Although the falcon eggs aren’t expected to hatch until the end of April, since the launch of Falcon Cam 2013 visitors from around the globe have logged on to watch and read about our resident pair of peregrine falcons.
We’ve registered visitors from countries as far and wide as Australia, America, Russia, India, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Iraq, Argentina and many, many more.
More than 220,000 people have logged onto the cameras to watch the birds sat up high on the Newton building, while one of the birds has remained firmly sat on her eggs to keep them warm during incubation. On average, each visitor spent an average of six minutes and 47 seconds watching the cameras.
There have been visitors from 99 different countries. After the UK, the most common countries for visitors are America, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and France.
The peak number of blog readers since the 2013 launch was on Monday 25 March, with more than 4,600 unique readers. It’s surely no coincidence that this influx followed a weekend of snow which caused much concern among the doting Falcon Cam viewers, many of whom were worried for the birds’ wellbeing.
News of the falcons’ three eggs being laid ahead of Easter made the headlines, with stories appearing in the Scotsman as well as regional newspapers the Eastern Daily Press, the Hartlepool Mail, Northern Echo, Sunderland Echo, Western Daily Press and more.
BBC Springwatch presenter Martin Hugh-Games also mentioned the project in an article in the Daily Telegraph. And the picture at the top of this blog, which was taken by one of our members of staff, was circulated to the media by the Press Association.
Interviews with people from the university and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust also took place with BBC Radio Nottingham and a story was published on the BBC Nottingham web pages.
We may expect another surge of visitors to the cameras in the not too distant future. If the eggs do hatch before the end of the month, it will surely lead to thousands of people logging on in the hope of seeing new-born falcon chicks.
Although we’re yet to discover whether the wintry weather took any toll on the eggs, the anticipation of new chicks will surely create a great deal of excitement. Let’s just hope this year provides less of an emotional rollercoaster than last.
Watching around 9.20am this morning (16th) i saw a 3rd falcon arrive at the far end of the ledge. Could this have been last year’s chick? The 2nd bird seemed aware it was there but quite unfazed.
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I like many other webcam viewers watching over the snowy period was very concerned for the birds welfare.I posted your picture of the falcon covered in snow and it has been retweeted all over the world that.That bird is one tough cookie I cannot wait for the eggs to hatch and the real action to begin.
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Mmm I thought that is what I saw- but then thought perhaps it was just a brave pigeon!
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world wide super stars
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I looked out my back window today and my heart nearly stopped….there were two raptors sitting in the big tree in my yard. I thought they were falcons at first (they do nest in the area) but upon closer inspection through the binoculars it turns out they are Cooper’s Hawks. I got to see them mate, as I was watching them, and then watched them fly to a nearby nest. Not peregrines…but still interesting to see out my back window. XD
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S – never heard of a Cooper’s Hawk so I Googled it and discovered that they are native to North America – so I presume that you must be one of the many worldwide ‘viewers’ of the Nottingham Peregrins? 🙂
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Yes, Sue, I am in Niagara Falls, Canada. 🙂
It’s a good spot for birdwatching…we have lots of raptors; turkey vultures, Ospreys, a variety of hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons…plus a variety of songbirds of course, and lots of waterfowl varieties; I love the Great Blue Herons. One of my favourite birds to watch is the Kingfisher. Hilarious little birds. Big surge in woodpecker numbers, this year, too, and in recent years I’ve even spotted Baltimore Orioles, which is interesting.
We have a pair of falcons nesting in the Niagara Gorge that have received quite a bit of press in recent years (No cam, sorry!) and when I was driving past the Falls several days ago, one of them suddenly flew up out of the gorge and passed maybe 12 feet above my car!! It was a real treat to see one so close….I got a great look at it!! XD
I also watch the falcon cam at Great Spirit Bluff, Minnesota, and I also watched the Decorah Eagles in Iowa last year (although this year they outsmarted us and built a new nest…no cam.) So instead I have been keeping an eye on the Minnesota Bound Eagle cam.
but I love the Nott cam….I watched the bad weather last year and this year, too. Storm really has a great advantage with that long ledge to practice with, on the Newton bldg.
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Mrs P (I think) sitting quietly on the nest – well sheltered from this terrible wind that seems to have been battering us for ever!
