Watch Point volunteer Helen went down to the Cathedral on Sunday morning and reported seeing all five birds looking fine!
The Sunday Times (16 June) had a short article in the print edition about peregrines on UK cathedrals with a mention of the Derby Cathedral birds included.
There's a much longer, online article with many more photos and quotes but it is behind a £1 /month paywall.
Update 14th June: all three have fledged successfully with at least one returning occasionally.
If you've enjoyed watching the webcams do please consider making a donation to keep the project going for next year.
There's a donations tab on the top of the blog landing page.
Many thanks and see you all next year!
Ps The web cams stay live all year round and the adults remain close to and sometimes on the nest platform.....
Update 11 June:
More photos by Dave Farmer, taken yesterday, show the now confident male, XRL on the tower's stonework shouting for food:
And looking down on the world below:
The Watch Point was slightly disrupted by other events going on nearby but our volunteers stayed through to the end so a big thank you to them and for helping out at all four Watch Points. Thanks too to the DWT staff who helped and to John from Cathedral Quarter who organised the gazebo.
Volunteer Helen summarising the morning said:
A very active morning. The adults and all three juveniles were showing well all the time. There were several occasions when we thought one of the young birds was going to fly. One of them fluttered up to the right hand side of the platform and briefly perched at the side of the camera bracket, before dropping back down on to the scrape.
One of the big females looks ready to go. Lots of wing flapping and head bobbing. We could clearly see the difference in size between the male juvenile and the two bigger females when all three were perched on the edge of the platform.
A red kite drifted overhead, prompting the adult male to fly from it's perch half way up the tower. One of the adult falcons very nearly caught a pigeon just to the left of us over the buildings but the pigeon just managed to swerve out of the way at the last moment. There was also a tussle with the local gulls to add to the scene!
Wendy Bartter made this video today:
And on Friday, Dave Farmer took these photos:
Photo: Dave Farmer
Photo: Dave Farmer
The Project Team
The Project is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust support from partners The Cathedral, Cathedral Quarter and Derby City Council
100 comments:
Morning everyone
Our NOT so little ones reluctant to leave home as all three enjoying a nap.at 08.10
Thank you Team for a lovely Blog Post, as always love the way Helen captures the whole day.So pleased enjoyed by all attending, and everyones participation in making the success, including The Peregrine showing off it's non catching skills.
Loved the photos especially the difference in adult and young.
Many Thanks again to all
08.30 think one on the ledge flown
Nope still three twas notoriously hiding
I'm also watching 4 chicks at Leeds University. Can I ask why their scrape is always so clean and tidy when the Derby ones are sitting on an increasing pile of remnants of feeds?
The previous pair used to keep the area immaculate, but this pair seems to have no housekeeping skills at all. The Nottingham site is always tidy, but some of the other sites I look at are just as messy. I suppose some birds are naturally tidy, some not, just like people
First chick flew off about 15 minutes ago
yep did you get a pic? I missed and thought the other must be hiding again.
Sorry no I didn't it was too quick. Looks like the other two are quite restless so might be flying off soon
There is something on the ledge below, can't tell if it's chick, parent or pigeon
Looks like the chick that flew off is on the ledge below the scrape….
Other 2 are settled now.
Exactly my thoughts. The Derby falcons are more like me, the Nottingham pair more like my aunt used to be. 🙂
Surprised it went. Its drizzly weather this afternoon.
The chick just flew off the ledge below the scrape, it looked fine.
Thanks for the replies to my question about tidyness. You'd think they'd all be the same but yes,like humans,they're all different.
Footage of all three youngsters from 09.20 this morning looking quite lively, possibly the last we'll see of them together this season ...
https://youtu.be/9xr8jrcoyAw?si=rdVpJmszCVC-Vsdp
Thanks to Helen for news of Watchpoint and to Dave for more great photos of our birds!
Late with this footage due to family commitments ... backs up earlier comments about the time the littl'un fledged, about 12.50 although I was on wrong cam to capture his flight but does show him on ledge below between two mouldings ...
https://youtu.be/qL0GDAi8ay0?si=_kbwEIQoGd3uKq5S
The fledged youngster is safe and is perched lower down on the tower out of view of the cameras. Looking at the two still on the platform it seems as if it might be the male that has flown again, although difficult to be totally sure.
