Looking at the webcam there appear to be a large number of flies around the box - I presume that Peregrines are not tidy eaters!
Jeff that will probably just be bits of a prey carcas that is decomposing at the side of the nest site and attracting flies. I read an interesting article on the Derby Cathedral Peregrine site regarding pellets. Peregrine prey is usually too big to swallow whole so is broken up first, and often skulls, legs etc are not ingested, making the pellets less useful to those studying them than for example Owl pellets that contain whole skeletons. Cheers Rob
Jeff Clarke said
Fri Jun 13 6:41 PM, 2014
Looking at the webcam there appear to be a large number of flies around the box - I presume that Peregrines are not tidy eaters!
MJKeating said
Fri Jun 13 10:03 AM, 2014
steven burke wrote:
MJKeating wrote:
Empty box.....have they fledged?!
matt, they have not fledged yet, keep a close eye on the bottom of the screen. sure it wont be long now before they do fledge, maybe this weekend !
Thanks Steve! Unfortunately, the server in the office is very slow when streaming so can't stay on it that long. Just had a check and they are back in the spotlight! Will keep a close eye on them this weekend from my much faster laptop at home!
steven burke said
Fri Jun 13 8:58 AM, 2014
MJKeating wrote:
Empty box.....have they fledged?!
matt, they have not fledged yet, keep a close eye on the bottom of the screen. sure it wont be long now before they do fledge, maybe this weekend !
MJKeating said
Fri Jun 13 8:10 AM, 2014
Empty box.....have they fledged?!
steven burke said
Mon Jun 9 6:31 PM, 2014
Mike, both juveniles were having a feed on a small bird that the parents left them at around 12.45pm they were both taking it of each other which was quite funny at least, i think, another week before they fledge.
Mike Savage said
Mon Jun 9 3:27 PM, 2014
I missed the cam this morning but I only see one chick there now, with a very fine moustache! Does anyone know if the other chick has fledged?
Mike S
MJKeating said
Thu Jun 5 9:13 AM, 2014
Amazing to watch these young chicks develop. When can we expect them to fledge?
Ivan Ellison said
Wed May 28 6:24 AM, 2014
looked like a song thrush brought in at 0620 this morning.
MJKeating said
Wed May 21 2:20 PM, 2014
Thanks Steven. I wondered if that was the case...at least she has 2 healthy looking chicks up there! I keep going on the webcam to see her bring a kill back but I'm always too late!
Cheers Matt
steven burke said
Tue May 20 10:48 PM, 2014
MJKeating wrote:
Looking at the webcam (again!), does anyone know what the round ball type things are that are in the nest box? Also, has anyone seen what types of kill she is bringing into the nest at all?
matt, the round ball type things are unfortunately 2 of the unhatched eggs. most of the kills are feral pigeons, but there are several other smaller birds they bring in, blackbirds, starlings etc..
MJKeating said
Tue May 20 4:12 PM, 2014
Looking at the webcam (again!), does anyone know what the round ball type things are that are in the nest box? Also, has anyone seen what types of kill she is bringing into the nest at all?
MJKeating said
Fri May 9 8:32 AM, 2014
Amazing news to hear 2 chicks have been born! Should be some good views of the adults now with them hunting for food for the new little mouths!
Rob Smallwood said
Sun May 4 11:14 AM, 2014
Wow - from my office it looked bigger than a pigeon, especially if it was the female, but I am nearly a mile away from Town Hall. Thanks for clearing it up though.
steven burke said
Sat May 3 9:49 PM, 2014
Rob Smallwood wrote:
One bird, pobably the male, brought a huge prey item in last night, took it to Town Hall. Prey item looked nearly as big as the bird.
rob I was in albert square when the peregrine flew in with a kill at 5.55pm yesterday evening, it flew onto the town hall & plucked/eaten its kill, just before it landed though I managed to get several shots & on closer inspection of my pics it clearly showed the bird to have a metal ring on its right leg confirming that it is the adult female, the unfortunate bird in its talons was a feral pigeon. 30 mins later the male sub-adult peregrine circled above.
