A quick note to say the first youngster flew - or tried to - at about 2.30pm today Tuesday and the project team are trying to locate it now. More news when we have it.
3.25 pm update: the bird is safely on a nearby roof and it is being monitored to see if it flies up or drops down to the ground.....
UPDATE 4pm: the bird came to ground, was caught and put in a box and will shortly be on its way up to the top of the tower to be released so that it can have another go!
The suspicion is that the bird was pushed or toppled off the platform rather than made a decision to fly so to speak.
3.25 pm update: the bird is safely on a nearby roof and it is being monitored to see if it flies up or drops down to the ground.....
UPDATE 4pm: the bird came to ground, was caught and put in a box and will shortly be on its way up to the top of the tower to be released so that it can have another go!
The suspicion is that the bird was pushed or toppled off the platform rather than made a decision to fly so to speak.
PLEASE NOTE THE PHOTO SHOWS ONE OF LAST YEAR'S MALE BIRDS IN A BOX EN ROUTE TO THE TOWER TOP - PHOTOS OF THIS YEAR'S BIRD WILL FOLLOW AS AND WHEN!
4.30 pm and a second has flown...we're trying to find out where it is! A busy afternoon!
Latest Update at 6.45 pm: the second one only got as far as the top of one of the cameras before ending up back in the platform....so there are three still in there.
4.30 pm and a second has flown...we're trying to find out where it is! A busy afternoon!
Latest Update at 6.45 pm: the second one only got as far as the top of one of the cameras before ending up back in the platform....so there are three still in there.
The first one (010, one of the females) was taken up the tower and is now standing on the stonework on the North side of the tower. Let's hope she stays there overnight and doesn't try another flight this evening. She was clearly not too strong according to Colin who captured her and put her in the rescue box this afternoon.
Video clip and more photos to follow later this evening.
We can expect more excitements tomorrow and because of this there will be a Watch Point, between 10.30 am and 1.30pm.
We can expect more excitements tomorrow and because of this there will be a Watch Point, between 10.30 am and 1.30pm.
Nick B (DWT)
Woohoo!!! fantastic news! I'm so pleased, let the maiden flights commence!! hubby was down at lunchtime and saw them on the edge of the nest box, what a shame he missed it!
ReplyDeleteHope they locate it the others 3 look quite concerned. Wonderful to see the first fledge
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely brill, just came on and got 2 on one camera and one on the other. Keep it up and I hope they are safe
ReplyDeleteI think the others are thinking 'shall we or shan't we'
ReplyDeleteThe three all seem to be looking down, maybe where they're looking is a clue as to where the first is?
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ReplyDeleteIs that one of the parents on the ledge below the nestcam view? Or our intrepid fledgling..
ReplyDeleteRJ
Good eyes, RJ. I hope it is the fledgling.
ReplyDeleteI would think the parents might be near the fledgling if they saw him or her fledge, another clue to location.
We are really excited that one of the birds has fledged. We gave it a big clap. We will keep looking to see when the others go. we hope they will fly high soon... brilliant! We've been waiting a long time for that to happen!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the team are looking for the fledgling near the Silk Mill, across the road (alternative camera). There look to be quite a few folk hanging around down there.
ReplyDeleteHope it's OK.
Looks like an adult to me on the ledge below. It seems to be a bolder colour.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant news that the first one is ok....do hope the others are as successful...I am neglecting all work this afternoon to watch
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update Nick, I was just down to my last fingernail!
ReplyDeletePam
Lots more flapping and flying across perhaps another one will go shortly.
ReplyDeleteWonder which side of the nest the fledgeling will fly back into? Going back and forth on my computer and trying to capture shots. Driving me crazy. Oh boy glad when it returns safe and sound.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the adult bird below is trying to encourage them?
ReplyDeleteWhat just happened? Did the chick come back and go again?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update Nick. Let's hope that it gets the hang of flying upwards second time round! What a fantastic team we have in Derby - our birds should be very grateful.
ReplyDeleteNot returned yet I have been watching and still there have been only 3 there for quite some time now.
ReplyDeleteanother one gone
ReplyDeletenow only 2 left
ReplyDeleteNow there are only 2 in the tray!
ReplyDeleteA second bird's just left - flew of it's own accord - no pushing needed!
ReplyDeleteAlan165
One of them just had a mini flight, more of a bounce really. And is now up on top of the box – you can just see its tail on the nest cam.
ReplyDeleteRJ
Think the 3rd one is perched just above the tray - can just see its tail..
ReplyDeleteYou are right RJ, not a real flight - well as long as it can flutter back down!
ReplyDeleteWhich tray is the tail showing in?
ReplyDeleteJo
I don't see the tail, but I do see three birds in the nestbox.
ReplyDeleteStill see only 2 in the nest and team says it being looked for.
ReplyDeleteThe tail has vanished now - but could just be out of sight of the cameras
ReplyDeleteRather annoyed, I just went for my grandchildren and whilst absent from the PC another one has fledged. I see a parent bird still on the ledge below.
ReplyDeleteThe tail was just by the words Nest Cam 1, but has disappeared for a while. I only see two youngsters.
ReplyDeleteThe head in Cam 2 is the same bird as can be seen in Cam 1
Oh, my view of the nestbox had frozen and I didn't realize it, so my posting about three was out of date.
ReplyDeleteSo the fun begins.....
ReplyDeleteFlying is as easy as falling off a cathedral. It's the bit about landing more or less upright and in a sensible place that tends to be more challenging.
