The main mortality for these young birds comes after they leave the nest. At this stage there are many risks the novice juveniles have to face and it is not surprising that some don't make it to adulthood.
When you think about it, our adult pair only has to produce two offspring which go on to breed themselves to keep the population stable. Currently, urban peregrines are increasing across the UK so clearly pairs are producing more than two successful offspring during their lifetimes. The situation is quite different in some parts of the uplands of the UK such as the Peak District where persecution of many species of raptor, illegal as it is, continues unabated.
The project team
After a short delay, the last egg hatched last night (May 6th) about 8 pm.
Many thanks to all our dedicated commentators who kept vigil and reported what they saw.
Wendy Bartter captured this video clip, see here .
And Kate in Devon took this screenshot showing the egg shell:
 |
| Screenshot by Kate at 8.14pm last night shows the eggshell just after the last chick emerged |
Nick B (DWT)
175 comments:
Hi all, such a good news day, very busy in & out & lots to do but have managed this vid of 09.26 feed for all who may have missed it .....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBOQfnitRxw ... still recording!
A feed's going on & all four are very hungry. The falcon has brought in what looks like a fresh piece of meat & she's giving tiny morsels to each one. Cuteness overload!
It's pouring with rain now but the chicks are all safely covered.
The weather looks awful, and Mummy P looks very damp! Thanks Wendy for vid.
Wendy do you know what happened to Woking dead chick ? As could not see it in box would it be predated by adults??
Yes Karen , I do know! Oddly enough have just come from a discussion about this on RSPB community forum thread where I have just posted a vid of a successful feed there today which is the first I have posted since 19th April when it all went pear-shaped! No intentional harm by parents it appears, just an accidental scuff out of position ... almost a carbon copy of the Sheffield incident ... but no such happy outcome, in fact the parents didn't know how to resolve the problem! Added to this was scarcity of food & lack of proper feeding at first when there was some ... it all seemed to be down to inexperience & the first hatched chick perished as a consequence! Lots of footage showing the pair to be exceedingly clumsy too but no more vids made as just too upsetting ... It is with great relief that I have come across several successful feeding sessions in the last day or so, have to say that I hope last egg does not hatch as bound to give two surviving chicks a better chance!
It is so good to watch our pair here taking such good care of the four!
Cheers for that, it is so interesting to watch different pairs. Sheffield's are particularly good to watch and the Tiercel's behaviour towards the stray chick was difficult to watch but I guess like you say inexperience is key to this.
Yes our pair are brilliant parents and their experince in raising young shows.
Hope Falcon has dried off a bit now!!!
All quiet on a dullish morning in Derby.
Looks as though waiting for Breakfast to be delivered.
Breakfast had and all have full tums...All four chicks thriving...
Ha! as I typed Teircel arrived and promptly came over with food to feed Falcon, She did not getup but took food from Him, Awh!!!! cute....
Nice view of both parents with MrsP protecting chicks from sun, and most of the trees in full leaf now.
Checked on Sheffield site the chicks are certainly growing fast, the tiercel having trouble covering them and pecked at one several times to try and get it covered, for one horrible moment I thought the Woking syndrome was happening. Amusing comment stated "high rise family in des res require housekeeper, apply within" - it certainly looks as if one is desperately needed!
Morning all, going to be a warm one , think Mrs P will need some P20 on the chicks!!! Looking at cam with them all on scrape - Mr P's tail feathers spaded. Yes Heather I laughed at Des res comment.. they are a very watchable pair in Sheffield.
At last, have now seen a full feed. Chicks very active , Parents have some busy weeks ahead. Feel sorry for any bird life around Derby Cathedral over the next month.
Chicks been alone for about 20 mins and asking for food!
Mr P keeps popping back to check on them, but Mrs P been gone ages!
Both parents there now, thank goodness!
Mrs P had alot to say to Mr P, and then she flew off!!
Chicks have been on their own for a while now and are calling for food! They all look very alert and trying to clamber over each other.
Just hope parent and afternoon nibbles arrive son. Is this usual behaviour for both parents to leave Chicks and are they both likely to be hunting?
Brill pictures today and have been watching them on on and off since early morning.
Fingers crossed they return soon...
They look so sweet all bundled up together. They aren't often left alone for long. They usually are very well fed, but growing so fast they seem to be hungry all the time. Of course, that is the only thing they know how to do at this point. Eat and squawk for more food..
Mr P is back on the edge and some of his feathers look pretty rough. Mrs P is probably plucking the prey somewhere. At least one of them checks on the chicks.
