Monday has been a lovely day here in Derby - blue skies and light winds (until late evening when it rained hard) - but an exciting one as well.
This morning I had a date with Ian Sky, a BBC Radio Derby reporter who wanted to pre-record an interview with me about fledging - the excitements and the worries!
Just before he arrived, 015, the flighty little male, flew from the top of the pinnacle (where
he had spent the night) and
landed somewhat unceremoniously back in the platform with his three sisters. Soon afterwards, he was off again, showing just how well he can fly now - no worries about him!
I spent the afternoon botanising near Nottingham and on the way back through Derby decided to stop and see what was happening, if anything. No sooner than I had arrived, 015 flew off from near the platform, followed by one of his sisters. The latter flew far less well than her brother, losing height and tumbling onto an old brick wall at the back of a nearby car park (see photos both by Cliff Bentley).
A small crowd quickly gathered....
There was no way she could take to the air from there so I borrowed a step ladder from the vergers and managed to climb up and catch her. After a quick photocall and a check of her colour ring (012), I put her safely in the rescue box, though not before she had used her sharp talons to dig a hole in the arm of Kath Patrick, who I'd asked to hold the box for me!
I called the local newspaper who dispatched a photographer and together we climbed the 198 steps to the top where, after many clicks of his camera, I released her on the stonework up above the platform. The falcon meanwhile was circling the cathedral, causing everyone on the streets below to look up and wonder what was going on.
An hour later, she was still there so with luck she'll stay put until tomorrow....
The falcon was quite upset when we were on the tower roof - as you would imagine. Later she had prey in her talons as she flew round - so quite an eventful afternoon!
More photos of 012 to follow I hope. Also see tomorrow's paper if you live nearby.
Nick B (DWT)
Ps. Donations are still coming in today - so thanks to everyone who has contributed so far. Donations from Watch Points have totalled £279 so far....a useful amount to add to the many personal ones. However, we are still far off our £2000 target so if you can spare a dime as they say, please do so. Details on a previous blog post.
40 comments:
10.42p.m. only 2 on the scrape in this horrible rain. One perched on the ledge with eyes closed the other flat to the scrape.
10.43a.m. just watched a pergrin fly off not sure if it was a young one or parent bird, only two on the scrape now.
A youngster, #015 I presume, is having elevenses on the rhs of the scrape! The other two are sunning on the other side.
10.05 A lot of wing flapping from one of the Falcons. She'll be taking flight today hopefully.
The other one however seems not to like the weather and is staying put.
10.46 Didn't see him land but we have a Tiercel (looks smaller than the Falcon he's next to) on the scrape. He has his back to the camera so can't see if it's an adult or juvenile. Looks to be eating.
10.53 After some food by the Falcon, which was laying down most of this morning she is now up and flapping. 10.55 Nevermind she's gone back to laying down.
10.57 Tiercel seems to be finished with his breakfast. It's the juvenile, ring clearly visable and a nice red colouring on his face and chest (not from his breakfast).
11.00 How cute, the Falcon which was standing on the ledge has moved over to the Falcon laying down and has decide to get some sleep on her back/tail.
11.45 Again more wing flapping along the edge of the scrape and playing a vanishing act between camera appearing on one them disappearing to another.
I can't get over #015 he is back on the scrape cuddled up sleeping with his siblings again!
Has anyone seen #012 who fledged yesterday?
Three on the scrape, although only two earlier as Joy mentioned. Who is the one who returned?
@Phoebe
I was down at Cathedral Green this morning (where I'm still mayor on Foursquare!) and 012 was high up on the ledge of grotesques (which we often wrongly call gargoyles)
015 was on one pinnacle and the adult falcon high up on another. The adult tiercel (male) was over on Jury's Inn, doing what we men do best at times of childbirth etc. (Watching from a distance)
We thought we saw a third fledging moment, but it turned out to be 015 going off for a quick fly around.
