Nesting on the East facing side of the tower, it's only when there's an East wind blowing rain into the platform that the birds get a soaking - and that doesn't happen very often. They should stay dry this time.....
Update June 5th: while our (very urban) peregrines are relatively safe from persecution, those nesting in the countryside are not as you can see from this sorry tale from Shropshire. Peregrines are protected by law and because they are still rare and very vulnerable, are afforded a special level of protection which (should) enable higher fines and even a jail sentence to be imposed on those who illegally kill or who steal them for the falconry 'business'.......a UK peregrine can fetch a four figure sum when sold to the middle east.
To read an RSPB blog about the incident, go here .
Bird Watching magazine (June edition) has an article by 'The Urban Birder' about birding in Derby city, including a good section on the peregrines. Be aware though that not all newsagents stock this title...
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June 3rd: the first Watch Point was held today in mainly sunny weather.
Here's a report by Helen Naylor, one of our regular volunteers:
"Today’s watch point was very well attended with over 150 visitors enjoying some great views of the peregrines. The adult birds were around for most of the morning, sitting on the nest platform or on the stonework at the top of the Cathedral tower. Those people who arrived earlier in the morning were lucky to see one of the birds bring in some prey and feed the chicks. The young birds were clearly visible through the telescopes and at times could be seen stretching their wings and looking out over the edge of the platform. Buzzards were also seen high up over the Cathedral Green and as one pair of birds circled past later in the morning they were soon seen off by both of the peregrines. A second prey item was brought in during the early afternoon and was stashed in the lead guttering higher up on the tower. Visitors were also excited to see the peregrines flying around the tower and directly overhead.
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| Saturday's busy Watch Point - photo Marc Whitlock |
Other wildlife included swifts catching insects above the Cathedral, whilst a Banded Demoiselle flew across the Green several times. As the watch point finished at around 2.30 pm a shower of feathers descended from the tower as the prey brought in a little while earlier was being plucked. It was a fantastic start to this year’s watch points".
For details of these and the others please scroll down two posts on this blog.
And don't forget that attending a Peregrine Watch Point definitely counts towards your 30DaysWild, a campaign now being run by the Wildlife Trusts nationally and locally to get us all out and about in June getting close to nature.
Kate (watching in Devon) sent this screenshot captured today:
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| All the family together.....screenshot by Kate |
Interesting to see the chicks so active while the adult doses:
and here's a feed videoed by Wendy on 3rd June, mid morning in the sun:
The Project Team
13 comments:
A later feed than shown in Kate's pics ... https://youtu.be/MaNY54BVPRw
Thanks Kate for the lovely family shot, we haven't seen much of this this year but I may be wrong. Also had to laugh at the nighttime goings on, just like naughty children refusing to go to sleep.
Chicks in slate area at moment and mum in attendance, with large amount of feathers in other part of nursery so indicates they've had a good breakfast.
EEEK! I can only see 2 chicks. Please tell me I'm wrong...
Looks like all three chicks are huddled up together on the far side of the platform. As it's colder today they are probably sticking quite close together, which makes it a bit trickier to see them individually.
Phew. Yes. All present and correct and eating noisily now. :-)
All 3 being fed again. You sure can see their darker feathers coming in. They certainly are ravenous today. I notice they spend more time on the slate side than other years. Other years it seems they mostly went over there when there were a bit bigger unless mom was sitting on the edge over there. There remember the little guy with the 3 big sisters? He used to go sit behind mom as I think he felt better protected.
Our chicks are certainly adorable ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMJFtCg_5VU
A parent just flew in with prey. It took it over to slate side where one chick is. The other 2 have part of a left over wing and are pecking at it. Just over night I see a big difference in the adult feathers coming in. We will soon be calling them juveniles.
Our chicks are getting a late evening feed ... https://youtu.be/iok1qsrav0s
Aww still so cute, i keep stopping by and checking on them :-)
Some very sad news coming out of Nottingham yesterday evening that one of the chicks was killed on the road below :-( Its believed it is one of the girls, they had just started to fly about. Not sure if it had something to do with the strong winds and weather we have been having. Either way its totally devastating.
Very sad for Nottingham & sincerely hope no more tragedies this season!
ITM some joy from our three chicks practising this evening ... https://youtu.be/qC7FsCi9FUQ
Also appalling news about the illegal killing of the Shropshire peregrine parents who were poisoned by a pigeon left purposely for them to eat. Fortunately they didn't take the food back to the nest and the three chicks were found, checked by a vet, and fostered to other nests.Two to the Midlands and the smaller male to Salisbury. Had never heard of this before and surprised they were accepted by their new parents. I only hope the full force of the law is thrown at the perpetrators if they are ever found.
Yes sad about the Nottingham chick, I always worry when they start wandering along the ledge and the very high winds over the last few days could well have been a contributory cause. Thank goodness ours are a little behind this season but will soon be getting more adventurous by the day I guess.
Sad to hear the news of the Shropshire parents. Right now our chicks are being fed but one decides sleep is better than food. Keep up the good work to all who work so hard to keep us informed.
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