Tuesday 20 June 2017

Unexpected early fledging and an Update

Update 21st June 3 pm.
A hot Watch Point today. One juvenile was in the nest platform all the time and one, perhaps two flying about but at no time did we see all three at once. So we are still unsure about the two that have left and whether both are OK. The parent birds were sitting high up on the tower during the mid-day heat, the male in the shade by the lead gutter and the female right up near the top of the NE pinnacle, keeping her beady eye on everything below. A juv was seen walking on the top of Jurys Inn mid morning and we've had a report of one on the Silk Mill roof. These may be the same or different birds, time will tell.
Thanks to Paul, Hilary and Nick M for running the Watch Point. There were plenty of people who had come to see the poppies but nothing like the weekend crowds. Those who came to see our birds were interested and pleased to have seen them....which is good!
Nick B

Update Wednesday 21st early morning:

Two juveniles were in view at 7.30 am. One in the platform which it now seems hasn't fledged yet!) and another right at the very top of the tower on a pinnacle. No sign of the third but the parents were very relaxed so probably they can see it somewhere on the building or on another roof or even in a tree.....
We'll have a further scout round during the Watch Point this morning which starts at 11 am.

Looks like being a hot day ahead.....

Tuesday June 20th: quite a day at the cathedral!

Early this morning web cam watcher Janet saw one of the chicks being accidentally pushed off the nest platform.
The two Nicks went down to try to find it. Nick M saw it on a gutter at the base of the plastic roof on the north side of the nave roof. It seemed OK and after a while was reported to have climbed up to the apiex of the plastic roof but out of sight of the web cams. All good so far.
Then at 5 pm Nick B had a phone call from Alex Rock who works for the cathedral. A young peregrine had come to ground and was being watched by a growing crowd of admirers. Alex rang us up and kept an eye on the bird (and the crowd!) while we drove down to town.
Without too much difficulty the bird was caught and put in a cardboard box and taken up to the top of the tower where it could be fed by its parents and from which it should make a second successful attempt at flying once it is ready.
Fallen male safely in hand. Photo Alex Rock
Notice how pale its legs and feet are and the absence of any yellow round the eye or on the cere at the base of the beak.
Male fledgling put out on the tower roof  looking slightly bewildered. Photo: Nick Brown

Close up of the male on the tower roof. Photo Nick Brown

The suspicion is that this individual was the second one to fledge not the first as we originally thought.
Attempts to see the missing bird proved unsuccessful but the parent birds seemed really calm so the chances are that it is somewhere up high and not on the ground. An anonymous web cam viewer reported seeing the second one fledge at about 8 pm and fly to a tree on Cathedral Green.....let's hope it stays up in the branches at least until tomorrow morning.
The male hitches a ride on a boot......Photo: Alex Rock

Tomorrow Wednesday there is a Watch Point so further attempts will be made to locate all three chicks wherever they have got themselves to by the morning....

A big thanks to Alex Rock who speedily alerted us to the fallen bird.


The Project Team

36 comments:

Lisa said...

I just went on and couldn't believe i only saw one then came here and read this! How quick they have grown!

What are the feathers in the nest, they look like they have purple on them, what bird was that anyone know?

The Project Team said...

Lisa: these are racing pigeon feathers. Please email peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk asap for an explanation.
The Project Team

Wendy B said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Janet said...

And then there were none! Just looked, and none there at all. See on the blog the watch points will be set up tomorrow, wonder where they all are? Hope they make it.

Heather said...

Well sadly that all seemed a bit quick this year. Glad the second chick was rescued safely but obviously didn't appreciate being put back in the scrape as it's totally deserted. Perhaps our new tiercel's genes have a touch of the adventurous spirit in them! The photos of the rescued one were absolutely adorable, great work everyone concerned.

Vicky said...

There is a peregrine on the edge of the scrape right now. Possibly a parent. I'm glad to hear the chicks are all safe.

Anonymous said...

GREAT NEWS GLAD HE IS OK

Janet said...

One of the chicks back on the platform, scampering along the edge from one side to another, testing wings, definitely a chick, still got a bit of fluff on its head, so it's flown back up, so that's got to be good.

Heather said...

Peregrine on ledge is definitely juvenile Vicky and not parent as you (and I) suspected. Much wing flapping so there must be only 2 that have fledged either willingly or otherwise. They're leading us a merry dance this year!

Anonymous said...

I NOTICED LAST NIGHT WHEN MOTHER FLEW UP TO FEED CHICK IN THE BOX SHE ALSO TOOK SOME MEAT BACK WITH HER HIGH INTO THE TREE BELOW

Vicky said...

Hi Heather, I only saw it from the back and because 3 had "flown" I assumed it was a parent. Glad to hear it is a chick. Mom and dad will feed it well. This one probably took off and didn't like it out there so went back home as some "kids" do. Not so easy to make it on their own.

