Sunday 25 October 2009

Brief flirt with catholicism?

( Update 2nd Nov. We are aware of a power failure affecting our webcams today. We will try and restart our equipment over the next 24 hours)

The peregrines have switched to their usual winter diet already. This morning I found three redwing heads and one of a fieldfare below the tower, as well as a common snipe's beak. As you can see, most of its skull has gone - the brains are rich in protein.
Redwings and fieldfares are absent from Derbyshire in summer, returning here from Scandinavia each winter, some never to return of course.


I also saw a peregrine (the falcon) perched on the tower of St Mary's, the roman catholic church a few hundred metres away from the cathedral. This is the first time I've ever seen a peregrine on that tower, which is much lower than the cathedral tower but, nevertheless, a high vantage point for a peregrine. Sorry the pic is blurred - taken from the car while traffic lights were on red!
She didn't stay there long as it happened....


Nick B (DWT)

20 comments:

Pax Canada said...

Thanks for the update Nick, one on the tower cam and one on the nest ledge.
I see your clocks have gone back, ours go back on the 31st

Helen said...

Just seen a lovely close up view of one of the juveniles on the tower camera. An adult was also sitting in the background.

Pax Canada said...

One peeking out on the tower cam

Gio said...

Beautiful close ups of an adult eating his/her prey! :)

http://www.birdcam.it/forum/viewtopic.php?p=65247#65247

Pax Canada said...

one close up on the tower cam

Pax Canada said...

Lovely shot on the tower cam

Karen Anne said...

It looks like the remains of breakfast or lunch in he nestbox.

wayne1984 said...

update*****
sorry i have not posted on here in a while, but i have been busy with a project recently, i am sure you will all here about this soon, because of this i have not been in contact with some good friends i have met through the derby peregrine project as much as i would of liked. but finally the project is now done with and i hope to regain contact and get back into things. in regards to the peregrines i am still getting at least one fly over my house daily. which is always good. i have not been down to the cathedral as much as i would of liked either, could anyone tell me if the youngsters are still around?

i have some news of one of the derby brood, not sure which one though, i was over at attenborough nature reserve the other day and one was flying at speed over the reserve. i will be updating my website with pictures from my trips to attenborough and other places soon. and if those friends could email me to get in touch i will update them as to the outcome of the project.

i will be going into hospital on the 9th of november for aproz a week, so if you need to contact me then please do before that time.

wayne1984 said...

oh and nick, it is not the first time that the birds have used St Mary's church. myself and barry have seen them on there a while ago. but im sorry i didnt have the camera with me at the time. but they are still using the Jury's inn lettering as a perch. aswell as the police mast.

Pax Canada said...

one on the tower cam

Pax Canada said...

nice shot on the tower cam

Karen Anne said...

Wayne, good luck in the hospital.

At least one juvie has been around.

Audrey (London) said...

Brilliant close-up on pudding cam!

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

Both adults in view on "pudding cam" on top of the cathedral - perhaps watching the spooky goings on during #halloween - or perhaps readying themselves for dia del muerte tomorrow!

Wayne - welcome back from your recent project work. Hope the op' goes OK, and you're not 'opping so much afterwards.
Nick.

wayne1984 said...

thanks nick, im sure after this operation everything will be back to normal. in terms of the project nick, ill email you in a second to give you the details.

this evening the two adults look to of had quite a feast. on puding cam sorry i have not recorded the time, but both have eaten well.

Pax Canada said...

two on the tower cam

Pax Canada said...

One on the tower cam

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

Camera update:
Our thanks to Andrea in China for emailing to report the fact that our cameras have frozen at 11:26 on 2nd November. There was a power failure at Derby Cathedral this morning, and for some reason our equipment has not restarted, and can't be accessed remotely, which is unusual.

Our apologies to Andrea's family who had scheduled to stand outside the Silk Mill Pub at 1pm local time and wave to her in China. We appreciate how disappointing this must have been.
For anyone else planning a long-distance wave to a far-flung country, do let us know in advance, and we'll try and ensure everything is set up for you to get a good screen capture over the webcams.

wayne1984 said...

update,
i have been down the cathedral green today, both parents were on the tower, when i arrived there was one youngster on the jury's inn lettering, and what seemed to be the other youngster on the police radio mast. although the youngsters were not around for long unfortunatly i did not see where they went. the adults were both on the tower for most of the day. Although the falcon did fly briefly. good to see the birds again its been a long time

Phoebe said...

@Wayne

Good to hear from you again. I hope your op goes well.

Phoebe