Just watched them feeding... I don't think the smallest one managed to get any this time... fingers crossed for next feed
Just watched them feeding... I don't think the smallest one managed to get any this time... fingers crossed for next feed
Mom just finished feeding them and I only saw a minute of it so I don't know who all got fed. She took the balance to the other side and is eating. Finished already and is covering the chicks. you can hear the little ones calling. Now all is quiet.
I saw the smallest one get two little morsels, but it was pushed over & squashed by the others more than once, & although it tried to shuffle nearer to Mrs. P. she'd already decided tea-time was over.
Now that the excitement of egg laying & hatching is past I find that the angst of watching who gets what food is hard to bear whilst at the same time so fascinating! Not seen any of what you have commented on yet today but will check some recorded footage now!
I was also wondering about the length of time the chicks were left for bearing in mind the danger of predation whilst they are so small. Obviously there was no danger of them becoming chilled on such a warm day, possibly one of the adults was keeping a watchful eye from a vantage point whilst feeding - there is still so much we don't understand about their lifestyle.
I remember last year we were all concerned about the little male not getting enough to eat, (not only small because he was a male but also because I think he was the last to hatch), and having to compete with the other feisty females. However fortunately we do have a very experienced pair in Mr & MrsP and he thrived, so fingers crossed all will be well this year despite the fact they have the extra mouth to feed.
No sign of the pigeons nesting this year - I wonder what became of them ....... hmmm!
The chicks just had a feed but I missed most of it. Mom is covering them right now. Dad was present at the feeding and was quite close to them all. It seems to be quite windy as you can see her feathers getting ruffled.
Hi Heather, I do believe the little fella was hatched last in 2015.
Another feed and the little one has just been fed fairly big morsel. The two feisty ones are getting plenty but the parent seems to be giving some to the others, although not as much.
Another sunny day so hopefully their energy can be put to growing strong!
Good to watch
Have good day, F
Mom and babies enjoying the nice weather. On e chick was looking around but then tucked under mom. I think they will all be fine. We always worry that one isn't getting enough but they all get their share.
Tiercel brought feed at 16.39. Falcon flew up above so he continued to pluck and feed.
Oh dear, was sure I had posted a comment & just found it on wrong blog page!!!
This is what I posted ....I switched on recording gear (after a few hitches) & caught the 16.40 feed, not had time to study intently yet but I did see the little one getting a bit squished & then facing the wrong way so ... did he get much?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA5UeXFPKgg
9 May 2016 at 18:26 Delete
Falling apart under the strain!! Lol
They just got fed again but I got in just in time to see the falcon taking off with the balance of the prey. The tiercel came and stayed with the chicks for a few minutes till the falcon came back. Now he has taken off.
Looking very wet and miserable. Falcon keep chicks nice and dry.
Doh!!! I have not seen Bird or scrape so wet, Falcon looks pretty miserable.
Oh poor Mrs P. I've never seen her so sodden
The chicks still look dry and fluffy underneath the female despite the heavy rain all day. She certainly seems to be doing a great job of protecting them, turning her back on the worst of the weather. During a particularly bad storm in 2012 I recall her sitting tight on her clutch of eggs for nearly two days solid, only moving off them a couple of times to be replaced by the male bird. She's a tough one!
Four dry, fluffy chicks being fed by both adult birds at the moment. Interesting to see the dry patch of gravel around them, having been protected from the rain by the female. What a great view!
Well what a wonderful sight, all chicks being fed not only by the Tiercel first, but then falcon arrives with anther feed, so at least they will all have full tummys for the night.
Why are the bells ringing so much today?!
Harking back to Kate's post on 8th May about the Mrs getting fed by the male .... went back over recordings & found this ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZETu2U814A
Hi Snuffypop, I think Tuesday evening is bell ringing practice.
Hi Helen/Wendy, Yes I well remember the two events you speak of. That storm in 2012 showed how resilient MrsP was protecting the eggs and it's a touching sight when MrP feeds his mate.
The Sheffield/Woking birds are lucky inasmuch as they have some shelter with a roof, unlike the ospreys at Rutland Water. Their nest seems to have got larger with more branches and twigs so that it almost resembles a raft - lets hope they won't need to use it! Wonder if in the wild peregrines nest completely in the open or choose places with some sort of cover from the elements, perhaps it's a mixtue of both? I think there was some discussion last year about the merits of erecting a roof for our pair but believe it was agreed this may put them off returning to nest there in the future, but I may be wrong.
Hi,
Well all looks settled now the rain has lessened.
I was lucky enough to spot a wild peregrine and chicks on a very exposed granite edge in the Peaks over the weekend. There were places where shelter could have been chosen but the pair seemed to have established themselves on a ledge slightly tucked in from the prominent rock face. So perhaps these birds are not too fussed about the elements and pretty tough. We had snow only 2 weeks ago but they have managed to nurture their chicks, which looked somewhat older than the urban Derby crew.
