Sunday 3 May 2015

Wet wet wet.....

Today (Sunday 3rd May) the weather started off very cold and very wet, with an East wind blowing the rain straight in at the incubating falcon. As you can see, she really did get a soaking!.
Thank goodness the drainage holes were working!
Fortunately by the afternoon the rain had stopped and the sun began to shine, allowing her to dry out and continue incubation more comfortably. It was certainly just as well that our hatching didn't start today!
We were delighted to be emailed the following screenshot by Pat Wells showing the four eggs exposed at the moment of handover, which then led to us retrieving the video below which had been automatically recorded by our camera. Without the prompt, we would not have got it.





Nick B (DWT)

44 comments:

Abby-Lynn said...

She is acting very restless and going off the nest and back. I think we will very soon see a wee one.

Heather said...

5.50am has been very restless for last hour since I logged in. Constantly checking eggs and making low chirruping noises when inspecting them. Just moved off eggs to change position but no sign of hatching yet. Keeps looking skywards, hopefully today might be our first hatching.

Once again many thanks to Nick M for fixing camera by resetting aerial and erhernet cable - seems to have done the trick just in time (I originally posted this remark on other peregrine comment site by mistake).

Have been watching these magnificent birds for years and have finally plucked up the courage not to be Anonymous anymore!

Abby-Lynn said...

hi, I am in Canada and noticed since around 9 pm last night your time, she has been restless, leaving the eggs, sitting on the edge of the scrape and then going back to check the eggs and setting down again. She has been restless that long. Even during the night moving around a lot. At one point she even took off and left the eggs but within 30 seconds Mr P flew in and settled on the eggs. He too seemed to be very restless. i do think we shall see a chick soon.

kate said...

Morning all
and pleased Heather you are now one of the band of avid Derby watchers, by name CHOL:):)
Posting on Flkr a shot this morning of
EGGS alone (again) and a leisurely come back.Maybe eagle eyes will see a pip??
Kate

kate said...

P.S forgot to say click on photos to enlarge( for those who maybe new to viewing here is the link
https://www.flickr.com/groups/1102269@N22/?added=1
Looking forward to successful days ahead.
Kate

Kate said...

For those who believe in ANGELS a large feather has just blown in.

Prayers and thoughts for you our lovely Derby Family.
Kate

Abby-Lynn said...

I wasn't watching when the first feather flew in but just now another on flew in. I think he is up above munching on something. She sure is a lot rougher when settling on the eggs now. Helping them to crack maybe. It is so interesting to watch it all. Now all of you in Derby are starting to watch and I in Canada will be off to be very shortly. Maybe when I get up a chick will have hatched. How long does it usually take from the first crack till the chick emerges?

kate said...

Second Bird arrived on scrape with Prey, does he think a chick needs feeding ...Eggs left while he is busy plucking and watching.

Jodie said...

I think I might have spotted a pip at 09:35 as she shuffled round?

Linda said...

She's making a lot of noise about something and looking up a lot at 10.48.

Kate said...

Abby asked how long fro seeing pip will chick emerge?

I am no expert and am sure I have read Nick answering this in previous years.

Maybe by the time Abby looks in( her morning our evening) CHOL:):)
she may find our first chick.

Our Bird has been really shuffling around and around.
So Fingers crossed.

Abby-Lynn said...

I guess it will be another day of waiting for me. Had a chick arrived by now it would have been posted. She has been very quiet since I started watching this am.

kate said...

Hi abby
Goodmorning/our evening CHOL:):)
I have been checking on and off all day,, after this mornings very promising activity, she has been as you have seen very quiet.Maybe you will be lucky through out your session.
I shall be shortly off to cook evening meal.
Catch up later
Kate

Abby-Lynn said...

Poor mama, it is pouring but I can't tell how much she is dealing with. Looks like you will have rain for a few days. Every now and then she moves the eggs around quite roughly. Might be a good idea if the chicks aren't born for a few days yet with all the rain.

Anonymous said...

Aww I feel sorry for her, it's pouring down! I really hope the chicks don't hatch until Thursday, the weather will be wet and windy until then.

I am so excited but at the same time, want them all to survive.

What hard working parents these two are...amazing to watch and such a privilege.

