Update 17th June:
The two youngsters continue to visit the nest platform though with less frequency as time goes on.
How much longer will they hang about in view of the web cams?
It was good to see a still from our cathedral web cam featuring prominently on the Wildlife Trusts national news story about the various web cams run by local trusts all over the UK:
Webcams | The Wildlife Trusts .
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The rain held off for today's final Watch Point (on 7th June).
One of our excellent team of volunteers, Joyce Sawford, wrote this report with some great photos by Luke Wibberley to whom thanks:
"We had a great Watchpoint today - over 200 visitors of all ages came to look through our telescopes and binoculars.
All four peregrines were visible for most of the time. The young male gave us some spectacular displays of how good he is at flying now! At one point he came back in to land on top of the right hand camera, knocking the adult male off in the process, who then flew back to his favoured perch above the ‘shield’ on the right above the nest ledge.
Photo: Luke Wibberley
The young female never moved far from her comfortable spot on the crenellations below the nest ledge , and the adult female brought her down some food from the nest ledge just as we were packing away. At times the young female sat up with her back to us, so we could point out the row of pale feathers at the base of her tail, but she spent a lot it time lying flat out and resting.
Photo: Luke Wibberley
The adult female spent a lot of time keeping watch by the rain gulley on the left above the nest on a level with the grotesques, and she retrieved some prey from the right hand rain gulley, taking it back to the nest ledge for the young male and herself to share.
Photo; Luke Wibberley
Please, if you can, do send a donation to keep the webcams rolling, and we’ll look forward to seeing you all again at next year’s Watchpoints".
positions. Photo: Luke Wibberley.
Hopefully there'll still be something to see on the web cams with the young male showing up from time to time.
Thanks to everyone who has engaged with our project in its 20th season. Please do support us by making a donation to keep us running for next year and beyond.
The Project Team
The project is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with support from Derby Cathedral, Cathedral Quarter & the city Council's IT team
187 comments:
I would never have recognised it was the female youngster on the crenellations if Joyce hadn't put me right, looked just like an adult to me
Little man at 10.03 looking down at adult on crenallations who seems to be eating, good views for those at the watchpoint ...
https://youtu.be/NOCWwzeOpYA?si=kcNPPi_MxFo-nxfT
Was this the young female too in this footage?
Little man self-feeding at 12,47, adult in other scrape and another on crenellations...
https://youtu.be/eprtD0unCXs
Hello Wendy - she’s certainly fully grown now, and she’s managed to get rid of all the downy feathers
So pleased to read that you had such a well attended and enjoyable Watchpoint! Wonder how long we might have visits from the little man, nest is empty now.
Hello again Wendy - The one on the crenellations in your video was the young female
It was a bit wet on occasions, but it soon passed over
Hi Wendy. I've watched this clip a couple of times and I think the bird on the crenelations is indeed the young female. Three reasons: (1) If you look really carefully there are occasional glimpses of paler markings on the back of the head (a feature of juvenile birds); (2) There are a couple of glimpses of the pale tips to the end of the tail (not helped by the lack of contrast with the stonework on which she's perched!); (3) The juvenile female was perched in that location for much of the day, when it was possible to confirm her identity for sure! A few days ago I think I might have also misidentified her as being one of the adults when she was perched in the same location. The juvenile female is certainly getting more adult-like in her general appearance.
Many thanks Joyce and Graham, shame the clarity on cam #2 is not better
FOR THE RECORD: I don't know if anyone else here is aware, but last year, after the juvenile Peregrines fledged from the Cathedral, at least one young bird (sometimes two) took up a semi-permanent residence on the tower of St. Luke's Church, opposite Stockbrook Park in Derby. From my garden, I heard the yelling out for food from the juvenile/s for over three months. This must have started soon after the youngsters fledged from the Cathedral and, according to my records, the last time I heard the sounds was 14 October 2024 (although by then they were getting much less regular). All summer (July-September) I was hearing the screaming several times a week, mostly when I'd popped into my garden for some reason; however, there must have many more times I didn't hear them yelling when I was inside the house. Moreover, on the rare occasion that I actually walked by the church, I saw one or more Peregrines about half the time (even though I'd heard no prior sounds from my garden), implying that the birds were on the tower of St. Luke's Church much more frequently than the many times that I actually heard them from my house/garden. On one occasion, with my bathroom window wide open, I suddenly realised that I could hear a screaming Peregrine while I was sat on the edge of my bed! This year's juveniles may behave very differently, but I will obviousy keep my ears and eyes open over the coming weeks.
