UPDATE: The programme is now viewable on I-player and if you don't live in this region, the BBC has produced other regional Urban Jungle programmes to go out simultaneously. Just do a google search for "BBC 1 Urban Jungle" and you get to choose from all the various regional programmes.
The SW one features Nick Dixon (who's been a great help to us in Derby since 2005) plus footage of peregrines attacking a buzzard and the Lincoln one shows peregrines in Sheffield with Mike Dilger presenting. A feast of peregrines and other urban wildlife it too! But beware the programmes will disappear in six days time....
............................................................................................................................
Tantalisingly close.......
Avid readers of this blog will already know that a few weeks ago, Nick Frazer, a bird watcher living in North Yorkshire, found a pair of peregrines nesting on a natural cliff. Although the site is quite well known locally we will not be mentioning exactly where it is simply because the site is remote and therefore not secure from interference.
If anyone reading this knows that part of the world and guesses where it may be, please do not mention any locations in your comments to this blog.
 |
| Mystery female on the cliff face - could it be 002? |
Looking at the adult female bird, Nick could see an orange ring on its left leg and a friend went a stage further thinking that he could read the number 002. The ring was reported to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), the body in charge of bird ringing in the UK. They keep all the records and were able to work out that this could well be a Derby Cathedral bird....ie a chick that had been ringed here in the past and had successfully reached maturity, paired up with a male and started to breed.
If the number was proved to be 002 then the bird was reared as a chick here in 2007, one of only two female chicks reared that year (two eggs failed to hatch).
The first photo shows the bird on the cliff face and you can just see the colour ring.
A week or two later, I was in Yorkshire for a few days and diverted to the site to try to see the bird myself. Eventually, after a lot of searching, I located the female sitting on the clifftop. She was undisturbed by me and I could see her well through my telescope, sitting on what appeared to be a favourite look out position.
 |
| Show us your left leg please! |
My view of the ring wasn't good enough to read any number, even with a zoom lens and there was no way I was going to get any nearer to her perch without disturbing her should she return.
Nick Frazer was on holiday then but when he returned he and a friend with a large telephoto lens returned to the site and saw the male with two juveniles, newly fledged. But the female remained elusive and wasn't seen to perch nearby.
As the pair's youngsters begin to move away from the site so it may take a lot longer to get that much wanted close up photo but we are very grateful to our Yorkshire colleagues for their continuing attempts to see that all important number that would clinch it!
Nick B (DWT)
Ps. There is clearly still some action to be seen on the (remaining) web cams - with reports of juveniles and adults too (thanks to those who have sent in comments). My visits during the day have been fruitless so perhaps the birds mainly return to the tower in the evening and to roost.
96 comments:
It's been FAR too long since I had time to look here (can somebody please arrange for an extra few hours to be slipped into each day for me please!!) but I was prompted to take a look by the email alert I received telling me that a new blog "starter" had been added (if anyone is thinking of subscribing, I can recommend this as a very useful facility) What exciting news about an urban bred bird gone back to the wild, wouldn't it be wonderful to eventually discover that it is indeed a Derby raised one? Whoever she is, isn't she a beautiful bird, a real stunner. She looks in top condition. As a trusted volunteer at the Derby watchpoints, I have a little bit of secret information about the location. I shall have a discussion with the team offline at some point and see if there's something I can do to help with the ID ..... I am beginning to think that there may be a Swarovski scope with my name on it somewhere out there in birder shopping land. I'm sure a purchase of that scope is going to be a massive temptation when I visit BirdFair this year (readers who have no idea what I'm talking about, see here http://www.birdfair.org.uk/
Meantime, I didn't get a chance to respond to Lorraine's various entries in the previous blog "chapter" - I loved the poem Lorraine, keep them coming. The info about down and eggs was also very interesting. I felt sure that there was an element of having to grow feathers in a hurry as most (?all) baby birds are slightly different to the adults - eg my garden baby blue tits are more like "grey-blue" tits. And of course, peregrines are much more brown than blue(ish) in their first year. Not that there are many birds at all at the moment, they are all skulking and hiding while they moult. I'm finding it more productive to look for nice moulted feathers than birds and found a beatiful GS woodpecker one the other day.
looks like East Midlands "Urban Jungle" WILL be available nationwide via iplayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b037xlgc/Urban_Jungle_East_Midlands/
It says "coming soon" on the link when looked at today, 30/7/13
There's a juvie in the scrape with what looks like a deceased pigeon.
Thank you so much for this blog starter. It is very exciting to think one of our Derby birds might be in Yorkshire with a mate and its own youngsters! The photos are great! Let's hope it is 002!
