Report on Watch Point Saturday 14th
In excellent weather, the Watch Point was deemed a success by Gillian and Helen, our two volunteers!
They reported that they were kept busy with lots of visitors, including a police officer, a very young ballerina, several guests from a wedding party and many children who asked some lovely questions!
Probably half the visitors were already aware that the birds were nesting there but for the other half it was a new discovery.
The chicks were visible on and off throughout the morning, and were seen flapping their wings on several occasions. We had great views of the female as she perched on the edge of the scrape, keeping a watchful eye over things. The male who had been sitting on top of one of the cameras earlier on, was in hunting mode. He arrived back with prey around lunchtime and circled the tower several times. He then flew over to the nearby hotel, where he was seen busily plucking it. We expected the chicks to be fed but the male must have decided to keep the prey for himself on this occasion, as he didn't return! The female flew directly overhead and was later seen high up above the tower.
The next Watch Point is on Wednesday - full details are below.
This video made by Wendy Bartter today shows how big and mobile the chicks are now:
They reported that they were kept busy with lots of visitors, including a police officer, a very young ballerina, several guests from a wedding party and many children who asked some lovely questions!
Probably half the visitors were already aware that the birds were nesting there but for the other half it was a new discovery.
The chicks were visible on and off throughout the morning, and were seen flapping their wings on several occasions. We had great views of the female as she perched on the edge of the scrape, keeping a watchful eye over things. The male who had been sitting on top of one of the cameras earlier on, was in hunting mode. He arrived back with prey around lunchtime and circled the tower several times. He then flew over to the nearby hotel, where he was seen busily plucking it. We expected the chicks to be fed but the male must have decided to keep the prey for himself on this occasion, as he didn't return! The female flew directly overhead and was later seen high up above the tower.
The next Watch Point is on Wednesday - full details are below.
This video made by Wendy Bartter today shows how big and mobile the chicks are now:
(Note: For full details of the three chicks that were recently ringed, see previous post.)
From 11th May until 18th June 2022 we'll be running public Peregrine Watchpoints events every Wednesday morning and Saturday morning. All our summer Peregrine Falcon Watchpoints are free and run from 11am to 1pm on Derby's Cathedral Green.
Watchpoint Dates in 2022
- Wed 11 May (today's event cancelled due to wet weather)
- Sat 14th May
- Wed 18th May
- Sat 21st May
- Wed 25th May
- Sat 28th May (fledging expected from around this date)
- Wed 1st June
- Sat 4th June
- Wed 8th June
- Sat 11th June
- Wed 15th June
- Sat 18th June (final one!)
Full details are on this website by selecting the Watchpoint' tab (or dropdown for mobile viewers)
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| Ben Fogle pointing out where to look (we can't guarantee he'll be there, though!) |
Hi, where have the chicks gone?!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry. The chicks will all be on the platform but somewhere out of sight of the cameras and sheltering from the rain which has been heavy this morning.
ReplyDeleteWith one camera out of position at the moment there will be parts of the platform that are not visible...indeed this can happen even when they are in position.
They can't fall off at this age rest assured.
The Project team
Thankyou. My elderly Dad was very concerned. He loves to watch the peregrines.
DeleteOnly view today, was wing flapping before cam started, then toddled off to the 'secret' corner after I switched off
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/MgiyQ6EEjNA
8pm I have seen all 3 chicks hopefully soon be food time
ReplyDeleteAll three again in the nesting side of the platform. Ph
ReplyDeleteGood view of two sleeping chicks on cam #1 right now, lovely tail feathers!
ReplyDeleteI was just gona say what beautiful tail feathers
DeleteAll three together in original scrape
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/wx1DlVXqktc
One chick was just feeding itself, tearing off strips from the remnants of the last carcass. Yes - the tail and wing feathers are growing fast and looking splendid!
ReplyDeleteJust a snippet but lots of wing flapping this evening
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/tLx1zLlsJjg
19.59 & all disappeared from view!!
ReplyDeleteThree youngsters briefly seen, wing stretching and preening.