St. Lukes Church: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Luke%27s_Church,_Derby
Very interesting Graham and lucky you for being in the vicinity to see & hear them
Little man is back & screeching plus there was another on crenellations, could this be big girl, flew off just after I finished recording ...
https://youtu.be/_adwcCSjITo?si=oxkZdJLJ5RJLgeRa
Both male and female young ones preening themselves on the nest sight. Looking healthy.
Brilliant photos.....how they have grown from those little balls of fluff
I'm pretty sure it would of been the male and an adult the female baby hasn't been back in the nest yet
It was most definitely the two juveniles. She slept on slate during night, woke around half four, and then male flew in just before five. They then preened, and started screeching for food.
Great news to read that both juveniles were in the scrape at same time
Many thanks to Luke for the new pics, so good to see in the flesh, so to speak!
Adult preening on scrape at 10.57 ... both scrapes empty now
https://youtu.be/7pySbxwYBps?si=EK1FF0O8K6EL8JW9
One of the juveniles, male I think, on the platform feeding himself. Possibly a black bird.
He just flew away.
Little man on cam#2 at present ... eating!
Both juveniles on platform.
Shame I can't get cam #1 but can just see female juvenile peeking at Bro eating
https://youtu.be/5_vfgN2yl1Q
Female juvenile just tugged male's tail and he flew off. Was some lovely interaction prior to this.
The lazy little madam. Her brother left some food, but she'd rather screech for some lol.
Hopefully you can get cam 1 now Wendy...
Yes both still here this is phenomenal 😁
Awww, they love each other 😊
I was going to comment about 11 lastnight as I thought it were the female as the male never lies down like she does
Only just got connection back, both still here ...
https://youtu.be/Wzz_7ft2_ik
She's awake now
Both youngsters back on scrape.
Just noticed the subtle change in the title of this thread ... a bonus to have both the juveniles providing much enjoyment for all followers of this nest by constantly returning after an early fledge! Long may it continue👍😀
Have just peeked in ... strange how she lays flat sleeping like a chick and he sleeps upright perched like an adult?
Male juvenile flew off ten minutes ago after having eaten.
Female juvenile perched on edge. Have noticed she might have something wrong with her left leg. When she flew in yesterday she appeared to be limping. Maybe I am imagining it 😞
She's just left.
I think there is good news from St Alban's it looks like there is some eggshell in the scrape so they are starting to hatch🤞for them after their first eggs were destroyed
Yes I have been watching them too and can hear the little cheeps too how sweet after a devastating 1st clutch disaster
Just seen one ☺️ she left the nest for a few seconds and it looks like another egg has a little hole in it
Wonderful news from St Albans ... following the wanton destruction of their first clutch the FIRST CHICK of the new clutch has hatched ...
https://youtu.be/lhZctc0HYC4
Is this our female juvie (aka big girl) at 11.26
https://youtu.be/3YF_VhErY7I?si=x0tvFTgcw54B9Ydk
Gosh, the adults are a bit cack handed in St Albans. The bird sitting knocked the baby flat when they hopped up on the guttering or whatever it was and the other one wobbled around with food for ages with the baby going mad a foot away, finally gave it a mouthful and then wandered off completely with the food.
I thought that too but this is their 4th year so fingers crossed all will be well
Not sure Wendy I thought it was little man but it's getting harder to tell when they are not together
Yes, that's the young female; she has sharper and paler fringes to wing coverts and more barring on the tail. It's interesting that the young female is now spending more time at the nesting platform - probably an indiction that her flight is getting strong and, perhaps more importantly, more under her own control!