There is still a lot of action on the cams here. A juvie was again feeding in the scrape and the adults were both in view.
A juvie on the stonework at the top, looking down at something below. Maybe its the remains of last nights' dinner in the scrape.
Two juvies on view now, one in the scrape and still one on the stonework above.
One rather bedraggled juvie perched near the pudding cam.
Can't wait to see the South West region's U/J prog. I understand we will be Exeter centered, with some footage of Peregrines attacking a buzzard - (gulp!) - well, you know how soft I am. Apparently they often co-operate in this regular activity and may even kill the buzzard. We have a lot of them down here in the S/W - truly beautiful creatures. When it comes to actually seeing this darker but necessary aspect of Nature, I'm afraid I'm not so tough. Though, as my poems do reflect, I can recognize and accept the reality of life and death. Like Yin and Yang, Black and White, North and South, even One and Two etc., - such is the balance that governs not only Nature, but the very Universe taboot! All connected, yet remaining ever elusive to our understanding. The great mathematical equation of creation itself - 'That which causes to become' So, though savvy to the big picture, I'm afraid I'm a bit of a whimp when it comes to actually seeing what goes on in the wings -( so to speak! )
I do envy the East Midlands a bit, as the lucky blighters will not only see the great abseil but ALSO, they will get to see the actual ringing of the Derby chicks when they were cute little fluffy balls. Thanks Sue in this regard, as I'll now look into iplayer via your link so I can learn what it is and how to go about it etc., It will be well worth it just to see my ickle fluffy Bell when she was a nipper ( Oh, shut me up! )
Just one more thing, - I'm so glad Phoebe posted a cam sighting of BOTH adults. I thought I saw the male once but wasn't too sure without another bird for size ref, so really glad to know he is still very much part of the present family routine - how could I doubt him, as he truly loves his beautiful missus. The one thing I am longing to hear though, is if a Derby resident has sighted all FOUR juvies recently? Maybe Anonymous will have further news on such a sighting soon. Meanwhile, I can hardly contain myself whilst awaiting possible confirmation of 002(especially via Swarovski Sue!) Now THAT would be the cherry on top of this year's cake!
Well, though AnnieF sighted a juvie around 3pm today and I saw one of the lads on the tower ledge around 6pm, its all quiet just now. Will check in again after dusk.
PS: If 002 DOES get confirmed, I'll no doubt go into poem mode - and seeing as I've been encouraged - you'll only have yourselves to blame!........ now what rhymes with 2? ....errr... ermmm.....
Yep - the midnight hour finds one comfy juvie on tower ledge, probably settled in now for the night.
There are three birds in view, one juvie on the top, one juvie on the scrape and another on the corbel below the scrape, not sure if its an adult or a juvie or even a pigeon!
More clue's from Phoebe seem to be confirming at least two juvies having a very strong chance of continuing the Derby line.
I enjoyed our regional Urban Jungle last night, though it was only a few moments coverage of the Peregrine/Buzzard interchange with the two Peregrines merely clipping the Buzzard's wing and ushering it out of their patch, rather than a determined attempt to kill it.
Having said that, and thinking I'd had an escape from viewing something a bit harsh, I witnessed an event on the tower ledge at approx midnight last night, that brought reality home big time ( and yes, about time I agree ) When I tuned in, one juvie was attempting to hold down a live prey just this side of the spout that sticks out at the end of the tower ledge, sort of half in and half out of the slight hollow of the column there. I hadn't witnessed who'd brought this night catch in ( if an adult, then it must have delivered it live to the juvie and flown off, or if it was the juvie's own catch, then he/she had brought it back to the tower alone ) If only I'd tuned in a moment or two earlier I may have been able to solve my continued pondering as to what stage of independence the youngsters have now reached. So, in this regard the sighting didn't offer any clue's.
However, quite a struggle then started to unfold. The jouvie had some trouble containing it's prey ( by the size of its pale wing span it appeared to be an urban night pigeon ) and at one point, around 6 minutes in, the prey suddenly made a leap for it and almost succeeded flying off the ledge, but the jouvie had it anchored by it's tail end and managed to pull it back into the hollow. Thankfully ( for me at least ) the night cam at this point is a bit grainy recently and has slight moving blotches, making shadows appear to have movement in them etc., so I was spared the gory details that full clarity would have brought. A short while later, a less adept dispatch than a parent would have made was achieved and plucked feathers drifting eerily close to the cam signified the pigeons brave demise.
