Our fourth egg appeared on Saturday morning around 9am. As usual it was first reported on our blog by comments from a number of our web cam watchers. This is yet another full clutch of four for Derby's amazing peregrine falcons.
The two video clips below were captured by an automatic recording process from our super new nest camera (see Stream 4). The first was a moment just before midnight last night (4th April); the second at 07:20am this morning, with the male bringing in food to our hungry falcon. (The male will do all the hunting now, whilst the falcon does the majority of the incubation).
Peregrine Falcons first nested on Derby's Cathedral, England, in 2006. Our Peregrine Project is now run by a partnership between Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Derby City Council, Derby Cathedral and the Cathedral Quarter. Here is what's happening in 2024. . .
51 comments:
Yes a full clutch again, we are so lucky to witness this incredible pair for another year.
Thanks for the videos. Nice to see them in action.
Absolute ditto x
Just found Sue's @derbyperegrines tweet and it seems the Aylesbury falcon wont be producing further than one egg this season. All best wishes for a strong healthy chick.
Morning all
Everything and peaceful this morning
Oh my goodness - just checked up on the Norwich peregrines, they have had a ringed intruding female from East London who flushed the male off the eggs and proceeded to inspect the eggs, also at Fulham and Barnes the male brought a live dunnock to the nest and this resulted in one of the eggs getting broken - the male ate half the contents and the female finished it off - yuk ! but more fascinating insights into these birds
I looked at the Norwich site, that picture of the tiercel defending the scrape is awesome, he is so much smaller than the intruding falcon!
What a shame for the Fulham and Barnes pair.
All peaceful here at the Derby scrape.
I can't imagine our own tiercel would risk bringing a live dunnock directly into the Derby scrape whilst eggs are present. Perhaps the Fulham and Barnes tiercel is less experienced, but he probably wont repeat his mistake in a hurry. I guess they all pass through similar learning curves, but the Derby pair seem to have reached near perfection in this regard. I suspect the exceptional bond between them has also played a major part in this.
Changeover just occurred with tiercel now on egg duty.
I was just watching on live stream 4 when I heard a sort of buzzing sound the the colour on the view went blue hazy? I hope it is not anything electrical? Anyone else heard it?
Hi Phoebe, just tuned in. I don't hear the buzzing that occured when you tuned into Cam4 earlier, but notice the blurred and shifting quality of the image. Similarly, the other colour Cam (1) is also very grainy. I wouldn't be surprised if a few needed tweaks here and there will be ongoing for a while, until the new connections have all been finely tuned, as and when required etc.,
Seeing the tiercel on standby duty at almost every tune-in now, getting to know and love him all over again!
Morning all
Thanks for last evenings info.
All lovely and peaceful again this morning.
Am sure this pair appreciate all that is done prior to the Season beginning,hence they are a contented pair.Giving us so much pleasure.
While it is quiet here, has anyone seen the Chichester pair? there is quite a story going on there. They have no eggs yet.
Phoebe/Chichester.
Have not been following as close as I do Derby.
http://www.chichestercathedral.org.uk/dyn/_assets/_pdfs/RSPBPressReleaseMarch2014.pdf
4/4/14 Blog seems to think no need for worry , as when change of Bird ,can cause a delay of one month.
Interesting how with help of all volunteers everywhere, we have all this wonderful access to spy on our wonderful wildlife.
Which of course we are very,very grateful
Kate
Kate, it is an interesting situation, something new to learn about these birds.
I put a pic on flickr of the tiercel at the changeover a minute ago. I noticed blood stains on his chest. Could be from his last meal or could be injured. More likely from his meal.
Looks like his last meal...hopefully
Yikes! Just viewed the flickr pic Phoebe - and it seems Macbeth is on the cards for Act 5!
Could it be arterial blood from a "hold down" struggle with a large prey? If this is the reason for his bloodied chest, then we'll know by end of day, as he will have preened and cleaned his feathers. An injury may continue to bleed. If anyone later spots him looking his usual spruce self, please post and let us know, as I'm really soft about the Derby birds ( as you all kindly tolerate! ) and feeling worried beyond the bravado. What if he's had a fight with that known intruder?
Any clue's from Derby residents who may have seen anything, would be greatly appreciated.
Lorraine, my thoughts were a possible scrap with an intruder or larger bird. But we have to wait and see, we won't know until he disappears for a wash. I will keep my eyes peeled.
