Despite there being no evidence as yet that our pair of Peregrine Falcons have discovered the new nest box we’ve constructed, there are nevertheless positive signs our birds are not abandoning the cathedral site.
On most nights we have been seeing the female roosting on the crossbar of the old platform (we removed the collapsing base earlier this month).
Most positively, keen webcam watcher, Wendy Bartter, captured the clip below of the pair mating on 15th of March. These moments are inevitably brief and infrequently seen, and even less frequently captured on film.
And HERE are a few other mating sequences from past years on our own YouTube channel.
We can only hope that the urge to egg lay will drive our birds to look for suitable sites somewhere else on the Cathedral Tower. We know they’re really aren’t any, back in 2006 that was the whole rationale for us constructing an egg laying platform for them to use. It was installed on 5th April 2006.
It took them a couple of weeks to find it in that first year, and eggs were laid there around 21st April. The rest as they say is history and Derby Cathedral has seen 57 Peregrine chicks fledge from the tower since that time.
We also know that a pair of peregrines at St Albans, whose eggs were unlawfully trampled on by a worker on the roof in 2025, started laying a second clutch on 4th May.
So, we've not given up hope by any means, and you shouldn't either! We know that, as at 20th March, one of the adults is still roosting for part of most nights on the old platform, visible in Nest Cam 2. Also on Friday 20th March we captured this clp of the falcon on the old nest patform who flies off to greet the male who is calling with food above her. He lands on the platform with a processed prey item, which she then proceeds to consume with gusto. All still very promising.
So keep watching and do continue leaving your interesting comments for us all to see.
BTW: Should you wish to, you can add a name or pseudonym when you post a comment here. Instead of posting just as 'Anonymous', you may wish to select 'Name/URL' and pop in a moniker of your choice. That way we'll all know if you're a regular commenter, or a first time visitor to the comments section and people can address the right person if more than question is posed. It's your choice!
228 comments:
1 – 200 of 228 Newer› Newest»Finger crossed for this beautiful pair and thankyou guys for all your hard work put into this and all the regular watchers too have a lovely day 😊
Hoping the urge to find a nest site happens soon, now that mating's been observed. One bird (female?) does spend a lot of time perched at certain times of the day/evening.
Oh, so that's how you add a name... I assumed I needed to create an account with blogger. Thanks for pointing it out. 🙂
Last night our peregrine was perched still around midnight (the last I checked).
Thanks Nick for update, yes it is a nail biting time,and am sure we all truly hope they will take the plunge and use the new box SOOOON. Jo well done,,as Nick says it so easy to use a name .....,when you know how Ha!!!
Glad you sorted it, Jo. The system actually recognises if you're logged in with your Google account, and offers you that, rather than requiring a specific Blogger account. I think I've got four Google accounts, and it's not always convenient -or desirable- to use the right one. So this is a good solution.
Second egg at Sheffield at 12.23!
Thank you both.
I was about to comment we have one home but it flew away before I could hit send… three or 4 minutes ago. 😑
Had been there for about an hour, will no doubt be back soon ... unless they discover the box 🤞🤞
You're right, it's back!
Quiet day again until female came in this evening around five-ish, out & back a couple of times but has left early and not returned yet!
But she flew at 19.09 and not returned yet!
Still not home tonight
Maybe found somewhere more comfortable to roost!
I woke at 01:45 only to find what looks like the female back roosting under Cam2.
Are there any other viable nesting sites at other places around the city area for peregrines? I rarely visit the city centre except to change buses at the bus station, and I wondered suddenly about the various closed multi storey car parks the council has abandoned, as nesting sites.
Hi Anonymous. There are one or two sites around the city centre we know of where peregrines have occasionaly been spotted, but as far as we know, none have attempted to nest. The key requirements are a suitable nest site *and* no disturbance.
None of the partners in our project - and especially the Cathedral - want to see them abandon that building. This is why we have gone to the lengths we have done of encouraging these wild birds to stay around, and hopefully nest in 2026.Time will tell if those actions have worked.
Adult back on the platform around 15:30 - can only see its feet so have no idea if its the male or the female!
One having a meal now
Hi Jules: I've just uploaded a short clip of this feed to the blog post.