Mum thought the continuous bell ringing on Sunday afternoon very funny and wondered if a prayer was said for the fluffy ones?
Thanks for the webcam which continues to interest us. Best wishes to you all.
Thank you so much for this. Getting nothing productive done though - spending so much time watching. Very addictive! Felt so sorry for mummy yesterday - so wet. Fingers crossed for all of them.
Morning all
Tiercel has just left the chicks to fetch breakfast and duly returns a few moments later.
Looks a little drier today.
Pics on Flkr
9am. Feeding time. I can only see 3 chicks, one of whom is facing the wrong way and so got none!
What predictors would try and get the chicks?
I saw that too lesley. But they all seem to be thriving.. hope the weather improves a bit
I spend so much of my time watching... The Nottingham chicks are huge and doing well...
Hi Lynn, I think peregrines have very few predators themselves, although in more rural areas foxes are sometimes known to take chicks from cliffs nest sites. In cities like Derby crows, magpies and gulls could potentially pose more of a threat, especially to eggs but I don't think it's very likely. Usually at least one of the adult birds tends to remain close to the nest platform (although they may be out of view of the cameras) and would be quick to defend any possible predators or 'intruders'.
In Exeter a pair of nesting peregrines are known to react very aggressively towards buzzards and are thought to have actually killed around 15 of them! I've also seen the Derby pair chase off buzzards on occasions. One of the local photographers also captured some great shots of the Derby bird attacking a buzzard - see this previous blog post http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/2008/06/buzzing-buzzard.html
Unfortunately I think the biggest threat to peregrines still comes from people!
Great shots of both parents feeding two lots of prey to chicks, little one at front of queue and getting fed.
The falcon is feeding them all while tiercel mounts guard on the far ledge. It appears to have stopped raining!
All were well fed. She certainly makes sure they all get their share.
Just watching Mr P trying to gather all the chicks together to cover them. It is not going to happen. They don't fit under him. He got used to just 3 and now there are 4 moving little chicks. Mrs p took off when he arrived. I'm sure she has gone to pick up some prey.
Looks a better day forcast than all that rain yesterday! Poor P family. Have not managed to watch much over the past few days, so thanks for all your comments to keep me up to date.
6:35 they just finished eating. When Mr P came in Mrs P flew off and he is so funny because he tried to get close enough to cover them but they kept pecking at his chest and beak so he kinda stood back a bit. Then Mrs P came back with food and he quickly took off. I missed part of the feeding. She is covering them again.
Busy, busy. Mr P just came back with food and is feeding the Mrs and a couple babies peeking out from under her. I had to go to stream 2 to see the babies he was feeding. What a great family they are!
I think MrsP has dcided to become the fifth chick the way she keeps asking for tit bits from hubby!
So pleased that all 4 chicks are thriving, despite the terrible rain.
Thanks you for keeping this blog going as it really helps me to catch up with things.
They make a good partnership and glad that Mr. P tops up Mrs.With morsels....A good strategy for every marriage!
Hopefully sunny wonderful day for all,
F
Ps. Is there any evidence of Peregrines killing newborn lambs in rural areas? I know buzzards do but hadn't thought about Peregrines before.
Hi Happyhen: there's no possibility of a peregrine killing a lamb. They eat only flying objects, 99.9% of which are birds with just the occasional bat. A rat has once been caught by our birds but anything bigger than say a small rabbit would be completely beyond a peregrine to catch or deal with. Similarly there's no proven evidence of buzzards killing lambs that I'm aware of. Eagles may do so occasionally but not buzzards. They catch rabbits but that is their size limit. Buzzards will scavenge from already dead mammals including lambs but wouldn't try to kill one. There is a big campaign to vilify raptors by some elements of the farming and certainly the shooting fraternity, so please don't believe all you read in the media!
Nick B
Just logged on in time to see 4 chicks huddled in the sun in the far corner of the scrape; then the falcon came back and squawked at them all, while hauling them out of the sun & underneath her. (11.25/26/27 am.) She seemed very anxious that they shouldn't get overheated, presumably because they can't regulate their own body temperature yet.
Feeding time. Smallest chick only got a tiny bit despite pecking at other chicks beak!!
I think it was dad sitting on the ledge when I tuned in a few minutes ago, then sat close to the chicks and now he is gone and the bundle of white fluff is on its own. I assume it will soon be mealtime again.
One of the parents just came back with fresh prey and is plucking it right on the edge of the scrape. The little ones are pretty excited. I think it is dad and he is now feeding them.
A very noisy tea-time. The smallest chick is right at the front and getting plenty of food.
The parent took the remains of the meal to the far corner and shouted. The other one flew in, picked up the prey and flew off. All the chicks are now under the shelter of (I think) the tiercel.
