Yesterday's Watch Point Report from Helen:
We were pleased to see all four birds during today's watchpoint. The two juveniles spent most of the time on the tower, often sitting in the shade, resting and preening. They made some short flights earlier on in the morning and it was particularly good to watch them interacting with each other and engaging in a 'play fight' mid-air, almost
locking talons. As usual the adult birds kept a close eye on them, especially the female who was perched on top of one of the pinnacles for several hours, before finally moving to a shadier spot lower down on the tower. The male bird was also around for some time before flying off later in the day. We had lots of interested children, including some from the cathedral choir, who were keen to look through the telescopes and asked some great questions. A big thank you to everyone who came down to today's watchpoint, especially regulars Barbara and David whose continued support is very much appreciated.
July 7th Watch Point
Next Saturday is the last Watch Point of the year so if you have not been down yet - or even if you have - do come along! We will be joined by people who are booked on the Cathedral Tower tours that are running that day. By agreement, and to save any disturbance to the recently fledged young, the tours will not go out on the top of the tower on that day but instead come down to the Watch Point to see the birds from Cathedral Green.
As always we are grateful to the Cathedral authorities for their continuing support for our birds and the project that underpins them.
Update 29th June: Lesley reported that, despite treatment, the male died last night. We must now hope the two juvenile females survive OK.
Update 27 June: the male came to ground again today so was taken to a local vets to be checked over. It was certainly underweight. The vets couldn't keep the bird having no special facilities so it was taken to Lesley and Dave who have looked after other peregrines for us (eg 'Cathy' for those with long memories).
They immediately diagnosed a disease problem and began to treat him. He seems unable to swallow at the moment so the prognosis isn't brilliant. We'll keep you updated via this blog.
Monday's Update
Half an hour after we had posted this (9.30 am Monday 25th), a call came in that a peregrine was down. It turned out to be the little male that we think had been flying for over a week and not the last juvenile to leave - one of the two heavy females (they were later spotted sitting close together on top of the Silk Mill tower).
The male was taken back to the top of the tower. He seemed OK when he was checked over so hopefully won't come to ground again.....
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| Do you have to? |
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| Safely in a box before going back up the tower |
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| How did I get back up here? |
Hi to everyone who's been following the progress of our Derby birds, some of you so assiduously that you;'ve neglected the housework, gardening, decorating etc - and by your own admissions!
The final juvenile fledged today (Monday 25th) or possible late yesterday (anyone see it there last night?).
So now is the time each year that we ask if you would be willing to make a donation towards the project.
Donations from online and 'on the Green' watchers has kept the project going since 2006 so we really do rely on you for our income!
We need over £1500 each year just to get the pictures out to you and above that there are other costs including some Wildlife Trust staff time (from Matt Robinson and Marc Whitlock) to organise and help run our Watch Points.
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| A Watch Point - next ones are on Wednesday 27th and Saturday 30th June |
So, anything you can give, however small, will be much appreciated.
You can pay online, make a bank transfer, send a cheque or bring money to a Watch Point.
All is described in detail on the 'Donations' tab on the blog.
If you have any problems then email enquiries@derbyshirewt.co.uk for finance issues or peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk for queries about the project or the birds themselves .
Many thanks in advance!
The Project Team
35 comments:
I saw the last female on the ledge after 9pm last night (Sunday). The adult female returned to the ledge on Saturday with food and the large female chick joined them.
She was there at midnight. On Saturday, she spent much of her time, perched on top of the nest, facing the stonework of the Cathedral.
The youngster was still on the platform at 7am this morning, so guess she must have gone sometime between 7am and 8:45am.
Concur with Helen, I had to log off earlier than usual this morning,my last sighting up on middle box just before 07.00a.m. so no piccies I am afraid.
Just hope she remains safe and well ....
Saw a youngster with the tag 033 on the pavement on Sowter Road this morning.
So sad to have mssed her fledging, hope she was ready to take on the world!
Dos this mean I now have to domestic stuff ... Oh no!!!
The young one on the pavement......is it OK?
It looked okay but didn't seem like it wanted to move. It had the tag 033 on it.
Must have missed her fledge by minutes as I posted that I couldn't see her at 7.34 and Nattalie said she'd seen her fledge at 7.37, isn't that just typical! Hope she's ok too Lesley if she has come to ground on Sowter Road. I'm still deferring the housework by sitting in garden listening to birdsong and soaking up the sun!