And so it turned out how I'd thought I'd escaped similar viewing on the BBC earlier, only to find myself later viewing something that really got my pulse racing right here on the Derby live cam!
The event was certainly worth making a note of to the blog though, because the pigeon's final dash for freedom was so nearly achieved and well, brave I guess. I wondered if Nick had the time or the means of rewinding and viewing the sequence by some tech magic or other. His view may be less grainy and more able to confirm the action I described above. Just in case he reads this and has the inclination, the time of the event would have been from 11.45pm on 1/8/13 to 00.30am on 2/8/13
I remained watching on and off until around 1am and the jouvie was still feeding when I tuned out for the night. ( Didn't bother with the usual cocoa! )
7.55pm Jouvie in same place with what appears to be a live rat right now !
Did you get a screen grab Lorraine. They have had a rat before, a few years ago.
I saw some of the action with the prey last night too. It would be good to see a video.
No Phoebe - I left the No.2 cam quickly, to enter the blog alert about the rat, and when I tuned back the juvie was still standing on it and I became riveted. As you may know, the No.3 live action cam has been off kilter and non operational for a day or two now, and so the only view at this site, is the No.2 paused motion cam, which as I say, is rather grainy and shifty at night, probably due to the present quirky weather.
There were paused shots showing a blurred whipping motion up and around the juvie's upper body. I even considered it being a grass snake. It was certainly very much alive and kicking because the images continued showing motion of a long tail for about three shots. Then, following just a few moments distraction, when I looked back, both the juvie and the prey had vanished, with the juvie returning a very short time later but minus the prey. Now what it had done with the 'rat' I can't figure. Did it just want done with it and had flown off to ditch it, or had the rat broken free and plummeted off the ledge, with the juvie flying down to retrieve it? But then why did the juvie so quickly return without it? Mmmm, very strange. It then busied itself between the columns with it's back to the cam, but I couldn't tell from the staggered action shots weather it was eating some other left over prey or just grooming itself.
Either way, I think it has convinced me now, that there is at least ONE juvie ( possibly the oldest ) that has learnt to catch and is now starting to discover/try out, a variety of local options on offer. Like if it moves, it will have a go at it, be it a bird, a rat or maybe we will even see it with a bat. Who knows? the tower does have a belfry! I find this all so fascinating. I do hope the live No.3 cam will be up and running soon, as I think we will be seeing a lot more similar action from this particular juvie. I feel sure it was the same bird that had the live pigeon the other night. Lets hope both events can be retrieved and re-shown somehow if deemed significant. Meanwhile, if I spot anything else like this I'll take a screen shot of the grainy image nevertheless, just so that there is at least one image of any similar event, that my nocturnal hours may sight more than most. I don't want to join the Yahoo element necessary to post a screen shot, but could possibly email any further notable images to someone as an attachment in the event of any future interest.
I really feel I must thank any readers, by the way, for any tolerance that may be given of my own observational thoughts and longer than norm posts, as I'm unsure of the etiquette of blog posting - this being the only one I know or subscribe to - but aware they can sometimes be lengthy and should perhaps be less theoretical on my part. It's just that I'm as fascinated by the Derby peregrines today as I was when the first egg was laid.
All quiet on the ledge with no over-nighters last night or visits in these early hours - and the end of my day now also!
There is an adult, presumably the falcon perched on the corbel below the scrape and another eating on the top, too misty a view to tell which it is.
Lorraine I really enjoy reading your posts, you describe so well, unlike me! Please don't stop. By the way you could open two windows at the same time one with the cam and the other with the blog, that way you can type as you watch.
P
It is a juvie on the top eating, I can't see what the prey is but it could be stored from last night. Yes it is a bird not a rat. A wonderful display at the moment!
Yes Phoebe that juvie's been dealing with the prey for several minutes now, & looking every inch the expert! Nice new shiny orange ring visible too.
Now it's down on the scrape ledge cleaning its talons.
@ Sue P. & @ Lorraine
Sorry to be awkward but is there any chance you two ladies could condense your comments, or split them into paragraphs? My age is telling on me now (!) & I'm finding it rather difficult to plough through such long, dense blocks of prose. No offence intended!
Of course AnnieF! and I promise there is no offense taken my friend. I'm still very much learning-as-I-go ( I'm of the generation born in 1951 ) and have taken on board the comments from yourself and Phoebe. Hopefully I can now create a happy balance to my posts.
Phoebe, Thanks for that 2 windows tip. I've read about that function but haven't needed to use it - till now ( feel a proper numpty, because of course, it would be so handy !) I have the great book 'Windows for dummies' and so I'll leaf through it later and suss the necessary.
