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Thursday, 11 May 2017

Watching and waiting . . . and now listening

Our webcams see their most traffic when our peregrine falcon eggs are about to hatch, with a second spike in views at fledging time. So right now is our most popular time.

Listen Now (20 minute timeout):



We currently have four cameras, two of which are new this year. Only the camera on Page 1 currently has sound, although we did purchase a second camera from Network Webcams with an in-built microphone and the ability to be remotely controlled, which you can see on Page 2.

Unfortunately, we discovered too late that the encoded audio from this new camera (Panasonic SW-175) was incompatible with Network Webcam's own Streamdays service, which we've used to great effect for the last 10 years. Having expressed our disappointment to Network Webcams, they offered to make good this shortcoming by providing us with a free "audio only" feed, taken from our other camera. This has a much longer timeout period (20 minutes) than three of our four camera streams, and so viewers might wish to click on the "Listen Now" button below to add in the missing audio.

As we watch and wait for what we are hoping will be imminent hatching, I'm sure many viewers will appreciate the ability to monitor the sound for that bit longer. If you wander away from your computer, leaving the sound running, you can dash back to restart the video feeds when you hear sounds of activity on the nest - perhaps a changeover between the adults.

Our other new camera can be found on Page 3, also with a 10 minute timeout. However, there is no timeout to the camera feed on Page 4, as this is series of static images which updates every 6 seconds or so. Viewers with limited internet connectivity, or a desire to run screen capture softeware (e.g Irfanview) all day long to capture those magic moments, may find this stream ideal.

If you do capture a moment you'd like to share with everyone, you can find details (here) of how to post them on our Flickr page.

25 comments:

  1. This morning we saw at lest 11 swifts over our school playground and they were zomming by . Some swifts are high and some are low . They were scweling . We are still whaiting for the peregrine chiks to hach . We have just seen all four eggs. The Male bired is sitting on the eggs.

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  2. There's a lot of shuffling at the moment.

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  3. I think Mrs P is keeping us all in suspense - I've given up for this evening. Just a bit worried that hatching may occur tomorrow when lot of rain is forecast. But no doubt she'll do her best to keep it warm and dry whichever day she decides to put us all out of our misery.

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  4. Tis raining as I look in, she is sitting hunkered down, and not shuffling at moment.
    one wing is resting away from her side, but cannot see any shell etc yet. Hope fully we may see the hatch today...

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  5. Ive lost all cams :( been watching for half hour then they stopped and now just sitting on refresh with a black screen. Anyone else?

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  6. they have just come back and ive missed her/ him turning :( just my luck!

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  7. Sorry you missed the changeover, Lisa. I didn't experience any break in the webcam feed myself, though I wasn't watching all the time. I'm now in work, with Page 4 minimised in one corner of my screen running continuously, and with the new audio feed playing in the background. Like the young children in Emerald Class, I'm also hoping to catch a glimpse of them hatching sometime today.

    Nick Moyes
    Project Team

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  8. Still 4 eggs! just watched changeover!!

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  9. Four eggs still visible as at 1pm.

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  10. Didn't realise it was a change over, I thought they had just moved lol shows how long it took to come back. Well least I didn't miss anything important like a chick lol I keep having problems today just sits on a black screen with arrow going round, OK on another comp in the house though so must be my end!

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  11. @Lisa - it's always worth doing a complete page refresh when that happens.

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  12. Quick change over 17.58
    Still 4 eggs

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  13. Hopefully the four eggs are fertile and will hatch. It depends on when full incubation started. Tonight it must be tonight! Fingers crossed.

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  14. It could be a bone from some prey or other, but I'm sure I can see the tiercel eating he top of an eggshell??

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  15. Mama is calling from high above, I'm hoping there'll be a changeover any minute.

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  16. Yup, I think we have chick-off! I just a soggy white bundle under the tiercel's wing. I don't know how to share photos on here but I took a screenshot.

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  17. eggshell: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/silverbucket/eg3.jpg

    chick, I think: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/silverbucket/eg2.jpg

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  18. Yep! definetly egg shell so Bee thistle. you were probably correct.
    Pics need to post on FLKR Group

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  19. Brilliant, just spotted a brief glimpse of a chick as the female shuffled around.

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  20. Hi Helen yes caught that glimpse and put on group (black and white page 2 cam)

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  21. It looks like the tiercel is on the ledge below.

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  22. Well done, Bee Thistle! I was hoping for a lie-in this morning. But I've just posted some screen captures to a new blog post.

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  23. Looks like a wood pigeon is nesting on the stonework again just below the platform! Visible on camera 2.

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  24. Great news, I looked in at 3am and Mrs P was unusually wide awake, shuffling the eggs (or perhaps there was already a chick under there), and looking upwards. I haven't seen Mr P for ages, keep missing changeovers. Does anyone know where he goes at night? I remember the late dear old departed Mr P used to have a favourite spot. At least weather seems kinder to them today.

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  25. Chick on its own with the three eggs. What a wonderful sight. Afraid I don't know how to take screen shots etc. but am sure someone else will be more technologically minded and able to do so.

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