02/04/17 09.02 Female on tray (one egg), male visits and presents prey item to female. Female moves off tray (but in camera) to consume and male disappears.
I watched for almost an hour this afternoon and the female appeared to be moving things around in the tray as though making ready, she then got in a position as if laying. She was all fluffed up and settled and the male flew in and started to feed her then left. She was still settled but after a while started to look around and was calling out. A few minutes later she upped and left. around 20 past 5.
With all the heavy rain over the last 7 days a gutter spitter way above the nest tray has apparently blocked and caused a cascade of water to poor down and unfortunately flood the nest tray. The birds appear not to be visiting the tray now, not surprising really as they won't want to lay eggs in a dodgy area.
Plans to rectify the problem are underway and should be done very soon but the birds may now abandon the tray, let's hope not.
If anyone spots a bird at the tray please post on here.
Craig.
-- Edited by Craig Bell on Monday 27th of March 2017 10:20:50 PM
Haven't seen either for the last three or four days when I've logged on, which is surprising as the female at least was almost permanently on the box or the stone wall in front. Can anyone shed any light on that, or have I just been unlucky?
both peregrines showing well this afternoon in the drizzling rain, the male then flew off & soon came back with some food which the female then began to eat in full view. great viewing on the camera also, the tray looks a little thin with grit & bones but I'm sure they will do well as usual
New live cctv camera now installed x Rochdale council is up and running. Log onto rochdale.gov.uk and enter peregrine into search box, you should be able to get access to the camera from there. Great view overlooking the tray. Looking forward to watching some great images this year and hopefully for the future. Thanks to those involved with working with the council for this.
RL seems to be missing a central tail feather but today showed very fine aerial agility by grabbing its sibling in a spectacular aerial manoeuvre. A few very close low level chases by the juveniles providing jaw dropping views.
After being picked up off the floor outside the post office opposite the town hall on approx the 20th June one of this years young, the male colour ring RL, has been on a mystery tour of West Yorkshire houses, vets and a falconry centre before we eventually heard about his whereabouts. We then managed to collect him and return him to the town hall tower this evening!!
On release he flew from the window ledge above the nest tray area very strongly but went out of site. We could not relocate him in the short time spent looking. 1 adult and another young was present just before his release. A Juv bird was then seen after release but we were unsure if that was RL?
If anyone is watching the birds in the next few days could you please keep a special look out for RL and report if you do see him.
A special thanks to SMJ Falconry Centre, Oxenhope for rehabbing him since the 22nd June, Abbey House Vets in Morley, West Yorks for initially taking him into care and Rob Archer/Vicky Irvine for assisting with his release.
Lets hope he goes on to have a long life in the wild rather than an aviary!!
A bit of sad news regarding one of the 3 Male Peregrine chicks fledged this year from Rochdale Town Hall.
Male, colour ringed NP and ringed on 19th May `15, has been found alive (just!!) with its right wing severed. He was found under a wind turbine in the area of Denby Dale, West Yorkshire on the 17th of Sept `15, the bird is now in care.
This is the 5th Peregrine found either dead or injured (then dead) beneath these hazardous things from my ringing scheme in the past 10 years. What else are these "Green" and "environmentally friendly" things killing that are not getting picked up??
I took a trip to see the peregrines this afternoon, wasn't sure what the situation was & on my arrival the female was just dropping off some food to 2 juveniles. whilst they tucked in to there meal I had a wonder around & found a third juvenile, looks like they have been ringed also so somebody does know something. is there 3 or 4 juveniles ?
I work in Rochdale occasionally, virtually every day I do, I have no trouble seeing one or both of the pair on either the Town Hall or on the lift shaft side of the "black box". Easy if you know where to look.
Unfortunately, the "black box" is due to be demolished early in 2014 and the peregrines will lose one of their favourite perches, as well as it being one of the easiest places to get a good view of them.
I find it somewhat surprising that there's not more publicity about the Rochdale pair because of the ease of viewing and relative reliability of seeing, but I'm quite happy that they're relatively unknown and therefore left alone.
Has anyone any information about breeding this year? The birds are still around but no-one has put any info on here yet.
Bill, please check private message (long overdue - reason explained in that message).
Hi Robin,
Your private message has been received and read - thanks very much.
The information I've received from third parties and from a few of my own observations is that the pair appear to have failed this year and if eggs were laid at all, then the exact reasons for failure are unknown at present. From observations made it has been suggested that the pair might not have laid on the provided nest tray but possibly elsewhere on the clock tower? Both likely locations were checked in early June but sadly neither eggs nor nestlings were visible. So it's fingers crossed for next year now.
Hi there, Popped down last week to see what was happening as the breeding season is upon us once again. Saw one bird round the clock tower. Does anyone know what the status is this year? Would be good to follow the birds. So many high profile nestcams nowadays but its nice to see them in the flesh. I manage to get down most weeks to view them.
Is there any blog available for the birds? Cheers Julie
Have they fledged yet? I have seen both adults from my side (College Bank) and saw an adult in flight in the town centre yesterday evening, but yet to see either of the young.
Are the RSPB doing a Friday viewing venue as last year?
Both juvs doing well tonight. Managed 6 shots in the sun and then the heavens opened one of the juvs was preening in the heavy rain and freshening his feathers. Gald he enjoyed the deluge- I didn't.
went up yesterday for an hour, armed with cam, bins etc... saw the parents, one on the council buildings a couple of times and around the tower. Best bit tho, we saw 2 little white heads popping up frequently :) Made my day