i am totally hooked and finding it so fascinating watching these amazing birds!! My 6 year old is loving it too! We cant wait for the hatching to start!!!
Hi, I'm a Year 5 teacher from Kingsway Primary school in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and we are all hooked on this project. I have the pictures from the webcam permanently on my whiteboard in the classroom, and the children are following the falcons with avid interest. It's amazing how many visitors I get to the classroom as word spreads that I have the webcam on!! We will all be watching at home for the next fortnight, but at least we'll be back at school intime for the hatching!
Hooked on the site since just before the first egg. My wife, a Derby born and bred (just like previous year’s broods?) alerted me to this. Absolutely fascinating and, from the blog side, very informative. As we are now into the long incubation, the fact that the topside webcam focusing on the feeding area is pooed out (allegedly) is going to be very frustrating. I know there are legal issues about disturbing the falcons in this mode, so how about waiting till the next time it rains (April showers and all that) and then getting a high-powered water gun and targeting that camera? I’m guessing that because they are just outside the bells, you can get access for a line of site? Just a thought. Anyway, great site, well done.
SJ
Apologies, Nick :-)
However, the image is still only refreshing once every 14 minutes for me - perhaps that's a subliminal message from my employer...
Have a good day everyone, and a special thought for Froona.
Hi everybody, hope you're alright! I'm back home now and as usual, log on to my computer watching the birdies. Can't believe the fourth egg came on the next day I left Derby!
Well, just want to say thanks to Nick(M) and Tony for your hospitality, Nick(B) for the DVD and the published articles...too bad that I didn't see you, and the things all of you has arranged for me. I had an enjoyable time in Derby, I’m so pleased to have climbed up the spiral staircase to visit your “control room” … and to learn why spiral stairs go in a clockwise direction.
Thankyou once again, I hope my donation can help to support your project a bit.
Best wishes from Hong Kong,
Jennie
P.S. Nick, I caught flu also. Guess it must be the chilly weather that I didn't get used to, it's really windy up on the tower that day. Wish you and Froona get well soon.
Pax Canada 11.52pm
male falcon on the right camera.
Glad you got home safely Jenny, hope you get over the flu soon
Jennie: sorry about the flu but glad you made it home OK.
You were a real star and it was so kind of you to deal with the press. You featured on the front page of the local paper with a half page article and further photos inside...great publicity!
And a big thanks to you for your generous donation (and to Roger for his also, sent through today)...more on this donations thing later....and I'll be contacting both of you to thank you personally.
Nick B (DWT)
Nick M will tackle the pud cam problem when he's up and about again. The camera can be pulled back on to the tower top (ie out of view of the peregrines) but it is a tricky operation which only Nick M can do (he installed it in the first place!)
Nick B
I have a wish list of places top visit (severely disabled father makes visiting difficult at times) and Derby cathedral is most definitely close to the top of this list now. Once again I would like to thank you all for the hard work in allowing us to share these precious moments in the magnificent Peregrines lives.
PS Do you have disabled WC facilities at the Cathedral?
Can not be to sure but while out walking my parents dog yesterday i was busy watching a kestel hunting, out of the courner of my eye i thought i caught what looked like a swallow or a house martin. Just wondered if anyone eles has had a reported sightings yet.(i was walking along the chevin at duffield when i thought i saw it).Andy. Derby.
Andy again just another observation males on the eggs at the moment 10.39am thursday just noticed that the little white dot that used to be on his cheek is no longer there. Sorry not very exiting but just thought id make a point. Andy.
ruth z....i know what you mean about employers - i check over my shoulder to see if the boss is around before i check how the birds are doing!! but at least one of the IT guys was obliging as i couldn't access the webcams when i was given a new computer but i can now and he comes by occasionally to see how the birds are doing....another fan!!
steph (canada)
Nestbox camera stuck on 14:02:46.
Ah, so I'm not the only one experiencing the webcam gremlin... It's a relief for me, but not so good if there's a more general issue - hmmm.
Thanks - I've rebooted the video server and the images are back online. Having feedback on frozen images is just fantastic as we get an emailed copiy of every comment left and can respond as soon as we're able.
