Friday, 28 March 2025

Incubation time and a new TV screen in the Cathedral

Update: Here's one of Wendy Bartter's many video clips posted to the blog comments, this one showing a change over on 5th April:


So now we are in the period of incubation when the eggs are kept warm by the parent birds as they develop.
We can expect hatching to take place sometime around Easter, 18-21 April.
Until then, there's not much happening except change overs as the pair share the work of sitting on the eggs.

If you missed it, scroll down the blog to read about the egg laying period and be sure to check out the comments which include many video clips made for us by Wendy Bartter.

Here's just one of those showing a changeover on 25th March:



There have been 67,000 hits to the web cams and blog in 2025 so far and over 5,500,000 since the cams were installed in 2007. Scroll down the blog to see the Clustr map which shows where in the world folk have been watching!

And the excellently supportive Cathedral staff have just installed a huge TV screen inside the cathedral showing the live web cam feed.


The Project Team

This project, now in its 20th year, is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with great support from its partners; The Cathedral, Cathedral Quarter and Derby City Council's IT team.

95 comments:

Wendy Bartter said...

That's a wonderfully clear big screen, many thanks to Cathedral for doing this!
Another vid from this morning's changeover in the bright sunshine ...

https://youtu.be/3xtZweUZpug?si=LQsEZwZXjwT5v7Rf

Wendy Bartter said...

More changeovers as incubation progresses, what a long labour of love for our pair ...https://youtu.be/gTiN8Q5XMEA

Wendy Bartter said...

More incubation highlights on Mothering Sunday ...
https://youtu.be/aiIxzMa0Qvk

Anonymous said...

Is there only one bird now ?

Wendy Bartter said...

Catching up on incubation ... this is a l-o-n-g standoff, she has to cajole male for ten minutes before he will relinquish eggs to her ...
https://youtu.be/qRCcw1aGoKM

Later she calls for male to takeover but he doesn't appear so she takes a 22 minute break ...
https://youtu.be/tUQpGxGSGE0

Wendy Bartter said...

Watch next video to see both birds incubating!

Wendy Bartter said...

Action from today ...
https://youtu.be/fCepocKDrIg

Wendy Bartter said...

Have just come across this devestating news of a truly vile act at St.Albans ...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq80yqnl54eo

Emma said...

I know, just awful! At least they’ve got evidence from the camera feed and apparently someone is already‘helping with enquiries’. Is it too late for the pair to start again do you think?

Wendy Bartter said...

Very quick and efficient changeover at 14.14 this afternoon, almost missed it
https://youtu.be/wFEfPv3SS_E

Wendy Bartter said...

Hi Emma, saw a post on 'X' saying hope they lay another clutch but don't know if that's possible, just hope the pair haven't been scared off!

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

Various comments on internet saying that laying a second clutch is possible if they are not too far along in the incubation! St.Albans three eggs were laid between 26th March - 1st April!

Wendy Bartter said...

Further update from St.Albans on BBC ...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87ppe1jjvxo

Wendy Bartter said...

First hatch at FaB Peregrines at 13.16 yesterday (9th)🐣

Wendy Bartter said...

Second chick hatched today, big gap!

Wendy Bartter said...

Checking up on incubation today, changeovers going smoothly (not counting loss of cams!) ... only another week to go!!
https://youtu.be/Ar0t4Y5W6Fk

Anonymous said...

Just watching at 00:45, is that a piece of eggshell at the bottom right-hand corner?

Wendy Bartter said...

Can't see anything on day cam that looks like eggshell, maybe just a trick of night cam view

Wendy Bartter said...

Two of today's changeovers ... first shows male refusing to budge for a long time, female had to persuade him, then later goes smoothly when male comes back to incubate ... https://youtu.be/VWaPCf6yzCY
A reminder that it is day 26 since last egg laid, day 29 since third egg so we are now officially on HATCH WATCH!!!

Wendy Bartter said...

Changeovers on day 27 from last egg ...
https://youtu.be/WhuzBHQly7Y

Jessica said...

Just seen a changeover (7:23 am) and maybe, just maybe, there are signs of one of the eggs breaking a little? Anyone else seen anything more definite? Exciting! It was a quick glance though, so can't be sure...

Kate said...

Thank you Jessica and also not forgetting our dear Wendy..I just missed a glimpse, she is certainly shuffling the eggs, always a good sign.

