Wednesday 16 June 2010

Lift Off!

Update 9.40pm Tuesday: the second chick to fledge flew around the cathedral several times this evening, landing on different buildings, ending up on a chimney above Irongate where it seemed to be settled for the night. Thanks to Cliff and Christine for keeping track of it (still not sure if it is male or female!). Monday's fledgling was up on a pinnacle near the tower top - clearly settled for the night there.

Derby's second peregrine falcon has fledged!
This photo shows the precise moment, captured and posted almost immediately by "Twwitcher" onto our Flickr photopool.

2nd Chick Takes to the Air - 16th June 2010 - 14.35

It seems it (she?) flew around 14:35 local time, though ironically we first heard the news via a phone call from Ruth in France to report her departure. So thanks to everyone who got in touch. As I write this (15:20) I've just recieved a text message from Nick B. to report that he has spotted the chick on the cathedral's nave roof, and that she seems OK. Whether or not she will be able to fly on from there remains to be seen.
Oops - a further call from Nick B. at 15:32 and she has flown on to one of the tall chimneys of the Silk Mill museum (the small one just left of centre on the photo), after not quite managing to make it to the tall, nearby Jury's Inn Hotel. But it does look like our second bird is a strong flyer and should be OK, too.

We gather that a photographer (Andy B) from Nottingham managed to capture the exact moment of take off, after waiting there most of the day with camera poised. He's agreed to send us some images and we'll try and bring this moment to you too. We'll retrieve a video clip of the fledging moment sometime tomorrow lunchtime if we can, and hope to post it just after lunch or later in the evening.

So what happens now?

It's still possible that one or both birds will come back to the nest ledge, and maybe confuse a few webcam watchers into thinking that they haven't left yet. But there's a much stronger chance that you'll see them at some point in the days ahead via the tower cam. This is a high vantage point on Derby Cathedral which the juveniles have used a lot in the past. So we'll switch the cams over in the next day or so to give better view looking across towards Jury's Inn Hotel. I'll also swap back the video recorders which have been running on both next cameras since yesterday so that the ledge is covered. (Apologies to those of you who wanting more video clips this season. It has been a very busy time for me both at home and at work recently, and it simply wasn't possible to find the free time to retrieve all the clips from inside Derby Cathedral Tower that you might have wished to have seen.)
(The photo shows the first fledger and the falcon both near the top of one of the pinnacles today. During the morning this bird successfully received food from the falcon in mid-air and took it first to the nave roof and then to the top of the Silk Mill, finally flying back to the tower top.)
Cathedral Green Antics
Despite the wonders of technology, nothing beats seeing peregrine falcons in real life. So this is where many of you reading this blog will now be earnestly wish you were living in or visiting Derby, because for the next few weeks there should be some amazing aerial antics to be seen from Derby's Cathedral Green. As the young peregrines gain in confidence their parents will be aiding the process of learning to hunt and fly, and all this can be watched from the ground. The Wildlife Trust-run Watchpoints will continue for some time yet, so if you haven't made it down to see them in the flesh (so-to-speak), do make a point of visiting in the days ahead. (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays c.10.30am-1.00pm.).

23 comments:

Andrew L - London SW1 said...

Oh that is WONDERFUL news......

Erica said...

Excellent. I felt so sorry for the youngster on its own -must be bewildering. it's nice to have the screen-shot.

Jon B (not the sloop) said...

So we definitely have flight in an upward direction rather than just fluttering down from the nest ledge onto the nave roof then. That has to be good news.....

Terry, Herts UK said...

Fantastic! Beautiful day for it...congrats to the dedicated team!

Might get to watch some football now, eh? :P

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

What football?

Mo Cole Belper said...

Good Bye, Good Luck and God Bless Mr n Mrs P and Juvies. Thank you for a fantastic 3 months entertainment and a special thank you to the team. Hope to see you next year xxxxx

Anonymous said...

Great news! Congrats and thanks to all those involved and good luck to the Derby Peregrine family. I'm going to miss seeing the whole family rearing process from eggs to fledge.

Craig said...

Many thanks for the new, it's a wonderful sight to see come in from work to see an empty nest and then to read that she took off and is easily found safe and sound.

I'm sure there is plenty more to come in the following months before they are fully free and independent from their parents.


@Terry, Herts... Think I'd rather watch an empty nest box than the Football.

Terry, Herts UK said...

Craig - That's OK. You keep an eye on the scrape & I'll watch the TV. Let us know if anything happens :D

I have no idea if any of the team are avid footie fans but if they are, the world cup only comes around every 4 years, so after all their hard work they deserve some kind of break to think about other things. Of course, it's not quite 'over yet' for this year's brood and I envy those of you in Derby who hopefully will enjoy the privilege of seeing the juvies being taught how to fly, stoop and hunt for themselves. Must be a spectacular sight.

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that the two successful fledges seem even more priceless after the sad failures of the other two eyases. Anyone who has followed the cams and this blog over the past few weeks must surely feel privileged - from 'oldies' like me to the very fortunate members of Green Class (& other schools), thanks to their enlightened teachers and their use of today's technology for the very best of reasons.