Nothing doing on the cams just now but glad to hear there's been more family activity on the cams, whilst I've been over in Cornwall most of
today.
I was watching the adult on the corbels below the scrape - now it appears she has gone, but no, she is right in the middle just visible on both cams right at the lower edge. I was wondering if one would be visible if on that particular corbel.
@Lorraine:
Thank you so much, I was anxious that you mightn't understand. (I'm a good few years older than you!) This is a wonderful website & it's so good to have your "nocturnal" comments to give a complete overview of what the peregrines get up to.
I'm afraid those "prove you're not a robot" figures and numbers sometimes prevent me from posting - when I can't read them and get the "try again" message, I get so frustrated & give up!
PS: Not a peregrine in sight! but it's a dull drizzly day so maybe they've gone off somewhere less boring.
I know just what you mean about the robot thing AnnieF - See if this helps:-
At the R/H side of the copying bar you'll notice a small black circular "refresh" symbol. I discovered it by accident. If you click on it, the robot image will change until you find one that can easily be deciphered. It's proper smashin !
Saw one of the family perched on the spout earlier looking for flyers, but seen nothing out of the ordinary so far today. Maybe they're all huddled, chuckling away, in that blind spot Phoebe mentioned earlier - ( we could be missing a dance routine, like on that advert with the Panda-Bears! )
Phoebe, I've now discovered and conquered "Snap" - such a simple tool to use, but sooo clever and will be handy for all sorts of computer tasks now - so really pleased about that tip you passed on.
Still no visitors present but will tune in again later.....
A thoroughly wet Sunday afternoon here in Derby....so probably the peregrines will be hunkered down and inactive.
Yesterday afternoon a juv was being very noisy flying around the tower while I was dismantling a part of the display we had up in the cathedral cafe.
Unfortunately it's unlikely that we'll manage to get any video clips of the interesting observations that Lorraine reported the other evening. Nick M is massively busy with other things at the moment (including writing the new Flora for the county - a mammoth task with a looming deadline!) and the video tapes get over-ridden after a couple of days. Sadly he's the only one with the necessary skills at the moment.
Nick B (DWT)
Not a peregrine in sight as yet 2nite! Hopefully one of them will put an appearance at some point 2nite! Christine
Yes, and last night's frequent check-in's from around midnight up until I closed at gone 2am brought no company either, Christine.
There may have been a directional wind preventing adequate dry shelter on the Cathedral most of yesterday. But, this will give them opportunity to wean themselves away from the nesting base and explore other sites of dry roosting, ready for when the parents begin to leave them, more and more, to their own devices.
I understand we're expecting another mini heatwave, so no doubt we'll see a return of activity in the following days and nights.
The elevation of the Cathedral is a falcon's most perfect look out ( by instinct ) and so it makes sense that on clear days ( and night's ) such creatures will visit out of sheer choice alone. The falcon's eyes are it's everything - it's most powerful sense - and every opportunity to indulge this sense, be it for hunting or for sheer pleasure, is constant. When you consider a falcon's eye can capture and process more minute detail and information than most other creatures, then it becomes clear that their eye is not only a precision tool, but also a significant organ in creating well being when at leisure.
I think the little beauties will be back soon enough and there may even be a few more surprises in store yet!
One peregrine has put in an appearance 2night near water spout! Christine
A Juvie on the tower ledge 10.10pm.
We are both watching the same bird!
Yes I think we are Lorraine! I do miss them when they are not around! Will miss them when they go for good! Christine
Wow, the cam has just zoomed in ! Great images now and he/she is deff scouring the sky for night flyers. I will keep an eye on him till midnight and note anything that may occur.
I'm going 2 sign off now! As nt long got in from work! Just had 2 look 2 see if any of the juveniles was around! Keep me posted if ne thing good happens! Christine
Hi Lorraine - I enjoy reading your comments so much, they are so descriptive and interesting! It's really good to catch up on this blog now and again, so many thanks from me!
Hi Steph
That's really nice to know - and so thanks right back! That lone juvie that Christine and I noted around 10pm Tuesday night, atop the near gargoyle of No.2 cam, remained intent, watching the sky, for an hour and a half. Then following some sudden fly-off's and quick returns, both void of prey, it disappeared again at 00.28am and hadn't returned by the time I tuned out a short while later.
Tonight, shows the exact same behavior, from what I'm convinced is the very same juvie (I think the oldest)
Though seated this time atop the far gargoyle, the same intent scanning of the sky is evident, again with little or no time spent in grooming or snoozing.
