The third of four eggs hatched late last night, watched by innumerable people around the world. Some have kindly taken screenshots and posted them on our Flickr Group.
Here are a selection of them, each helpfully containing the date and time stamp:
Note: Some of you may have spotted that the actual webcam addresses have changed. You are currently being redirected to the new locations. Further changes will need to come into effect in June when pages move again to a secure server section on Derby City Council's website.
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. . .
128 comments:
Thank you Nick.
Noticed the changes starting yesterday, thought it was me being 'grannyfied 'CHOL:):)
You are always so thoughtful of us arm chair viewers, much appreciated.
See himself on the Tray at the moment, he is so impatient for next Hatch, and then she tells him to 'Gerrofff when he ventures near, these I will look after thank you Tee Hee!
Kate
Chicks alone,watched by looks like Tiercel out on the end of scrape, he flies off and leaves eggs alone, but not for long.
Phots on flkr
Kate
We just reaslised... we guessed the right day for the first chick to hatch!!!
we have just seen the male perigrine feeding the femaie perigrin and she was feeding the perigrine chiks. It was very exiting.The male perigrine was very clever how he was feeding the female perigrine and how the female perigrine was feeding the perigrine chiks. It was also intresting.
Hello Oak and Green Class
Thank you for posting your comments it is so lovely to read how you are enjoying watching and observing.,and in Oaks class correct guess for the first chick. well done.
I wonder if the Fourth will hatch today, what do you think?
I am a granny living in Devon, so it is wonderful that our difference in location and age makes no difference when we are all so interested in our feathered friends.
Kate
Cam 4 keeps showing black with a minute tiny picture square, cam 2 is working fine.
Kate
I'm not sure if this is new or not but can see 2 largish pieces of shell in the scrape that I don't recall seeing earlier. I maybe wrong but wondering if this is the 4th one hatched.
I don't know if the shell is new but there were two pieces from the last hatch. The falcon does seem to move them about quite a bit so it could be that. Eyes peeled tonight!
Fourth egg not hatched yet, the falcon just moved and partially exposed the last egg..
They just did a changeover and one egg still sitting there.
Chicks being fed - just 3 chicks.
Early birds breakfast for 3 chicks.
Olga. Toronto.
Morning all
Thanks for evening /overnight posts
at 06.25 sitting tight on the chicks.
Kate
Feeding time at the scrape. Still just 3 chicks. Our Easter Egg is going to make an entrance today maybe. Dad brought the food, mom feeding.
just stood up, wonder if chicks are stil hiding the egg. Flkr photo
Kate
07;08
can still just see glimpse of egg
Kate
11.43...11.44 se was very quick so capture missed the web cam clock.
one egg still not hatched.pic on Flkr
Kate
Egg still visible at 13.15 hrs.
Feeding time 13.22 hrs., Mrs. P. in charge, Mr. P. on ledge in background.
Mrs P just left, still only 3 chicks. He checked them over and she is back with food that she must have had stashed somewhere.
Feediing time bothe adults on scrape still three chicks, though egg is looking more fragile..Pics will be over on flkr.16.36
Kate
Another feed just finished & 4th. still egg intact.
If anyone around look at cam 2 down beneath the scrape is another pergrine, our two are both on the scrape, so I wonder who that is?? I wwill post on flkr but it is not very clear.
Kate
It might be a pigeon
It's still there whatever it is?!
it's not moving so I wonder if it's easy access food ? It's big though :-o
Well spotted Kate.
I take it back... It is moving. It seems to have a red chest? Maybe injured?
Put a pic on Flickr
A late meal for the three chicks. Last egg not yet hatched.
She is so gentle with them and they sure do eat often. The last egg is taking its time.
Pic on Flickr
Do I have to join Flickr to see them?
Just saw the egg so no new chick yet.
She doesn't seem to be keeping the last egg warm for the past hour. It sits up front and I can't see any cracks. She sure was checking it a lot but nothing so far. She just has it up front. Visible all the time.