Rob Smallwood said
Sat May 3 9:17 AM, 2014
One bird, pobably the male, brought a huge prey item in last night, took it to Town Hall. Prey item looked nearly as big as the bird.
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Mar 29 12:21 AM, 2014
Great pic. At my range I am happy to tell male from female by size!
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 27 5:10 PM, 2014
Rob Smallwood wrote:
My views are often distant and without the aid of optics - any tips on separating the adult and sub-adult males?
Take a look at Adrian Dancy's image of the second calendar year bird I've just published to the website galleries; should give you all the tips you need Rob
MJKeating said
Thu Mar 27 2:27 PM, 2014
Finally!!! I've seen the Peregrines!!!! Just been for a walk and was watching a male Goosander when one of the Peregrines screetched up to the nest box, landed briefly and took off and perched on another building. The other (female I think) then left the nest box and perched on the Cathedral! Amazing views and ace to see! They mustn't be hungry as there were plenty of pigeons there for the taking!
Chris Harper said
Wed Mar 26 7:04 PM, 2014
Single bird zooming around the cathedral at 10.15 this morning.
Dave Colton said
Wed Mar 26 5:34 PM, 2014
Cracking views of 1 bird feeding on webcam now 5:30pm
Rob Smallwood said
Wed Mar 26 3:52 PM, 2014
Agreed!
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Mar 26 1:30 PM, 2014
It is also a stipulation by the owners of the building which allow the nest box to be located on it, that their premises is not identified.
Worst kept secret or not though, asking for the location of, or indeed publicising the location of, any nest site (schedule one or otherwise) on a public forum isn't a good idea and the guidelines for such on this forum are quite clear I think
Rob Smallwood said
Wed Mar 26 1:11 PM, 2014
I understand the reluctance to publicise the building, although, rather like breeding Monties in Norfolk, it is one of the worst kept secrets in birding, and given that I can rarely walk past the site without bumping into someone with bins or camera, and the (presumed) security of the site itself it I sometimes wonder if it is necessary.
Before everyone shouts at me, I realise that were it to be publicised and were something to happen then none of us would forgive ourselves.
Ironically, today for the first time in ages that I have noticed there were workmen on the roof of the building in in hi vis jackets - presumably just a coincedence.
MJKeating said
Wed Mar 26 10:19 AM, 2014
Ivan Ellison wrote:
Due to the sch 1 status of these birds , the exact location is not divulged. it is enough that they are on webcam. If you read some of the previous posts you will find which area they tend to favour. The RSPB also set up telescopes from next month which are based in exchange square, you will get good views of the birds from there.
Hi Ivan,
I thought that would be the case but was worth asking! I can see Manchester Cathedral in the background so will try and work it from there! I only get a short period of time to have a look on lunch etc and have never been lucky enough to catch sight of one (as Rob Smallwood knows!!). Thanks for the heads up on the telescopes being set up next month...I'll keep my eye out!
Cheers
Ivan Ellison said
Wed Mar 26 8:59 AM, 2014
Due to the sch 1 status of these birds , the exact location is not divulged. it is enough that they are on webcam. If you read some of the previous posts you will find which area they tend to favour. The RSPB also set up telescopes from next month which are based in exchange square, you will get good views of the birds from there.
MJKeating said
Wed Mar 26 8:46 AM, 2014
Which building is the nest box on where the below webcam is? I'm still trying to catch sight of these birds!!
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/livenest
Thanks
Matt
Graham Smith said
Tue Mar 25 7:29 PM, 2014
Live cam up and running fem sat on nest
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 24 2:23 PM, 2014
The second calendar year bird currently hanging around is indeed one of last year's city centre brood; confirmed from its ring number.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 24th of March 2014 02:24:20 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Mon Mar 24 11:26 AM, 2014
My views are often distant and without the aid of optics - any tips on separating the adult and sub-adult males?
steven burke said
Sun Mar 23 8:33 PM, 2014
two lots of mating took place this aft/eve, sub-adult male was on a pigeon chase but don't know if it was successful or not, lost view and the adult male was on a mission to see off an over flying buzzard
Adrian Dancy said
Sun Mar 23 8:37 AM, 2014
Yesterday.