Wendy Bartter said...

I have seen her shuffling the eggs more frequently too, not caught a good view on changeover yet!

Wendy Bartter said...

Only caught the one changeover today at 15.16 ...
https://youtu.be/Q8sINy1PIU8

Wendy Bartter said...

Another long standoff where she gets fed up with trying to shift him and flies away at 18.00 not returning til 19.30 ...
https://youtu.be/B5Gyh_NwkkU

Nattalie said...

I can't zoom in but do I see an egg shell by birds tail?

Nattalie said...

Hmmm it may just be a bigger stone as I looked at previous videos

Wendy Bartter said...

Day 29 and changeover at 10.49 shows eggs still whole ...
https://youtu.be/YnrqzTlYe8k?si=ju4399LNb4rcyUo-

Kate said...

Wendy captured this morning.....Could be getting near...is there a pip in one of the darker eggs,picture on Flkr

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks Kate, can't see anything myself, waiting for next changeover!

Kate said...

another showing maybe hole in the white egg, that you snapped on flickr

Anonymous said...

Still not sure Kate

Wendy Bartter said...

Day 29 ... footage of changeover at 14.08...
https://youtu.be/u299Sv-Hcis

Anonymous said...

Thankyou Wendy, I REALLY love seeing them change over ❤️

Carol said...

I am having trouble seeing the webcam. Is anyone else or is it just my phone.

Wendy Bartter said...

I cannot log in either, says 'file not found'

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

@Carol Yes, I'm having difficulties seeing them right now, too. If they don't return by 10am, I'll contact Streamdays and ask if they're receiving our feed. Sometimes we do get short outages for one reason or another. I realise this approaching a really important moment with hatching imminent.

Anonymous said...

Me neither 🙁

Anonymous said...

Thankyou, still not on as of 10.20am. I'm having withdrawal

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

WEBCAM STATUS UPDATE: There is currently an issue today with all live webcameras hosted by Streamdays, which are suffering a major outage. One of their third-party suppliers is working on resolving this - by the end of today (we hope)!
This is not a Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project issue (for once!)
You can check the status of the hosting service at any time by visiting https://streamdays.instatus.com/

Wendy Bartter said...

Back on now, thanks Nick M & Streamdays 😀

Anonymous said...

Thankyou everyone!

Kate said...

Change over 4 still entact pic on flckr 3.28p.m.

Wendy Bartter said...

Day 30 sees changeover at 15.26 showing 4 still intact eggs ... but getting closer ...
https://youtu.be/Ttv0cnxVWL4

Wendy Bartter said...

Thanks Kate, having a few internet problems today but did manage the changeover ...

Wendy Bartter said...

Next changeover sees the Female return to take over at 18.10, male leaves without fuss ...
https://youtu.be/Z6cS9SD8YlY

Kate said...

Getting very near, she turning well this mornind

Anonymous said...

I'm sure there's a hole in a white egg, not a patch of dirt, but I don't know how to put the video on

Wendy Bartter said...

Day 31 sees another long standoff when male doesn't want to move ... eggs still whole
https://youtu.be/XgsKeBZTGDI?si=6Vu6pCZWnawH_r61

Wendy Bartter said...

Hi Ali, you have to upload your video to You Tube first to get the URL to post on here

Anonymous said...

Thankyou Wendy. I hope this works.
https://youtu.be/60kOV75RdmE?si=7iSTIfW3zczrZ0sH

Wendy Bartter said...

It did work albeit it rather small, did you use your phone?

Anonymous said...

Yes I did, apologies for the size.

Wendy Bartter said...

The male is getting very obstinate about letting her takeover, she had to push him off after waiting since 12.06 ... https://youtu.be/Prh3uhQ2tdI?si=RvG8WErfQWM9f7Gq

Wendy Bartter said...

The next two takeovers went very smoothly, no messing about ... eggs still look whole
https://youtu.be/MkkdKMWWpzg?si=HurmT6gFB7sh0FO3

Wendy Bartter said...

No apology needed, always good to have more eyes on the eggs, would be able to detect a chick, must be getting very close now so please keep looking👀👀👀

Wendy Bartter said...

Oh dear, female left an egg out! But she has now gathered it in with the rest! Lots of fidgeting & shuffling, wonder if there'll be a chick by morning?
https://youtu.be/EaOQxS3diy0?si=xLYMPv9QMUhaNupC

Anonymous said...

