So, with her clutch complete, our female falcon has begun the long period of incubation.
This will last some 30 days or just over before the first egg begins to hatch.
So we expect and hope for our first chick to appear around or just after Easter.
Meanwhile, Dave Farmer has been taking some great photos of our pair from the ground below the tower and these show the features which allow us to distinguish the male from the female.
The male, as in all peregrines, is smaller and lighter in weight than the female who is the dominant of the pair. However, size is not easy to determine - unless the pair are together.
The male's upper chest is an off-white colour but, most importantly has NO vertical streaks on it. He also has a dark metal ring on his left leg though this doesn't always show in photos or on the web cams.
And here is the female - those upper breast stripes show really clearly!
And here is a composite photos showing the male and the female together - you should now be able to tell the one from t'other!
Photo: Dave Farmer (gdfotos.co.uk)
15 comments:
Great to see the peregrines back. Are they the same pair as last year?
Thanks Team for the Good Blog especially for all the info it contains.
and
Many Thanks to Dave Farmer for the wonderful clear Photographs,
Hi Emma: yes the same pair.
The original pair nested from 2006 up to 2-3 years ago when the male first and then the female disappeared, presumably dying of old age or perhaps were pushed out by new, younger birds.
Last year, this pair raised three chicks with one egg failing to hatch.
The Project Team
Hi all, shes deffinately more mature this year, was alot of male sitting last year, im glad of the pics as you say its easier to see the difference now, they are fab pics �� iv watched for a few years now n love it
Thanks Scoobi19. Whereabouts roughly are you watching from? We have had visitors from well over 70 countries across the globe so it is always nice to know where our birds are being watched from.
The project team
Hi, sorry, no where special haha im in chestergreen derby, we always have a good look when we walk to town, and they reguarly fly over our green i tryed to get a pic when the male landed on the actual grass but flew off in to a tree just as quick as he landed, gutted, about 20 pigeons flew away when he landed in the tree haha, im addicted to watching, send my other half crazy
Amazing how they turn the eggs
Hi.i am newbie you could say. I have been watching for two years, this will be my third year. I live in Solihull in the West midlands. Totally addicted. Last year actually visited cathedral day fledgling fell. So glad all was well. I pop home in lunch break to catch up. Partner has to wait till had a catch up before I start food.love it
Hi Anon: glad you enjoy the web cams - all for free too!
Over the next month, while incubation continues, you might enjoy watching other bird nest webcams such as this new one on a white stork nest at the excellent Knepp (Rewilding) Estate in Sussex:
https://www.whitestorkproject.org/live
The Project Team
Just to say that the peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk email address is now working should you want to send screengrabs over to us - apologies for the recent glitch!
Nick B
Hi, myself and my elderly Father enjoy watching the Cathedral birds.
I would like to ask though in behalf of my Dad as he is worried "Is a second bird coming with food to feed the nesting bird?"
Many thanks.
Hi Unknown: the incubating female will be fed at regular intervals by her mate who does all the hunting during this part of the breeding season - so don't worry.
He will bring food back to the tower above the nest, call her to come and collect it and while she eats, he will nip down and cover the eggs to keep them warm.
Once she's finished, she'll take over, pushing the male off!
Nick B for The project team
I was wondering why we dont see them eat on the nest, thanks for that, how often does he feed her. Got to be so boring sittin there haha bless her.
Thankyou Nick B.
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