Wednesday, 19 February 2025

Abseil day in our 20th Year!

Nick Evans about to abseil down to the nest platform
Today (19th) Nick Evans, who made the current nest platform, abseiled down to clean it up and adjust the cameras before the start of the nesting season. He was assisted by Nick Moyes.
Some anti-pigeon plastic spikes which had fallen off the top of one of the cameras (designed to stop the falcons using it as a perch) were removed and replaced.

Wendy Barrter has put together this speeded up video. The clean up took Nick 42 minutes, the video lasts just 5!

Derby Peregrines 19th Feb 2025 at 13:31 Nestbox clean up 

This is our annual clean-up event and it has just occured to us that this is our 20th year with this successful project which started back  in 2006 when the first platform was installed by the two aforementioned Nicks.

The first web cams were added by Nick Moyes a year later in 2007.

Hopefully in the next few weeks you may see (and hear) the peregrine pair displaying to each other and also scraping a shallow depression in the gravel where eggs will eventually be laid. Mating itself usually takes place on the stonework above the nest, out of view of the cameras!

Do put a comment on this blog if you see any activity?

Fingers crossed for a successful outcome in this special year!

The Project Team (volunteers Nick Moyes and Nick Brown plus DWT staff Diane Gould and Marc Whitlock who will be organising the Watch Point events).

The project is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with wonderful support from Derby Cathedral, Cathedral Quarter and Derby City Council.



44 comments:

Wendy Bartter said...

Many thanks to Nick Evans for abseiling down to the nest to give it a good clean up and to Nick M for aiding & abetting ... there will be some video footage posted shortly

Wendy Bartter said...

Our female returns at 16.48 to inspect the cleaned up scrapes, she has a scrape in the new gravel then sets about further demolishing the central wood section, she developed quite a taste for it last year, she perched on the ledge preening & perusing her area til flying off at 17.40 ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDOwXZDgjhI

Emma said...

Well done, thanks.

Wendy Bartter said...

No footage from yesterday as I experienced problems with both cams ... this short clip this morning before cams froze again ...
https://youtu.be/tU2whniC0ic?si=F-OmSZwutRwb2L6G
Will try again later

Wendy Bartter said...

More footage from this afternoon when the Female was in the gravel scrape for a long time ... cam problems still continuing ...
https://studio.youtube.com/video/RlKtULGbqT0/edit

Kate said...

Thanks to ALL the Nick's , you are amazing,and it has been wonderful to have been able to watch along with you , for many many years. The whole TEAM is truly appreciated, and of course our wonderful Birds allowing us to be part of their Daily lives, and sharing their up's and downs,in achieving successful fledge .Also not forgetting our local, school and on the ground contributors.Plus all the vids, by our very own WENDY, Bless you all, and looking forward to another successful year.Kate

Emma said...

I’ve just watched Wendy’s speeded up footage. Thanks again Nick, great job and in that cold drizzle as well! Quick question- why the two different media, gravel and slate? Is it to give them a choice?

Wendy Bartter said...

Great to catch bonding session just after ten this morning, female spending lots more time in the scrape, live streaming more dependable for me today ...
https://youtu.be/EKn6xaCmOfI?si=8rCHYT3YWkuWlU4m

♡nattalie♡ said...

17.44 one peregrine on the scrape can't wait for this year's antics xx

Wendy Bartter said...

Good to have you join us Nattalie ... More actions from the scrape
https://youtu.be/5rOuCkY9UOA

Kate said...

Hello Emma.If I recall correctly, Nick Moyes came up with idea of having gravel on one side, rather than slate, to encourage female to lay on that side, where she could make her scrapes for laying easier, and also that side is better for the Cams.Hope this helps.

Emma said...

Thanks Kate that makes sense.

Wendy Bartter said...

Couple of action vids from this morning which wouldn't publish from my tablet due to unknown error ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-YVFiaKbSQ&t=16s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwpeEdyrcI4&t=6s

Plus more bonding this afternoon but sorry, no sound ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvzKB2GONYI

Kate said...

She is certainly giving him lots of opportunity.I only seem to see her on the ledge.....still all good signs

Anonymous said...

She has been in the gravel scrape for very long periods of time recently Kate, only this morning she was in there for a good couple of hours before moving to perch for ages on slate ledge, flew off and returned very quickly, definitely asserting ownership!

Wendy Bartter said...

Here is our female having a pick around in gravel scrape this morning ... see how deep the nest hollow is now
https://youtu.be/HflVDOLiraA?si=TQfgx7np4UQow_U_

Wendy Bartter said...

That is my reply Kate, tablet did a funny again!🤔

Jessica Kilmurray said...