Now she is feeding the chicks. Just 3.
Morning all
Feeding time and littlest on making sure it received some food.
Abby click on Flkr in groups look for Derby Cathedral you should be able to see.
Will post this session in a few mins.
Egg clearly visible.
As phobe said last night capture was probably foof stash, but it looked very much peregine. CHOL:):)
Kate
Just missed early morning feed but it does seem they make sure each one gets a morsel by feeding one until it's full then moving onto the others.
Does anyone else wonder as I do how it is that the chicks don't come to any harm with the rather rough constant shuffling that Mrs P is doing (presumably turning the unhatched egg). Does she stop doing this once all eggs have hatched? Can't remember from previous years, having another "senior momrnt"!
Morning Heather,the shuffling is probably the young hatchlings trying to move under her , can you imagine having three unruly youngsters, all jostling to join this wonderful new world, they want to get out and enjoy,( but as with all young they find lifes schedule tedious) CHOL:):)
Kate
James M from holmesdale school Oak class, I wish all the best for those beautiful chicks.
feeding again, waiting for her to move so can see egg on cam 2
Egg still in tact....does it usually take this long for the last one to hatch? The other 3 will be much stronger by the time it makes an appearance.
Is there a chance that it might not hatch? Or would she disguard it if she knew something was wrong?
Come on number 4!!!
Good morning all, I dozed off and now must get to bed as it is almost 2:30 am here but wanted to post one more time. They do make sure each of the wee ones gets fed even tho at times I think one doesn't. They are wonderful parents. I remember last year that the last chick was easy to see to the end because it was quite a bit smaller than the others. But I thought it was only 2 days younger than number 3. Keep your fingers crossed for number 4.
That "thing" on he corbel down below the scrape on Cam 2 is actually a wood pigeon. I saw it arrive yesterday & it seems to like that niche, out of the wind. I've just see it turn its head & it looks ok. I'm amazed it hasn't been caught!
Hello James M from Oak Class Holmesdale School! Are you watching the peregrines at home, on a laptop or a tablet? Those little chicks really are beautiful, I agree with you. I'm sure these amazing peregrine parents will take the very best care of them. Keep watching and you might be lucky enough to see the fourth egg hatch!
Morning Annie and james
Yep you can see pidgeon on the corbel clearer this morning,wonder if he times sitting there just after a feed.
As you say amazing, they have not stashed him for later. CHOL:):)
will try and put pic on flkr.
Kate
Egg still intact & under her chest at the front. I can't see any pipping.
Excuse my (lack of) manners - morning Kate, Abby-lynn, Linda, Phoebe, Olga, Mary T., Lindsay, Heather, the Nicks, ian, Helensara and everyone else who may be on watch!
Hi Kate, thanks for possible reason for Mrs P's rough shuffling - guess when they're small it must feel like being tickled all the time. I feel sorry for her when they get really big as they give her hardly any rest at all.
Lindsay - have just looked at Sheffield peregrines and they have 2 of their 4 eggs unhatched after a week now so possibly due to being infertile or left in cold too long. Says they discard them to edge of scrape. There are some good shots, video & info at https://sheffieldperegrines.wordpress.com/ "Two Little,Too Late". However I'm a little biased and still stay loyal to our little Derby family and hope we have better luck with our finsl egg.
I am not panicking(if you believe that) CHOL:)
I am no expert....
If I recall fourth egg was laid 5th April so if 33 days are an approximate to hatching, we are only just around that time...
Sooooooook lets keep are fingers crossed for today..
Kate
We have just been watching the peregrines and we have just seen the female or male sitting on the chicks, protecting them. At school I have seen the female or male feeding the chicks - they put the food in between their legs and they rip some food with their beaks and they drop the food into the chicks' mouths.
Typical! having typed that last post, chicks alone, she is back and forth not in a hurry to sit,but I think maybe an intruder around.