Currently watching at 1.58 am, I definitely heard a tiny scrowling cheep, several times.

Anonymous said...

Approx 2.17 am, mama bird briefly stood up and three eggs looked intact (couldn't see the fourth), but the scrowling continues and is getting louder.

Nattalie said...

Changeover just now all 4 eggs look intact it's such an eggciting time hehe 🤭

Anonymous said...

It was a quick change, no messing around…

Wendy Bartter said...

Day 32 and changeover at 10.08 was so quick that eggs not on view for long enough to check for pips ... did notice that the male who was on them was extra fidgety and constantly picking at gravel ... female quiet just now!

Anonymous said...

13:17 One of the whiter eggs has a big old hole in it. :)

Carol said...

Saw all eggs as shuffled around. All still in tact. No holes just marking

Wendy Bartter said...

Just saw eggs at 14.07 and no visible pips or cracks, female lifted off them and has been calling for male for a while now!

Wendy Bartter said...

We may see more detail at next changeover

Anonymous said...

https://youtu.be/BjRAGtCNzcc?feature=shared Female still calling for her mate, came off eggs for a moment but eggs seem to be intact still.

Anonymous said...

I definitely saw a large hole in the shell earlier, so it must've been shuffled around underneath on later sightings.

Anonymous said...

16:43 still 4 eggs no sign of any holes.

Wendy Bartter said...

Good footage thanks Ali, I couldn't see anything significant either

Wendy Bartter said...

Female finally gets a break at 16.40 ... a very long stint with her taking over at 10.06 ... eggs still looking whole ...
https://youtu.be/NEIljZjVeF0

Anonymous said...

No one on eggs at 17.09

Wendy Bartter said...

Female back on eggs at 17.10. short break but maybe she was anxious to get back as she senses hatch may be imminent ...
https://youtu.be/s2IkdnJYFSQ

Wendy Bartter said...

She is currently gently cheeping to them, maybe to encourage hatching!

Kate said...

18.35 ish. eggs still intact, he arrives limping with what looks like blood on right foot, and leaves immediately as no hatch.see flickr

Wendy Bartter said...

Here's that footage Kate ... might it be blood from fresh prey?
https://youtu.be/GDN0HsBXFcU

Wendy Bartter said...

At 20.30 female still fidgeting on eggs ... waiting for that magic moment when she pulls eggshell from underneath, must be very close!

Wendy Bartter said...

Male comes in at 20.56, looks to be limping ... female moves and picks at an egg but doesn't changeover so male leaves, he looks awkward to me ...
https://youtu.be/7etapPUU_Rc

Anonymous said...

Definitely hearing some tiny cheeps now. But just missed a changeover.

Anonymous said...

https://youtu.be/_B-P_B8-SgA?feature=shared.
Definate little chirps can be heard about 22seconds in.

FreechickenSue said...

Shell just seen 2330

Anonymous said...

I think a chick might have just hatched. I think that's egg shell that I can see? Difficult to tell.

Helen said...

Just realised that I posted anonymously!

Kate said...

Thanks freechickensue and helen I put pic on flvkr.hopefully Wendy will have vid, and that we get to see chick soon.

Anonymous said...

It certainly looks like shell 😍 Daylight will show if it is for sure. ( I'll be so disappointed if it's not 🙏)

Anonymous said...

6:40am Chick seen, almost trodden on by adult bird. Three other eggs look intact.

Anonymous said...

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0660YF7U7yeRGs40CKwW8_Czg

Anonymous said...

Not best pic, but unsure how to share.

Jean said...

Have just added pic to Flickr taken at 7.16am

Kate said...

Morning all and HAPPY EASTER to all what a lovely way to start your life little chick.Thanks for all the posts and pics.

Anonymous said...

You can upload your pictures to Flickr if you register for a free account. https://www.flickr.com/groups/derbyperegrines/

Anonymous said...

Just caught a little glimpse!

Wendy Bartter said...

Brilliant news, many thanks for all pics & updates, interesting to see hatch was from one of the darker eggs, either #3 or #4 ... Day 33 🐣 waiting for a changeover to see if male is injured or not!

Project Member (DWT) said...

Please note there's a new blog post for new comments.
Thanks
The Project team