Friday 5 May 2023

Just the one chick

 It is now over a week since our first chick hatched so it is likely that the other three eggs are infertile and won't hatch. Normally they all hatch within 2-3 days of each other.
We think that we have a new female and we know for sure we have a new male (last year's had a leg ring but this year's doesn't).
The very inept way the parent birds treated the chick in its first few days adds further to our suspicion that these are first time breeders.
The female is thought to be in her third calendar year since she has quite a bit of brown feathering on her wings in particular. That means she was hatched in 2021. That's quite young for a female to breed.....


Anyway, it does seem now that the chick is getting good feeds and should survive....and one is better than none of course!
Thanks to everyone who has posted comments about what they have seen on the web cams. Wendy Bartter in particular deserves special mention for her many video clips, links to which are included in her comments to the last blog post and to this one too.

This clip by Wendy Bartter was made this afternoon (5th May). The chick is certainly growing well now!



 The Project Team

57 comments:

Wendy Bartter said...

Seems that I have been posting on older blog so have copied & pasted to here

6 May Wendy Bartter said...
Chick gets a Coronation feast this morning (longish vid in real time)
https://youtu.be/D2IDEcK-oe8

6 May 2023 at 10:46
Wendy Bartter said...
Dad flew in with prey @ 12.32, eating it himself, Mum doesn't challenge so he flies off with it!

Wendy Bartter said...

13.40 Dad in with prey again, eating himself until Mum finally takes it off him and feeds chick!

Wendy Bartter said...

Sound warning!! Coronation bells in this footage which shows Mum having to tug prey from Dad in order to feed chick who's doing very well now!
https://youtu.be/WzTyNxOAYCE

Wendy Bartter said...

Poor chick trying to get food from parent who stands too far away & chick is prevented to move cos of egg in front!!

Wendy Bartter said...

I see another feed within minutes, Mum feeding and thankfully closer to chick, was busy with first footage so didn't see if chick took much!

Wendy Bartter said...

Footage of feed @ 17.41
https://youtu.be/XvZ4sNgIUZ8

Wendy Bartter said...

Chick gets a little bit more food as Mum picks at leftover scraps @ 19.19
https://youtu.be/iRNBlsEZ2tc

Danielle Harvey said...

Feeding time for the little chick at 9am. Mum again picks at leftover scraps. Chick got some chunky pieces and wanting more but mum had other ideas and had a feast herself.

DW said...

The chick got a really good feed earlier in the morning. Not too sure of when but I guess 7:30 or thereabouts. I don't know which parent was feeding el-bambino.

Wendy Bartter said...

Many thanks Danielle & DW for posting about earlier feeding times for our chick, seems to be doing well for food today, here is footage of the third feed @ 10.46
https://youtu.be/wNsYboK3uX0

Wendy Bartter said...

Looking at webcam just now it seems that the incubating of remaining three eggs has finished, they are well scattered, female still furiously picking at scrape floor though!

Anonymous said...

What will happen to the eggs? Will they just be left there? Does Mum realise they won't hatch now?

DW said...

The chick has now started wing flapping. It sure is growing and developing fast now.

Wendy Bartter said...

She will gradually lose interest in the eggs now Anonymous, they will remain on the scrape unless they break & sometimes get eaten by the adults!

Thanks for the news about the wing flapping DW!

Wendy Bartter said...

Happy days ... another feed going on now!

Dave farmer said...

Can't believe the size of the chick and only 10 days old.

One of the eggs was right next to it a few minutes ago and looked tiny compared to the size of the chick.

Mum very busy moving the eggs to the back of the scrape. Probably won't be there long now.

Wendy Bartter said...

Chick has gone wandering into the other scrape whilst Mum was away, now she is back & turning eggs for incubation, ot sure if chick can get back! Scary!!

Wendy Bartter said...

She has gone over to it, wonder what she'll do?

Wendy Bartter said...

She's left chick & gone back to the eggs, now back to chick, now back to eggs & chick frantically trying to get over the divider, she just tried to pick him up! Trying again, hasn't managed!

Wendy Bartter said...

Thank goodness she managed to pick him up, now back under her!

Wendy Bartter said...

This is an epic, some parts speeded up but the main saga in real time!
https://youtu.be/7JThBfy5Y7g

Only 10 days old & already my hair is grey!!

Wendy Bartter said...

Ending this day with a small feed, think chick could have taken more
https://youtu.be/IuGM2Ft9nII

Wendy Bartter said...

Feed going on now!

Wendy Bartter said...

Feed @ 11.42
https://youtu.be/J4fq4VCvEBs

Wendy Bartter said...

