This Saturday (August 28th) is the cathedral bell ringers' annual Open Day - between 10 am and 4 pm and everyone is welcome.
There will be demonstrations (with plenty of noise no doubt!) and an opportunity to see the ringing chamber. This room is also where the peregrine IT gear is kept and the monitor will be switched on to show the live web cam views.
There will be demonstrations (with plenty of noise no doubt!) and an opportunity to see the ringing chamber. This room is also where the peregrine IT gear is kept and the monitor will be switched on to show the live web cam views.
So do take the chance to find out about the bells, the carillon (left) and what bell ringing entails......it should be very interesting!
Nick B (DWT)
Report on the day by Roger, one of the bell-ringing team.
The bell-ringer's open tower open day was a great success. The weather was fantastic with blue skies for most of the day and even the brief downpour at 2pm was over by the time the next batch of visitors had reached the roof where, I'm told, there were clear views over five counties.
People came from a wide range of places including Derby, Nottingham, Windsor and Chester in the UK together with Latvia, the Czech Republic and the USA.
There were told about the history of the tower and its bells, with explanations and demonstrations of how they are rung, before having a go themselves. While they were waiting to ring they were treated to wonderful live views of an impeccably behaved peregrine who sat in full view of the pud-cam on the grotesques for nearly the whole day.
Even the clock hammer on the tenor bell was repaired so the crowd that gathered in the carillon room at 12 noon were able watch and hear the clock chimes and carillon tunes in their full glory.
Many thanks to all who came along.
Report on the day by Roger, one of the bell-ringing team.
The bell-ringer's open tower open day was a great success. The weather was fantastic with blue skies for most of the day and even the brief downpour at 2pm was over by the time the next batch of visitors had reached the roof where, I'm told, there were clear views over five counties.
People came from a wide range of places including Derby, Nottingham, Windsor and Chester in the UK together with Latvia, the Czech Republic and the USA.
There were told about the history of the tower and its bells, with explanations and demonstrations of how they are rung, before having a go themselves. While they were waiting to ring they were treated to wonderful live views of an impeccably behaved peregrine who sat in full view of the pud-cam on the grotesques for nearly the whole day.
Even the clock hammer on the tenor bell was repaired so the crowd that gathered in the carillon room at 12 noon were able watch and hear the clock chimes and carillon tunes in their full glory.
Many thanks to all who came along.
Glad to see that at least one Peregrine has made a turnup for your open day. Hope you had a nice day.
ReplyDeleteI hope the bell ringing went well. The peregrines have stayed around for the day. As I type now they are both in the scrape one each side – it looks like they are bowing and bonding, a treat for the webcam viewers.
ReplyDeletePhoebe
Sunday morning (29th) update: the female on the tower above the nest platform but no other birds seen either on the tower or the police aerial. Not many feathers below either but I did find a very old snipe head that must have just been blown off by the recent strong winds and a moulted peregrine wing feather.
ReplyDeleteNick B (DWT)
Two peregrines in view today one on tower and one on the pipe
ReplyDeleteOne peregrine up close to camera and probably is thinking (?) "I look good on this"!
ReplyDeleteThere is a peregrine on the tower in virtually the same place as has been the case for the last two days - is it the same one as on previous days or does it fly off and return or is its mate - has anyone seen it fly off?
ReplyDeleteA peregrine perched on the corbel again.
ReplyDeleteOne adult on the tower, the other on the scrape ledge, lhs.
ReplyDeleteThere's a peregrine on the usual corbel, but it's an hour early today (and so am I!)
ReplyDelete11.17 am One peregrine on tower having a good preen and then looking straight into the camera lens -'Who's looking good!'
ReplyDeleteThere's something that looks like a large dead bird at the back of the scrape, rhs. Have they taken to stashing food here too?
ReplyDeleteAn adult is standing on the tower ledge; no sign of one down on the favourite corbel yet.
My PC has died. Normally I have a quick peregrin fix at least once a day so I have been having withdrawal symptoms and have had to resort to the local library!
ReplyDeleteOne adult on the nestbox ledge, rhs, and the other on the tower, both looking handsome & well.
ReplyDeleteOne's in the scrape, apparently finishing the prey that was stashed there earlier.
ReplyDeleteMorning all, what a lovely foggy morning.
ReplyDeleteBoth Falcon and Tiercel are in camera shot (Falcon on scrape ledge and Tiercel on the tower).
Hope it clears up soon for them to hunt.
One upstairs, one downstairs. Yhe upstairs one is looking quite scruffy these days.
ReplyDeleteI believe the bell-ringing day was a success. I happened to be there checking our recording equipment when the first tower tour arrived at 10.45 on Saturday morning. I was invited to say a few words about the project and to show a video clip of our chicks when they were just hatching. It was heartening to see just how many people have obviously kept up-to-date with all the roller-coaster events that have happened during the year.
ReplyDeleteLooks like something is stashed on RHSnof nest platform. One bird present.
ReplyDeletehaven't heard from karen ann lately. Concerned from massachusetts.
ReplyDeleteI believe Karen Ann stopped posting here about the time the second chick died. She became very upset at the non-intervention policy.
ReplyDeleteJust logged on to find a pigeon sitting in the scrape. Do they have a sense of smell? I wonder if they realise where they are?
ReplyDeletePhoebe
Live prey in the nestbox - a daring pigeon!
ReplyDeleteThe pigeon on rhs of scrape has now got its head tucked in and is sleeping...!
ReplyDeleteIt's still there! Must have a death-wish ...
ReplyDeleteOh my! the pigeon is still sleeping in the scrape and there is a peregrine on the tower cam... !
ReplyDeleteI think it's still there. There is an ominous glow of eyes up on the tower!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the eyes I thought I saw were just a trick of the light. For that pigeon's sake I hope so!
ReplyDeletePigeon and peregrine both still present at 0400 hours.
ReplyDeleteNick B (DWT)
The pigeon seems to have taken up residence on the scrape, I haven't seen it move all morning. Maybe it is ill...
ReplyDeleteIf that's the same pigeon, lhs in the scrape, it's living on borrowed time!
ReplyDeleteTwo peregrines on sentry duty on the tower - keeping an eye on the Friday night revellers.
ReplyDeleteThere's a large shape in the scrape, rhs front corner, that doesn't seem to have moved. Did anyone see it brought in? I expect it's prey but I can't make out what.
ReplyDelete@Annie .... the prey on the platform was brought in early this morning at around 6.45am.
ReplyDelete@ AnnieF - just noticed that myslef, it looks very like an oven-ready chicken lol!
ReplyDelete@ Helen: Thanks, I just couldn't work out what it was & like Phoebe, I thought it might be a ready-meal (dropped from a turret!)
ReplyDeleteWhere have our peregrines gone? I haven't seen them for days!
ReplyDelete