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does anyone know if there is going to be a fourth egg or not
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Bit concerned that she laid the eggs in the scratch that was 3″ deep in snow. Could this have killed the eggs? I know the birds are tough cookies, i guess we will see in a week or so!
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I am no expert, and I worried about this, along with everyone else, here. But I personally comfort myself with the thought that these are mountain birds, very tough, and they’ve probably faced such obstacles, and worse, many times before.
I suspect that as long as there is an adult sitting on the eggs, they are warm enough; snow can also act as a very effective insulator, too.
What concerned me more was that during the bad weather, I noticed that there was one night where there was no adult on the nest for a period of about three hours…which I can’t help but imagine might put the eggs at risk for freezing. But I don’t wish to worry anyone….I just trust that nature knows best…and we won’t know until it’s time for hatching, anyway, so we’ll just have to watch and wait and keep our fingers crossed, I suppose.
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Don’t know what happened just now- alot of squawking- looked in to see the sitting bird flying off and leaving eggs. Two minutes later a bird(same one?) was back on eggs. Often see them changing over but this was different- repelling enemies?
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Who controls the camera ? Just looked and it was zooming in on a piece of loft insulation blown into the gulley
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Hi Dave,
A number of staff at NTU have control of the camera. We were taking a closer look as we couldn’t work out what it was from a distance. All back in place now 🙂
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get ready folks thursday should be the day for 1st chick me thinks
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I watch on a daily basis now; with my morning coffee, during my lunch break, and my tea o’clock afternoon break. My sank when I saw all the snow and thought we’d lost the one of the falcons and the eggs. Keeping my fingers crossed that we have some hatchlings after all this weather stress!
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Has the “nest scrape” moved slightly to the right?
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I see Mrs. P’s garden patch is growing back, in the box. lol
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Something sounds like screaming or crying…not sure if it’s a person, below, machinery, or an animal or bird. Sure sounds mournful, though.
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Oh it’s people. I can hear them now.
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Just watching the female standing over the eggs and she appeared to be eating something, however the shadow was on her and couldnt see properly. I was thinking it may be a bit of egg shell and one had hatched. Fingers crossed eh !! The male was also close by watching tentatively so hoping for some good news later today or tomorrow
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Bit of house keeping going on! 3 eggs still in situ as parent bird moving around cleaning up nest….
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The really close-up shots yesterday were amazing, can we have more of them please. How is S able to hear sounds? I have tried but unsuccessfully.
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Hi Geoff, pleased that you like the shots, we’ll do our best to keep track of the birds, especially once the chicks hatch and become mobile.
Camera 2 (the one fixed on the nest) has sound, you may need to have your computer volume turned up a bit higher to get a good sound level. It will become very noisy once the parents start bringing food for the chicks!
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I’m sorry, Geoff, I didn’t see your question till just now. I wasn’t ignoring you.
Yes, as gillyntu said, Camera 2 has sound on it, but you have to make sure that both your computer’s sound is turned up (test with music, or something)
AND,
you also have to ensure that the little volume control *on the cam window* is turned up (icon is located in the bottom right-hand corner of the cam-window, between the timer and the “expand window” icon).
If it still doesn’t work, I don’t know. Hope it helps!
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should i confess, i have both camera one and camera two open on two different pages, its quicker to see whats going off, switching tabs rather than cameras, if there is a lot of noise from the nest bird, the partner is often close by …
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A smart idea Kathryn, why hadn’t I thought of that too.
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Thanks for your dedicated following Kathryn. Due to the popularity of Falcon Cam we would actually prefer viewers to just load the page when they want to watch, rather than leave it on in the background. This is because it obviously uses lots of our bandwidth having the continuous video streams. In periods of high uptake there is a risk we may have to lower the picture quality to maintain the feed. So if you could just load it when you want to watch that would be a great help!
Thanks.
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sad face! ok
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get ready folks tomoz is the day,its only my opinion but its my wifes birthday so im hoping for another birth on this day
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Noooooo! I wont be at a pc tomorrow until about 5pm, she needs to cross her legs and hang on until I’m ready!!!I’m hooked on this pair, so fascinating to watch.
