For the Birdwatchers (Webcam on Nottingham University Roof)

[NannyFerret]

http://www.ntu.ac.uk/ecoweb/biodiversity/falcons/index.html?campaignid=falcons

[Phil]

It looks blinking cold, not ideal nest sitting weather.

[NannyFerret]

I don't think I would like to be up there.
Her mate flew in this morning, made a racket when he did too.

[JohnP]

Makes one wonder if they will succeed in rearing any young this so called spring.

[NannyFerret]

I hope so. I usually watch the Australian Eagle cams and my bird owning friend passed this link on to me.

Here's what he said when I asked hiim about their survival in this weather.

"It looks dramatic, but she has been a great and successful parent over many years with a very attentive male. I don't think she is brooding yet; possibly awaiting another egg."

[Guest DaveW]

I'm about 4 miles away from them and on even higher ground than Nottingham, so much higher up than they are and it is cold here at the moment with what's left of the snow taking a long time melting. Spring is a little late this year!  It's a case of survival of the fittest since bad winters are natures way of thinning out the weaklings of the bird population.

[Guest DaveW]

Evidently three eggs have been laid now:-

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-21943065

[NannyFerret]

According to the blog, they won't start brooding properly until all the eggs have been laid, so maybe this is the last one. 

Hope it does get a bit milder for them though.

[JohnP]

I've been following these Peregrines ever since Tina posted the link, I'm not sure how many of the three eggs have hatched since yesterday but there is at least one chick this morning.

[Terry]

Just see it, fascinating watching

[JohnP]

I've been following these Peregrines ever since Tina posted the link, I'm not sure how many of the three eggs have hatched since yesterday but there is at least one chick this morning.

 

Update... two chicks.

[NannyFerret]

I saw mum or dad shifting around a lot last night. I wondered if anything was happening.
I have to go and have a look now Housework and pegging washing will just have to wait a bit longer) lol

[NannyFerret]

The third egg was laid quite a bit later so will probably take longer to hatch. Hope they all make it.

[JohnP]

I just watched the chicks being fed on what looked like Feral Pigeon.

[NannyFerret]

I saw a chick this morning and it was being when tucked under to keep it warm

It's amazing to share a little of their lives with them, isn't it?

[JohnP]

I saw a chick this morning and it was being when tucked under to keep it warm

It's amazing to share a little of their lives with them, isn't it?

 

Tina... thank you for posting the link to the Peregrines, I have visited the site several times every day since, I will continue to do so until the chicks hopefully fledge sometime in June.

[NannyFerret]

Same here. I have watched the Eagle cams in Australia etc. over the last three or four years.

It lovely to see the chic's growing and taking their fist flight.

This one is closer to home and such a good webcam too.

[NannyFerret]

There is another hatchling, by the looks of it. Mum just wriggling around and shuffling the chics under her.

[JohnP]

There is another hatchling, by the looks of it. Mum just wriggling around and shuffling the chics under her.

Tina.. you beat me to it, I was just about to say the same.

 

It's interesting that birds lay their eggs at intervals over a few days and don't starting sitting on them until they have finished laying, that way they all hatch about the same time. These three chicks have all hatched in less than 24 hours. It will be interesting to see which one becomes dominant, that usually happens with raptors, the weakest usually gets eaten by the strongest... but not always.

[NannyFerret]

I hope they all make it. Some one was talking about more snow this morning while we were on the bus. I hope not and these three get a good chance of surviving.

I didn't see it last year but the rain was so bad that only one chick made it.

[JohnP]

I hope they all make it. Some one was talking about more snow this morning while we were on the bus. I hope not and these three get a good chance of surviving.

I didn't see it last year but the rain was so bad that only one chick made it.

 

I'll be very surprised if all three survive, as I said before a pecking order usually developes, I am certain one was getting more food than the other even when there were only two chicks... we will know in a couple of days. 

[NannyFerret]

There was a weakling in the three chicks that I was watching on one of the Australia webcams last year. Everyone was routing for him and he eventually made it through.

Fingers crossed for these three now.

[Terry]

Just watched the chicks being fed. Absolutely stunning to see close up. Tina as John said a massive thanks for posting the link

[JohnP]

If the weather is half decent in the morning I'm going to go to Symonds Yat near Ross-on-Wye, Peregrine Falcon nest on Yat Rock every year. I've no reason to think they won't be there this spring, it will be a binoculars/telescope viewing as it's not possible to get near enough for photographs unfortunately. I'll take my telescope just in case the RSPB guys are not there, I hope they are as they have much better telescopes than me.

[NannyFerret]

You are both welcome.

It was my bird owning friend who passed the link to me and I thought some of you who like bird photography or just watching them would enjoy as much as I do.

Edited April 29, 2013 by NannyFerret