I think he's hungry and may well be trying to supplement a reduced food supply during the day, possibly due to the natural decline now of the parental input at this stage?
If that's the case, I'm sure he'll be just fine - so I'll leave him to his pigeon counting now, whilst I go and count some sheep !
Juvie ( I think ? )just returned with small bird on tower ledge 17.08pm - more juvies flying overhead........
Think it's Dad in fact! I saw him on the scrape yesterday and earlier today.
He's just dragged the prey right up along the tower ledge toward the cam and is now out of view for the time being, right under the camera set up. Feathers look very mature for a juvie, but it's been a long time since I've seen close-up daylight images of the juvies changing feathering, so can't yet guage for sure which bird it is. Can maybe get a sight of it's leg when/if it moves back in view and see if it has a yellow ring or not.
Hi Lorraine, yes it is definitely an adult bird. The juveniles keep their brown plumage for a couple of years. The adults also tend to be much paler on the chest, which shows up well during the evening. The legs on the adult birds are very stripy too. I think it might be the female as it looks quite big to me, but I don't always find it easy to tell the adults apart!!
That has to be the tiercel on the edge of the scrape, he looks as fit and nimble as ever. What happened to the prey I wonder ?? Maybe one of the juves laid claim to it and took it elsewhere to eat. Good old Dad,still putting food on the table at tea time!
Hello Helen, it is hard to tell isn't it - I think the adult male has a stronger contrast of dark and light head/cheek feathers than the adult female - and is slightly more rounded in shape when perched, whilst she has longer back length - but it's still very hard to guage when they are viewed alone !
Will watch till he/she flies off and then check-in again at dusk. BFN Lorraine
Hi Lorraine - do you know if cams 3 and 4 are off permanently? I can only get 1 and 2 which are not easy to watch because of the time delay!
Hi Stephanie,
Cam No.3 has been off for some time now, hopefully to return soon, but Cam.No.4 is now permanently switched off.
Nick B's post on 4th August explained how Nick M is presently very busy with a deadline looming for his writing of the new Flora for the County. He is also the chap with the skills necessary to the Cam operations, so we will probably remain with limited options until he has some breathing space to give time to tweaking the Derby Cams.
It's a pity, as there is no sound either now, but we can't complain and will have to be patient. I look forward though to having the No.3 cam back and a clearer view !
Meanwhile, the tiercel remained on the scrape edge for almost two hours, doing a bit of grooming and taking short cat naps.
Then just before 8pm the adult female appeared in the scrape with a pigeon kill. The tiercel did a startled bow and scrape ( there was prob some noisy greeting involved also ) before flying off and leaving her to it. She remained, looking a bit bemused by his swift departure and just kept the pigeon under her claw before flying off with it in tow a few moments later.
No birds present since, but by the looks of the coming sunset, there may be one or two stargazers gracing the tower ledge tonight.
.
Thank you Lorraine - who needs cams when we have you!! but seriously though the cams are wonderful but when they are off, your descriptions bring it all to life!
Adult back on scrape at 8.35pm and what looks like a juvie on tower ledge. The adult may well fly off to roost, but me thinks the juvie will stay near the tower spout for most of the night.
Will post again at midnight.
Just popped in for a quick watch and see the falcon on the top, she is looking up a lot, but I live quite near to Derby now and an aeroplane has just gone over so it could be that. She still look up now the plane has gone.
Didn't stay up late last night as it turned out, I was tired and so I turned in early, which is unusual for me.
Just been watching a nice sized view of an adult on the scrape, (tiercel? ) still don't know for sure - even in this clear light I'm still dithering! I was hoping the other adult would turn up so I could grab a screen shot to really study both together later, but it flew off. I'll look through the Flckr pics instead, as they are all so clear and detailed.
Either way, what a little work of art he/she is. They are so noble it makes you feel humble !! Such precious creatures.
Well, here comes another night. I'll keep looking in often whilst I'm running up some new cushion covers. ( AnnieF - I'm using the old Singer treadle that My Gran, my Mum and I have all used and its a little belter! - I bet you also remember them hey? ) Them were the good old days for sure !
A bird now on tower ledge I see...
Both adults were in view for a while just now - one on scrape and the other on the ledge below.
Wanted to just pass on the great Flckr pics I found, that will be helpful for those who wish to better identify the Tiercel from the Falcon -
In Quick Link/Your photos/Top Contributors - click onto HelenSara
for a perfect visual diary of the whole of 2013's momentous occasions.
