31st March

The Derby Cathedral birds now have four eggs and the interval between each egg being laid was remarkably synchronous at 57 hours.
If our female were to follow suit, we could expect a second egg on Thursday at around 4 o'clock in the morning. It will be interesting to see when she does actually lay.
We are relying on members and friends to make a note of major happenings, such as when they notice a new egg. I shall be watching the screen as often as possible but I need to sleep sometimes!
The team are very grateful for all the messages of support for the project that we have received.

30 March

It is quite normal for the female to leave the egg(s) for an hour or two as they are not being incubated at this stage. She will usually cover them in rain showers. She will be nearby, out of camera shot, keeping watch.
Eggs are laid at 2 to 3 day intervals. A complete clutch will normally be 3 or 4 eggs.

30th March 2010

The female briefly left the nesting tray this morning, leaving the egg clearly visible. She won’t start incubation properly, until the full clutch is laid (in about 7 day’s time.)

29th March - it's an egg

It may seem strange that we could finally confirm an egg after it got dark. The egg is dark red, but in infra-red light (which the camera automatically changes to at dusk) the egg appears bright white and could be seen briefly when she turned around at 20:00 hrs.

29th March - first egg?

At 19:00 hours today........is there an egg? She had been sat at the far end of the nesting tray for some time when she stood up to reveal what looked like an egg. She was calling to her mate who stood on the parapet wall just out of view. It's difficult to tell from the image below.....if it is an egg, she's chosen the end of the tray furthest away from the camera.

28/03/2010

Female at far end of nest-tray from 12:20 to 14:00. The female bird returned later to the nest tray after dark and roosted there.

27th March 2010

Today the female bird spent up to half an hour sat on the church tower parapet at approx. 9.00hrs.