It turned out it was the falcon and the feed is over. Each and everyone of them got lots to eat altho at first i thought the little one would get nothing. But it finally got up front and still did without for a bit then got all it needed I'm sure. It ended about 16:45 so that was quite a long feed. Some fall to the back but end up at the front again and I'm sure they are full. She is now covering them as much as she can.. She took the balance of the prey to the other side and within a minute the tiercel came and picked it up and away he went to cache it I'm sure. It is hard to watch one not getting fed but in the end they all get fed.
Annie you could be right about it being the tiercel. At first I thought it was him then when he covered I thought maybe it was the falcon but now I look and the bird is quite dark so now I think it is the tiercel.
Hi Vicky, yes I'm pretty sure that's the tiercel on the chicks.
It's very breezy up there now and the poor tiercel's fidgeting about trying to keep all the chicks covered. He's also pecking at bits of gravel in front of him.
He stood up, had a stretch, then took off. The chicks are all huddled together but they look fine. Perhaps he felt his shift had been long enough & went to find the falcon.
They've both flown in. Tiercel's on his usual perch at the far end, looking out, and falcon's brought back the chunk of prey (I think) that she flew off with earlier.
The fiercely came in and walked up to the falcon covering the chicks. She just sat there looking at him. He kept chirping at her and she finally left. He tries to cover the chicks immediately but they peck at his beak and face looking for food . Now I'm sure the falcon has gone for food.
He must have said "I can't find anything" so she said "Oh for goodness sake, I'll get
some myself" !!
Tea-time and the little one is well placed, right in front of mum.
Whatever was the prey? Looked like a baby heron, or something with a very long beak"
Lesley, it could have been something like a water rail.
Hi Lesley/Annie unfortunately I didn't see the prey brought in. Water rails have a fairly distinctive red coloured bill and only really fly at night but the prey could have been caught and cached at another time of course. Snipe and woodcock both have very long bills and are fairly common prey species for the Derby birds, (woodcock being another night time flier). It would be interesting to find out if anybody managed to grab a screen shot.
Hi.. I work at the QMC in Nottingham and I often see a pair of Peregrines around,mainly early in the mornings, on QMC ledges and University tower between the A52. Does anyone know of this pair ?? Last year I did see some mating but have never seen them regularly enough to be sure they have a scrape. I know of the scrape on Newton building in Nottingham city centre so am sure these are not the same pair but ?? Prehaps someone might be able to tell me.
One of the parents is just sitting with the chicks. Maybe waiting for food. You can tell which is the first born now as it is the most alert.
Morning all, think Sparrow was on the menu for breakfast! All chicks looked active now basking in sun post feed.
Rutland Water ospreys appear to have hatched their 1st chick good view at 08.50 yeah!
Hi Karen, just checked on the Rutland Water site and the first camera angle appears to have altered so that the top half is missing slightly. Saw the male arrive with something which I assumed was a fish but turned out to be a twig as Maya was moving it into place. It's a bit more difficult to see now but she moved around and I saw one egg but couldn't quite glimpse the chick under all her fluffy feathers.
The Sheffield chicks have disappeared completely but obviously hiding out of camera view on r.h.s. of nest, think they did this last year and a few of us wondered what had happened to them. When I last looked our family were enjoying the sunshine. It amuses me at night when MrsP is trying to sleep and the restless youngsters send her up and down, must be like being on a roller coaster!
Helen, I'm sure you're right about snipe/woodcock being the prey. I think I recall that a couple of years back the remains of one of these were found at he top of the tower after the young had fledged.
Hi Heather, yes noticed that on Sheffield cam , chicks huddled out of sight, watched feed this am and appeared to only see one chick getting some then once parent flew off it came really close to the ledge! I gulped then it wobbled back to right hand side and out of shot. The scrape is a real mess! and with that rotting egg it must be rather smelly up there.
Noted with Derby crew how the little chick is feisty (must be a falcon) oops can I say that lol...
Annie, I remember seeing, I think it was on Springwatch a clip of a Peregrine bringing in a live Woodcock in the middle of the night to a scrape.I cannot remember details of where but I can recall watching it.
Karen B, yes me too and I believe it was one of our Derby pair, & it was the first piece of real evidence that urban peregrines hunt at night. There must be a video clip of it in the archives here somewhere.
Hi Annie, yes found it on youtube called Night Hunter sorry not sure how to do a link! Put in search peregrine hunt in night and it came up and yes it was our pair you can see jurys inn in background well remembered. K.
Here is the link for the video clip showing the woodcock;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtiWWr3e8-U
Plus a link to a previous blog post that gives a list of prey species known to have been caught by the Derby peregrines. It makes for interesting reading!
http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/whats-on-menu.html
Thank you Karen B and Helen. All quiet on the scrape at present.