Feed @ 15.11, did chick get enough?
https://youtu.be/HkOA5lsbW78

Wendy Bartter said...

This is second time I have seen chick wander to parent perched on front ledge, is encouraged back to safety
https://youtu.be/mpLTjrMez8Y

Wendy Bartter said...

An agonising moment in this feed when chick was offered a leg with foot & claws and he took it ... I actually shouted at the screen in horror ... luckily chick couldn't swallow it! Phew!!
https://youtu.be/PnH3wvm1550

Wendy Bartter said...

Another feed happening now! Just switched over to night cam, chick is certainly a good eater, very keen to grab food!

Wendy Bartter said...

Mum only had a scrappy bit of prey, chick got a few bits but couldn't wait for her to finish, moved towards her to crawl under for a cuddle! Chick very close to her, likely cos it's the only one, multiple chicks usually huddle together for warmth & company!

DW said...

Good feed at about 8:30am. Chick ended up not taking food when offered.

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks DW for news about early feed for chick, certainly has grown almost overnight!

Wendy Bartter said...

Dad brings prey at 13.34 but does not let go of it easily
https://youtu.be/6YCGuEwA_OM

Wendy Bartter said...

There has been a double feed which started at 16.37, never seen the chick so full but at the end of second prey he only wants a cuddle! Quite amusing to watch him chasing Mum around!

Wendy Bartter said...

Here is footage in 4x speed
https://youtu.be/fNysijC4yg8

Yet another feed just finished, chick is prostrate after eaing more prey!

DW said...

Chick fed at 7:45am. Chick is developing well. Talons now showing on its toes. Chick spread its wings and pin feathers visible.

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks DW, pleased to hear chick has been fed early morn, definitely looking very well!
Mum has to prepare prey, Chick waits patiently
https://youtu.be/yDhrtTbKtTc

Wendy Bartter said...

Chick gets fed after watching Mum prepare prey
https://youtu.be/IrxVuiYP2IE

Wendy Bartter said...

Poor little chick wants his Mum back to cuddle up to, follows her to front of scrape ... scary!! Currently huddled up in corner looking for comfort!
https://youtu.be/oYqp2eFn6ZQ

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

Chick wanders up to Mum at front of scrape again ... makes me feel nervous
https://youtu.be/aYhHwUAdat8

Wendy Bartter said...

Dad feeds his chick at 18.36
https://youtu.be/mwl-Jk9-q6A

Wendy Bartter said...

Mum has brought in more prey, feeding chick now!

Wendy Bartter said...

Good feed, chick has full crop!

Wendy Bartter said...

Dad brings prey @ 09.42, feeds chick, then Mum, then chick again, Mum looks very wet, presume raining heavily
https://youtu.be/vt30y5snfjw

Wendy Bartter said...

Another feed @ 12.09, chick still follows Mum around at the end
https://youtu.be/NcYVJLz0cXA

Unknown said...

I hope the only chick is OK does not look good at the moment - or has it eaten too much?/

Wendy Bartter said...

Chick antics after Mum flies off, kick one egg like football
https://youtu.be/tvL9mtmX3Q4

Wish he wouldn't go so close to the front, puts me on edge!

Wendy Bartter said...

Chick is fed again at 17.43 then he chases Mum again for a cuddle!
https://youtu.be/HXg1qutNSAk

Anonymous said...

It was on the local news that 2 peregrine chick at Norwich cathedral have sadly died

Danielle Harvey said...

Mum & chick enjoyed breakfast together this morning at 7.30am. The chick pushed one of the eggs away with their beak, is this normal behaviour?

project team said...

Hi Danielle, the chick will accidentally push anything in its way without any realisation that it might have been its sister or brother!
So, yes, quite normal....
The Project Team

DW said...

I saw it kick an egg which moved a long way (better than England at penalties?). I have seen the report of almost a header. So I imagine it will be a footballer when it grows up. And what position will it play in? On the wing of course!

Wendy Bartter said...

This is where the chick is when not on cam #1
https://youtu.be/Bq61rhcEmkM

Wendy Bartter said...

Dad feeds chick at 13.08 (clock fast)
https://youtu.be/VYWlWLb29Ng

Hahaha DW!

Wendy Bartter said...

Chick gets fed again @ 15.47, he's been peeping a lot even when cuddled under Mum, is he hungry?
https://youtu.be/uJexNyS03Pk

Anonymous said...

There is a newer post to be adding comments to.

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks for letting us know Anonymous, will copy & paste vids of todays's feeds!