I normally have my media volume switched off because *the bells the bells* but turned it on for St Alban's briefly and all I could hear was voices and what sounded like building work. Was really surprised when Derby feed is so quiet of human type noise on the odd occasion I've listened.
Thanks Graham, she is bigger than the male and just saw her poking in that corner where she used to sleep which indicating her size, currently perched and screaming for food
Is that her feeding herself now? They've done so well this year.
Missed that but she is now laying down in corner of cam#2 scrape
Another chicks just hatched at St Alban's 🙂
They're both sat on the ledge of the scrape now
Here's the footage Jules ... https://youtu.be/a_bb1votekE?si=95rSywo0zsweYQXw
Wow big girl is HUGE compared to lil man lol
They are both just too cute but she's cutest just flopping down like a baby still
Brief footage here to show the size difference ...
https://youtu.be/zBjVCP9PPss
She certainly dwarfs him, some footage below
A massive difference in size...did you just capture the st Albans of both chick's wendy..they we just left for a few minutes x
Hi Nattalie, I posted a link to footage of the two back up this page a bit, in answer to Jules
Utterly gutted to hear about the St Albans tragedy. Why do that? What goes through homebody's head to even think of doing such a thing?! I’m shocked to hear that the nest site was easily accessible. Any road up it’s great to hear that a second clutch is looking fruitful.
Both our juveniles on on the nest right now
It was devastating but the access is not easy, through a usually locked trap door, it is still unclear how this person who did the damage was allowed access, we may hear about it one day!
Lil man flew off and big lady eating scrap wing with parent watching on
Haha she is just so funny screaming at parent for food and then headbutts it and it moved away lol
She also turned her head upside down and screamed! I'm not sure how that's supposed to help!
Our big girl making herself heard ... think I'm relieved I couldn't get sound for this one ...
https://youtu.be/Ai08x5pip6Q?si=lNikvOtvSBU-tb6r
one youngster eating on Cam 1 as I type
Both juveniles on the platform. Female scragging on a wing scrap for some food while the male perches on the edge watching.
Both now trying to feed on scraps.
Something got brought in what's that big thing on the slate scrape?
And he dropped it over playing with it lmao
Big girl asleep with head in the corner, little man perches on ledge at 11.41 ...
https://youtu.be/dqYcF4YXwSU?si=x21caQTqDcPN404Q
Wendy, that link appears to go to Ospreys at least that's what I get.
Yes ospreys for me too
Still an empty platform
Sorry ... hopefully got it right now
https://youtu.be/JM0jTBCT9EQ?si=SMz9_0lYMB1OOE0H
Big girl is sleeping on the slate scrape, no sign of little man! Just striking 10
Just noticed that what appears to be the remains of leg of a presumably eaten bird, which has a ring / identification tag on it. Would that ring be collected at some point and returned to the contact details on the ring? Interested what the bird was and the origin of the ring. Also what do you say 'bird eaten by peregrine falcon(s)?'!!
Last year someone from a pigeon organisation requested details of the rings and the team said maybe when they cleaned the nest but didn't notice anything else stated after nest cleaning. I think it's sad that people lose their birds and presumably never find out what happened. I know it's nature but would be nice to work with the poor people who sacrificed their pigeons.
Last St Albans egg has hatched. Parent feeding all three chicks currently. I need a heart emoji here really.
Such a wonderful outcome following destruction of first clutch, here is footage of early feed...https://youtu.be/uvcEIw1mI_U
11.00 and no-one home!
I live in the Osmaston triangle and looking towards town have been able to see three flying together...about five minutes ago 🙂
And still noone home
Haven't seen any of them today, I miss them already.
Me too - I keep checking in! Perhaps they've finally flown the nest. It's been wonderful (and nail biting) to watch!