Kate
Pics on flkr.
Hi folks,
Was also watching that (dove?) last night. I thought it was the tiercel for a long time. I can't understand why it's remaining there. It's strange that the falcons are allowing it to stay so close to the scrape.
We did see a courting pair on the tower last year ( I saw them mating ) so perhaps it's one of that same pair with a little nest of their own going on, tucked into the crevice up against the wall. As I understand it, doves mate for life, so perhaps it is a dove of some sort? Whatever's going on, I do hope it all ends well!
I know that falcons need height to attack their prey with a swift hit from above, so perhaps the dove is safe without this dispatch method available whilst it remains so close to the wall, but then you'd think it would have taken the first opportunity to fly away. I think it's either injured or has a nest going on. We'll just have to keep watching I guess!
Just caught sight of the last egg. It looks on track to hatch, either later tonight or tomorrow morning, but do hope it'll be okay, it being the one I'm already besotted with this year!
Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for the info...I'm with you, I have every faith on number 4 being hatched.
I can't wait for he full set :-)
Happy watching everyone.
Here's Mrs. P. with food for them. Egg #4 visible.
Feeding time over, the chicks are so cute. As soon as they are full, almost collapse and sleep. So funny.
One was near the edge of the nest, Mrs P picked it up and put it under her. Never seen her do that before.
See and learn new things everyday, what a privilege to be able to watch these amazing birds and their chicks.
Still 1 egg...
Whilst chicks alone, she iswatching them but eating her own prey out on the side. piccie on flkr.
Kate
Good afternoon all. So the 4th egg hasn't hatched yet! Maybe today. Thanks for the pictures on Flickr. I saw the pic of the pigeon today. It is a wonder it is able to stay. I'll be keeping an eye on the little ones again today.
Dad came up, walked over to mom on the chicks and they were chupping to each other, she left and he looked the chicks over but something has him looking up quite often and chupping. He didn't cover the chicks and now she is back, he took off and she is feeding the chicks with the egg visible.
Hi Abby-Lynn! It's tea-time for the 3 chicks.
Hi Annie C. They sure can eat.
Hi Abby
Yep waiting for Food delivery, which has just arrived, so change over for feeding.
Collared dove/pidgeon. still sitting there, keep an eye out tonight see if it moves,maybe its injured and Peregrines biding their time....?
Put a piccie earlier of parent out on the side feeding self.
Wonder if you will see the Egg hatch tonight??
Kate
I sure hope so. It will be the little one that we will all feel sorry for when he/she is alone when the others fledge. Then it is sad when it fledges.
I have seen the chicks and they are very cute. They are white. There is one egg to go - I am very excited.
Feeding time, still three chicks and no visible signs of pipping on the last egg. Pic on Flickr.
Hi Jacob,
Are you watching the chicks being fed right now? They have large mouths don't they? And they always seem to be very hungry! A few minutes ago Mrs. P. flew off and Mr. P. came to guard the chicks. Then Mrs. P. came back with a chunk of fresh food, Mr. P. flew away, and Mrs. P. started feeding them. They were all stretching their heads up for a piece of meat!
I hope we will be able to see the last egg hatch soon.
Hello. Yes, we have been watching them being fed by their mum. We didn't see her come back with the food - we thought it looked like a pigeon...
I can hear the wind. They are fast asleep. The female or male only fly their fastest when they are getting some food.
I have been keeping an eye on the falcon and her babies for the last 3 hours and have only seen bits of fluff peeking out from under her. No feeding at all. I saw a tiny bit of the egg a few minutes ago and that is it.
Hi Abby, have been watching on and off for most of the night (insomnia has struck again!), and like you have spotted fourth egg still not hatched. Both Mrs P & chicks also seem to have had a restless night. Mr P has been calling on and off but not seen him on scrape.
Lovely to hear chicks cheeping when sound is on full volume but have to turn down when 'the bells' ring!!
