Tuesday 27 April 2021

Three chicks now and one white egg remaining plus update 2 May

Update 2 May: It is clear now that the white egg will not hatch. Here's a video clip from today showing that the three chicks are now growing fast! Thanks again to Wendy Bartter for capturing it. You will find links to many other of her clips on the comments page:





After some delay, a third egg has hatched so there are now three chicks.
Whether the white egg, the first to be laid, will hatch at all is now in doubt.....but time will tell: The video above was captured today by Wendy Bartter to whom many thanks.
And Dave Farmer stood below the cathedral the other day and took these photos of the male - he certainly is a ;handsome chap'!
Airborne again.....photo by gdfotos.co.uk  

Best foot forward.....photo by gdfotos.co.uk  

For anyone new to our project, please scroll down to read previous posts which will explain what has happened so far...and also click on the Webcams tab to watch the live webcams. Currently we have two giving different views of the incubating bird.....

Since its inception in 2006, the Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project has been a highly successful partnership between the Cathedral, the City Council and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust which manages the project. The cathedral birds arrived completely of their own accord but were encouraged to stay by means of an artificial nest pledge, have now reared over 35 peregrine chicks between them. We no longer have either the original male or female peregrine, yet the breeding site remains successful as you can see. It's pleasing that we can once again share the intimate lives of our birds with web cam watchers around the world. 
     
The Project Team

53 comments:

Wendy Bartter said...

Another family feeding session @ 13.58 ... shame the view of our THREE chicks isn't very clear but they make a lovely fluffy bundle of hope
https://youtu.be/8YHrHmFzT7E

Wendy Bartter said...

Feed @ 19.11 shows a bit more of the THREE chicks
https://youtu.be/qAY4KvGZiCM

Wendy Bartter said...

View of that last feed from other cam
https://youtu.be/8YHrHmFzT7E

Anonymous said...

Saw the tail end of a feed at 16:15. All 3 chicks got some food, though the 2 larger ones definitely got more.

Wendy Bartter said...

That's what I thought Anon, felt sorry for the chick on left crying for food! This footage started @ 16.11 but Mum was blocking view, switched to other cam ...
https://youtu.be/cT-mgy1HqUY

A bit earlier it seemed there may have been an intruder, lots of screaming (thankfully muted)
this was at 15.27 ...
https://youtu.be/pB1Siy38LtI

Wendy Bartter said...

Great to see your fabulous captures of the male, thanks Dave!

Kate said...

Thanks Dave,and

Thanks Wendy for that scary incident with intruder Phew!!!!

Wendy Bartter said...

There is a feeding session going on & we can't see any chicks at all on either cam as they are so well tucked in the corner cam #1 can't pick them up & Mum is blocking view on cam #2 ... shame!

Heatherjust said...

Just logged in to see tail end (excuse the pun!) of female feeding chick. Once again, however, same thing occurred when Wendy viewed feed this morning. Looked as if she was trying to feed one chick a foot from the carcass but can't be sure as switched over to Cam 2 for better view but by then was settliing down again with feed over.

Nest doesn't seem to be very tidy with old remains left lying around. I know it's been a long time but think our old pair used to fly off and stash away any old carcasses thus avoiding chance of disease. Anyway the new pair seem to be getting the hang of things. Can anyone confirm that they are both first time parents? Have only vague recollection of their takeover of nest.

Wendy Bartter said...

Hi Heather, if it's the same pair as last year then only one egg was laid & that disappeared so maybe they are newbies ... am sure the Nicks can confirm!
ITM, think maybe just missed a feed, cams very hit & miss today, lots of peeps viewing methinks ... just came across this fluffy bundle @ 18.42, think only THREE still but can't be sure??
https://youtu.be/9ObuVYsyiEw

Helen said...

Hi Heather/Wendy, the male bird (which is ringed) arrived back in March 2017. Assuming it is the same bird (which seems very likely) then he has raised chicks before with the previous long standing female, in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. The new female arrived last year, and I think it seems probable that is her first successful breeding season. I think the colour of her plumage last year, suggested she was a fairly young individual.

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks for that info Helen, always good to know the history!