I so wish there was a like button for these comments they are so true I have been popping in all day as I do everyday to see no food or no bird hehe can't wait for next year already lol ty project team and everyone for the daily chit chats and Wendy for the youtube videos thankyou all the way from sunny skeggy bit originally from Derby
Thanks Nattalie, gives me great pleasure to record & share footage with you all, also promotes this great nest site with a growing band of You Tube followers! Definitely sad not to see either of them visiting today!
The juvenile female flew in about 7:20 pm. There was a lot of noise, but when I looked, no one was home - she had landed on the top of Cam1. After a couple of minutes she jumped down onto the platform and, within another minute or two, started screaming!
Guessed that was her ... https://youtu.be/RRjTQCrpY3c
Thanks Graham
And gone!
I think she's in now whooo
Can see her sleeping in slate scrape with her head tucked into corner as she likes to!
Missy is perched sleeping now. No going to be long until she joins her brother, and leaves...
*not
She's gone.
No ones home !
And still noone home
The juvenile female was present on the platform at 12:20 pm, sat on the edge and doing plenty of screaming.
Here she is ...
https://youtu.be/XgUe0NCkv0Q
Still there, still screeching ... wonder how long parents will feed her on the scrape, she's supposed to be learning how to catch prey, take a prey pass in flight!
And she's here again now
4:55 pm - The juvenile male has just flown onto the nesting platform. His big sister has been on the nesting platform for well over four hours now.
What a treat to see the both of them today.
Just the juvenile female on the platform. Asleep, on her front as usual for her.
As soon as I post that, shes up and preening.
And she flies off 😂
Juvie on slate scrape shouting for food presumably18.55
Juvenile female on her front in the corner
She's still there perched on shingle slate ledge ... did anyone see if prey was brought in for her?
^^^ scrape
She’s asleep on her front, as she does.
She's spotted an adult an adult - presumably perched somewhere higher up by her behaviour - as it's triggered a bout of loud screaming. I don't think she's been fed since she arrived back on the platform about eight hours ago.
Yes I saw her feeding about an hour or 2 ago the adult bought a small food which the youngster snatched off her and went on the far end scrape to eat it herself. this was after a long period of screeching and a short fly around I think both birds came to the scrape together
Good news, thanks.
Have just seen her perched about midway between scrapes and a prey item on cam#1 scrape which still looks fairly substantial
Both on platform. Have eaten.
And both just left...
Thank you everyone for these updates - even if I don’t manage to see them myself it’s great to hear they are doing well 😁
I can see a tail in bottom left of cam#2, is it one of our juvies asleep?
Hi Wendy. I see what you mean; however, there's no pale tips to the feathers, so I actually think it's the remains of a previous meal. To support my case, the clump of feathers is being visited regularly by flies.
I've been dipping in and out all day and no sign of anyone at home. Just before 4:00 pm, there was suddenly a lot of screaming and some other odd sounds. I think one of the young peregrines has landed on the top of Cam1, or somewhere very nearby. I can hear the sounds of the feet moving about, as well as all the screaming; however, no one is home on the platform itself.
Ones on the scrape ledge now 🙂
One of the siblings is back (yay), just can’t tell which one.
4.50 pm youngster now feeding on the food from the bottom left Cam 2. Looks like a blackbird or a starling maybe.
4:50 pm - Yes, that's the juvenile female. She has sharper pale fringing to the tips of the inner secondary feathers and scapular feathers; she also has a more strongly barred tail. It looks like she's tucking into the remains of a bird that was delivered to the platform sometime earlier.
Yes, exactly those two species went through my mind too. It briefly looked very like a Starling, possibly a young bird.
While the juvenile female was on the platform, I could hear the juvenile male screaming somewhere nearby.
Just watching the St Alban's chicks having a feed and it's hard to image now that ours were ever that small they grow so fast
Our female juvie self feeding, plucking prey very adeptly ...
https://youtu.be/L3lX5wJO_iY?si=MQY2D87HDngJ80vx
Agree Jules, they grow so fast that our brains have a hard time processing the fact, here is footage of a feed at 13.31 ... https://youtu.be/bOi_kr1lHac?si=0rS81fByUnK8yYXz
Thanks Graham, I do remember seeing the pile of feathers ... so thundery hot here I could scarcely think straight!