Heather.. was some nice views of Rutland ospreys chick at 16.25-16.30 as she was shuffling around, noted Wendy has put some clips on youtube. Wonder if next hatch is nearly ready as she seems a bit fidgety.
Great watching feed just now, although the tiny one doesn't appear to get anything.
How do download a screenshot?
Hi Joy, you can use the Print Screen key on your keyboard to take a screenshot. It's usually found on the top right of your keyboard labelled PRT SC or similar. (You might have to press the FN key at the same time depending on your keyboard). Once you've pressed it you then need to open up a graphics package such as 'Paint'. (To find Paint on your computer try clicking on All Programs from the Start button bottom left of the screen and then find Accessories. You should then be able to find Paint). Once you've opened up Paint (or other graphics program) click on Paste (Under Edit). Hopefully your screenshot should then appear. You will then need to save your screenshot as a JPEG file. (It will give you this option when you click on File and Save As).
There is a good blog post that explains how to do this in more detail. Here is the link - http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/sharing-your-pictures.html
If you would like to post your screenshot on the Flickr website you will need to open an account.
I hope that helps and hasn't confused you too much. It sounds more complicated than it is!
Hi folks thanks for all updates, will be back soon with some vids ... as you will see I have been otherwise occupied with Cornish Barn Owl first hatch today plus Manton Bay Osps & yes there is a second hatch ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCIRQ1lZvy4 ...
Added to all this I am weekend carer to 4 week old rescued Ring neck Parakeet who requires 4 hourly hand feeding!! Fun but exhausting!
The chicks have been left Lonefor about 5 minutes now. Guess mom & dad are taking. well deserved break but will soon bring breakfast. They are getting bigger by he day.
Helen, thanks for info but I'm on an iPad. I've got the screenshot no problem but want to post here.
All fast asleep when I just looked. Looking a bit pink - no doubt blood rubbing off adult bird.
Karen - Just logged onto Rutland osprey site and there's definitely two chicks but one egg still left to hatch. The youngest one can only just about lift its head. Male flew off hopefully to catch some fish. Whilst watching the camera was zooming in and realigning so guess someone monitors it from time to time and that's why recently the top of the screen has been cut off.
I too agree that possibly our smallest chick might be a falcon as it always seems to get to the front of the queue at feeding time unlike our last year's little timid mummy's boy, it'll be interesting to see if we're proved right - as you can tell I've never been a member of the p.c. population!
Hi Joy you will need to open a Flickr account (if you don't already have one) and then join the Derby Peregrines group so you can post your photos on there. Here's the link for it - https://www.flickr.com/groups/derbyperegrines/
You won't be able to post or upload a photo in the comments box. Hope that helps.
Hi Heather, yes I saw the the two Osprey chicks this am.. they are cute.
Feed this am at Derby made me laugh chick four is so funny! "Am being fed just push these others out the way"
I think 3 falcons and 1 Tiercel- but wait and see when ringed.
Sheffield's brood are quiet amusing too! When you can see them!!
Another lovely Family together at feed time.
Interesting moment on Woking nest where parent (falcon!?) has just pulled the abandoned egg underneath her and started incubating it. Obviously no chance of it hatching after all this time and the other two chicks growing like ours at an enormous rate. Perhaps another sign of inexperience in this pair.
I've just watched a feed, and the chicks are very feisty and one is fussy. The falcon offered the same piece of meat and the chick repeatedly spat it out. She was looking around the scrape for more but there wasn't any.
Right now Mrs p is calling and looking up. I guess she wants a break. Babies are moving around but still hiding under her.
Feeding time!
Saw part of the feed, the one at the back didn't seem to bother so perhaps had already been fed but one on right is perhaps the fussy eater that Phoebe mentioned. Despite several attempts by the parent to offer it food I only saw it accept a feather. I wonder what, nutritional value they get from this - perhaps it acts as some form of roughage. Certainly the parents don't have any qualms in swallowing some of the more unsavoury looking parts of the prey!
There was an awful lot of noise at the same feed Phoebe mentioned with the parents being very vociferous as well as quite a bit of rough and tumble in 'the nursery'. Seems each year they have their own individual personalities, only to be expected of course.
Two Rutland chicks just being fef what looks like a nice piece of salmon- other egg still not hatched, they were laid three days apart so perhaps there's still hope.
There only seems to be three chicks?
Hi Rachel, I can see four chicks on camera 2 at the moment, all huddled in the corner. (11.31) When I looked earlier one chick was in the corner and the others were in the middle of the nest platform. I think they are getting a bit more mobile now so perhaps they might not always be in view, depending on which camera you are looking at.
