Following questions and discussion on the blog, this post aims to explain where everything is on the cathedral tower...especially for newcomers and people who don't know Derby Cathedral.
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| View of the East face of the cathedral tower |
As you can see, the tower camera, (or 'pudding cam' as it has been called) is sited looking horizontally across the stone ledge well above the nest, with a view of Jurys Inn in the background. The three 'bumps' along that ledge are actually the 'rear ends' of three mythical beasts or 'grotesques' which the 16th century stone masons carved and fitted when the tower was being built. each grotesque has its head at the bottom and its bottom at the top! Those 'bottoms' are rounded and make ideal perching places for the peregrines. The right hand one is arrowed in the photo. The other two appear as black lumps to its left. If they had been carved with holes through their mouths to drain rain water from the roof, then they would be called gargoyles...but because the water is drained by a couple of lead pipes (in one of which, the left one, sits the pud cam) they are strictly 'grotesques'.
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| Am I a dog or what? |
The large 'window' is actually filled with louvred wooden slats rather than glass, with wood behind to prevent any access by pigeons or indeed peregrines! The nest platform was screwed into the woodwork, carefully avoiding drilling or making any marks on the stonework on this Grade 1 Listed Building!
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| Looking down on the nest platform in winter |
This photo, taken by Nick Moyes one December - and well before the nest clean-up, shows how the nest platform fits snugly around the stonework of the cathedral.
If you want to try a bird's eye view, try
this aerial map, which allows you to view the cathedral from any direction. (Note that nearby Jury's Inn was still under construction when this picture was taken, and the re-laying out of Cathedral Green was also in progress.)
We hope this allows web cam viewers to understand the layout...let us know if not!
Nick B (Derbyshire Wildlife Trust)
35 comments:
Many thanks indeed for the picture of our cathedral and the clear explanation of all the items. I'm really looking forward to watching the creation, birth and raising of this year's peregrine falcon family.
Anne in Allestree
Smashing post Nick - like a piece of jigsaw that's now slotted into place! Took me months to work out the cam views when I first joined, so know just how handy this will be for others.
Maybe it could be added to the Contents list on the Peregrine Page, like a permanent reference image? And, (cos I'm cheeky enough to ask!) a similar image, but showing some ID pointers of the two birds, would be great quick referral for both new and long term viewers alike.
Thank you again for lovely info,
funny for a longtime I used to think when watching cam 2,
that the grotesque was alongside the platform, instead of high above.
So I am sure this will come in very handy as ref.
kate
Good close up views of both birds tonight, one up top and one on the scrape.
Thanks for the info, it is good for people who have not visited the cathedral.
Looking forward to another interesting season. Unfortunately I have lost my password and user name and will have to set up another one. I have been watching this webcam for a number of years now and look forward to it each Spring.
Good to hear from you Ann! Unfortunately I will be away at the best part but will try to spy the cam when I can. I am sure the first egg is imminent. They are both keeping close to the scrape. I anticipate waking to see the first egg. I will be in derby briefly tomorrow but not near the cathedral.
The falcon has flow up to the top to preen while the tiercel leapt into the scrape and was looking up at the falcon. He is now perched on the ledge looking out over Derby.
Thanks for this information and picture. I thought he must be above the scrape because often she would look up there. I love watching. While you are all sleeping I will be awake as we are 7 hours behind you time wise where I am in Canada.
Thank you to the person who zoomed the scrape camera in closer, I've a feeling that view will be very useful, very soon!
I think that if an egg is laid today it will be after sunset.
Phoebe
The falcon has just landed on the scrape, meanwhile the tiercel is on the corbel below the rhs.
She is milling around in the hollow now, is this it?
Definitely looks like she is laying
Morning all
K
Just caught up with your last evenings posts.
I only mange to catch one of our Birds, so pleased to read of your sightings, sadly NO EGG this morning.
Phoebe sorry you say you will be away I will miss your running commentaries, hope you are well?
Wendy at least we can rely on this site (SK2) CHOL:):)
Mama on shale scrape as I type.
Kate
Hi Kim Wallis: it's great that you are using our web cams and project with your children!
We have various resources for teachers and can email some over to you if you care to contact us using our peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk address.
Also welcome to new (and old) viewers, wherever you are on the planet, as we wait for the first egg. This waiting game can go on for a few days as we know from previous years. She looks as if she is about to lay and then doesn't. Clearly the egg inside her isn't fully formed so we just have to wait...and wait!
Being later than other nests is also something our Derby birds do each year, even though they are a well established and experienced pair. More on this later perhaps.
Nick B (Derbyshire Wildlife Trust)
Hello to all at Derby
Just a quickie from me to say that although the Aylesbury cams aren't yet live, the access point has changed. There's a link from the Bucks Bird Club website, which in turn is accessed here
http://bucksbirdclub.co.uk/
Good birding!
The falcon's in the scrape being busy, turning round & generally looking about to lay - but she will keep us on tenterhooks for a while yet I'm sure.
Don't think she will keep us waiting much longer!
She is just teasing us. I kept an eye on her till Midnight Canada time and she kept in and out of the scrape.
Welcome to the Derby peregrines it's like this every year ~ we wait and wait for the first egg to be laid. For my own reasons I hope it comes later rather than earlier, then I might be back in England in time for the first hatch. Looking forward to this season. Still no sign yet of laying.
He was sitting on the edge, making a bunch of noise, she flew up, he left and she went right on to the nest. But its been a few minutes and she just moves around, puffs up her body and now is standing facing the side wall.
Morning all
Still. no EGG, just sitting on edge of scrape.
"All good things comes , to those who wait"
Katekate
On pudcam now ... silly suicidal feral pidge obviously doesn't know who lives here!!!
Saw the error of it's ways pdq, gone now! I have a screen capture but nowhere to post it
First egg !
That happened so quickly, i was on my tablet got a screenshot just after laying. Will try to post it on flickr. It was at 14:12.
Yay!! I stayed up till gone 4am this morning and left her crouching in the corner of the scrape, but I couldn't stay awake!
So glad the first egg has finally arrived and just had a good view of it ( 14.17pm )
Yippee!! Although the cheeky madam did it whilst I was otherwise occupied in the kitchen, grrrr!
Can hear the noisy tiercel somewhere - he seems to be eager to shout the news from the rooftops!
I managed to put two screenshots on flicker, someone else might have an earlier one as I was on my tablet and just booting my PC when she laid.
Been watching her all morning I take my eyes off the screen for a few minutes and hey presto an egg is laid.
It always happens when you've gone off to do something else ... but great news!
Good on you mrs p! Its my birthday 2day! She laid 1st egg on my birthday last year aswell! From Christine. X
So glad the first egg is here. I thought it would happen late last night but lovely surprise to see it this morning.
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