Nick Moyes
At 3:30pm I was on the Cathedral Green watching the Peregrines. Three were on the ledge of the scrape looking out. There was an adult high up on a pinnacle and #015 was lying down on the top by the spout, it would have been a good view from the tower cam. Then at approx. 4:00pm the Falcon appeared flying towards the tower, she went right past and over the green and out of sight behind the trees, moments later she flew back into view over the Green and was flying back and forth in front of the scrape, it was then that the youngsters in the scrape started flapping their wings and calling out then at approx. 4:13pm one (#012) came out of the scrape, she went lowish down then gained some height and flew right over our heads across the Green and turning back towards the Tower but ended up slowly losing height in an attempt to find a landing spot, she finally landed on the wall at the back of the car park to the side of the tower about 10ft from the ground. Nick B had just arrived when #012 came to land and kindly rescued her from the corner in the wall and took her up the tower and put her on the very top. I will put some photos on flickr soon.
As I am typing this I have been watching the youngsters on the webcams flapping about and climbing on the the side of the scrape. I see #015 is back again and gone again lol he really does appear to be very a proficient flyer. He looks quite playful at times! He is gorgeous just like his dad !!
Thanks Nick M. for the info I was wondering if #012 was okay. #015 is very agile coming back and forth I find him very amusing !!
Anon 21 June 2011 14:21
Sorry that was me Oops forgot to post my name.
Phoebe
Only 2 on scrape noe 15.53
2 on scrape and 1 on ledge below
Sorry about spelling meant to say now
The falcon has just arrived with food for the two in the scrape. Let's see if #15 turns up!
20.14 Looks like the Falcon is feeding the two remaining juveniles in the scrape. Odd, shouldn't she put enticing them out of the scrape with food?
Phoebe: think that could be the tiercel/adult male - looks small and dark - though not always easy to tell on the web cams....
Nick B (DWT)
Nick, I did think that myself after posting my message but couldn't decide.
Bedtime 1 on the ledge and 1 on the scrape. Hope they don't feel too lonely
im sure the other 2 will be gone by 2 moro
I was down at Cathedral Green, along with several others this evening when the falcon came in with food just after 8pm. Out of camera shot we could see both fledglings on the ledge near the grotesques, and the tiercel was nearby, so once again all 6 birds in view on the east face of the Cathedral.
The two left look very cosy this morning and one is reminded of the 21st century phenonemon where young humans are increasingly NOT leaving home but stay at home longer than previous generations did.
wish I was in town three peregrins sitting in a line on the ledge, what a sight.
I wonder if mum is above as they keep looking at something
Hi Joy: Looks like the smaller male 015 in the middle, come back hoping for some grub!
Nice to see the size comparisons.
Nick B (DWT)
I think we may have another maiden flight very soon !!
She doesn't look like she wants to leave...she looks quite disinterested in flying.. is that normal?
15:25 looks like another has flown the scrape!!!
Ooh, only 1 youngster visible on the scrape... Did anyone see the maiden flight of #3, or is it hiding somewhere?
We have a lift off! 30 minutes past the hour. (The hour of three in this case)
definitely another flown !!!
I do believe there's been a 3rd. fledging (within the last 10 minutes)! There was a whole load of flapping, jumping from side to side, climbing up the supports etc. when I last looked - now, only one left on the scrape!
15.39 Nice to see only one left on the scrape. Sorry to have missed the other fledge.
Seems that I got lucky and caught the moment of launch for number 3. Flicka photo to follow once I've figured out how to do it.
Waiting with bated breath, John. As soon as you get an image on Flicr of our latest fledge, I'll add it to our blog.
Missed it myself as I was busy trying to work out by how much our projects visitor numbers were down this year, against last year's figure! Doh.
It was 15:30 that the third one flew out of the scrape, my pc clock was slow.
I hope she is okay an managed to find a nice high point to land, I saw the last bird looking down soon after its sibling fled.
Thanks Phoebe - we are aware that the third one has left and will try to find out where it is asap.
Nick B (DWT)
We're trying to ascertain whether or not our third bird fledged successfully. Unfortunately there's no-one down at Cathedral Green this afternoon as far as we're aware, but we've left a message with Matt - one of the vergers - and have asked him to let us know if he hears anything.
So, should any blog reader go down to the Greem this afternoon - perhaps they could inform Matt at the verger's office inside the Cathedral so he can contact me or Nick Brown with an update.
Thanks
Nick Moyes
A Parent just landed on the scrape it looks like a fresh food delivery but the parent has now gone.
How sad that she's all by herself....
Looking at some of my screen shots just after the last fledge the young one in the scrape after looking down was looking directly up and calling out. Let's hope she managed to get on to the tower top.
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