Yes thanks Helen, never thought to check the other camera angles. I can see four now as well. We've just been a little worried about one of them over the last few days as it does seem to be a lot smaller than the others.
The little chick was the last to hatch, it is really rather feisty! That chick makes sure it always get fed, so not to worry Rachel.
Oh dear this is quite disturbing to watch. The Woking chicks have separated and gone to opposite ends of the scrape and the falcon is going backwards and forwards not knowing what to do. She's tried going over to the smallest on the far side and tried to encourage it to move, even making small attempts to pick it up, but it refuses to move. She then returned to brood the other one leaving the smallest chick exposed. Will continue watching for a little longer.
Well must get to bed. Woking chick still on far side of scrape and falcon has decided to just cover the other chick. Don't know at what age they can survive being left uncovered all night, but just hope Woking has a warm night and that all will be well.
Just woken by dawn chorus so checked on Woking chick and somehow it's managed to get beneath the falcon with its sibling - phew!!
Our chicks are quite spread out. One in the corner, one under the parents tail and 2 under his body. I think it is the tiercel with them.
Heather - thanks to your diligent watching & alert on here which I saw about 02.15, I got up & put recorder on ..... have some footage of how chick got back to Mum, processing now! Another amazing Peregrine moment ... WOW!
Hi Wendy
Thanks for recording at 2.15 and look forward to seeing the results of how chick got back to mum. Perhaps I was worrying unnecessarily but wasn't sure if its body temperature could adapt to a night out on its own as it did turn rather chilly overnight. Also can't remember if the two chicks are much older than ours. At least the falcon has stopped brooding the unhatched egg now - don't they lead us a merry dance!
You must be quite weary Heather after your late night/early morning watch ... here's the vid (enhanced by YT) ...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTzAV17uY_A
Have sent it to Nick B & Nick Dixon & tweeted to Woking Peregrines!
Wow, mum or dad must have brought a very fluffy pigeon up for dinner, the whole scrape is currently covered in grey feathers and all the chicks are flopped out meat-drunk in the near corner.
They are still very quiet right now. Dad just left a few minutes ago. I'm sure mom is on her way back.
There's a feed going on and the younger two are making very sure they get their share, grabbing chunks from the parent's beak before she can offer them elsewhere.
Another feed and the little one has almost perfected the art of intercepting food that's on its way to someone else!
Wendy, many thanks for the video re the Woking nighttime adventures. I think you might call it "tough love" the way she hauled the chick halfway across the scrape as they're quite large now.Fortunately it managed to shuffle back towards her and its sibling did likewise. It must have been exposed for over two hours at least.
Some great photos on Sheffield's pair blog site of the ringing which took place on Monday, awaiting sexing but opinion is two maybe Falcons.
Wendy-your vid was great from Woking was really interesting! You are very dedicated getting that footage!I enjoy your vids
Heather thank you too for spotting the action.
Well off to have an early night, not that it makes much difference as I'm the worlds worst isomniac! MrsP also having an early night and this is the first time I've seen her doing so on the ledge whilst the chicks huddle alone in the corner.
Thanks Heather & Karen, would be having an early night myself were it not for having to clean up a laptop being exchanged tomorrow for another PC as it was not fit for purpose (no goid for recording/editing/uploading, kept crashing) but have to back up pics/vids to XHD &, as I dozed off in chair for an hour & a half (wonder why) have lost valuable time!! Was out most of day so missed a great deal & very grateful for all updates! Catch up tomorrow ... & please no dramas tonight!! Lol
Morning all, Loch of Lowes ospreys have a crack in one of the eggs so we should have a chick soon! She is sitting tight when I checked, as is Maya at RW weather is awful so not the best for viewing.
Derby crew appear not to damp ! Forcast rain all day so not a good day for hunting prey , they will have to raid there stock pile!!
Just had a good feed crops full. It is really intersting to hear the adult birds interacting with chicks when feeding, almost interpret it as "who wants some of lovely pigeon" lol.
Karen B, did you see that the first chick has hatched (3.18pm) at Loch of the Lowes?!
The falcon brought a small bit of food and only 3 actually got anything. More of a treat than a meal. Dad sitting on the ledge on the other side. Once she is finished feeding them I notice she moves in to cuddle them and I guess it is her way of saying "all done".
Hi Annie.. no missed it as out! Great news will have a look thanks for that.
I like watching Loch of L pair the bit of scenary looks lovely and when you listen you can hear lots of birds.. I even heard my first Cuckoo on the cam.Thanks Annie.
MrsP having a well earned rest on the ledge whilst 'the nusery' is reasonably quiet. The last of the three chicks at Rutland has finally hatched not sure when but saw them being fed fish this morning (apparently they survive mainly on trout and roach). Will have to have a look at the Loch Lowes family as they seem of interest too - we're spoilt for choice!