Scroll to image No'2 34 and 35 entitled :
Male on the Platform
Female on the Platform
The profile and location of each bird are identical, yet taken independently and the side by side images show clear differences in both size and identification patterns.
Still a bit tricky, but the more you scroll through the other clear pics in the set, the more you will register a few more identification tips for future ref.
To test my new found reference, I will attempt to confidently now say that I'm positive, without a shadow of a doubt, that I'm absolutely sure, with no messing about, put my lottery ticket on it - that it's the Tiercel that has just returned back to the scrape ( ?) Oh,Pretty please.... or have the little perishers managed to flumax me yet again !
Thanks for the excellent paragraphing Lorraine, wonderfully easy to read!
Also thanks for the tips on identification, it always puzzles me unless I see the adults together.
There's a very handsome juvenile on the scrape ledge, rhs, having a look at the view.
PS - Sorry about type error :-
You need images 34 and 35
AnnieF - your teasing me !!
That's the adult male - the Tiercel you are viewing ??? The juvies are still tawney-brown chested for at least a year yet, before the glorious white chest shines through.
Please tell me you're pulling my leg!
Oh dear, Now I'm confused - though I know it's an adult, I'm no begining to theink it's actually the Falcon and NOT the Tiercel !
I think I'm loosing the plot so I'll go and watch next door's budgie for a bit and give my watering eyes a rest ( I'm laughing so much )
Thank you for the link Lorraine - very helpful and great pictures - you're a star!
Lorraine, I was having one of those senior moments - I think my eyes have been deceiving me! (happens more often these days ...) Glad you enjoyed it though.
I would say definitely the falcon on the tower top right now.
Looks like the falcon sitting on the nest platform again this lunchtime.
- Gardening done and time for a quick look-in before tea and was lucky to also catch the little Lady herself on the scrape earlier.
There she was, another year's trials and tribulations almost over and she can now return back to her fave spots on the Cathedral for a good old chill/kip/groom/ without being swamped by her brood 24/7
Despite the cruel winter, she ensured all the chicks were her No1 priority ( we never once saw them unattended for long periods ) and now she can at last have a breather. Come September she'll be fully energized and fit as a fiddle.
We've noticed recently how both adults are showing up more often these last few days. Maybe we should all begin to prepare ourselves for an approaching new phase. Though it does seem a little early, perhaps the adults have already started chasing the juvies away - even away from the tower itself, ( territory rules etc )
Once the juvies have experienced being ignored or chased, rather than have food brought or passed to them, then maybe they come back to the tower instinctively, not understanding yet, that food on a plate even here, will also become very restricted. And, as we know, all falcons desire and seek high elevations instinctively, it's what they do. Once claimed and established, sharing is a big no-no, blood or not !
The juvies then probably spend time on the tower, as we've seen until just recently, before they realize they have the same instinct ( borne out of necessity ) to locate their OWN tower/rockface and hunt their OWN patch of sky in order to sight and catch prey to survive.
Anyway, next time we see Mum on the scrape, let's all send her a big fat thank you for letting us witness her 4 out of 4 achievement. She has the end of summer and the whole of Autumn now, to just be what she loves to be - a falcon! And well deserved.
Parents been and gone from the scrape now, since I've been yapping, but still hope to catch a juvie on cam some time tonight or tomorrow, even though something tells me this is the beginning of a new chapter and a possible fond farewell to them.
(AnnieF - I have to sit with two pairs of glasses on my nose now in order to sew! so know just how frustrating it can be - I even had to ask a young lad to read me the ingredients list on a supermarket package today, but he was sweet and didn't mind at all - Handsome too !!
Lovely post Lorraine, thank you so much much for your input and keeping us up to date. Without wishing to speed up the passing year - I look forward to March next year when the cycle starts again!
Me too Steph!
My real thanks to all of you for the kind comments, tips and encouragement, allowing me to express myself and, like the falcon in a way, achieve my own particular full circle.
Shucks - you'll have me blushing!
I see Dad's been roosting in his old hangout on the ledge under the scrape again tonight and I think he's still there in the shadows. So far, I've not tuned in to find any juvies, but I'll keep an on-off watch till midnight.
Laters..........
Last watch over!
Tiercel remained on the shadowy ledge under scrape well into the night - caught him moving occasionally - then he was gone.
Midnight: - not a peep.
Onwards at intervals until 1.45am: - Quiet as a mouse.
See what tomorrow brings....
Hi Lorraine, while looking at he scrape this morning, I was pondering on 'spring cleaning' - cathedral mind you, not mine!! Do you know if the good folk at Derby clear out the debris at some point ready and hopeful for next year's use by the birds?