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not sure tracy so keep yer fingers crossed,just my opinion and i have a feeling
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Just seen the 3 eggs again as Mrs P was doing some housekeeping around the nest
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Pa has landed in the ledge but staying well back – no food evident – looking around (for handy pigeon?)
Ma sitting stoically
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apprantly my mate says the greenery in box is a VERY rare plant he only knows the proper name for it”peregrineuss platformuss weedeuos ? ant got one in my garden thats for sure
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🙂
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That nestbox looks lovely and tidy, must be ready for the pitter patter of tiny feet 😛
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Still three whole eggs from the little glimpse I got just then!
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The falcon is fidgety and appears to be listening….maybe things are happening. They can hear their chicks cheeping in the egg. I would have thought 27-30th would be more likely timing for the first hatch but ….any time now !!!!
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Just caught a brief glimpse of all 3 eggs – still intact – one egg hatched at Charing Cross – can see egg shell on the ledge, here’s hoping for Nottingham
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19-22pm she has still got all three eggs, all in tack.No sign of them being cracked. She has just got off them and turned around and then shuffled back on. Bitting my nails. She does seem a little restless.
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Just seen 3 chicks being fed at Charing Cross – beautiful ! Come on Nottingham !
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I was convinced we would see the first chick today, so I logged on while having breakfast only to be rewarded by the sight of Mrs P coughing up a pellet!
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Actually they’ve just done a handover and I think it was Mr P’s pellet. Three eggs still intact at 7.55am.
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11;20am, still 3 eggs, no chicks yet…
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Just had a good look at the eggs. No definite signs of a pip yet.
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One did look like it had a very fine crack in it though – it was amazing to see the camera zoom right in to check the eggs before mum arrived.
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i saw that but I thought it was just a scratch. Perhaps a crack.
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sorry for delay folks,forgot to enter in snow at time of laying ?? you get slow when yer past yer prime,anyway looks like tomoz now but good thing it will be weekend for more folk to see it live i ant stopped watching and have noticed male is doing MORE than his fair share on eggs,good on him,he will soon be very busy,get a break while yer can i say
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I am a devout peregrine-watcher and I captured this clip earlier of one of them complaining about the loud sirens, so cute!
Waiting for those eggs to hatch…
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Eggcellent clip
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Thankyou :D!
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Good grief…what a racket….I love her reaction 🙂
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6.41pm, just had a good look at the eggs when parent left for a few minutes. No action yet as far as I can tell.
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Just changed over still 3 eggs no chicks !!
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Charing Cross got three chicks and one egg still to hatch
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I just seen the cam spin around to see there feeding platform on the corner of the building this is a important part of the study of these birds to see how they feed, & just how many birds get eaten & what type of bird they take the most ,Do you not think that your tec guys can get the cam next to were they feed on the website…????
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The parent left for a few minutes about an hour ago (12:30), so I looked at the eggs but couldn’t see any cracks or anything…
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when was the last time the male was seen? can someone please say?
thanks
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20:17 – shift change – still three intact eggs. Without wishing to sound pessimistic, how long before we must concede that the eggs are not viable?
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I’m beginning to wonder the same Nick 😦
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Another shift change……. still 3 eggs and no chicks 😦
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Nick, I don’t think you should be despondent. Hatching could be any time in the next 2/3 days based on the estimated date of them settling to brood. I feel hopeful that if we don’t get the extreme weather we had last year then we should have three healthy chicks quite soon. Maybe first hatch will be tomorrow so don’t have a Sunday morning lie-in 🙂
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my brother told me about this sight i am besotted with the falcons what beautiful birds i love to watch them
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Sunday 7.26am noisy change over. Still got three eggs in tack.
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Still 3 eggs no chicks just stood up to rearrange eggs
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Does anyone at NTU know which day full incubation commenced ? The nest site was covered with snow on the 25th march with the falcon sitting tight – that makes it day 34 today – do you think the sub zero temperatures could have delayed the incubation even though the eggs were not left unattended ? Or are we all being a bit impatient !
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She seems very restless this morning 9:14am, hope its a good sign..
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Still 3 eggs but Mrs P is very busy rearranging stones around the scrape…. Preparing for a new arrival?…… Let’s hope so 🙂
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Shift changeover at 12.25pm today, still 3 eggs intact
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12.25 Shift change. 3 eggs still intact .
