Waiting nearly over?

Our birds this year have had to put up with some very wet and cold weather.  Hopefully everything's gone OK and we may have some chicks at the end of the week.  Our pair have never managed to hatch all four eggs, and it will be a miracle if they do this year – especially with the weather and the egg spotted by Bob that was left uncovered for a long period on 8^th April.   Our birds are lucky in that they have been sheltered from the east by the spire.   Unfortunately today's incessant heavy rain took its toll on two of the four chicks at the Nottingham Trent Univerity site (they are two weeks ahead of our Grantham pair), despite a very valiant 12hour constant effort by the female who was absolutely soaked to the skin as she tried to cover them and shield them from the rain.

Changeover

The male was incubating this morning whilst the female went for a feed. She soon called him off the eggs and within three minutes had settled down herself.

Eggs on the move

The female has moved the eggs a bit more to the back of the tray. Perhaps this happened as she turned them. She seems to be incubating quite happily.

News sheet

Visitors to the Church to see the peregrines live on a 32"screen can now also take away a news sheet with all the latest information . I will be updating the sheet whenever anything exciting happens.

in touch

The female will spend most of her time incubating until the chicks hatch around May 6th. She will then brood them for a fortnight. During this six week period it is the male's job to catch the food and bring it to the nest. He will occasionally incubate, but not for long periods.
Here the female is probably communicating with him as he perches out of picture above her.

Loose egg !

When birds are incubating 24 hours a day, with the female doing most of the donkey work, then they can doze off and not be too aware of what is happening underneath them. Tonight, one of the eggs has rolled out and will need to be covered soon before it chills!

Fourth egg !

After many rain soaked hours, when the female wouldn't budge, the sun came out and she went for a fly round the tower enabling me to get a shot of the fourth egg. This should be the full clutch now. Ahead there will be a long month for us ( and the birds ) whilst we wait for the hatch.