@Steph - I think the nest platform is usually given a clean up around February in preparation for the breeding season. They collect up some of the debris then and give the platform a maintenance check. If you scroll back to last February's posts on the blog there are some nice pictures and information about it, aswell as a bit about the installation of the new camera - http://www.derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/2013_02_01_archive.html
@ Helen
Many thanks for that Helen!
Three peregrines visible on the cameras a little while ago. Looked liked both adults sitting on the stonework below the nest platform, with one of the juveniles at the top of the tower.
Missed a sight of the juvie just now, but one of the adults still under the scrape I see.
Nice to know a juvie has been seen today and look forward to tuning in and catching he/she during today.
I was looking at the nest boxes of some of the other urban project's and saw one that had a covered section incorporated into their man-made scrape, so that the chicks could get shelter from the wind and rain etc.,
I like it !
What do you think the pro's and con's are for such an addition to the Derby nest box ?
Oh - ay up! - look, there's a juvie on the tower ledge right now....so very pleased to see it. Going to sit with my coffee and have a good old gander.......
And then there were TWO ( now if this isn't good enough excuse to have yet another biscuit, I don't know what is! )
I'm a very happy bunny!
Yep, two juveniles on the tower cam! Good to know that they are still around and seem to be doing well.
Just great isn't it Helen - BTW - can anyone tell me how to incorporate the little square images like on Steph and Phoeb's post's ?
With all my "ay-up's" and "by eck's" I'd like to "prove" I'm not a Corrie Meerkat !
Sorry - please disregard request for that tip.
Just watched a tutorial about blogging set-up/profile etc., and realize it's not for me, as I don't want to create a blog page or interact with anyone outside the DPP at this stage of my computer literacy.
Hope it didn't create any wasted time though, but I know you'll forgive!
Hi Lorraine, re. the 'little square pics' - I managed to get mine on by default, then spent an anxious couple of hours trying to delete the Google Account I didn't want in the first place!! Instead of scrolling down slowly and looking at the options carefully where it says "choose an identity", I rushed in, bull in china shop fashion and clicked "Google Account", thinking (foolishly and in my ignorance) that it was necessary to have one to join the blog. I then found a helpful five year old (not really, but I think you know what I mean lol ) who told me to just ignore the account and upload a blank over the pic. Well I AM ignoring the account but have left the pic. 'cause I quite like it! Just wish I knew more about IT (Internet Technology - not any old "it" !!
Ay oop Lorraine! :)
Re having a sheltered section on the Derby platform: this question has been raised before, and I think the reasoning against it was primarily that they are too tough to need it! In the wild they endure the harshest of conditions in the open, & these should be replicated as far as possible in an urban situation. No feather-bedding! (excuse pun...)
It would also significantly reduce the number of camera angles available, consequently limiting the opportunities for detailed 24/7observation.
No peregrines in sight at all, thus no chance of this numpty mis-identifying them!
Yes, AnnieF
I now realize and accept such logical reasoning. I hadn't considered the space issue and disruption of cam views had I? ( and I so wanted to run up some sweet gingham curtains for the windows! )
I remember now, when I visited the Plymouth project, one of the watchers told me about a year which caused all the chicks to actually drown in the scrape before they'd even got a chance to fledge, due to the heavy rainfall on the rock face.
Gosh, I guess in that regard, our lot had it a little more cushy ( they even got a hot water bottle! )
Seriously though, our Falcon braved the weather very well and also chose very wisely, the day she flew into town and claimed the Derby tower.
No wonder one of her canny brood is tough enough to lay claim on the Yorkshire Moors. I'm so hoping that there'll be confirmation on this, from Nick B and Sue Peregrino in the near future.
I spied two juvie visits during the day - with two sharing the tower ledge at one point - and also saw the tiercel a few times, on his usual ledge under the scrape.
Lovely views of a juvenile peregrine on the tower camera this lunchtime.
The juvie is still on the tower and the tiercel is happily preening on the scrape ledge. The juvie could be female not sure but size looks quite large.
Both of them still there.
@ Lorraine:
The peregrines at Nottingham Uni. have a completely open nestbox. During the heavy snowfalls the falcon stayed put on her 3 eggs even though she became almost covered - you could barely see her!
However, all 3 hatched and fledged successfully.
They really are a super tough species aren't they?
I also caught a glimpse of the jouvie earlier, and think I agree it is the female juvie on the tower right now, with an adult on the scrape - still can't commit myself to stating if it's Mum or Dad though- Dough !!