Great to see him bring her food I only saw it when she was tucking in rather keenly
I think it's worth noting as well that there are many established pairs and nests where there has been no eggs laid yet - Norwich , Salisbury, Ely, Worcester and St Alban's to name a few (they all have live stream apart from Ely who's not gone live yet)
We have one home having a snack (feathers flying everywhere 😆).
Is it possible to tempt them to the new nest box with food or in any way
Hi Carol. We did place a couple of prey items close to the front of the 'landing platform' at the beginning of March which should be visible from above. Both will be pretty manky by now, but it was less to actually feed them, than to make them consider that this was already a place they had used to stash prey, and thus be more acceptable to them.
My view now is that we are best to stay away from the tower top, lest we are perceived as a potential danger and cause them to stay away. There are plenty of things I'd still like to do up there but if they fail to breed this year I would always be wondering if it might have been my fault for disturbing them when I needn't have done. Hope this makes sense.
Thanks for the info. Fingers crossed they find the box soon
I look away and they leave!
Another prey gift at 18.14, female thoroughly enjoys it ...
https://youtu.be/T0HkV3HWw6c
It’s back~
That is our very well fed female having a snooze just now
She is well tucked in, still amazes me that they can safely sleep whilst perched on a narrow strip of wood, doesn't look at all comfy!
One at home looking about
She's been roosting there the whole night by the look of things.
I can absolutely confirm that we do not wish to see the peregrines abandon the Cathedral, the staff team are remaining hopeful they will find and use the new nesting platform.
Wasn't there at 5.30 am when I checked
Especially when they’re standing on one leg only.
Am finding the webcams aren't working on Firefox this morning, whereas they're find on Chrome. No idea why, sorry.
Someone's just arrived on Cam 2 at 17:30
Apart from the early morning appearance only seen these two very brief visits between 09.00 and 15.00 ...
https://youtu.be/Lu7m-dEG39g
But I see that one is now on ledge at 17.34!!
The bird that's perched on the bar at the moment seems to be looking upwards quite a lot. Often towards the camera.
Didn"t see female come back in but she has just flown off again
It flew off quite soon after
Perched at midnight
Why couldn't a new base of been.placed at the old site
"have" been placed, not of.
It’s a sensible question, which we have addressed in an earlier blog post. Please see https://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/2026/02/time-for-change.html
Just seen a peregrine perched next to the new box.
One now home (cam2). Please don't fly off immediately as I type this.
Just heard some high pitched calling and footsteps that sounded like the bird was on the new nest box. Flown off from old front bar now.
Where were you when you saw it?
Do hope they have found it!!
Still faithful to the original site ... activity between noon and 18.00 today
https://youtu.be/Bv0zDAzy_EM
Hi Andrew. That sounds fantastic. Presumably this wasn’t via the webcams, but observed from the street below?
I wonder if you could just elaborate on where exactly it was? On the grotesque/gargoyle immediately beneath where the box is presumably? Or maybe somewhere else?
It was on the top of the crennelation next to the box. I have a photo if you can advise how I can pass that to you.
I was sat on one of the benches by the river outside the Silk Mill.
Andrew: send a photo to peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk and it will reach us albeit indirectly. Thanks.
Andrew, we’d love to see your photo/s. You can either email them to peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk and they’ll be forwarded on to one of the Project Team, or, if you use social media you could use Twitter to reach me @derbyperegrines, or use the same account name on Bluesky. We’re also on Facebook though that account is not very active. If you let me know in the comments which route you use, we’ll look out for it. Cheers, Nick
Thanks Nick, I have sent an email.
any update???
Heard scrabbling after 10, and a knock around 11, both from cam1.
Wondered if they're landing on top, but nesting below ... among the supporting meccano.
Did the reported photos arrive ?
Thanks Andrew. It’s just been forwarded to me, but I’ll need to get them onto a PC before I can view it properly. Nick.
There are people talking up there, so that is what probably putting them off, it sounds like workmen putting up or taking down scaffolding
Still people with loud voices and some banging about near top camera. Hope whatever they're doing is finished soon so's the birds can maybe feel safe enough to use new nest platform. 14.25hrs
It's a good job they haven't started using the new box yet, all that noise would make them abandon it, haven't the workmen been told about the box ?
Can hear a peregrine chupping on cam #1 and the other on the ledge on cam #2 was looking up! Still going on
Quiet now after bird flew from ledge
Apparently some vital work to the flagpole was occurring and we are assured it was a one-off. Had the birds been inside the box it might have been a problem but since they have still yet to find it let alone enter it, we don't think any harm has been done. The birds are used to people being on the top and even after a long abseil and work on the platform, they return soon after as if nothing had happened.
