Over the past few months I managed to secure funds to extend the rooftop safety rail beyond the nest box. That allowed me to remove the old box, which was about 8 years old and needed replacing. We are in the process of building a new one. This will have two sides and a pitched roof. I have six 20kg bags of pea shingle ready and we are going to move at least two of the cameras next week. However...
Top right of the photo
They remained on the side of the building for at least 5 hours.
I borrowed a Canon camera from a member of the public who was hoping to do some filming at the rear of the college. Quid pro quo and all that. He's going to share the files via Google Drive as they were shot in raw. I will add them once I receive them. The photos above were taken with a basic Nikon and a 50mm lens. I borrowed that from the theatre manager!
The problem I now have is, do we have time to complete the construction and installation of the new box? I have not seen the Peregrines together in flight, but they seem happy enough in one another's company. A lot of dining has been taking place near the nest box and we also have to have repairs carried out to the small platform near the nest. I hope the birds aren't so far ahead in their courtship that they are likely to nest. Is that unprecedented? I notice that the Sheffield birds seem to be paired. At least I don't have a shrubbery to deal with! I might have to put back the old box at this rate!
YouTube link to Camera 1
YouTube link to Camera 2
YouTube link to Camera 3
There is also a Twitter account
THIS YEAR'S DATA:
Egg #1 laid 17-03-20 at 23:34:04
Egg #2 laid 20-03-20 at 09:43:51
Egg #3 laid 22-03-20 at 21:33:10
First chick hatched 30-04-20 at 07-41
Second chick hatched 30-04-20 at 11-00 approx
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
Just thought to lookin here,my goodness how they have grown,just snapped them scampering off.
Time for an update. I was unable to get the youngsters ringed this year as my BTO ringer was stranded in North Wales and unable to attend. Fortunately, we have one Falcon and one Tiercel, so it is possible to tell them apart for now. I believe that both of them have fledged and I have seen them on different parts of the roof. Here are some screen caps from this morning. I 'think' this is the juvenile Tiercel.
"I'm a dragon!"
Thanks, Paul, good to hear they are well. Nice full crop on the one in your picture.
Kind regards, Ann
Yesterday I managed to get a photo of the two youngsters together on the back of the roof. It was taken from a long way down, but you can see both of them. This is the South corner of the building, the nest box being near the West corner. I also managed a few reasonable in flight shots of the adults. I have yet to see the youngsters in the air first hand.
A few in flight shots of the adult Falcon:
And what I believe is the juvenile Falcon on her favourite new perch
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.