There's a juvenile up on the tower near the water spout, and I believe it's the tierce on a corbel below the scrape.
CAM NO:3 BACK IN ACTION !!
It's just wonderful to see the birds in motion again now that Cam No.3 has been restored ( with sound too! )
A big thanks to whoever was responsible for putting the magic back in the Derby Tower - you've made a lot of people smile today !
Happy viewing everyone..........
Oh this is great - there's a juvie on the tower preening and looking about just now. I cant get over how "real" he/she looks -
Such a massive difference.
Just lovely........
Yippee! Thanks for letting us know Lorraine!
The juvie is now in the scrape feeding! They are not going anywhere just yet.
Juvie still feeding and another bird just landed on the top by the spout, it is hiding in the crevice probably with food.
Now there is an adult on the third corbel from left under the scrape (that little blind spot). Not sure if it's the one that just landed up top.
Thanks Phoebe! Just turned on in time to catch them - great to have the cam back!
Yes it is steph, It's a juvie on the top so we have two juvies in view and an adult. It's nice to hear the bells again!
Thanks to the team for getting stream 3 back for us!
Juvenile near tower cam right now! Looking for night fliyers I suspect! Christine
Didn't get the opportunity to tune in again until later this evening, but glad to hear there were two juvies seen feeding earlier.
No sleep over's tonight, though one juvie did stay over last night.
I wanted to note the following time (9pm) 14/08/13 :-
The reason being that someone is shining a lazer light at the peregrine on the tower ledge right now.
Watching the bird shows it can clearly see the beam bouncing off the tower brickwork and around it in the air.It looks bemused and slightly unsettled by the experience.
I considered it an event worth reporting so that it is logged if needed.
I'm unsettled by this because it is definately aimed at the bird in question and I can't reason or condone it.
Maybe my concerns can be explained actually, because I just googled " Derby lazer light show " and it came up with a listing about just that - Derby does in fact hold lazer light shows, the last being in July I think it said.
So perhaps there is a small event going on around the Cathedral or on the Green - who know's. If so, the lights I can see are probably stray directional beams and not an attempt to disrupt the birds.
Hope so.
One wet bedraggled looking Juvie on the corbel now. no sign of lasers just heavy rain now. :-(
Hi Lorraine: thanks for the info re. lazer lights. I would expect your suggestion is likely to be correct but will try to find out more and get back.
Nick B (DWT)
Hello Nick B:
Though the lights have indeed now stopped and the self same juvie is still present and settled, thanks for offering to make an enquiry - just in case. I guess if someone wanted to target the juvie, a single beam would have been steadily focused on it, but there was more than one beam and they were random in direction around the tower area in view.
It could even have been a tourist group, with the tour guide benignly pointing out the tower and its occupants with one of those new fandangled lazer pointers - but then I doubt they would have done it for nearly an hour.
Either way, it does no harm to have it checked out for peace of mind. I'll keep my usual late night monitor and log any similar ocurance.
Can't be let anything disturb our little beauties can we !!
Rather worrying Lorraine, the 'lazer light incident' but so good that you noticed it - hopefully it was nothing sinister!
A very big hello and welcome to everyone at the Ukrainian Youth Centre in Weston-on-Trent, South Derbyshire. We hope you enjoyed learning about Derby's amazing peregrine falcons in our talk last night. Thanks for listening so well and asking some brilliant questions along the way. It was a pleasure to meet everyone and we look forward to perhaps hearing from some of you on the blog in the future. Enjoy watching the birds on our webcams!
(HOPE THIS ISN'T A DUPLICATE - Googlemail is messing me about!)
For anyone who is able to get there, I can't recommend Birdfair too much. It's on Friday Saturday and Sunday, 16 17 and 18th August at Egleton, Rutland details here http://www.birdfair.org.uk/ I'm still hoping there may a fabulous Swarovski telescope with my name on it there! Having any sort of binoculars or telescope improves your birdwatching enjoyment hugely, having top notch ones makes it amazing. My scope isn't bad, but when I was given a look down a colleagues top notch one, I was amazed!
For anyone who anticipates going into a decline over the winter when the Derby peregrines are less visible on the webcam, may I recommend this Estonian website which in winter features White Tailed Eagles http://www.looduskalender.ee/en/
The WTEs won't be featured until the birds actually move down south from where they spend the summer! There's interesting stuff that happens on the website all year round, it really is first class.
Thank you Sue! very thoughtful of you to post details.
I don't live in UK (France) so can't get to the Birdfair but already watch the Estonian sites and agree with you that they are very interesting!
Steph
Post a Comment