Finally Mr P comes with food and she just about flew off the chicks. And yes, the egg is still unhatched. Good morning to you Heather and all the others who may be awake and watching.
5.58 am breakfast has arrived, definitely egg still not hatched, perhaps today will be the day.
Yesterday Mr P was on the edge of the scrape and she sitting on the chicks and he started whistling. I had never heard them do that. While she was gone just now he was covering the chicks. Now she is back and covering them. No more feeding for awhile now. I wonder if the pigeon is still on the ledge below?
Morning all
Thank you for your evening and night comments.
She is sitting tight again this morning, and almost looks as though she is trying to squeeze the Egg,
Cannot see the bird on the lower corbel this morning. either.
Kate
Pidgeeee is back on the ledge.
Mama still turning and turning.
Kate
Ha!! just captured TWO pidgeons out on Cam3 are they flirting with death, have put pics on Fkr( for those new click on pics to enlarge) enjoy!!!!
Stil no hatch that I can glimpse.
Kate
Those pigeons must me a little daft to come anywhere near the falcons territory. Don't they know they will be served for breakfast if they don't get away quick? I love seeing all the pictures. Wish we could see the last egg hatch.
I am off to bed. Hopefully the hatch of the fourth egg is on your watch Kate. She sure seems concerned with something going on up above.
Nite all. See you tomorrow.
Morning all,
Mr P just caught a huge bird, all plucked and handed over to Mrs P to feed the chicks.
Shes's flown away with the remains and Mr P on chick watch....although he's wasn;t interested in the egg at first, he soon huddled it under him. Gives me hope that we will see a
4th chick.
Sure there's a small crack on top of the egg, took a pic but not very clear.
Ive just noticed that Oak class' first comment on Friday did not work...
They commented on seeing the chicks for the first time and that they were surprised that they were white when the adults are brown and grey. The children were also very excited to see the chicks being fed too.
They are keeping their fingers crossed that the 4th egg will hatch soon.
Morning Lindsay
I tried to enlarge your piccie but as you say bit fuzzy, but could well be if you saw it a bit clearer.
I was just too late to catch her lifting her wing, as egg on the edge of left, but could not see clearly.
We continue the drama and wait ...
Kate
Good afternoon everyone!
Mrs. Russell, Oak Class: the children's comment was posted but it went onto the previous set of comments. I knew I'd seen it because I answered it!
The egg seems to be intact still but maybe today's the day? I hope the children will be able to watch the hatching when it eventually happens.
Thank you we'll look at that later!!
Hello Oak Class
Mrs Russell said the comment you left us on Friday did not get through. So she sent it again for you, though I think someone else may have answered it by now, too.
Although the chicks have fine white down when first hatched, their real feathers soon start to grow through, and it almost looks as if the developing feathers are unrolling from out of small bluish-white plastic straws that start to poking out of the chicks. I'm looking forward to holding the chicks in a couple of weeks time when I or a friend will lower them down to the ground to have rings fitted to their legs. I shall be able to see some of those developing feathers then, but pretty soon the white down will all be lost and their true feathers will be visible for you all to see on the webcams.
Do keep watching, and let us know if you do see that last egg hatching.
Tomorrow we will having our first ever Skype call with another infants school class, and I think they may well have lots of questions for me. Maybe Mrs Russell might be interested in that idea sometime. If she is, I'm sure she will let me know.
Keep-watching!
Nick Moyes
We are looking fourwoods to doing a questions and ansers lesson with the perigrine project tomorow. We have quite a lot of questions for you to anser that we don't now the anser to. Some of us are very exited to find out what questions you want to ask us. We have been enjoying watching the perigrine chiks beening fead.
Good day all! The little darlings are having an early supper. The egg must be behind them as I can't see it. They are growing so fast!
Mr P just came up with more food and Mrs P took off with it. Now he is covering the chicks. I'm sure she will be back very shortly. I saw the egg this time and can't tell if it is cracked.