Heather said...

Thanks Wendy & Helen for history update. Just watched morning feed approx 7.45 but chicks hidden once more on Cam 1 and Cam 2 kept freezing..As you say Wendy possibly Cam overload. Carcass just tossed to one side, haven't seen male yet so hopefully he'll start clearing up but guess he's busy keeping the larder stocked up!

Wendy Bartter said...

There was a feed @ 16.36, seemed like two lots of prey, chicks feeding mostly hidden but culminating in one chick looking to be pinned under prey & subsequently not moving when parent took prey away ... a very awkward affair & do hope chick will be fine ... anxious wait now til next changeover!!

Heather said...

Worrying news from your last post Wendy, can only keep fingers crossed that the chick is ok. Unable to view both Cams.at moment. No. 1 saying currently unavailable and have been unable to obtain picture from Cam 2 all day.

Wendy Bartter said...

Am very worried too Heather ... long vid, quite difficult to follow as lost some to cams being down ... https://youtu.be/QQDiz6x12nM
Two more clips extracted to show closer view
https://youtu.be/KW-niewA1eI
https://youtu.be/QQDiz6x12nM

Wendy Bartter said...

Another feed, this is a snippet & pleased to see that what I thought was prostrate chick's head was in fact the unhatched white egg ... still not a very clear view but think I can see three chicks moving ... https://youtu.be/jYMpzWteM_c

Wendy Bartter said...

Another double feed starting with Dad @ 10.57 ... when he moves after Mum comes in we can see the chicks clearly but is quite agonising to watch the little one being overlooked for so long, gets some in the end though not as much as the other two
https://youtu.be/SnV-S6z0_yw

Wendy Bartter said...

The THREE chicks @ 10.57 this morning
https://youtu.be/H4WvYiP2oII

Wendy Bartter said...

Whizzy view of 24 minutes feeding three chicks, think they all got some, how patient & painstaking the parent is ...
https://youtu.be/nPyKaaN56Uk


Heather said...

Lovely to see all three chicks being fed this afternoon with both parents in attendance. Amazing, as always, to see how fast they grow.

Going off topic, I was saddened and at the same time disgusted to learn that the Osprey nest in Llyn Brenig had been vandalised overnight by being destroyed in a matter of minutes with a chainsaw. The perpetrators possibly arriving by boat. Sadly the Ospreys had just laid their first egg. The police are investigating and if caught the culprits will receive only 6 mths in prison (3 if on good behaviour) or £5,000 fine.

Sue from Bucks said...

I am SOOOOOOOOOO behind keeping up with the story, only just caught up with the news of the first hatching on 22nd April. But just wanted to comment on the thing that most struck me. It was the comment from the Year 1 children in Gillmor Class at Brigg Infants School. They said "we hav seen a wite flufy chick. we wer exssited" Just like Gerald Durrell in "My Family and Other Animals" describing the earwigs' nest, the one word spelled correctly was zoological. I think these children are destined for a great natural history future!

Wendy Bartter said...

Better late than never Sue, good to hear from you, any news we might like to know about?

Wendy Bartter said...

Our THREE chicks getting rather too large to tuck under now ... need the shelter on this 'orrid weather day! Brrrrrrrrrr
https://youtu.be/pQOGT6AHzs4

Wendy Bartter said...

Dad is the 'fourth' baby during this feed & not veey helpful either blocking chicks from being fed!!
https://youtu.be/jBJkfJFIOXU

Phoebe said...

Feeding time for the chicks while tiercel watches over

Phoebe said...

The tiercel seems to be learning how to feed the chick. He is trying so hard.

Alyson said...

Saw a feed today at 10am, one chick getting a lot more than the other two

Wendy Bartter said...

Great to hear from you Phoebe & Alyson!
Part of feed from 10.04 on both cams, the view on cam#1 getting better now chicks are a bit bigger
https://youtu.be/839xoMLIg9A

Wendy Bartter said...

Alarm calling @ 10.48 & start of another feed around midday
https://youtu.be/7CsBXDSHBX8

Helen said...

The smallest chick just had a fairly good feed, despite the largest chick getting in there first!