ReplyDeleteLittle one peeking out from hidden corner where they all huddle
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/-hb-7zuIaIc
Still in hiding unfortunately
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/7OZMbLelM3M
Just prior to your comment Wendy saw all 3 chicks with mum for first time in awhile since they became camera shy. Fri.13 must be my lucky day! Tail feathers looking amazing guess won’t be long before they turn into the slightly scruffy juveniles.
ReplyDeleteAlso been watching returning pair of Ospreys on Rutland Water with 3 hatched chicks. Youtube shows nerve racking moment when headless salmon brought to nest flaps onto chicks & parent seems to take forever to sort it out. Also struggle of 3rd chick hatching taking ages to free itself from egg quite exhausted, again parent unconcerned. However well bonded parents over the years so sure they know what they’re doing.
Just seen all 3 chicks. Got a pic but Flickr won’t let me sign in!!!
ReplyDeleteManaged to post pic now!!
ReplyDeletethis week we have seen the rings on the chics. wee have seen ther fethrs.ther legs are strong now they can move a rownd in the nest. they can flap ther wings.
ReplyDeleteHello again everyone at Badger Class! It's so lovely to hear about what you've been seeing. Aren't they growing up so quickly now?! Can any of you guess how many more days it might be before they are able to fly and leave the nest? It would be wonderful to hear your ideas. Maybe you could all decide as a group what date that might be on, and let us know?
ReplyDeleteThen we'll all be able to wait a bit and then find out how close your guess was to being right.
I reckon anythin from 23rd of may
DeleteJust caught a screen shot of one chick exercising his wings
ReplyDeleteFeed going on now, Mum was there feeding one chick when Dad arrived with more prey & started feeding chicks we can't see!
ReplyDeleteFeed at mo and one got leg stuck again, and I thought, Oh no not again, but soon swallowed this time.
ReplyDeleteAmazing what these chicks can swallow!
ReplyDeleteOne from yesterday ... Good shot sir!! Lol
https://youtu.be/BNlfr4n9dBE
Decent view of feed this morning
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/Ql2OmWJmS_U
Today's watchpoint went very well and we were kept busy with lots of visitors, including a police officer, a very young ballerina and several guests from a wedding party! The chicks were visible on and off throughout the morning, and were seen flapping their wings on several occasions. We had great views of the female as she perched on the edge of the scrape, keeping a watchful eye over things. The male who had been sitting on top of one of the cameras earlier on, was in hunting mode. He arrived back with prey around lunchtime and circled the tower several times. He then flew over to the nearby hotel, where he was seen busily plucking it. We expected the chicks to be fed but the male must have decided to keep the prey for himself on this occasion, as he didn't return! The female flew directly overhead and was later seen high up above the tower. A great start to the watchpoint season.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good time viewing chicks & parents live!
ReplyDeleteThis morning chicks changed scrapes & just been fed, shame I missed that, saw Mum flying off with leftover prey
https://youtu.be/fGjFqAA0Ivs
Well don at watch point Helen. Thank you for report, pleased you all saw the chicks/ eyasses.
ReplyDeleteThree flaked out on original side at mo. pic on Flickr.11.30ish
I presume I can't be the only one wondering what happens to the plastic rings on the legs eaten by either chick or adult. Does it dissolve on its way through their digestive sustem, or come out the other end?
ReplyDeleteHi Dave: anything hard that they eat, usually bones, is coughed up in a pellet.
ReplyDeleteMost birds do this, even robins and blackbirds and certainly birds like owls which eat their prey whole; fur, bones and all!
End of another feed, amazed at the size of that chick next to Mum!
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/s6xxhAT2zas
Chicks so big & highly mobile already
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/es1uUpMvX8w
Thanks for the clarification Project Member. I knew owls brought up a pellet but I would certainly not have thought it of Robins and Blackbirds.
ReplyDeleteYou learn summat every day.
Cute shot of chick looking adoringly up at mum & then proceeds to push her along scrape! Lots of shuffling about and changing so much every day now. Glad Watchpoint was a success.