I do believe the dove below the scrape is feeding some chicks of her own! She'll be putting up gingham curtains next, the brazen minx!!
I bet you anything it's the same pair I saw mating on the tower in recent years. If so, perhaps the falcons have learnt to tolerate their presence?...who knows, the Derby falcons are so awesome I wouldn't be at all surprised.
Lots of good viewing just now. Food coming, food going, chicks feeding ( getting bigger by the hour!) and egg still looking promising. Now all tucked back under the duvet with full tums.
Just viewed the most recent pics on flicker - many thanks Kate and Lindsay :) Smashing captures of the doves which will come in handy as clear ID reference, should we see them return next year.
I'm going to see the Plymouth peregrines soon Kate, will let you know any news.
Hi Lorraine, you will have to tell us if you see the gingham curtains go up. That is funny.
Its a wonder that the doves would nest there as they know who their predators are & have to know who is living up above them. Hopefully they will all live in peace.
Lorraine - I think you may be right about the collared doves nesting below the scrape, they would not stay there for no reason.
Lorraine, you have just made me proper chuckle! :-)
Surely the Peregrines see the doves/pigeons (prey!) when they fly in and out if he nest?
How fascinating!
I'm not feeling so confident about the last egg...it's often left alone but I have everything crossed.
Does anyone know if it's taken almost a week later for the last chick to hatch before? Would it survive now as the others are getting so big?
I thought last year it was 2 days between 3 & 4. It is odd that last year she lost one too. But it had lived for about 2 days I think. Its too bad they have to lose one.
I know from the last two years, that when the last chick hatches, it's sooooo small compared to the others, that you can get anxious, ( BTW - I think it's actually been more than a week between 1st and 4th hatch in the past Lindsay ) but the parents are always aware of it and make sure it gets some food.
Really rooting for this last egg now - saw a good view of it earlier, with some bulges now showing on the smooth surface, yet didn't see a pip.
Thanks Lorraine and Abby-Lynn,
Comforting knowing it's been more than a week previously....I was getting worried!
We will just have to keep watching :-)
Just watched them eating again. They are like little human babies, eating every 4 hours. Mum sure can eat anything. Feathers, bones and all.
I was thinking the doves won't like it when the little flacons start pooping over the edge. They will be sorry then.
ooops, typo - falcons not flacons.
I have been watching the peregrine falcons and hoping that the 4th egg will hatch soon. I like watching the parents feeding the chicks.
Evening all welcome Eddie from oak Class.
Falcon sitting quietly and the Egg still looking entact, cannot see any pip or crack yet.Dad (teircel) is preening down the other scrape.
Hope you night time watchers may be lucky.
Kate
The bell has just rung.The chicks are sleeping. I don't think the fourth egg has hatched yet.
Chicks just had a second feed and now the tiercel is covering them the egg still not hatched.
Feeding time again! This time by Dad :-)
Haha Kate, they sure will be sorry when the chicks get a little older. I'm so shocked they have nested there...they clearly like living on the edge, literally!
I'm hoping I wake up to and see chick number 4 has arrived, fingers crossed!
What a difference a few days makes, the chicks are growing twice their size every day! Amazing.
Another evening snack, Mrs P flew off with prey and Mr P eventually sauntered over to do some babysitting. However Mrs P had other ideas and no sooner was he in place than she flew back and turfed him off.
Funny to see his attempts to cover the chicks, he can only just manage it now being so much smaller, so it will be nigh on impossible when they get bigger! I fear that perhaps the fourth egg is lost but we mustn't give up hope.
Just before 3am feathers falling thick and fast from above the scrape, looks as if Mr P has made a nighttime kill. Mrs P keeps looking up perhaps a feed is imminent.
Can only see wriggling chicks but no sign if egg has hatched. Off to sleep now!
There are still feathers floating down from above the scrape. Can't see the egg, just the little fluffy bottoms of the chicks.
