23rd May...hot chicks!

It looks like the chicks are feeling the heat as much as we are today! One of them is now mobile enough to have sought shade in the middle compartment. The unhatched egg remains at the front where one of the adults was trying to incubate it on Friday night at 10pm!

22nd May...watchpoint great success!

The watchpoint for the falcons at St Wulfran's today was a great success.
There were other Peregrines seen in addition to our nesting pair, as well as a Red Kite, several Buzzards, and two Sparrowhawks. It is amazing how many birds are passing over when you look up! Well done to Steve Lyon, Steve Bulbeck, Alan Ball and all the others who helped out. Special mention for the volunteers in the cafe who served the great cakes and tea.We'll do it again soon. Watch this space.

20th May....keep Saturday free

This Saturday, the Bird Club is organising a watchpoint for members (and the general public) on the grass outside the west door of St Wulfran's Church, Grantham.

It will last all day and there will be opportunities to view all the excitement through telescopes provided by our volunteers. In addition, the big screen inside the Church will show live footage of the chicks being fed, etc. There is sound too, so you can hear all the action.

The Church is famous for its wonderful cakes and beverages in the cafe by the big screen.

It's going to be a lovely, hot, sunny day, so come down and see the peregrines for yourself.

18th May...a warm day

The chicks are just over a week old and growing fast. In another week they will be unrecognisable from today's tiny balls of fluff. Soon after that, we should be able to sex them, as the females are considerably bigger than the males. The tiercel has proved an efficient hunter and the chicks can be seen in typical pose for a warm day, spreadeagled flat on the tray with bulging crops. The adults have to continue to brood them at night to keep them warm and shield them from the hot sun later in the afternoon.

New Video from 14th May 2010

Short video clip of the female leaving the two chicks for a few minutes.

13th May...chicks look well

It was a cold start to the day. The chicks had a good feed at 7am, then the female left them briefly to remove the prey carcass. She returned after three minutes to brood them. They will grow very quickly over the next few days.

11th May.... two chicks

This afternoon both chicks looked strong as they enjoyed a pigeon lunch. The remaining egg won't hatch now so we have a similar result to last year, ie two chicks from four eggs. Let's hope they now make it to fledging!