Both birds visible just now - 15:06
The peregrines on Brussels Cathedral have a chick. There is a lovely piece of footage on their website showing the egg pipping, and the falcon tucking in her claws as she settles back down on the eggs
http://www.falconsforeveryone.be/nieuws_detail.jsp?lang=en&news_id=173
That is good news for Brussels. I watched the video which was very good, but page won't load for me to see the live view.
The tiercel here hasn't moved much but has don a bit of preening whilst sat on the scrape ledge. He seems to be spending a lot of time on the scrape.
It's teaming with rain in Derby and the tiercel has not left the scrape yet, most unusual for him.
Phoebe , I am going to be positive and say think he was so full with his last catch, that he is taking time to recover.Just did a 'full screen' capture of him Via stream 2, and could not discern any significant
marks, so hopefully he is all cleaned up now. Fingers crossed.
Kate
I have been thinking the same Kate. His crop looks enormous!
Pleased you agree. Think I managed to post a capture on Flikr. Doh!!!
Yes you did Kate, I had put a similar one on too.
Relieved to see the tiercel looking much cleaner and with no apparent injury. The flickr images showing the aftermath of his exploits, are just great document to the tiercel's top predator status - what a warrior! This years chicks are going to be the best fed chicks in the whole Kingdom!
There he is, still on guard duty, as if butter wouldn't mealt !
I like your blog picture Lorraine that is a good guide to their sizes.
Yes it appears the tiercel is well and not injured. It was a bit of concern to see him like that I have not seen that amount of staining before. He is such a character!
He is not in view at the moment unless he is on the corbel on the left. The cam is a little zoomed in there so that is out of view.
Morning all
Quiet and peaceful, on the Nest, again this morning
A lovely warm quiet morning. The tiercel is all spruced up after his messy meal yesterday. Flickr pic of him.
Nice blue Derby sky for our birds to surf in today I see, though both are content at home base just at the moment.
Must mention that my present BP image was rooted from the HelenSara flickr gallery, who captured two seperate images of the adult birds ( one on 20th Feb 2013 and the other on 21st ) when they happened to be perched in the exact same place on the scrape. They give an at-a-glance quick ID reference, that I find really helpful. I managed to screen grab each image and then splice them both together on one image. I'm sure she won't mind!
Could sit and scroll through the gallery pics all day, there are so many fantastic images. Keep 'em coming flickr wizards!
Lovely faultless changeover just occurred ( 14.08 ) with tiercel now on egg sitting duty for a while. Falcon now free to go and play in her blue, blue element!
The falcon has been hunting, she eating is on the tower by the spout.
Morning all
Another lovely peaceful morning.
Hi Kate, yes, everything seems nicely on track during this quiet incubation period. Nice to have a bit of sunshine here in Plymouth today, so may grab my binns and venture out for a walk later.
Good to see couple of changeovers later pm while I was working. Tiercel does a good shuffle to get all those eggs under him. Beautiful shadow of the cathedral tower across the green at one point. We are spoilt these days by having webcam views out across the peregrines' world as well as the close-ups. Lucky us! Thank you team.
Nice and peaceful today butI have been busy and not much chance to watch.
I put a screen grab on flickr earlier - managed to catch the falcon in flight up to the scrape and the shadow of the tower was behind her.
Morning everyone.
Another peaceful sunny morning.
Not caught anything report-worthy yet today - ( can only be good ) -
so ended up on the Hoe eating fish'n chips in the afternoon sun like a tourist.
Washing it down with a lovely cuppa on my return, I see the tiercel on the scrape ledge. Looks like we both had a nice day!
The tiercel's crop is still so full, on Cam 1, you can only just see his beak above it. Still looks a little pink also, but could be the lighting. Seriously though, is it usual for a peregrine to gorge like this on one kill? I mean, they don't go short on food, so why fill himself so full. Maybe it was a larger than normal catch, which he keeps returning to. Guess we'll never really know.
Morning all
Lovely to report another peaceful morning for or Birds.
Lorraine,yes Devon set for a few more days of sunshine.
Have you seen a link for Plymbridge anywhere???
We can see the feemale peregrine sun bathing and wiglling about
on the eggs. She is very good at keeping the eggs worm. Both peregrines likes sitting in the sun. We saw the feemale peregrine rol the eggs to make shur that they or wome all the way a rond. she needs to be carfol with her feet so she dosn't break them. she is a good mother.