Lindsay, Derby

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

Hi Abby-Lynn
I'm sitting here in Derby, hearing the rain dripping down and hitting my windowsill outside, whilst at the same time hearing the harsh drips of rain hitting our webcamera. (It sounds like a crazed dentist exploring for cavities). I'm surprised we haven't had hatching yet - not sure if the developing chicks have any say on whether they arrive in nice weather or not. But for now our female seems quite at peace, and not restless at all.
I'm pleased the annoying feather has gone from the front of Stream 2, and I look forward to webcam watchers reporting times of key events so that we can retrieve any camera footage. (Hope you've all seen the latest video which wouldn't have happened without a report from a viewer)
NickM

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

Hi Abby-Lynn
I'm sitting here in Derby, hearing the rain dripping down and hitting my windowsill outside, whilst at the same time hearing the harsh drips of rain hitting our webcamera. (It sounds like a crazed dentist exploring for cavities). I'm surprised we haven't had hatching yet - not sure if the developing chicks have any say on whether they arrive in nice weather or not. But for now our female seems quite at peace, and not restless at all.
I'm pleased the annoying feather has gone from the front of Stream 2, and I look forward to webcam watchers reporting times of key events so that we can retrieve any camera footage. (Hope you've all seen the latest video which wouldn't have happened without a report from a viewer)
NickM

Abby-Lynn said...

Hi Nick M - I see your note got into the blog twice. Yes, right now she is at peace or just waterlogged into place. I think it quite funny the way she rocks the eggs around. I guess they do it for a reason. I love watching the goings on.

Abby-Lynn said...

She seems to be having a peaceful altho she is soaked thru. But on the side of a cliff she wouldn't have much shelter at all. She is not pushing the eggs around anymore. Maybe she is content to hold off a bit because of it being so wet. Yes, it is a privilege to be able to watch all the goings on.

kate said...

Morning abby
Just as I logged on, 06:26;36 screeching,and caught change over, still no chick.

Cant hear the rain but very misty, here in Devon we have gales and rain Grr.

So we await another day.
Kate

Abby-Lynn said...

She was so soaked but now looks very dry. At this moment she is rocking those eggs!

Nick Brown (DWT) said...

Fortunately the wind is going round to the South West today (Tuesday) so the rain (and we are expecting quite a bit in the next few days) will not be coming straight in on the nest and the birds should stay dry.
Nick B (DWT)

Abby-Lynn said...

Aww that will be nice for them. i know there is good drainage too. I am really enjoying watching everything.

kate said...

Am sure big crack seen in EGG at forced hand over 12.29. will post on flkr
Kate

Anonymous said...

We have a chick on it's way!! I have the picture but can;t uplaod it??

Lindsay, Derby

Anonymous said...

Kate...I defintely saw it too.

How exciting :-)

Lindsay

kate said...

Great news glad you saw it. Lindsay I have a couple of shots but just uploaded the one showing large crack and actually saw movement before He/SHE sat down.
Won't be long now yippee!!!
Kate

Lindsay said...

Hey Kate,

I managed to grab a couple on my iphone! Not the best but can clearly see the huge crack.

I'm so excited! :)

Anonymous said...

Watching mrs p now dont know if its because i have never seen anything like this in my life but looks like first chick could be hatching mrs p moving what looks like a piece of shell to the left of her

Phoebe said...

The chick is hatched!

Lindsay said...

Definitely has...I saw half the empty shell.

Come on Mrs.P let us see the little one!

Phoebe said...

Pics on flickr

Lindsay said...

Great Pics Phoebe...I wasn't quick enough!

I don't htink I have ever been so excited! Haha

Phoebe said...

Tiercel is visiting the scrape but the falcon won't move off.

Phoebe said...

It is very exciting Lindsay, this is just the start you may well be transfixed later on! Hehe

Kate said...

Well done Phoebe!!!(as usual CHOL:):)are you back on permanent watch now ????Missed your commentaries.

I had to leave shortly after saw first crack, and only a fleeting visit now, so your grabs will be inavluable.
Kate

Lindsay said...

I've just posted a pic of the first chick on Flickr!

She left the nest for a few seconds.

It's tiny!!!

Lindsay said...

Then there were 2!!!!

Phoebe said...

Thanks Lindsay I thought there was a changeover. Great pic and the second chick is clearly on its way, the shell is cracked right across. Well done!

Lorraine said...

Saw it too Lindsay and though now as good as a flickr pic I managed to grab this smaller blog pic for a quick glance ( see side image )

So tiny yes, but will look even bigger very soon, as we know!

Lindsay said...

Hey Lorraine,

Awww so tiny! Good idea to put it on the Blog pic :)

Definitely 2 hatched but I'm certain I've just seen number 3.

Couldn't grab it quick enough!

Hilary B'ham said...

Great news two possibly three new Peregrine chicks at Derby. I'm in Norwich at the Cathedral and boy is the Peregrine scrape high up! 75 feet up I believe. So windy it's a miracle that their four chicks hatched a few days now don't blow away! Hope all four Derby chicks do well.

Lorraine said...



Now rooting for chick No.4 to enter the light ( com'n sweet Eclipse !) and the sigh of relief......before the antics begin!

Abby Lynn, your in for such a treat - be prepared to laugh, cry, chuckle and oft times,look away, at what's to come - it'll take your breath away!

Anonymous said...

Just been luckily enough see the parents swop during which time which I was able to see that there are only two chicks. This happened at about 9.02 just as the clock had struck 9.00 and was playing a tune.