Thanks for letting us know
Early bird this morning enjoying the view
I'd love to know where they go all day before coming back in around five or six in the evening!
Same here... imagine attaching a GoPro Lit on their back, like a rider, lol.
Also one's home (for now).
One at home little bit windy today
And gone !
Cam 1 has been jiggling about a bit and there's some scraping sounds...wonder if a bird's perching up there? 12.19hrs
Cheeky Wood Pigeon this morning ...
https://youtu.be/IfeRa5LgWlw
Certainly would be good from our point of view Jo but not sure Peregrines would agree!!
There are many noises that are fooling us Shirley, the wind, rain and the cord on the flagpole, feel sure that we'll hear the Peregrine's 'dulcet tones' over all that though!
Perched at 1609
Norwich have their first egg this afternoon 🙂
Only a few visits today to original site, no bonding or prey gifts! Very wet & windy day!
4am, and adult back on Cam 2
Around 06:03 one was home but flew off shortly after. Then at 06:22 I saw it was back with breakfast. 😌 It only stayed for a short while again though...
Norwich 1st yesterday pm
Wakefield 3rd dark o'clock
Chichester 1st just before 6am
The floodgates are open, I think Derby are going to lay elsewhere - maybe already have.
With a brand new female in late December (see past blog posts), we don't even know that this pair will / would have actually laid viable eggs this season at all. That situation has happened before, though it's still early days in Derby yet, and we've not had any reports of them being seen on structure elsewhere. It is, however, frustrating that we've seen no evidence of activity in the new box, even from just the male.
That's my feelings as well, I would love them to prove us wrong, but as each day passes it's getting very doubtful, they haven't even entered the new box yet
One is home for now.
And just left…
DW just tried to publish a comment on the wrong blog page as follows:
"Two eggs laid in Woking https://www.wokingperegrines.com/"
Not sure when they arrived but one is back!
Not been there long Jo
Just flown
You can see the little feet of one, lol.
Gone now. 🥲
Female came in at 11.27 then male brough in prey for her at 12.11, just doing footage now!
Prey gift and a hailstorm ...
https://youtu.be/sMS0t5h5b9k?si=xCzYLAjKKNann_ib
4:15pm peregrine sat on top of camera 2. Seen from amen alley.
I don't live far from Derby and we've had snow, sleet , hail , rain , wind and sunshine today 😱
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWUOjL-DS2W/?igsh=dnBsZWIydHhhZ3hm
Photo of said peregrine.
Peregrine back on cam 2...17.11
Sorry meant 18.11
Great pic thanks Andrew
The full monty then Jo!
Seen her/him capture a pigeon near the river at 11.14am and head in the direction of the upas towards cardinal square
Wonder if it was part of that prey he shared with the female ?
Some action from 16.48 ... Is it the male trying to attract female or vie-versa??
https://youtu.be/6fkt6RViw-8
It might well have been, was some sight. I just don’t see them nesting on the cathedral this season. Hope I’m wrong though. Probably just a hunting spot. They would have been on the top nest by now, don’t know what’s putting them off, potentially the flag as it’s very loud but who knows :(
A glitch showed me posting as Anonymous!
Sadly i think the same 😢
Salisbury have an egg this morning
I tink the new site is wonderful it O do wonder if the peregrines are going to be put off by the picture of a peregrines eye at the back. Could they interpret that as another bird maybe!
I thought this said Sainsbury's when I first saw it. :)
Hi for this year i think you shud av made a make shift sturdy new floor on the original box
Then after the chicks ad fled change the complete nest box for all new one in the same place
Wild life dont like change
Hope you all understand
Ooooh, interesting...there's lots of bits of gravel on the front board of the new nest platform! Surely that can't be the wind? Something's been up there...
Beat me to it!. From the colouring of the gravel I'd say nearest to camera is undisturbed, far corner might have beginnings of a bowl
Yes. Something was up there today. But I'm afraid it was just me!
I took a brief opportunity to add some more pea gravel to block out light that was entering from a small gap in the back, and to see if there was anything loose that I could tie down. (There wasn't) Whilst there, I scattered a handful of gravel across the platform. Sorry if that got a few of you wondering. Interestingly, I'm back down in the tower and can hear one of our birds callingly loudly, despite not being noticed at all whilst I was up there. Am wondering what's setting them off.