Lisa said...

Oh wow didnt know they had purple, maybe some dye? I will email to find out more!

One chick on the ledge just now, looking out.

The photos are so cute!

Anonymous said...

Oh what a marvellous rescue, super photographs. So glad to hear that the chick was safe (last night) hope it doesn't go wandering too far from its parents today. Thanks to all involved.

The Project Team said...

Two juvs visible early this morning. One (back) in the nest platform and another right at the very top of the tower on a pinnacle. the parents seemed very relaxed so probably the third is up there somewhere.
We'll take a further look during the watch Point this morning.
Thanks for the helpful comments Anon.
The Project Team

Helen said...

The young bird on the platform has just been well fed by the adult male peregrine. Fairly sure that the juvenile is a male, especially given its size in relation to the adult bird.

bird-watcher said...

What are the colour and ring numbers for the young peregrines?

Do they follow the usual system of colours white characters on orange rings?

Helen said...

The chicks are usually ringed with an orange ring on the left leg, that has black numbers on it. The small metal BTO ring is placed on the right leg. Unfortunately this year's chicks haven't been ringed because of the essential repairs taking place to the Cathedral roof, making it impossible for anyone abseiling down to land on it. The orange rings are sequential. Here's a link to a previous post with a table, which gives all the ring numbers from previous years. I hope that's useful!

http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/forthcoming-events.html



Wendy Bartter said...
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Anonymous said...

Agree with Wendy. I looked last night at around 10:30pm and the 3rd chick was still on the platform. It was huddled down right at the front behind the lip of the platform.

Anonymous said...

WPD workers on substation next to Silk Mill building say there have been peregrine fledglings hopping about onThe roof of the Silk Mill building earlier today - not sure if they were fully fledged / flying but didn't look like it. Not been seen since before lunch but will post if they are seen / still there at close of work later...

Anonymous said...

The male one you put back up looks a cheeky boy

Emerald Class said...

we are happy that the Peregrines have fleged. We are happy the peregrine's are doing well. we can still see a peregrine on the platform . This morning we saw the Jovenill trying to fly . It was trying to catch a fether in its beeck. We saw 11 swifts out side.

The Project Team said...

Hi Emerald Class: thanks for your comments.
We now think only two have flown off and the third one has never left the nest platform even though some people said it was empty of birds.
Two youngsters were seen during the Watch Point this morning but never all three together. We are fairly sure that all the three are probably OK since the parent birds were very relaxed and calm.
Glad you saw some swifts near your school. Great birds but sadly declining in numbers.

The Project Team

Phoebe said...

Rapid wing flapping from the remaining juvenile on the scrape ledge!

Vicky said...

I don't see a juvenile on the scrape. I checked all 4 cams. I guess he fledged too. Maybe one or another will be back now and then. I have loved every minute spent with the chicks. Thanks again!

kate said...

@Phoebe....Looks as though our third has fledged.( we await to see if our Wendy has a capture for us later)

@Alex thank you for your pics and am sure you will be watching them and reporting any interesting info, maybe you could post a few pics on the Derby Flkr Group, am sure we would all love to see them
https://www.flickr.com/groups/derbyperegrines/pool/

kate said...

Morning Vicky
Sorry your post was not there when I commented but captcha was playing up doh!!

Like you agree look as though hopefully a successful fledge.

Lisa said...

Just been and checked and no ones home that i can see. Ill keep checking back and looking at the blog to try and keep up with the little monkeys. Its been an interesting season following them!

Anonymous said...

I've just looked, using all the cameras, but can't see any birds at all, either chicks or parents. Hoping that the parents have found all the chicks and are busy feeding them!

Thank you to all involved in letting us humans share the lives of these wonderful birds.

Anonymous said...

Just had another look, and saw the peregrine arrive back at the scrape with what maybe a sparrow, she seems to be enjoying her breakfast!

kate said...

Well spotted Anne, still there on edge of scrape at moment

Anonymous said...

Peregrine flew off from the scrape at 11:27. Could hear another peregrine calling in the distance.

Wendy Bartter said...

Hi all, happy/sad time ... #3 fledged @ 06.05 ... think it was Dad brought in the food @ 08.36 ... vid to follow!

Anonymous said...

just missed the last one leave

Anonymous said...

I so loved watching these beautiful birds thank you so much for letting me enjoy time watching them .. Anne Plimmer...

Wendy Bartter said...

Last three vids for this season from the nestbox ...

#3 wakes early full of beans ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfjIevEzvfc

The last nestbox meal ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btW0aTEfhpM

The fledge ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOvLxBEwQv0

Thanks to all for your company & input ... has been good although slightly unusual with the roof works thrown in, am sure we all know a little more about scaffolding & tarpaulin than we did before!
Many thanks to the Team for their hard work & dedication which enabled us to share in this project!