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The eggs will have commenced full time incubation latest 26th March.The incubation period is usually 28 to 30 days resulting in a hatch date of the 25th April. We are now three days late,it is looking very unlikely that they are viable.
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First egg is pipping !!! Pic here:
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Hi thought I just saw a crack on egg nearest to us
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still no chicks at aylsbury,norwich,sheffield,chichester either everyones waiting
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PIP!!! I saw at least one DEFINITE PIP!! …possibly two more, starting, too 😀
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…sorry, it was during a changeover.
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It’s my birthday today, too….what a nice birthday present, to see a pip in these eggs when we were all so scared after the bad weather!!! Does that mean the falcons share a birthday with me???
😀
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I think I can see a crack in two of the eggs? Anyone else catch that?!
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I did!! as she got up there was a small hole she then kicked it over when she left its now upside down poor chick didnt anyone else see it or the staff watching it!!!
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14.49 shift change, not sure if it’s me but none of the eggs are as vbrant in colour as they were and the one at the back looked decidedly grotty. I hope they are all okay and the chicks inside are healthy and just waiting to say hello to the world.
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Great picture Pam
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There will definitely be a chick or 2 by tonight judging by all the activity…
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Definatley chipping at 17.17. Egg at the back
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17.17 shift change. DEFINITELY saw a small hole in one of the eggs 🙂
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17.20 change over, mum gone to stretch her wings, still no chicks but the eggs didn’t look as bad as I thought earlier, it must have been the light.
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Just seen the first chick for a split second.
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i was right then , hi to all egg watchers here in my own town of Nottingham
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Silly me City not Town
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change over at 18.15 and it looked like 2 eggs where pipping! 🙂
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im confused now because people are saying that the hatched and some people are saying that they have not
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Hatch little falcons, hatch! We’re all waiting to see you!
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they hadnt hatched at 19.00.
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just seen the comment on seeing a chick,iv been sat for the past couple of hours watching and theres definatly no chick out and about yet lol
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I know I haven’t seen one either… At least there’s two eggs pipping though which means they’ll hopefully hatch soon.
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no chicks yet but it must be tonight surely just holes
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3am mum eats egg shell
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One chick definitely out, as she’s eating the shell. 3am local
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3:15am – There is at least one chick alive and kicking……. Phew 🙂
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03:40am UK time, Female on nest appeared to be eating eggshell.
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4:02am …Definitely one chick and two eggs. In this picture, the first chick is visible and mum has just kicked the egg shell out of the scrape.
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If that link doesn’t work, try this one…
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Definitely shell in the nest!
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04:26am UK time. Falcon has reversed direction on nest, and is eating egg shell again
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05:27am UK time saw one chick.
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I’m sure there is a small piece of egg shell on the gravel and there is alot of shuffling going on, the male came to the ledge a few minutes ago and it seemed as if they had a bit of a conversation and he left – can’t wait to get a glimpse if it is a chick
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THERE IS ONE HATCHING NOW I’M NOT SEEING THINGS – YIPEE
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I just caught a glimpse of a chick emerging from one of the eggs and I thought I also saw a second fluffy chick – 6.02am. At last!
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6am and I’ve just seen one chick half way out of the egg and a glimpse of what appears to be something fluffy and white too – which may be a chick which has hatched earlier and has already dried off.
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I have seen a chick!!!
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Woke up at 3am and had a quick look, it looked like one was moving broken eggshell from underneath
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06:30am UK time saw one chick again
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6.38am I am possitive I have seen a chick. Wow
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Definitely One just seen… But I think she could have had a double hatch overnight, need her to get up properly now. I can’t tell you how relieved I am after that awful weekend of snow 🙂 Well done Mrs Notts
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Second chic now out! 6am
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Update at 7.07 am, there is one definite hatch and one almost hatched, its still in the shell but the shell is almost in half 🙂
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Well done Mrs P of Nottingham… Mo Cole x
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Fantastic news!! The way that the falcon sat in her ice-bivouac just shows how hardy these birds are.
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first egg hatched this morning at 0755,great news after they had after all that snow.
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Is that a little white ball of fluff I saw :D?
They’ve arrived!