Like the way the remaining 2 have now backed away from the edge as if to say "Absolutely NO WAY!!!" :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, i see number two has braved it!!!
ReplyDeleteThe falcon? perched below seems to be taking it very calmly. But I guess she has more experience now - and expects those nice humans to run around a bit helping!
ReplyDeleteThree in the scrape again - but which 3?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the project folks are running around looking for the second one to bring both back at the same time and meanwhile the second one is comfy in the nestbox :-)
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ReplyDelete17:09 and there she goes again. Baskets at the ready chaps......
ReplyDeleteI have a screen capture, one with just his or her tail showing just now above the nest box. I posted on flicker.
ReplyDeleteHad to disappear for an hour (work, huh!) but I see there are now three in the scrape. Did the one who went to the top of the tray around 4.30, then out of sight, drop down? I presume the one ‘in the box’ doesn’t get put back in the scrape, but is let loose at the top of the tower?
ReplyDeleteRJ
All this time I waited for this moment and I missed it. How disappointing. I still have a chance to see the other 2 babies make thier maiden flight - I only hope I'm sitting in front of the pc.
ReplyDeletePS Does the project team have a video of the 2 that flew off the nest?
@ Kishore:
ReplyDeleteI don't think we are 100% sure that the second one made a long flight. It flew up to the top of the nest platform, and then disappeared ... but whether it flew or just climbed out of camera shot is not clear.
We are waiting for Ground Control to let us know, but I guess they are rather busy just now.
I would live to know which one was the first! Not the smallest, I think Number 8 is still there.
pax Canada
ReplyDeletesomething on the ledge below gravel part of the nest
How many times do the eyases need to be taken back to the nest before they "get their wings" and manage to return to the nest???
ReplyDeleteThanks,
John A
Oh they spotted something Getting all excited again and fussing around wonder what it is. Hopefully the missing sibling.
ReplyDeleteThere's 3 in there at the mo, is one a parent????
ReplyDeleteloui
There's 3 in there at the mo, is one a parent????
ReplyDeleteloui
They are all young ones.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s the oldest (from Colin’s observations: 011 - Tiercel) that keeps leaping/flapping up to the top of the tray. It was the one who was doing it this afternoon. I captured a pic, timed at 18:53 – on flickr
ReplyDeleteRJ
From three to two - has one flown away? The remaining 2 keep looking around.
ReplyDeleteLooks a bit like number 2 has gone now - 7.03...
ReplyDeleteI do wish people would stop misusing the word 'fledge', which means 'to grow or become fully feathered'. By implication only, it means to become capable of flight. It does not mean 'to fly for the first time' or 'to leave the nest'. Kate Humble started it!
ReplyDeleteSorry there's 3 there. For a moment I thought......
ReplyDelete@Kishore:
ReplyDeleteIt seems Youngster #11 has been flapping up to the top of the nest platform out of sight, and then dropping back into the tray.
Of course one time it will be a real flight! How can we know?
@ Kishore @Tom
ReplyDeleteSee my post at 7.00. The rascal was up on top of the tray. I think he’s there again..
RJ
Well said about use of the word 'fledging', Andrew (Rugby).
ReplyDeleteThe second bird has perfected his method of teasing us. Is he there or has he gone ? - he doesn't always leave his tail as a clue. 'Macavity the mystery bird - he's called the Hidden Claw...'
What are the options for the female fledgling on top of the tower?
ReplyDeleteIs the famous pudding-cam, and associated ledge very far below her? Her parents roost there, so it may be an attractive next descent.
I hope I don't get 3/10. See Me! for my use of The Word. :)
I wonder what the parents have been doing while this has been going on? Maybe the one on the ledge was keeping an eye on things?
ReplyDeleteToo late about the word fledge, it is lodged in my brain forever as meaning first flight.
pax Canada
ReplyDeleteOne just took off
pax Canada
ReplyDeleteIt returned and just as quick took off again but then came right back
@ Pax Canada
ReplyDeleteThere at least two of them who have mastered the art of climbing/flapping up the side of the tray and then out of sight. They are getting quite quick at it - with the webcam delay the little blighters can appear to have disappeared.
RJ
Number 11 is certainly putting some energy and dedication into his pre-flight excercises.
ReplyDeleteHe really stands a better chance of a successful first flight, now that he has "worked-out".
As I have said before - these youngsters seem to have an innate sense of how to induce anxiety in humans; a) get prone in the floor & keep still for ages, b) hide behind other chicks at feeding time, and now c) flutter up out of camera shot for a few minutes.
one of the chicks has gone again, can only see 3 chicks on the platform.
ReplyDeleteI feel so anxious! Our babies are going to leave the nest so soon now, we've been watching them for so long now. I hope all goes well!
ReplyDeleteI was about to call the English Language Police but then found that Andrew (Rugby) is correct :/
ReplyDeleteOr should that be 'Andrew was correct'? :)
Hi all, I have just got back from the cathedral green. The youngster that supposedly 'fledged' did not go purposely but was blown off the tray by a gust of wind whilst having a flapping session. I was told it tried to grab on to the rail but couldn't get a grip. I landed, as said on the main page, on a low roof beside the cathedral. When I left it was on the north side right at the top looking out at us all. The Tiercel was on the pinnacle above and in eyesight. Both parents were in fight as I walked away. Let's hope the youngster will be okay overnight.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a more purposeful flight may happen tomorrow.
Me too. Humble apologies all round.
ReplyDeleteNew blog update and video clips on the way soon. Wayne, I really need that picture of those lovely choir boys, if you're online!!
(Don't ask.)