Oh, and a little mention for Froona who I believe provided the Derby logo amongst many other important things. She would be delighted to see the two young birds take to the skies.

Andrew L - London SW1 said...

Got home and turned on my pc. Still seems odd to see the nest, all empty again. I have spent so much time watching as the eggs were laid, the chicks hatching and growing into beautiful young birds. Then, finally setting off to begin their life in the big wide world. Hopefully soon I will come up to my home city of Derby and see them in real life.

Thanks to the team that are responsible for bringing all this to beautiful life for us all. Thanks too for all the comments, photos and videos.

This is the first year I have watched this awesome piece of natural history......

Feel quite sad now, like they were friends. .....

KerrySuffolk said...

PS. Thanks again to the team.

KerrySuffolk said...

Great news! Will look forward to seeing them on the tower over the next few weeks.

Hopefully next year won't be so nerve wracking!

Anonymous said...

what an exceptional last 3 months i have had sad days and happy days watching these magnificant birds. i was fascinated when the female adult done her utmost to assist her sick chicks, i went into hospital for major op during my many visits to the derby cathedral. i was able to watch from my hospital bed at the womens hospital in liverpool. i will send a donation within the nxt week a well deserved addition to your funds for wildlife. thank you so much to all the team, and to the many people who gave comments and posted some amazing pics. regards donna, liverpool

Anonymous said...

Way to go little Peregrine!!!

Gutted though - I was working in Derby today and early afternoon thought I might take a quick wander down to the green to see if I could see them. If my phone hadn't rung just as I was picking up my coat I'd have been there when she jumped!!! Oh well... something to aim for next year :-)

Mrs B

AnnieF. said...

@ KerrySuffolk: It's always nerve-racking, next year will have just as many heart-stopping moments you can be sure!
To Twwitcher: well done on capturing that special moment, much appreciated.
To The Team: "Thank you" seems rather a limp way to acknowledge everything you've done for us watchers and bloggers, but I also hope you're still getting thanks in a more tangible way: DONATIONS!!! It would be unbearable if we couldn't visit next year and go through all the dramas, traumas and pleasures of this wonderful website with you.
With fingers crossed, I'll say just "Au revoir".

karen said...

Oh wow!! Amazing news!!! I am SO happy that they have fledged successfully!!! After the trauma of losing 2 chicks, its lovely to have a happy ending xxx Thankyou SO much to the team for all of their hard work and dedication xxx

Julie said...

I know I am only repeating many of the comments already posted - but there is something quite poignant about seeing the empty nest box and there will be a gap in my life for a while now! However, it is actually good news of course and now I will have more time to catch up on other jobs whilst wondering how the flying/hunting lessons are progressing. Many thanks to the team and all those who have contributed to the blog to keep us all up to date. Stay safe Peregrine family - will hopefully catch a glimpse of you from time to time!

katie said...

i am gutted i havent had the oppourtunity to come down and see them properly does anybody know how long they will hang around the scrape for ? as i would like to come down next month but i am just wondering if it will be worth it i saw them 3 years ok when i come down and it was fascinating to see thm coming back with food. thanks tem for all your work ! and i am soooo glad that all has been ok in the fledging

Joy said...

The picture is superb, pleased its gone but now hope they will get along ok. there's one high up as I just looked but cannot make out whether ists an adult or juvenile.

thanks so much to the TEAM

Phoebe said...

I was delighted to be on the cathedral green this afternoon to watch the peregrines. When I arrived at about 4:20pm the second juvenile was on a chimney behind the Silk Mill Museum where s/he stayed throughout doing plenty of flapping and stretching. The falcon was seen flying overhead coming in with the prey and the tiercel behind her. The first juvie was seen on the aerial mast near the assembly rooms. We were all treated to a very good air display featuring the falcon and the first juvenile – the falcon was flying around high above the nave roof with food in her talons tempting the juvenile who was flying after and around her trying to get the food they were out of sight until eventually they both landed on a pinnacle where the juvenile had her meal, I don’t know if she got the food in the air or not. The juvie was flying very powerfully it was a real treat!

When I left at 7:40pm all four birds were in view – the second juvie still on the Silk Mill Museum chimney, the first juvie half way down the left pinnacle with the falcon higher up on the same pinnacle and the tiercel high up on the stonework to the south? face (overlooking the Silk Mill pub), all viewed from the cathedral green.

Such a treat to see them all fighting fit and flying high.

11:15pm I see the tiercel has taken up his favourite spot on view near the tower cam for the night...

Steph (Canada) said...

Great news that both youngsters have left the nest safely.

Many thanks to the team members for their hard work again this year....we all appreciate it!!

Pam said...

Is that Dad up on the tower? I bet he wishes the babies were back in the nest too, at least he knew where they were!

Terry, Herts UK said...

Phoebe - I wish you would stop making up these stories. All it does is make the rest of us very, very jealous!

:D