Wendy Bartter said...

That's good to know Helen, missed that one!

Phoebe said...

Great to be back Wendy, and thank you for all the videos :)

Wendy Bartter said...

You're very welcome Phoebe, thanks!

Heather said...

Anyone having trouble viewing Web cam 2, very rarely able to see it & on rare occasion I'm able to the timer shows approx half hour ahead of correct time. Cam 1 with audio is fine now thanks Wendy but I notice you said you'd had a bit of a problem with that one. Either way it's great to see how chicks are doing and how fast they're growing, even the little one seems to get fed at most mealtimes.

Not very nice weather for them, the adults can cope but not great for chicks. Do wish they'd do a bit of housekeeping, can't remember a scrape looking so messy, even the other side was used as a toilet by one of the adults!

Wendy Bartter said...

Cams have been a bit hit & miss for me again today with a great deal of freezing on cam 2 ... the clock on here has been out since the start Heather & not an easy task to amend it!
The feed at 17.20-ish was not clear on either cam but the chicks appear to be feeding well & growing!
I agree that the scrape is very messy this year ... new female at Sheffield has always eaten in nest box whereas the previous one didn't!!
Pleased to hear you are now getting decent views on cam #1 Heather

Wendy Bartter said...

Might hep if I post the footage ... https://youtu.be/cAPbbYztcOc

Heather said...

Another feed taking place in the rubbish dump!

Thank you so much Wendy for all your videos, they're a great help.

Wendy Bartter said...

Here's some footage Heather (certainly is messy!) this from cam #1
https://youtu.be/bZ6tp0tUGrw
Continued on cam #2
https://youtu.be/W8TkWq4od9A
Looks as if the littl'un got some at the end!

Wendy Bartter said...

Two hours later & another feed
https://youtu.be/GXqq3qgrQxQ
https://youtu.be/2gDzuUfjPvQ

Helen said...

Tomorrow (May 9th) is Skydancer Day, celebrating Hen Harriers and other wildlife in the uplands. It is an online event hosted by Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin, with lots of interesting things planned.

There is more information here https://henharrierday.uk/skydancerday

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks for the reminder Helen, sincerely hope for a much better outcome for this years chicks!

Phoebe said...

I have never seen a nest as untidy as this at the moment. They must be very new and young birds. The old Mrs P would never do this. :)

Heather said...

Hi Phoebe, Regarding your comment about the experience (or lack of!) of our two parents, Helen posted some useful info on 29 April. Was wondering if the chicks will be ringed this year and if at same time scrape could be cleaned up a bit. Presume not as rule of thumb is not to interfere. Think we'll have to name our chicks "The Three Stigs" from the novel Stig of The Dump!

Wendy Bartter said...

A catch-up with footage from yesterday & today

https://youtu.be/zHbxPB8-4Eo
https://youtu.be/F_sV1FxOJqk
https://youtu.be/yJ3oaLsV7QQ
https://youtu.be/biWRnkwgMGQ
The rubbish dump looks quite artistic on night cam! Lol

Wendy Bartter said...

Dual-view of feed around 12.15 yesterday, the only one I mamaged to record
https://youtu.be/NmkP-3E5grY ... best viewd full screen!

Wendy Bartter said...

Feed @ 18.25 today, takes a long time to fill up that big one before the other two get a look in, bet it's a bossy girl!!
https://youtu.be/oqrLCJFaIYc

KATE said...

Thanks Wendy

pleased you able to keep everyone upto date

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks Kate ... some more, part of feed @ 19.56
https://youtu.be/s3jLoE64Lks

Phoebe said...

Just looked in at the cams and the chicks are huge now! They do grow quickly :)

Wendy Bartter said...

Here you go Phoebe ... end of feed @ 17.33 & chicks helpfully moved out of the near corner shows just how big they have grown
https://youtu.be/cNld3aEQbsU

Phoebe said...

Thanks Wendy, It's amazing how fast thy grow and seem to show their own characters.

Jessica said...

Fabulous to see them stretching their wings. Whooa! They've been home alone a few times recently when I've checked in. One of them attempted a poop over the edge today. Not quite close enough!