Both busy eating tea !
You Tease, you !
At 17:10, both adults were on the tower. The falcon is on the old nest platform on the east side of the tower, whilst the tiercel flew out from somewhere, calling loudly, and is now resting on the west face of the tower, just below the bell tower louvres, from where I'm currently viewing him. They each seem quite at ease in their respective positions, and have been around and about the tower for at least an hour, at one time seen together on cam 2 , and later with occasional high-pitched 'chupping' calls coming from some unspecified location.
Still there. 😊
Just flew off
Both back with prey
Just 1 now eating prey
Oh man I got so excited about the moved gravel just now! Still, thank you NickM for climbing all those steps to tend to the box.
Here's the footage I captured on my tablet at that time, hope you can hear the bird chupping near to the beginning ... https://youtu.be/bTBwuYGaSNE
More footage from earlier when the male flew in with prey at 15.06 but didn't share any with the female, she stayed close but to no avail ...
https://youtu.be/4fVoCvG7Ptc
Cam #2 a bit wafty at times as Nick M was doing adjustments!!
One home sleeping
Here is footage of the male bringing prey for his female at 17.22 ...
https://youtu.be/INin7PcNM5I
Both of above postings are from me, same glitch as yesterday!!
So is this the male or female perched?
It is the female
Thank you, i can not tell them apart, but she is lovely
Gone around 22:21. Hope she returns…
Has there been some activity in the nest box. I noticed the gravel has been disturbed
Yes, I wonder what did that ... do pigeons scrabble in gravel, I know they're not big nest builders.
Re-posting this info from yesterday ...
NickM (Project Team)
Yes. Something was up there today. But I'm afraid it was just me!
I took a brief opportunity to add some more pea gravel to block out light that was entering from a small gap in the back, and to see if there was anything loose that I could tie down. (There wasn't) Whilst there, I scattered a handful of gravel across the platform. Sorry if that got a few of you wondering.
I was just wondering why scatter some gravel over the platform? Would that somehow attract them to the box ?
Is there a perch for them at the outside of the box? They like to look out, if they are sitting on the eggs at the back they can’t see much, a bit ‘boxed in’.
I was thinking the same, they like to have an open nest usually. Half way down cliffs etc and in this case half way down the cathedral with a view. Is there no way a board can be installed where the old nesting site was?
Food delivery just now~
Aaand she took off.
Here is the delivery of prey by the male to his female, becoming quite the daily occurrence, shame they're still so committed to the original site!!
https://youtu.be/ULKJMenHs6k
Yes, we incorporated a projecting pole as a potential perch, and a cross bar close to the front for young to grip on to flap their wings.
The bird that's been on the old perch for a while is looking up and opening the beak wide, over and over. I turned up the sound on cam 1 but couldn't hear anything but I guess it's calling. 18.00hrs
Another food delivery a minute ago. 😮
Hopefully, this older blog post will explain the situation. https://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/2026/02/time-for-change.html
The current frame simply isn’t capable of accepting a replacement base along with its load of gravel, potentially weighing 50kg or more.
Here's the second prey brought in by the male ,,, just as well we don't have sound on cam #2, she's been screeching for ages!! After she flies with her food, a bird, likely the male, flies in to perch on crenellations, there til 18.25
https://youtu.be/5K3sE3HCKcI
One currently perched on Cam2
And shes gone
Both at home sharing breakfast
Would love to know from experts whether the picture of a peregrine on the inside back of the new box could deter the peregrines. I have heard a picture of a Birds Eye glaring is enough to deter some birds. Great work!
There could be a couple of reasons they've not used the box, 1 it is completely new to them (obviously )and 2 they are being asked to go from an open platform to an enclosed box, both of which they should get used to given time.
It doesn't really matter, except for lack of young birds this year because that box will be removed later this year anyway, maybe better they don't use that one only for it to disappear too.
Been watching our peregrine for half hour now, dunno when they've arrived... I wish I knew how to tell them apart, maybe a funny feather here, a different pattern there, lol.
Just left. (ish)
One back at home
Another food delivery, hehe. At least he’s staying a bit longer this time.
