This evening (30th) in a delightfully wind-free and sunny gap in an otherwise very wet day (it's raining again now!), our four chicks were quickly and successfully ringed, thanks to the services of Martin (the abseiler) and Ant (the licenced ringer). Ant thought there were definitely two females and one male with the fourth bird possibly of either sex....since this bird was intermediate in weight and leg width. Time may help is decide.
The orange colour rings applied were 012, 013, 014 and 015.
The Evening Telegraph photographer took his photos back to the newspaper office post haste and it seems likely they will be in tomorrow's paper.
My photos show Martin about to go 'over the edge' and one of the chicks in the middle of the ringing process. Better photos of the c
hicks will follow soon hopefully....
hicks will follow soon hopefully....Nick Brown (Derbyshire Wildlife Trust)
Ps. Someone a
sked to see a photo of Cathy as she is now - so here's one taken on Mon
sked to see a photo of Cathy as she is now - so here's one taken on Monday by Joyce Sawford.
And a second one shows Cathy with a young admirer - Thomas, taken by his father Tony.
Her plumage has certainly changed - she looks a lot more like an adult now. Note those
lovely feathers on her legs and the clearer and darker marks on her face - especially her moustache!
Helen and Joyce
John Salloway's photo shows a buzzard turned upside down to fend off a peregrine attack. It was taken a few years ago.
Report on Friday's Watch Point:
It was a beautiful sunny day today with over 60 people arriving at the Watch Point. They came from far and wide, including Brighton and Worcester. It was also good to see so many children and young people enjoying watching the peregrines. The telescopes were put to good use as there was plenty to see, with the chicks showing well on the platform.
It was a beautiful sunny day today with over 60 people arriving at the Watch Point. They came from far and wide, including Brighton and Worcester. It was also good to see so many children and young people enjoying watching the peregrines. The telescopes were put to good use as there was plenty to see, with the chicks showing well on the platform.
We were also treated to some fantastic aerial displays by the adult birds. The male arrived back around 11.45 am carrying food, which prompted the female to fly from the tower. Both birds were circling and diving for several minutes, before the food was finally taken to the platform and the chicks were fed by the female.
Later in the morning a buzzard was seen flying high up above the tower causing the adult birds to take flight again. There were stunning views of the male flying directly at the buzzard, with the female also calling angrily and circling close by. The buzzard was eventually driven off and didn't return! As we left one of the adult birds was perched at the top of the tower, whilst the chicks appeared settled at the back of the scrape. Many thanks to everyone who made donations and signed the visitors book today.
Helen and Joyce
John Salloway's photo shows a buzzard turned upside down to fend off a peregrine attack. It was taken a few years ago.
32 comments:
Thank you Nick B for all the info...it has been a very busy day on the blog....Mrs P hasn't left the chicks since they were returned to the nest...bless x
Well done team, you did a fabulous job and very swiftly! Did you get any hassle from the falcon she didn't look pleased lol? She is now guarding her chicks. I was happy to see her back very quickly after you left.
I too would be interested in the findings on the scrape.
Sorry I didn't turn up today.
Thanks for all the information re ringing. A fantastic job done on alousy day well done
That is a lovely photo of the chick being ringed! I know they had grown quickly, but seeing it being ringed puts the size into proportion - quite the large hungry brood to feed!
What's happened? There only seems to be two chicks moving.
Did a youngster just fall? One second it it was sitting by the edge of the right hand side of the platform next to the adult and then the webcam image updates and it's vanished ...
Sorry to say that I missed the ringing. Thank you for the flickr picture.
Can't believe how big the chick looks in the photo when it's being ringed! They look much smaller in the nest. Can anyone tell me if the Nottingham chicks have been ringed? Lots of wing flapping and sitting on the ledge now......
Well done and thanks for the interesting info about the rings themselves.
Joyce S. Sorry we have not made it to the Watch yet. Next week I hope.
@ Mary T
Yes, the Nottingham chicks were ringed a couple of weeks ago.