Early morning the sub-adult male made an attack on two nesting Carrion Crows. It then flew to the CIS building and from there made a gallant but unsuccessful attack on a pigeon at low level over Shudehill Bus station. It was later joined by the adults where on one occasion it circled at very close range above the female. The male later took off flying SE as far as far as the eye can see and similarly, but later, the female took off flying NE but not before inspecting the dedicated nest tray for a couple of minutes on the CIS building.
steven burke said
Fri Mar 21 8:05 PM, 2014
a bit of activity this afternoon with all 3 peregrines, I also witnessed some mating.
Phil Panton said
Fri Mar 21 8:25 AM, 2014
Regularly see a male from my 11th floor office window (ex ICL/Fujitsu building) at Wenlock Way, Gorton. Seems to quarter an area stretching from Eastlands to Hyde Road, especially around Ashburys station. Interesting to note that as the Peregrine has become more frequent, sightings of the pair of Kestrels have fallen.
Ollie Wright said
Thu Mar 20 7:21 PM, 2014
Two were flying around Town Hall Clock Tower this afternoon - pretty thrilling to see one of them zoom by at real speed.
-- Edited by Ollie Wright on Thursday 20th of March 2014 07:21:31 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Mar 20 1:57 PM, 2014
On Tuesday we watched one of the males interact in flight with the female before being robustly seen off by the other, both males were seen heading east at a great rate of knots!
Paul Risley said
Wed Mar 19 10:53 PM, 2014
Some good observations on these birds on this thread, there was an instance last year on one of the web cams of a youngster from the previous year bringing food to the nest, interestingly it was a male. while trying to find it I came across this from the Nottingham site on the link below http://ntufalcons.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/how-webcams-can-reveal-hidden-family-values-in-wildlife/
Adrian Dancy said
Wed Mar 19 7:45 PM, 2014
Mating took place this afternoon. It seems that the second male is still being tolerated.
Ashley Edwards said
Tue Mar 18 9:08 AM, 2014
Peregrine flying repeatedly up against the glass of the Hilton at 845am. Almost as if it wanted to perch but couldn't get purchase.
Adam Jones said
Wed Mar 12 1:04 PM, 2014
A juvenile Peregrine just gave me a great view, just a few feet above my head, as it chased a pigeon along Cross Street. (unsuccessfully)
Ivan Ellison said
Sat Mar 1 1:45 PM, 2014
This morning on way home from work, all 3 peregrines were around . The 2 males -adult and sub adult- went off together over the city and the female flew off over Salford on early morning hunts.
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Mar 1 9:09 AM, 2014
The female is spending more time around the traditional nest site. Yesterday both males were also in attendance - something has to give.....
Ollie Wright said
Tue Feb 18 5:47 PM, 2014
One landed right near the top of the Town Hall Clock Tower at about 11am today.
Karen Foulkes said
Thu Feb 13 6:16 PM, 2014
1620ish today
Two Peregrines were flying around the CIS tower, seen as the tram pulled into Victoria
Charles Farrell said
Mon Feb 10 10:46 PM, 2014
My local pair (in London) started mating last week.
Simon Gough said
Mon Feb 10 8:43 PM, 2014
Training for work in town, took a speculative look around the cathedral at lunchtime today. Lo and behold, a peregrine on the chimney of Chetham's School. I'm no expert on ID's but I would say it was male, it was the size of a healthy woodpigeon, so seems too small for a female. The back was slate grey with no hint of brown and it had a very clean white face contrasting with the 'moustache'. So I think it was an adult male. I know others below have seen a juvenile male, I don't know if it is straightforward to separate the adult from the juvenile on the plumage, but this one was a lovely blue grey as I said, I've seen brown juvenile peregrine before but is there a point where they show signs of both?
After a few minutes it flew off, so I count myself pretty lucky to be there in time to catch a nice view!
Michael Hood said
Tue Jan 21 10:55 PM, 2014
it will be interesting to see what happens with this juvenile male still around ...