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08:02am UK time Adults change brooders, two chicks seen
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A cold and wet night in Nottingham ,but we have at least one new chick, and mum has just been removing an empty egg. For sure one of the most dedicated pair of parents will continue to care for their young. Great news and marvellous to watch these superb birds in the middle of our city.
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Just seen 2 chicks, 3rd egg still looked intact.
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Mr & Mrs P have just done a swap (8.05am) & there are definitely 2 chicks!
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Just saw one – it was all white and fluffy, bless it! It’s fine as well because it was moving it’s head. Mrs P was pushing the egg shell out of the way. She’s very fidgety this morning, so definitely action going on there!
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Just had a good view of 2 white fluffy chicks during handover at 8.03. Very sweet.
Belinda
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made a mistake with last comment,seen 2 chicks this morning after farther took over from mother,still great news.
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Just changed over could only see one egg and a lot of white fluffy feathers
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Great to see good news,please remember not to keep your browser open all the time,as lots of people want to see 🙂
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Have only seen one chick ,do they hatch at the same time
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The first chick hatched some time before 3:15am. I posted a picture but for some reason it has not be passed by the moderator 😦
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2 chicks at 0848
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Thanks moderator for passing it this time. The first chick had hatched some time before 3:15am. I caught seveal glimpses of the chick after that but I had to sit with my finger on the print screen button until 4:02am to get the picture you see above.
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09.25 DELIGHTED to have just seen two little heads under Mrs P. Champagne chilling to enjoy tonight! It has been traumatic viewing at times over the last few weeks. Now the fun really starts!
Thank you so much for this cam. The clarity is amazing.
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DEFINITLY two chicks there. The other one must be hiding. They seemed quite big.
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Checked at 10am still one egg to hatch, she keeps shuffling it.
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09.54 Not 100% but think I just saw what appears to be a small hole in the remaining egg.
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10am Definately saw two chicks as she was shuffling about.
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10:05am Third egg is definately pipping as got a good clear view of it..
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how long before they feed from hatching?
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Two chicks, one egg. Congratulations NTU – you are mommas and poppas once again !
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That’s a lovely screen grab – such brilliant quality.
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yessssssssssss 2 chicks 🙂
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just seen one chick being fed but other one didn’t get any is this normal first time on here
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Just seen 2 chicks being fed at 11:10. One at the back didn’t get much. Very cute.
Belinda
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just seen some eggshell that I hadn’t seen earlier wondering if 3rd chick has hatched
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OMG when they were feeding I saw one of them fall over! It was so cute! Haha!
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I’m so pleased Mrs P has been rewarded after all her hours of patient sitting – even being completely buried in snow! Now the hard work starts!!
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Here’s some captures I got of the new chicks! When the mother’s leaving in the first clip one chick gets blown over by her wings flapping (or just by being off-balance), and then they drift into a gentle slumber. Hope you like the clips, sorry about the watermarks!
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2 chicks and 3rd egg is hatching
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Just got to watch a changeover and feeding. Two lovely little healthy chicks, and no doubt about it… definite pip in the third egg; could even clearly see movement inside!! 😀
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How exciting – babies having a feed and the third egg has a tiny opening in it… This is rivetting stuff.
Welcome chicks & Good Luck X
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Just watched them being fed – pigeon? One little guy got less than the other. Does this even out over time? An egg at the back with a small hole in it.
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13.22 Watched both chicks being fed, then falling asleep against unhatched egg. What a privelige this is to have such a clear view. Once again, a big thank you.
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I also watched both chicks being fed, excellent pictures, thanks for that, such a privilege to see
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wow! thats just made my day!
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and mine too 🙂
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17.05 Wow, Wow, Wow! Was lucky enough to check in right at the moment chick number 3 hatched.
Wathced as parent removed part of the cracked shell to reveal chick. She has been eating tiny pieces of the shell.
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7.03pm All 3 chicks on parade.
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I’ve noticed that is very quiet – has the microphone been turned off or down? I was hoping to hear the chicks…?
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Will we be able to see a recording of the chicks being ringed ?.
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I see the water is lapping the nest tray. a good job the chicks can move about onto ledges if it rains anymore. I fear if they were only days old that there could be a problem. A drain somewhere is obviously blocked.
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