Dad was pecking at a bunch of bones and he found some meat and gave it to one of the chicks. Then dad picked up a piece that was almost just bones and the chick took it right out of his mouth and struggled till he/she got it down. Now mom is there with a nice lot of prey.
They all got fed but the little one had me on edge and he stayed back till almost the end. Then when he did push himself to the front he took the food almost before it was offered.
2 are on one side of the "nursery" and 2 on the other side while mom watches from the ledge. I noticed one of the chicks is showing some tail feather growth. Must be the first born. So many things are happening to them it is amazing how fast they grow.
Thanks for the videos I have seen some of them.
Feed time. Chicks all in a neat line with little one at front, so he is getting the most! Hurray!
Breakfast is served. The chicks are getting quite adept at snatching food from parent's beak, not to mention from each other. MrsP covering them up as she did last night, presumably to protect them from the rain. Amazing how instinctively they know exactly when the chicks are able to be left uncovered and exposed to the elements. They really are fantastic parents, but of course do have years of experience. What happened to our little balls of fluff? :(
Our little balls of fluff are alone at the moment. You can really see the tail feathers starting on one chick. I guess mom has gone for her daily trip to the bathtub or just to be alone. They are fantastic parents and hopefully all the babies get to fledge.
Morning.. cannot believe how fast they grow, yes Heather these pair are wonderful parents. All quiet when I looked in, Tiercel in his usual place keeping an eye out.
Saw RW ospreys having a feed those chicks are growing fast too!
Sheffield's brood are so funny.. playing now you see me now you don't from the corner of scrape these chicks are really greedy!!
So many too watch ! Will really miss this when they all fledge.
They're off! One chick has wandered to the other side of the scrape and peering over the edge. Perhaps this is the one that went a.w.o.l earlier in the season.
Managed to get a look at all the chicks in the other nests yesterday in the space of a few minutes (even the Sheffield ones!),sometimes you get lucky other times nothing!
One of the chicks has managed to get to the other side of the scrape. Mom's watching pretty carefully and one is looking out over the edge but from a ways back. Now that one is lying down as is the 4th one and one is under mom. The one on the other side has managed to get behind the wall so you can't see it.
Is anyone else having trouble trying to get past the verification process? If this gets through it'll be a miracle:)
The little one is on the other side and I think he wants to come back but it is easier to go over there than to come back. He is squawking. He has also decided to lay down over there. They sure get around now.
Yes sometimes you have to go thru so many verifications. just now it has been ok for me.
The Sheffield brood looking very active wings flapping moving from one side of the box to the other! Very close to edge !!
Derby chicks very vocal prehaps hungry!! At least the sun is out!
Talking about scary from Sheffield Karen, got this footage yesterday, heart in mouth moment alright ..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKc1aI19aSc
Hi Wendy, having a technophobe/senior moment! Can you tell me how to get Karen's youtube post, have viewed previous ones but not having much luck now. Saw the Sheffield ones the other day and much wing flapping and jostling going on. Was wondering if their scrape is same size as ours, looks a bit smaller but could be optical illusion as we have two separate sections. The Woking pair seem to have plenty of room and the RW chicks look so tiny but more visible with parents not brooding so much. Their nest is a work of art with so many branches & twigs, they also keep it spotless picking up any small pieces of food etc that might bring disease - apart from the odd half eaten piece of (smelly?) fish left at edge of nest.
I think we're in for a few heart stopping moments too as the chicks become more and more adventurous, especially when we have all four of them!
Hi Heather try copying the You Tube link in the comments by highlighting it and then right clicking. You can then paste it into your internet browser. Or sometimes once you've highlighted and right clicked the link it might give the option of going directly to the webpage. Hopefully that should get you there.
Thanks from me too Helen. I didn't know I could do that. I just highlighted and right click and the option came up of going to the address. You learn something new everyday! The chicks are moving around right now and huddling together with dad sitting guard on the other side.
Looking at them again just now, one had plunked itself down on another one but it didn't last. I think we have 3 girls and a boy. Wee one is a boy I think, as he should be bigger by now if it were another girl. I love seeing them spread their wings and they look like they are thinking, what the heck are these things? You can see tail feathers and wing feathers starting. Soon they will be multicoloured.
Dinner time again. Tiny is squashed under one of the others and so is getting nothing, and one is in the corner, also getting nothing! They are so gorgeous!
I noticed one of them has some feathers missing on its back awhile ago. Yes, I see that the little one is getting nothing. Next feed he will shove his way thru to the front I'm sure.
I went to cam 2 and it showed blackish grey then cleared and now went blackish again. They are all lined up and trying to sleep.