Dad is feeding the chicks this time. He flew in with prey and mom left. It has been very quiet on the scrape. Egg still intact.
Wow, mom just came back and went over and took the food from him and is now feeding the chicks. Quite the aggressive bird!
I have checked a few times and haven't seen the doves. There were a lot of feathers floating down during your night time and I hope it wasn't from the doves. I was getting used to them being there. Some grey feathers in the scrape too.
Now that I have said that, I just looked again and yes I see a dove down below. I'm glad.
Morning Abby
Thanks for overnight comments, see Mum still shuffling.Chicks getting bigger
Kate
Lorraine apologies forgot to say thanks for remembering me re Plymbridge Nest, have been watching Exeter Cathedral,this year also 4 Eggs.
Kate
Dad just brought some food and mom feeding the chicks. Egg still not hatched. Dad took off again.
Another feed in bright sunshine, all three very hungry & Mrs. P. doing her best satisfy them all. The egg still hasn't hatched although there does seem to be a darker patch on the larger end of it. Perhaps it's just a trick of the light - with this wind the clouds are scudding across the sun so it may be just intermittent shadows I'm seeing.
Feed over, chicks all tucked down around the egg, sun's out, and Mr. P. is on guard at the far end, Mrs. P. having taken the remains of the meal away.
Luncheon is served, Mrs. P. doing the honours, Mr. P. watching from the far ledge.
Is anyone still having problems with camera 4? I got it once this am and now it won't come in.
No 4th chick yet. I had hoped to see it today. I see the dove is still there too.
I can see them on cam 1 and they are bring fed again. They do grow so fast. The egg is still there.
Abby-Lynn, Cam 4 worked for me for about three minutes then cut out, but it's back now. Tea-time progressing well, Mrs. P. is still feeding them all & it's very noisy! Mr. P.'s having a preen on the opposite ledge.
Thanks Annie, I just tried and got it. The chicks are all huddled over the egg.
Mrs. P. has flown off with what's left of the meal (i.e. very little!) and Mr. P. has jumped across to shelter the rather groggy trio.
Thanks Abby and annie.
I can see her sitting in Cam 2 but cannot get cam 4 running at moment.
Kate
She still is keeping the egg under her wing. The chicks keep popping out and she helps them back in. I remember last year when they got too big to fit under her she had them in the corner and would spread her wings a bit to shield them from the wind or sun. I am getting cam 4 again.
Hi Abby-Lynn, yes Cam 4 seems to be behaving now. Mrs. P. flew in about 5 minutes ago calling loudly & carrying prey. It's supper-time! Egg still intact.
Mr P just flew in dropped off a very small piece of prey. Mrs P took it, ate a good portion of it and feed just a little snack to the chicks. Then just covered them up. Maybe more food will come shortly. Still just the 3 chicks.
They just had another feeding. Not much tho. Then Mrs P left, Mr P tried his best to cover the chicks but they are getting to big for him to cover. He got at least 2 minutes with them then you could tell he could hear her coming as he started to get up and sure enough she flew in and away he went to the edge of the scrape.
She can still cover them pretty well. She doesn't seem to pay any attention to the egg now. So I guess 3 is it.
Mr P just brought a big pice of prey. the chicks are loving it. The chicks are into biting at each others beaks, I guess they can smell the food on each other.
The chicks are starting to move around a bit now. One turned in a complete circle trying to find its way to the food. Gosh they grow fast. She even fed one of them a piece of meat with either feathers or bone with the meat. Right now they are quite spread out. Not under her. But lying flat. Full tummies and tired out. Well I am soon off to bed so hope all goes well in the next hours.
Cam 4 isn't working at the moment. The 3 chicks are alone and the largest is moving about quite a bit.
Either there is some debris stuck to egg #4, or it has cracked.
Nothing has happened with the egg so far. The 3 chicks are quite wriggly.
The largest, most wriggly chick is bumping the egg around a lot but there's no sign of it hatching.
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