Did he leave with the leftovers? I look away one moment and I only see a flash of wings. 😅
If they had repaired the old one they would probably sitting on eggs by now
Our year 3 class has been tuning in daily to check on the peregrine. We are so excited to spot the birds and look forward to following their journey.
Welcome Sandpiper class, good to know you are following the progress of our Peregrine pair, all fingers crossed that we see them adopting the new box and laying some eggs¬
Not sure he did get any, footage below!
Here's the footage of the food delivery at 14.41 ...
https://youtu.be/7KcW1b-Kj6w
One at home having forty winks
Has someone swept the few pebbles away from the platform they've disappeared?
Yes - we watched the wind blow them away!
Hi Jules, I got quite excited thinking that a Peregrine had been in the box, what a letdown!!
a bit of speedy footage showing a couple of examples ... https://youtu.be/LHRYqsfT4sA
One back home..busy preening
I'm afraid that after 10 years in use, the old platform was well beyond repair and certainly no longer capable of taking a weight of >50kg of nest material. Nor was it replaceable in time for the 2026 breeding season, as detailed in detail in an earlier post in which we explain that we are attempting to find an alternative solution which will not involve complex abseils, but will be easier to maintain and replace in the long term. See https://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/2026/02/time-for-change.html
One back at home again
Saw one who had a very wet head!
Hello Sandpiper Class, what a great name for your class! I am really pleased that you are enjoying finding out about the peregrines. There is always so much to learn. My Year 1 class have also been checking in on them. You might want to take a look at some of the online learning resources on the that can be found here
https://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/p/schools.html and here https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/peregrine-resources
Let us know what you see on the webcams.
During a visit to Derby yesterday morning I had good views of both peregrines on the tower. The female was perched on one of the water spouts at the top where she has some cached prey. She then moved over on to one of the grotesques, so only a fairly short distance from the new box, albeit slightly below. The male was perched one of the grotesques around the other side of the tower, before he took off and made a couple of circuits, calling loudly. Fingers crossed they pluck up the courage to investigate the box more closely!
Great to hear your update Helen, still think there is time for this pair to adopt the new box, they must be getting quite desperate to lay eggs!
Ha, she really came in hot to take that food from him, huh? 🤭
She was super keen to get the prey alright, a bit later delivery than previously partly due to us changing our clocks!!
https://youtu.be/d4uOYuJpQCk
One home on Cam 2 tonight c.10pm.
Still perched in same place at 23.23
Still there 3am
She's still here now
What will happen if they don't go to the new box. They will need to lay the eggs somewhere, has anyone seen them visiting an alternative nest.
Looking at other peregrine nest that are watchable I have not seen any that are enclosed. Unless I have missed any they are all open to the elements. Would being enclosed not be off putting. Just an observation
I also think the constant sound of the flapping flagpole rope must be putting them off
I am fairly positive that they aren't visiting any alternative sites, as they are still spending most of their time at the cathedral. When I visited at the weekend the birds were higher up on the tower and wouldn't have been visible on the webcams.
Check Kettering I don't think you could get more enclosed
Also Ely cathedral, just laid first egg
We have noticed that the pair are coming to rest on the second camera shot. have they tried to get into the new nest yet ?
Looking forward to watching them lay their eggs from our classroom in Leeds.
Have you seen your local ones in Leeds have three eggs (I think)
At home enjoying the view
Hi Sandpiper class in Leeds: it's great that you are keeping an eye on our peregrines though it is quite possible now that they will not use the new nest box especially made for them and instead have a year off. This does happen at other nest sites occasionally and our female is new to Derby and almost certainly a young bird that has never laid an egg before. Meanwhile there are many other peregrine nest web cams to watch and follow. Search for 'peregrine web cams UK' and you'll find many to choose from.
Link to the aforementioned and very enclosed nest at Kettering:
https://hawkandowltrust.org/live-cameras/kettering-peregrines
I agree.. I've been thinking that too. Very noisy.
Can whatever is causing the noise on the flagpole be tied down or against to lessen the noise.. Just wondering.
It's highly unlikely the flagpole rope noises will be having any effect. The very loud cathedral bells are just inside the tower by the old platform and the birds have always totally ignored them even when the ringers are practicing for hours at a time.
The cathedral bells aren't slapping around sounding like an intruder.
And their first egg was laid today
Just noticed we have one home.
It's still there ...looks a little blustery
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