Many thanks Helen for reminding me how to access Wendy's youtube link.
Have looked on FAQ's site (where Anonymous & Malcolm Neil have inadvertently posted a comments), and following may be of interest:-
From year 2007 - 2015 altogether there have been 14 males and 14 females ringed! (of course there was the one year, think it was 2010, when it was impossible to do so). I'm also guessing like Vicky that we have 3 females this year and 1 male as by now I'd have expected our tiny one to be much larger. So if we are right, and only time will tell, the total will be 17 females to 15 males - now wait for me to be proven wrong as I usually am!!
I do think the little one is a male. They certainly have to fight to get fed until they get larger & older. I hope he isn't as timid as the male last year and I hope the females aren't so feisty. Well, maybe after they fledge they have to be so save it till then.
That is interesting that it was an even count up till now.
3 are lined up near the front lying down trying to sleep. The 4th one, the little one I believe is lying down on the other side and dad is in the scrape but was sitting on the edge a few minutes ago. It looks like the little guy over on that side and that is where the little guy last year liked to sit.
Anyone else noticing Stream 4 since just after 10am is barely working? Probably be ok by time I return!
Hi Heather I am having problems with Stream 4 as well at the moment(11:00am).I am getting a picture but it isn't streaming properly, just the occasional movement, and the sound doesn't seem to be working either. Just a buzzing noise coming through intermittently.
Just checked stream #4 Heather & Helen & have the same jerky pics, like #1 at the mo, maybe reduced internet, something blocking the signal?
No picture at all on No4, can hear some sound.
Can't get picture on Cam 4.
I have a picture, but freezing up, and no sound!
Has anyone contacted Nick M about this?
Getting a jerky picture and intermittent buzzing.
Hi Wendy, I think Nick might know via the comments. No doubt he will get on to it as soon as he's able. I've been looking at Streams 1 and 2 in the meantime which are both working fine. Chicks are growing fast!
Feed time yet again! And little sweetie is right at the back again!!
Stream 4 was ok when I saw end part of feed Lesley mentioned. All seemed to get a good feed and the last one to be fed, possibly our little one, was just being fed continuously until it too was full to bursting. I've noticed this a few times that when there's quite a large prey the youngest holds back then gets its meal without having to use up too much energy fighting its siblings - great strategy!
Stream 4 still working @ 23.15 and all tucked up for the night with MrsP providing some shelter.
I'm still getting an intermittent picture and sound. Right now 2 of the chicks are on the other side of the scrape. I think the parents coax them to come over there so they move around and get used to the whole place. The little guy is over in the corner just like the little guy from last year. Maybe it is a good viewing point. I just checked again and only the little one is on the other side. The girls are sure getting big. Now they are changing so much from day to day. Mom will probably be along soon with breakfast.
Cam 4 and all others working fine on my ipad Vicky. Can see the 2 chicks on far side of scrape with parent overseeing the proceedings. It must be quite an adventure for the chicks to wander around not to mention seeing the big wide world over the edge of the scrape!
Picture & sound from Cam 4 still erratic on my laptop. All four chicks appear to be asleep. It's a warm, sunny day.
Just logged in on iPad at end of a feed but like you Annie Cam 4 acting erratically again. This time it's stop start every few seconds with both picture and sound. Think we also need to start a new blog this is getting rather long!
Cam 4 won't come in for me on the computer will try the iPan in a few minutes Heather. I just love seeing the chicks everyday. This is the time when they change so much. Sort of changing their clothes everyday. Soon the white fluff will be all gone.
I am getting nothing at all on Cam 4
Me neither Lesley! :-(
Stream 4 seems to be working on some devices but not others as far as I can tell. It's working absolutely fine on my phone but wasn't on my laptop earlier today! It's great to see all four chicks growing so well. It won't be long before they will be visible from the ground below. Watch points should start this coming Saturday (28th May) down on Cathedral Green and will continue throughout June. (Plus most Wednesday's too, starting from 8th June I think) All weather permitting . Exciting times!
Problem still ongoing but only detracts a little from general picture as only freezes for a few seconds then carries on for bit longer only to freeze once more.
Interesting blog from Dr Nicola Hemmings from Dept of Animal and Plant Sciences at Sheffield Uni regarding the unhatched egg which she took away during the ringing process to examine. The article is rather long but extremely interesting with pictures of the rather putrid egg being opened and showing the tiny embryo of the unhatched peregrine. The carton the egg was delivered in proved quite humorous, but warning probably best not to read if you are having a meal!!
Check the new blog as Nick says the City is looking into the problem with the cams.
Thank you Helen... I'm still learning about these beautiful Birds x
Thank you Helen... I'm still learning about these beautiful Birds x
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