Incubation

The long incubation period is dominated by the female who does most of the work. Being considerably larger than the male, the bare 'brood patch' on her underside is much better able to keep all her eggs warm.
The male will do all the food provision during this period of the breeding cycle, taking over incubation while the female goes off to feed and preen. She's usually back on the eggs within an hour or two....

A change over. This photo from the 2017 nesting season
clearly shows the difference in size between the male (left)
and the female (right)

The weather has been poor lately being wet and the wind coming from an easterly direction, blowing straight at the nest platform.
However peregrines have evolved to cope with harsh conditions since they habitually nest on ledges on sea or mountain cliffs where they are really exposed to the elements.
The Project Team

Clutch completed on April 9th

The fourth egg appeared overnight - probably just after midnight so incubation will now begin in earnest.
Wendy Bartter captured this video for us (four eggs visible at the end):


And Kate in Devon came up with this still:

 

Thanks to all our night time watchers for keeping such a close eye on our birds.

We now have a month or so until hatching........

 

The Project Team

Third egg 6th April

The third egg was a bit slow coming. It arrived sometime between 5.45 and 8.30 am on Friday 6th April.
Kate in Devon's screenshot shows all three eggs and the smaller male and larger female at a change over of duties.

Three eggs, male left and female right at a change over
Screenshot by Kate in Devon

If we are to get a fourth and final egg, then we will surely have to wait until Sunday or even Monday.

Thanks to everyone whose comments have kept us all up to speed.

If you are new to the project, scroll down to previous posts to read about the earlier eggs......

The Project Team

Ps. If you would like to volunteer to help with our Watch Point events on Wednesday and Saturday mornings starting once any chicks have grown big enough to be seen through our telescopes from the ground (late May we hope!), do please get in touch using peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk .


The second and third eggs

Friday 6th Update. The third egg was seen at 8.30 am today but so far no indication of exactly when it was laid.
A much longer gap than usual between the second and third eggs so maybe we won't get a fourth?
Time will tell.....
The project team.


Wendy Bartter captured this video for us today showing the two eggs uncovered for all to see;


For newcomers to this blog about the peregrines at Derby Cathedral, please scroll down to the previous post to read all about the egg laying so far!

The Project Team