Just watching one of the peregrines having a good pick around at the gravel now, I am so happy to see them back! I have an excellent view of them flying around out my office window on Iron Gate, across the road from the Cathedral. Looking forward to seeing more activity as the days get warmer!

Wendy Bartter said...

Female spending even more time on both scrapes this afternoon ...
https://studio.youtube.com/video/4MXrhGiDDRg/edit

Eating in the slate scrape a bit later but didn't see who brought the prey in ...
https://studio.youtube.com/video/4sQ189skDwc/edit

Wendy Bartter said...

Hi Jessica and welcome to the blog, am quite envious of your having views of our pair flying around, are you able to get any pics?

Kate said...

Wendy all good vids as always.N.B alongside comment always open with anonymous and we have to remember to change to our name Doh!! also as Wendy says, Jessica, very envious of you watching live,hope your work does not suffer when we get busy,next month on Ha!!!I am still trying to catch them bonding...

Wendy Bartter said...

This one just for the record as another glitch means no sound again, sorry!
Brief bonding but from separate scrapes, not a good view of the male ...
https://youtu.be/-3Th5RvK0us

Kate said...

at least hopefully confirms she likes her gravel

Wendy Bartter said...

More of the same today Kate, seems to be getting ready for even longer stay very soon when she has eggs to incubate ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTyR8KJskNM

Wendy Bartter said...

Just the female again this afternoon visiting the scrape twice ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9EYSzGiLOA

Wendy Bartter said...

The very briefest of bonding between our pair and very sorry for yet another silent movie ...
https://youtu.be/T5nLMZpj_n0

Anonymous said...

Is there a link anywhere to watch the live webcams please? I used to do this & watch. Or are they not set up yet ? Thanks.

Wendy Bartter said...

Hi Anon, both cams are streaming all year round, here's the link ... https://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/p/our-webcams.html

Wendy Bartter said...

Another silent bonding but still so brief ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-MnhO4zefY

Change of software delivers sound as female calls for her mate ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdfGYmtq1KA

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

At last, captured footage of male bringing her a prey gift ... with sound!!!
https://youtu.be/70X1QZc90To?si=jX0XgnkT8zYJekl7

Kate said...

Thanks Wendy, I forget we cannot rewind, as I shot over to other camera too late DoH!!

Kate said...

Morning all
Only Two weeks , going by last few years to fist egg, but not been catching individual scaps of bonding, though our very own Wendy is keeping us so well informed with her wonderful videos.
Just thought I would also remind us, that , individual captures,can always post on
https://www.flickr.com/groups/derbyperegrines/pool/with/54366771038/
I just posted as a test of her spending time cleaning scrape and calling this morning.

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks for the flickr link Kate ... might be a good time to try it out as our female is currently perched on the scrape at 20.25, often an indication that she is getting into egg laying mode!

Wendy Bartter said...

A short clip of female on the scrape well after dark ...
https://youtu.be/I1IjIzOHSVQ

Wendy Bartter said...

Just a trial of new recording software showing a bit of this morning's antics ... we have sound!!
https://youtu.be/vy6fihp4Nuw

Wendy Bartter said...

Just about managed to capture Male bringing prey gift, both cams froze but can see female flying off with it ...
https://youtu.be/AyomlMsH3b4

Wendy Bartter said...

There was a bonding session as I was posting the above vid ... grrrr ... could hear it but missed recording it!

Wendy Bartter said...

Just checked the cams and found our female sleeping in the gravel scrape at 20.31 ... as I post she has woken and is preening ... a good sign for eggs??
https://youtu.be/ug51dBruYiI?si=XPPggTs-OaoBDJMw

Wendy Bartter said...

Watching female in gravel scrape and listening to the 9am carillon ...
https://youtu.be/zCv_Imk4K6k?si=ucbEULfmiyCTGzU6

Wendy Bartter said...

Strange encounter as male brings prey, no real bonding then flies off with it ... noticed what looks like blood stains on female's chest hopefully from last prey she ate ... https://youtu.be/ssJ2qua7Dsc?si=vn9u_0-leiKoMsPy

Wendy Bartter said...

Really good bonding session a short while ago, first time I've seen them touching beaks, male had waited a long time on scrape for female to fly in ...
https://youtu.be/AUAFyNR3XNw

Wendy Bartter said...

Interesting info about the daily tunes & bells here ...
https://www.derbycathedralbells.org.uk/clock

Wendy Bartter said...

FaB at Charing X Hospital have well & truly won the egg race this year, there are three already on 2nd, 4th & today, wonder if there will be a fourth one?