If it's XRL who has gone, he had a fly around this morning at 6.50. Saw him land back on scrape
Have seen the two still on either scrape every time I have checked during the afternoon, Mum came with food but recording messed up, can see both right now and Mum perched also!
All three chicks are in the scrape along with one of the parents. Or do we say two chicks and a fledgling?
Thank you Paul, that's great news. He seems to be getting more confident. I wonder how many times he has flown off and returned to the platform without anybody noticing!!
I have been on and off here all day and iv seen him go and come back a few times...once when mum came back with food he landed on the platform below shouting up wondering how to get back up bless him so glad he's found his way back up again...they are so funny to watch
Managed to find him under the scrape and then in it around 19.35 onwards
https://youtu.be/8Ol1BaQ4o7g
All quiet today. Just the two of them.
Surely the two remaining will fledge soon! They are being looked after by parents too well, perhaps.
Yes I agree the babies bless them.. king of the sky is back (baby boy)
The two youngsters having a tussle over prey that Mum brought in at 16.35
https://youtu.be/BRa0LZPPnzw
As reported the prodigal youngster returns ... again!
https://youtu.be/obJ_xoeCceY
Look out for two possibilities in connection with the final two fledging.
Sometimes when an adult has been perched on the edge of the platform and it takes off, a juvenile will immediately follow it. After all, the parents know where all the food is don't they !
When juveniles hang on and on an adult will sometimes bring in a kill landing on the edge of the platform and after a couple of seconds it will fly away with it sending a message of "if you want some come get some". It does work quite often.
I think it is fairly typical for female peregrines to take longer to fledge as they tend to develop more slowly than male birds, and are bigger and heavier.
One I forgot to upload, wondering what the one youngster can see below, there is a dark shape on moulding
https://youtu.be/WlTzpma5hUk
And then there were 1
Sorry forgot to change from anonymous
Still only the one now. Hope the fist female to go is ok.
I hope the last one follows soon, although I have loved watching the peregrines this year!
Two there now so one must have returned again, presumably the male, but I can’t quite tell at the moment.
If it is the two females on the scrape, I guess it is possible that one of them was perched up on the side of the platform or on the metal bracket in the middle, out of view of the cameras, and has dropped back down again. Very hard to tell. All fun and games this morning!
Morning Natalie and Helen and all
Both were feeding , now one up on the ledge persistently occasionally calling
What happens when they have all fledged? Do they stay in the area for a while and then move on? Will they remain around the cathedral area all summer ? Where do they go and where are they over winter before coming back to breed again?
@ Anonymous
Many of your questions may be answered in the FAQ that the TEAM have put together
https://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/p/faqs.html
here is one.
"The young birds usually move away from Derby in the autumn. Just occasionally one or more youngsters may remain here until the following spring."
Down to one again. The other just dropped off the scrape and is on the ledge below.
Thank you. I have now read the FAQ. Very informative
16.15 XRL back having a snack. One other one there. Swapping and changing. All very confusing.
Footage from just after the second one fledged ... could the remaining one see it, gets very excited ...
https://youtu.be/eVrdIXuC4XU?si=fx_GSeF06zk_iUdz
Two were eating Prey a short while ago, but see we back to one again.
make that two again Doh!!
Mum feeds both youngsters for a short time at 16.48
https://youtu.be/3tX4xje8NEA
She didn't feed them at 17.48, just left a chunk of prey for them to get on with
https://youtu.be/ielCFQk8YaM
Logged back in after doing the vids and the littl'un (I presume) had flown again, haven't managed to see one actually leave yet! Half of one youngster showing on cam #1 now, 19.54
2 feeding and one on the ledge below at present.
Parent feeding 2 again 8.10pm.
Bits of the feeding of two again at 20.06
https://youtu.be/Id8a_ebxw0k
7. 40. Last one has climbed onto the top of the slate scrape out of view.
Back down again
Thought the last one was going at around 11.15. Lots of activity back and forth and up to the top. Surely today is the day.