Kate - I managed to find a little bit of info on the Plymouth peregrines. It seems they have a new team entirely this year, but viewing through the telescopes will still be available on the bridge overlooking the rock face as usual and the 24 hour surveillance is still in effect. Also, there is a live webcam ( access listed in the bar, along the top of the PLYM PEREGRINE PROJECT home page ) However, I don't think that it has been fully set up yet. When you click on the arrow in the screen box, it asks you to install AXIS Media Player. My system checked it out as safe, but even after the quick installation, the cam window didn't open. Once I find it's working, I'll let you know.
Similar to many other breeding sites this year, the Plymouth project reports that a previous year's juvie ( which never left the area ) has been receiving catches, mid-air, from both parent birds!, but nevertheless, there is a short video, showing how the parents won't allow it anywhere near the nest. No eggs yet though, as far as I can gather.
The Derby birds are both fine at present, with the tiercel often returning to his usual post on the scrape.
All is content and both on tray and eggs, makes for such a happy watch.
Green Class: I love your comment
" she is a good mother",
I hope that all your own Mums' look after you as well as these Birds, and help you to understand the care in bringing up a Family.
Lorraine, thanks for the update 'Plymbridge' Yes! I cannot get the cam working Doh!! will keep trying and let you know if I am successful.
Kate
A quick visit to the cathedral this morning after a week away. The female was off the eggs. She visited the tiny eroded space at the top of the window above the nest to retrieve some cached food which she then took up to the top ledge to eat.
A pair of (wild) stock doves seem to be trying to nest right above the nest at the top of the window, fluttering about seemingly oblivious to the falcons presence.
Nick B
Hi Nick,
Hope your week included some well deserved rest/private time - but strangely comforting to know you're back in Derby!
Got this BP of one of those stock doves you must have seen earlier this morning, when I saw it sitting on top of the near cam gargoyle as bold as you like! I remember they were around the tower last year and I took a screen grab of them mating on the ledge. It could be the same pair.
I hope they slip under the radar again this year and manage to keep out of the tiercel's clutches, as said dove is looking far to plump and tasty for it's own good!
Just had a quick tune-in to the Nott's falcon sitting on her nest and was pleasantly surprised to catch a glimps of her tiercel for the very first time, perched just under the platform A handsome chappie for sure, but my heart firmly belongs to the Derby Daddy!
I saw that too Lorraine. I put a pic on flickr.
During the initial open-air section of the Cathedral's Palm Sunday service this morning, one of the falcons was circling round and calling as we stood on Cathedral Green.
A long overdue catch-up and Christine's comment about the intrusion at Norwich caught my eye. I also saw this reported on a London blog which just mentioned that the ring was orange. Sadly, orange is the most common colour in use and the black lettering has to be seen too to be definitive. In fact, the Hawk and Owl Trust who run the Norwich project were able to see the ring bore the letters "DP" which was the crucial element in identification. I'm very excited that urban bred and ringed birds are now beginning to turn up.
Still waiting for the single egg at Aylesbury to hatch and hoping it's fertile!
Morning everyone.
Another quiet sunny morning,
Welcome return to Nick B.
The chichester pair are apparently a new pair, their first egg was laid on the 9th april and the second one yesterday the 13th - is this a record for a gap between eggs ?
just seen on the Nottingham site that very sadly Storm, the only surviving chick from 2012 has been found dead. I believe it is natural causes and at least due to being ringed this young bird could be identified
An avian drama is unfolding in my own garden. A pair of blackbirds have been assiduously feeding their brood in one of my shrubs, until yesterday the nest was attacked by a magpie. This morning I discovered that the (presumably) sole survivor is lurking on the ground and being fed and defended by its parents. With the magpie returning at intervals and several cats using the garden as a thoroughfare, I don't give much for its chances.
I'm angry with the magpie, but, as an old gentleman once said to me, "They're God's birds" - they need to make a living too, just as our peregrines do.
Although I mainly watch our Falcons, have been watching those in Nottingham, Norwich and Shefield too. Looked at the Sheffield Blog this am and there were some interesting facts about incubation etc.They have also had a falcon most likely from last year's chicks lurking about too. They feel that like ours, the parents recognise the chicks. http://sheffieldperegrines.wordpress.com/ Linda
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