Will be sending donation for yet another interesting season and many thanks to TheTeam who have helped sort out any gremlins in the works, manned Watch points arranged the ringing of chicks etc. Last but not least Mr & MrsP for being such fantastic parents.
Just posted comment at 12 13 and forgot to post name. Has anyone investigated sighting of 033 if still there?
It has been returned to the nest, it was on the BBC.
The juvenile that was on the ground this morning has been rescued by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust who have taken her (it was the female) back to the platform. She's safe and sound. Lets hope the next flight it a better one.
We managed to see 4 at 10.00 Sunday 24th, one female juvenile still on the nest, adult and juvenile on Jury’s inn, 3rd landed briefly on jury’s inn with the others then flew to the flats perching on a ledge (was a juvenile)
Glad male juvie was located and returned to tower. After10 days flying he ought not to have to have suffered this indignity, guess we'll never know what brought him to ground.
Wondered if The Team has had any news of the unhatched egg sent for analysis?
Just heard on Radio Derby interview with verger of cathedral about rescue of male juvie. Thought one of the reasons it might have come down could have been heat and had got exhausted.
Thanks Heather
That is interesting, yes, this heat unfortunately does play havoc with many of our wildlife, thank goodness there are, many good people around, to give a helping hand.
Certainly was a good rescue, hope he is fine now!
Great to see adult (Mum?) having relaxing preen in the sun after all the hard work raising the lovely youngsters ...https://youtu.be/iGI8Crivzak
So sorry to hear the latest news about second grounding of male juvie and the fact that the prognosis is not good. Wondered if he seemed underweight when first rescued as I believe he was checked over and pronounced ok, guess it would have been difficult to tell he had canker. Very kind of Dave and Lesley to take him in as they did Cathy (how is she doing by the way?). Certainly doesn't sound good if unable to eat. I was really rooting for this little guy when he fledged so early. If there's no improvement is it allowed for vet to euthanise him bearing in mind strict intervention rules of wild birds rather than let the poor little guy starve to death?
That does not sound good for the poor little chap, so pleased to hear he is being well cared for by people who know what's best!
Sad to hear the news. There is a watchpoint tomorrow we will try to locate all birds and report back. Chris M
So sad to hear that mini p has passed...we have been watching these since they laid their first egg r.i.p mini p :'(
Sad news indeed regarding the male juvie, lets hope his two sisters continue to thrive. Canker is obviously a very nasty disease and glad Lesley and Dave were able to do their best for him.
Just caught up with this saddest of news, poor little man but at peace now in the most caring surroundings! Many thanks to all concerned
Such sad news, I hope the girls don’t suffer the same disease,it’s likely one of the parents caught a diseased prey.
Aww poor little guy...such sad news... RIP little P this is the 1st time I’ve watched these peregrines and I can’t begin to explain in words how much I’ve enjoyed watching them all turn into beautiful adult birds.. hope the other 2 females are going to be ok.
All the four birds seemed OK at today's Watch Point we are told by our splendid volunteer team.
Heather: Cathy died earlier in the year. She had been in care since she was found injured in 2010 so she's done alrigh1
The project team
Such sad news about the juvie male, it's a terrible disease and hopefully hasn't been picked up by any of the others, R.I.P Fingers crossed.
Helen thanks for the watch news and Team for info on the sad demise of the Male.
It makes you aware of all the pitfalls that our Wildlife have to overcome.
Well done everyone here at Derby for all the care.
Thanks Project Team for news of Cathy. Although sad she certainly lived a good life since being adopted by Lucy and Dave. If I remember rightly she hurt her wing and was looked after briefly by another kind person until being handed over to them. Eight years is a good survival rate in captivity probably some peregrines don't last that long in the wild especially, I'm ashamed to say, in Derbyshire.
Glad to hear from Helen's report that so far the rest are doing ok. Miss the little male, the second photo of three posted of him being rescued in the box is one to cherish.
Have only just thought to check page one cam & find that it's working OK, got so used to not bothering to check!!!
Just been enjoying a peregrine sitting on the scrape enjoying views of Derby. No sun on her and with a breeze ruffling her feathers. Wondering if the parents are still feeling the youngsters.
Many thanks to all the team for enabling us to share in the peregrines' private lives.
Think this is Mrs DP on scrape now ...https://youtu.be/uEaXA3epq0o
Just been watching a peregrine sitting on the scrape with its wings spread out, obviously suffering a bit in this heat. Wish it would go on the other side of the scrape where the shade will increase soon. It's been six weeks since we've had any rain and it's still so hot. Thunderstorms have been forecast for Friday though, which I'm looking forward to!
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