ReplyDeleteHow do people take movie shots of chicks on the scrape , they are lovely to watch . I have managed a still screen shot
ReplyDeleteLinda
Hi Linda - the procedure for taking video screen captures depends on which type of computer / smartphone you are using.
ReplyDeleteI use my iPad which has a built in feature - it just needs activating.
Let us know, and I am sure someone will tell you how.
I think they go on to the camaras on a computer or ipad then film on their fone linda👍🏻
ReplyDeleteEvery time iv logged on they have been out the way, so as iv not seen them for a week iv just seen this morn and they are huge 😱 n feathers changed, can see 2 chillin lookin over the edge head bobbing, what is this head bobbing?
ReplyDeleteThank you Rej I watch them on an iPad, but don’t know about built in video captures
ReplyDeleteLinda
Ok Linda. This is what you do:- go to
ReplyDeleteSettings
Control Centre
Make sure Access within Apps is enabled
- now make sure SCREEN RECORDING is in the Included List
- it may be lurking in the lower list, click the Green + to promote it for inclusion.
That is it for set-up
Now open the Derby Cathedral Peregrines webcam so you have a target
Slide your finger down from the top-right - it should bring useful icons into view
- the newly added video capture is there. (Two concentric circles)
Click it - you then get a 3 second countdown before recording starts
Stop recording in the same way.
I hope this works for your iPad too.
we guest 27th May because it got the most votes. And the birds can fly. we think it will take 35 To 42 Days until the peregrins can fly. They need to grow a bit more and get stronger.
ReplyDeleteI have a Samsung tablet using Chrome & have downloaded AZ screen recorder from app store!
ReplyDeleteLittle cuties
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/2EZRroyPKJ0
Hi Rej,
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the instructions for recording on iPad.
I have now tried it and it worked.
It also works on iPhone.
Are we able to upload these videos and if so how?
Great Jean, I am glad it worked.
ReplyDeleteYou can only post photos to Flickr, not movies.
To post videos - create a YouTube account.
- Upload and copy the link
- paste link on its own new line in the comments here, as it helps folks to copy the link.
Tell me if you need more info.
Thanks Rej,
ReplyDeleteI had a feeling that would be the case.
Will give it a go and see what happens!
Great to see the birds have moved back to Cam 1
Amazing how their feathers have grown in a few days.
Chicks are changing every day, losing their down to reveal those feathers & getting very curious
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/cyBH8Fujxqw
Love the way that chick is trying to get noticed by Mum!
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/sHXS_mIaj6w
Hi Reg thank you for the info about video recording. I only had the I pad 4 months ago still learning how to use it. Your instruction was brilliant and easy to follow . I have completed the instruction and waiting now to record thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda! My daughter is patiently teaching me how to use my iPad!
ReplyDeleteYes Wendy - the plumage changes are really striking. More feathers and less fluff each day.
They will soon be giving us stressful moments when they start their test flights - getting onto the platform edge, or up on the support brackets, even on the cameras. I remember one was seemingly stuck out of view for along time - giving all us viewers many nervous visits.
Badger Class - I like the 27th May also! I hope that we are right.
I like the name of your class too. I have never seen a live badger, only their footprints, and on my TrailCam when they nested under logs by our barn.
1 chick in the corner of original scrape keepin ut the sun, the other 2 on slate side, 1 out of view n the other annoyin mum lol peckin away at her beak, mum took it for a few min then flew off leavin the chick just lookin on haha
ReplyDeleteNot managed to catch a feed today ... this chick checking what Mum doing
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/UpVVO9-YgI0
There seem to be a lot of rings on the scrape, any chance of identifying what bird(s) they belonged to?
ReplyDeleteThese will probably all be racing pigeons which, sadly, peregrines do predate because it's easy for them to catch the slower, inexperienced ones. It's obviously disappointing for any pigeon fancier to lose birds when they race them, but these are just one of many inevitable and natural threats (like bad weather) that these domesticated birds do have to face whenever they're released, and there is nothing we are able to do about it, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure they won’t be the feral pigeons in the town centre as theirs a lot around the river gardens
DeleteGood view of the chicks feeding & looking a lot less fluffy already
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/CnWgQm4cJ8s