In Bath last year (or the year before), the 1 year old juvenile was seen to help with incubating the eggs, keeping the new brood warm and helping with the feeding. Increases the chances of your genes getting through even if in a slightly different combination.
steven burke said
Fri Jan 10 5:57 PM, 2014
the juvenile peregrine has pinched dads roosting spot this evening dad was perched elsewhere
steven burke said
Thu Jan 9 3:32 PM, 2014
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Spring is in the air, Peregrines becoming more active and starting to take an interest in the traditional nest box.
it will be interesting to see what happens with this juvenile male still around
Jeff that will probably just be bits of a prey carcas that is decomposing at the side of the nest site and attracting flies. I read an interesting article on the Derby Cathedral Peregrine site regarding pellets. Peregrine prey is usually too big to swallow whole so is broken up first, and often skulls, legs etc are not ingested, making the pellets less useful to those studying them than for example Owl pellets that contain whole skeletons.
Cheers
Rob
Thanks Steve! Unfortunately, the server in the office is very slow when streaming so can't stay on it that long. Just had a check and they are back in the spotlight! Will keep a close eye on them this weekend from my much faster laptop at home!
matt, they have not fledged yet, keep a close eye on the bottom of the screen. sure it wont be long now before they do fledge, maybe this weekend !
at least, i think, another week before they fledge.
Mike S
Cheers
Matt
matt, the round ball type things are unfortunately 2 of the unhatched eggs. most of the kills are feral pigeons, but there are several other smaller birds they bring in, blackbirds, starlings etc..
rob I was in albert square when the peregrine flew in with a kill at 5.55pm yesterday evening, it flew onto the town hall & plucked/eaten its kill, just before it landed though I managed to get several shots & on closer inspection of my pics it clearly showed the bird to have a metal ring on its right leg confirming that it is the adult female, the unfortunate bird in its talons was a feral pigeon. 30 mins later the male sub-adult peregrine circled above.
Take a look at Adrian Dancy's image of the second calendar year bird I've just published to the website galleries; should give you all the tips you need Rob
Worst kept secret or not though, asking for the location of, or indeed publicising the location of, any nest site (schedule one or otherwise) on a public forum isn't a good idea and the guidelines for such on this forum are quite clear I think
Before everyone shouts at me, I realise that were it to be publicised and were something to happen then none of us would forgive ourselves.
Ironically, today for the first time in ages that I have noticed there were workmen on the roof of the building in in hi vis jackets - presumably just a coincedence.
Hi Ivan,
I thought that would be the case but was worth asking! I can see Manchester Cathedral in the background so will try and work it from there! I only get a short period of time to have a look on lunch etc and have never been lucky enough to catch sight of one (as Rob Smallwood knows!!). Thanks for the heads up on the telescopes being set up next month...I'll keep my eye out!
Cheers
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/livenest
Thanks
Matt
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 24th of March 2014 02:24:20 PM
Early morning the sub-adult male made an attack on two nesting Carrion Crows. It then flew to the CIS building and from there made a gallant but unsuccessful attack on a pigeon at low level over Shudehill Bus station. It was later joined by the adults where on one occasion it circled at very close range above the female. The male later took off flying SE as far as far as the eye can see and similarly, but later, the female took off flying NE but not before inspecting the dedicated nest tray for a couple of minutes on the CIS building.
Seems to quarter an area stretching from Eastlands to Hyde Road, especially around Ashburys station.
Interesting to note that as the Peregrine has become more frequent, sightings of the pair of Kestrels have fallen.
-- Edited by Ollie Wright on Thursday 20th of March 2014 07:21:31 PM
http://ntufalcons.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/how-webcams-can-reveal-hidden-family-values-in-wildlife/
Two Peregrines were flying around the CIS tower, seen as the tram pulled into Victoria
After a few minutes it flew off, so I count myself pretty lucky to be there in time to catch a nice view!
In Bath last year (or the year before), the 1 year old juvenile was seen to help with incubating the eggs, keeping the new brood warm and helping with the feeding. Increases the chances of your genes getting through even if in a slightly different combination.
the juvenile peregrine has pinched dads roosting spot this evening dad was perched elsewhere
it will be interesting to see what happens with this juvenile male still around