Both the male and female juveniles were present on the nesting platform when I checked at 8:45 pm. The male was nibbling on a few food scraps left by the female.
Boy sat on slate edge calling.
Sounds like boy, but looks like girl...
Think it's our big girl on scrape ledge just now screeching for food
9:45 am - The juvenile female was stood on the edge of the nesting platform having a scream.
Little ones having a mid morning nap !
Now up and screeching ...
https://youtu.be/Aw4j4srOnLQ?si=W-5Rdu6fQkuUBunL
13.50 and quietly perched on ledge cam #1, did she get any food delivered?
No food delivered since 9:45 am, which is when I strated keeping an eye on her. From her behaviour, she saw an adult perched somewhere above her head - which triggered a long bout of loud screaming - but I don't think it resulted in a Just Eats delivery.
Looks like afternoon nap now !
I've been listening to the audio since this morning, but only regularly dipping in and out of the cameras to watch for activity. To my surprise, at 4:45 pm the juvenile female was eating a fresh meal. An adult must have dropped off the food and then left, without the juvenile getting excited and screaming (or I would have heard it all happening through my headphones).
After spending at least eight hours on the platform today, the juvenile female flew off at 5:40 pm, having eaten as small-ish meal.
I've just seen all the feathers but missed the meal ... if no sound from her, which is so hard to believe, maybe you cam #1 lost transmission
Both there now, around 8:10 pm
I see one on cam #2 @ 20.35
Juvenile female asleep in her corner
I think we know who this is at 21.30, recognise the dulcet tones 😄
https://youtu.be/YgRdEiNWGgg?si=ll9boSte9TtI161P
Just posted some footage above
Female chick on scrape at 3:59 seen briefly then she flew off.
First time I have seen her fly.
I don't know why but I find they look so silly when they face towards the camera, makes me giggle every time I see it.
One of the adults is back
The siblings are there now!
Only the young female now
Me too just now I seen her fly off just like the adults now
Our female juvie was having a good time self-feeding on the scrape and perching on ledge at 20.45
https://youtu.be/OzXOLzc5j5Q
Laying down in corner of slate now.
Her favourite position
Yes, it is. Think until she learns to sleep perched all of the time she will continue coming back each evening. Nest is empty. She left earlier than usual this morning.
Looks like someone had a feed this morning .
Think that is all leftover from yesterday, doesn't look fresh
4:30 pm - No one at home of the nesting platform, but I can hear from somewhere nearby, one of the juveniles screaming out for a food delivery.
Haven't seen any signs all day and still none, hope they've not gone for good😥
Me too !
Looks like the little lady is back (or one of the young at least)!
Didn’t seem like they were back to stay this time, flew off only a couple minutes later…
Youngster back at 10.15pm think its the female
Yes, she's only just come back to the nesting platform. Presumably she'll stay for the night now. I've noticed the last few days she seems to be spending more time sleeping stood on the edge of the platform. However, when I checked on her well after dark yesterday, although she was stood on the edge, it was clear that she was still observing.
She's moved to the other end of the platform and close to Cam1. The better lighting confirms that it is indeed the juvenile female. Although it's dark now, she's sat on the edge of the platform, watching the street lit area below.
Both juveniles on edge preening.
Lovely to see them both on the platform.
Just one now
And now it's gone
Gone
An adult on platform.
Sweet, one of the juveniles is back
Juvie perched on scrape ledge now ... female?
https://youtu.be/yBbuJzypqd0?si=aYqzxbpTU1DYDy8S
Was watching for a while. Think it was the boy...
Noone home atm
Still can't like your videos Wendy 😞 but still loving them. This is my first year watching and it has been brilliant 🙂
Empty nest tonight.
Oh hello little one
And gone again I think it was lil man was sat wings a lil open catching them early morning rays
Haven’t seen any since yesterday. Maybe I’m unlucky. I wonder… do the adults ever come back now that the juveniles are independent? Or the youngsters themselves?
No one home again ....
And still noone home
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