Lots of flapping but I think the last chick seems reluctant to go
Came back at 16.24 to find two sharing prey after being only one on scrape all day since around half nine this morning, difference in size indicates the little male back for a meal!
Wendy .....and see his full crop !
Mum came in with prey for remaining female at 16.15. She tried to feed the young one but was pecked at quite viscously. She left young one to feed itself then little XRL flew in confidently and shared the feed.
I am so upset with myself both were on the scrape feeding mum flew off I turn away and one baby has gone too iv been waiting for that moment lol amd I miss it
Female youngster joined this afternoon by the fledgling male and some prey which they shared https://youtu.be/yOAeGJODqbw
Nattalie said...
I am so upset with myself...
And I can't help Nattalie cos I missed it all too!!
All 3 youngsters on the scrape briefly at 6 40 am
Yep, 6.45 and XSL flew off confidently with some old prey. That just leaves XTL to go.
7.10 and back to two again. Very busy this morning with the coming and going.
just flown 12 12 Yay!!
I just missed it😟
ONE STILL ON THE SCRAPE
It's one of the adults!
As Kate said ... she finally plucked up courage to launch at 12.12 and I actually captured it for posterity ...
https://youtu.be/uCaAm9eQMSo?si=QqaVdxB2A3TnmCPa
Awwww yeeeeey well done baby no3 😁😊
Thank-you Wendy. That was awesome.
Thanks Wendy. Well done for that capture, I loved watching it.
What a beautiful moment! Thank you Wendy for capturing that plus the buildup to it, she really wanted to go!
Seems strange looking at the webcam and not seeing the chicks there but glad they have all fledged now. Hope that they are all doing well.
Wonder if this was the latest fledgling looking to get back to scrape?
https://youtu.be/t8fsefi8VDQ
Lovely to watch that. 🙂
Ahh can't watch....it says the video is private
Sorry about that Nattalie, should be ok now
Message for Dave Farmer.
A national paper is writing a piece about peregrines on cathedrals for this Sunday and wants to use one of your excellent photos but can't get in touch with you. If you happen to see this comment today (Friday) please email Nick B at the trust asap. and I will put you in touch.
Thanks.
Congratulations and thanks to Dave- the top photo of male with wings outspread brilliant! Get the national paper to pay- or at least to donate!
Hope someone contacts Dave. Brilliant Phots we are so very fortunate.Thank you Dave.
Some bit & bobs from pre-fledge yesterday showing what a good relationship the last female had with the fledged one who came back to share last moments on the scrape ...
https://youtu.be/YM0JtO1N128
This is when the adult visited the scrape after all had fledged, a bit of peace & quiet and a scrape in the shingle, not been that quiet since the chicks hatched ...
https://youtu.be/exmg8CbRiPE
And just in case you're missing all the din that the youngsters made ... here's a visit from this afternoon which made me jump as I sat peacefully in my lounge ... unfortunately no sighting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkxwzM5EX9Q
Thanks Helen for the update on seeing all five birds yesterday, hope you continue to get many more good views as they learn to hunt!
Great shame about having to pay to see that Sunday Times article!!
https://www.thetimes.com/article/97f906f8-37d5-453b-8617-44ea3f5862c8
And here is the article for free you only have to sign in and they used daves picture too 😁
Many thanks to Nick B and Anonymous for that Sunday Times article not forgetting Dave Farmer for more wonderful photos ... missing all the birds still!
Sorry was me nattalie lol
A headless adult currently showing on cam #2
Yes been here about an hr
I went into Derby on Saturday and saw one of the young ones sat on the roof of a shop a few doors down from the cathedral.
And no reported sightings since 17th June
Adult on cam 2 at 19.45
Pigeon in cam 2 🤣
As Natalie noted on 4th July today sees Pigeon either incubating or keeping any hatched chicks warm .Dad is sitting on ledge adjoining .have put a pic on Flickr.
I saw three falcons approximately 10 days ago. One through a pigeon in the air for a chick to catch, which it did. Another was circling around, but unsure if it was a chick or adult.
Threw 🤣
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