Someone earlier asked about spraying the tower camera to clear the muck. Unfortunately we can't do that because it would disturb the birds to much, so it will have to wait until I'm fit enough to go up the tower to remove and clean the camera sometime next week.
Sorry for this
Nick M.
The video feed willlll be going offlne around 54pm whilst Tony inside the Cathedral reboots our video server. If we still have problems, we may swap over the camera inputs.
Nick M.
8.33am
I think we are spoilt with having the pudding cam, I remember when we just had the two views, you have come so far in a short time, kudos to the team
A-hem, why's it called a "pudding" cam? Does it perhaps look a bit like a pudding?!
"Pudding Cam" got its name because of the polystyrene mock-up I made a year ago to test the viability of installing a third camera. It rather looked like a black Christmas pudding on a stick, and the name seems to have stuck!
Check out our archives for January last year: http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html
Nick M.
Thanks. I've been wondering that for ages! I didn't have much luck with the link you gave me but found it after a bit of rooting round in the archives. Try:
http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/2008/01/pudding-cam.html
Actually the blog archives from previous years all look rather fascinating. I'm going to have a good read through them over the next few weeks while waiting for those chicks to emerge :)
To answer the question from Jayne earlier today. Yes, the Cathedral do have disabled WC Facilities. (Easier access is when the Coffee Shop is open.) The Cathedral is very disabled friendly as 90% is on one level. If WC Facility is required when in the Cathedral then have a quick word with a member of staff.
I look forward to meeting any member of our 'Blog Family' and hope to see many of you during the next few months!!
Response to earlier question.Yes i have seen a swallow also, it was yesterday morning(Belper), but of course no one would believe me.
Derbyshire, indeed all the UK, is steadily filling up with summer migrants returning from wintering quarters further south. The first swallows arrived a week or more ago and chiffchaffs and sand martins even earlier. The most fascinating migration to watch is that of the satellite tagged ospreys returning from West Africa to their nests in the North of Scotland. To see their every moves plotted on google earth maps, and a written summary each day, put either 'roydennis' or 'highland foundation for wildlife' into a search engine....you will be hooked (I hope). Beatrice should have crossed the English Channel today, Morven is in North Spain feeding up before tackling the Bay of Biscay and Nimrod is in the Western Sahara...gripping stuff watching them make their way back north.
Nick B (DWT)
Pax Canada 11.59pm
male on the ledge below the nest
I think it's the female on the ledge and the male on the eggs. I watched them an hour ago when the male having its back towards the cam, covering the eggs with his small body, it seems like he's waiting for mum to take turn. Jennie, HK.
Wonderful view this morning - with the male perched just below the nesting platform.
How do I save shots like this? I'm on a Mac.
The images coming from the camera facing the crane on the multiview is not very clear. Can anything be done about this?
Both the ospreys have already returned to Rutland water in Leicstershire. They have some great pictures and comments all about there journey from africa, and there arrival back at Rutland. Andy.
Multi-stream view appears to have frozen at 16:09.
Roger, from Derby.
pax Canada 8.31am
Good morning, looks like the pudding cam is clearing a bit, I can make out the white building and
the crane today.
Panic over - the multi camera's up and running again! :)
My sister in law in California told me about other peregrine sites she is watching. It's worth having a look, there's one in San Francisco and also one at San Jose. If you google "Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group" you should find all the info you need.
Have been watching the female on the eggs for the last 10 mins or so and she looks a bit perturbed, keeps moving her head about a lot and looking upwards all the time. Is there something going on up above? Is there some bell ringing practice going on perhaps (it's about 6 pm)?
I meant 7pm of course!
There is Bell Ringing Practice every Tuesday and Friday beginning at about 7.00pm but I don't think it particularly registers with the Peregrines.
In June there is actually a Bell Ringers Tower Open Day - I will check the date - when people are given the chance to try ringing the bells. Any budding campanologists out there?
Tony
Terri, sometimes the birds do look up quite a bit. I always assumed some other bird was maybe getting too close to their territory.
I'm miles behind Nick B in my observations, but I just heard my first chiffchaff today. WEnt and took a look at my beloved mute swan and of course, she's still sitting very tight - she'll be ages and ages yet.
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