I've just uploaded to Flickr a couple of shots from Monday's cathedral event of 009 and 010(aka Cathy)
1st June 09:23 four chicks clearly visible on the right hand side of the scrape. One adult on the edge by them and the other on the far gargoyle up top.
sitting here with my broken foot watching our chicks hopping back and forth into the left side of their home. I wish!
Supper has arrived on the tower and is being prepared. Great view!
All the right-hand tray and one sitting up on its own looking so grown-up. I can never believe how quickly they grow.
For Ren13 and all,
This is the link to Colin's Blog
They are certainly growing and moving about now.
Good to see the ringing picture and the one of Cathy, she looks good
15.19 just caught dinner time for the chicks, think it may be the Tiercel feeding them. One of the chicks is off to the right, either flapping or wing stretching. Looks like the older of the 4 due to the lack of down.
15.31 Dinner time is over. I was a little amused at the end before the Tiercel flew off. It looked like as he tured his tail went over one of the chicks, which then had to duck to avoid the chop. Seeing the chick under the tail feather bowed down was amusing.
Thanks Joyce for the info on the Nottingham chicks.
Left a comment the other day thanking every one for what they "do" in any way but it did'nt appear here goes again. "Well done to you all".
Why is one sat by himself? Could he be diseased?
A better day for ''The Watch'' good to see you again Joyce..... It was good to see the chicks in the flesh so to speak.... Well done everyone x
Their appearance is noticeably changing now more feathers less down.
Watchpoint Saturday 4 June
As we set up this morning, the male (we think) brought a small prey item to the nest platform leaving it for the chicks to help themselves. Half an hour later, the female flew up and fed the chicks for a few minutes before perching up on a ledge just below the nest.
In between this, we had excellent views of one of the adults being mobbed by a male Kestrel over the St. Mary's Bridge area. This went on for a few minutes with the birds briefly locking talons on a couple of occasions before the Kestrel got bored and left.
Throughout the rest of the session, one or other of the adults was seen flying around the area with the male perched on Jury's Inn for long periods.
At around 12.00, the female returned to the Cathedral and perched in various locations before heading off purposefully over our heads at 1.15pm. We watched her chase a group of 3 feral pigeons before singling one out and swooping up to take it from below. She brought this back to the top of the tower and fed for a good ten minutes.
At this point, we decided to close the watchpoint but on leaving the Cathedral saw one of our visitors (from Long Eaton) watching the nest through his telescope - sure enough, the female was giving the chicks their second feed of the day!
All in all an excellent session with over 80 visitors (including one from America and William, aged 6, from Hilton who couldn't get enough of the peregrines) and plenty of action.
Andy, Chris, Celia & Nick B.
Both adults were on Jury's Inn lettering while I was down at the Cathedral this morning (between 07:45 and 08:45)
Sunday 12.35pm....all 4 in corner left hand side....looks like something out of ''Dr Who'' lol x
Wow aren't they changing fast?
Do miss the comments, that used to be so interesting as well as watching the chicks.
Got back last night from a week in Wales, and was amazed to see the chicks' progress in such a short time.
Mr. Moderator, please excuse a plug for some exciting news from elsewhere. While away I visited the Dyfi Osprey nest site in Mid Wales. While I was there the birds were still incubating, but yesterday (Sunday) and today 2 chicks have hatched. The female is a 2008 bird from Rutland Water; the male is unringed, but has been visiting the Dyfi site for a couple of years.
See:
http://www.montwt.co.uk/dyfiospreys.html .
Re: Watchpoint report for Sat.
Wow!! I am soooo jealous.
Thanks for all that info and glad you clearly had such a brilliant watch.
What a difference a day makes in the appearance of the chicks - there is much more colour visible on all four of them. One of them has just been spreading its wings!
The chicks in Hamilton, Ontario were ringed on 2nd June and there is one female and 2 males. The female is quite a bit heavier than the males - 914 grams to 650 and 671 grams!! One of them has already been out on the ledge surrounding the scrape.
http://falcons.hamiltonnature.org/
In fact there are 2 chicks on the ledge right now!!
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