Monday 27 March 2023

A new male this year

Helen has noticed that recent screenshots of the male show he has no ring on his left leg whereas last year's male did have.
Here's is a photo of the male taken in early 2022 just after the first egg was laid:


And here is a screenshot of the male taken when this year's first egg was laid (notice also how cleanly white his breast feathers are):



The ring, made of a tough metal alloy, is almost certainly one of the rings the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) send out to bird ringers in the UK. They do not fall off!
Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of photographers, we were unable to read the number which would have told us where the nest at which he was ringed was located.

Ed Drewitt, the national expert on urban peregrines tells us:

"There's lots of turnover with peregrines at the moment - I think there is lots of competition and fighting going on for the best sites!"

The Project Team
This project is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with support from The Cathedral, the City Council and Cathedral Quarter.

28 comments:

Heather said...

So it’s almost certain now that we do have a new male, well spotted Helen about the missing ring.

Wendy Bartter said...

That was definitely a good spot Helen! Looking back at the first one of my vids on changeover I can see both parents' legs with no rings visible but it never occurred to me that it was a different male!

Wendy Bartter said...

A post from an older blog ...

**Anonymous said...
Any one else curious what bird that skull is with the long beak
25 March 2023 at 15:46**

I was too & made enquiries, was identified as that of a Woodcock by Nick B & Ed Drewitt who makes a study of prey items!

Wendy Bartter said...

Can see male's ringless legs as he takes over incubation, not the female's though
https://youtu.be/1qdDcJnY9yg

John said...

Been looking at the webcam today. Is the peregrine incubating eggs? If so how many?

Wendy Bartter said...

There is a full clutch of four eggs John, see pics & videos posted on this & two previous blogs!

Wendy Bartter said...

A chance to see the lovely eggs, not sure if this is changeover or comfort break?
https://youtu.be/ZO6DAOGm8yk

Anonymous said...

Yes there is a full clutch of 4 eggs

Anonymous said...

Thank you

Anonymous said...

Is it just me or does the bird sitting in the eggs not look quite right when I have watched many times before they are usually quite reactive when there partner appears could be that they are just resting but just seems different

Wendy Bartter said...

Sometimes the male bird is a bit reluctant to move off the eggs when the female returns but she knows how to get him to move! By the same token the female will often sit on the ledge & preen for a while to prolong her break! The male has been known to sit on the ledge just to keep her company! They must have a secret sound or bit of body language to indicate their wishes although the female has been seen to physically poke the male to get him to move!

Wendy Bartter said...

Captured this action at 12.14 today showing one parent (I think Mum) on the eggs whilst the male preens on the ledge ... please say if I am wrong
https://youtu.be/JOqfidrMobM

Cams are offline at the mo, 17.33, wonder if any work being done?

Wendy Bartter said...

Cams are back!

shrishtyunikart said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Did I see 3 three perigrines in the air over Derby yesterday?
As though displaying??
Was looking fro the road side of Derbion.

project team said...

Hi Anonymous: if you did, it is possible the resident pair were seeing off an intruder.
With increasing numbers of 'urban' peregrines in the UK, the pool of unmated birds is apparently increasing so we can expect to get 'visiting' birds from time to time.
The project team

Wendy Bartter said...

On 'hatch watch' at Kingston College Peregrines, nothing yet ... in the meantime FaB have reported a 'pip' in one of their four eggs ... both nests are on Twitter!

Wendy Bartter said...

Our female picks at gravel whilst incubating, to aid digestion or just merely boredom?
https://youtu.be/63PwZfLrclE

Wendy Bartter said...

View of FaB's first chick of the season
https://t.co/TJZej3ize1

Wendy Bartter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wendy Bartter said...

Three hatched at FaB now
https://t.co/6nodjavnh6

Wendy Bartter said...

Only two at FaB with a possible third hatching, taking it's time!

Wendy Bartter said...

First chick hatched a vew mi utes ago at Kingston College Peregrines
https://t.co/rN0uKNr8od

Wendy Bartter said...

Three chicks for both Kingston & FaB!

Wendy Bartter said...

Time for a changeover
https://youtu.be/vwDciHPq9Ro

Scoobi19 said...

If an adult has not been ringed where would it of come from? Are they only ringed at birth?

project team said...

HI Scoobie: peregrines are only ringed as chicks at about 20 days old. They would be very difficult to catch as adults of course. So the old male with the ring would have been ringed in a nest somewhere else. Had ringers put a coloured ring with simple numbers/letters on it, readable through a telescope or with a big camera lens, then we might have found out where it was reared.
Nick B

Scoobi19 said...

Thanks for that nick. Where do you think hes come from then with the type of ring he has? Alot of shufflin n head turnin today can probs hear them 🥰