APRIL 2024
1 Apr – the female looks out from the platform at 4:15 but the male does not arrive to take over until 6:05. He leaves at 9:45 and the female flies in at 9:50. He briefly lands a few minutes later to check that she is there. He returns at 15:55 to take over, remaining until 19:10. She incubates for the rest of the evening.
2 Apr – the first changeover is at 5:45. The male checks for the female at 7:15 and she lands for a few moments, but only resumes incubation at 8:00. She takes a short flight at 11:15, then looks out for the male at 11:30 and returns to the eggs. He lands briefly at 11:40 and eventually takes over at 13:45 but she is back at 14:30. He flies in for his last stint of the day at 16:15 until replaced by the female at 19:05.
3 Apr – the female flies out to look for the male at 4:30, then returns to the eggs. He takes over at 6:00. He flies out at 9:15 and she incubates five minutes later. He is back for another stint at 13:30 until 17:35. She remains for the rest of the evening.
4 Apr – the male takes over at 5:35. He flies out looking for the female at 9:15 but soon returns to the eggs. She arrives 20 minutes later looking well fed and forces the male to leave. He is back with a full crop at 13:10 and incubates until 14:20. He flies in with fresh Feral Pigeon prey for the female at 16:15, and she leaves with her meal. She returns at 19:35 to resume incubation for the rest of the evening.
5 Apr – the male takes over at 3:40 until flying out briefly at 6:20. The female is back at 7:00. She calls loudly at 8:25 and flies out, returning after a false landing five minutes later. The next changeover is not until 15:10 when she flies out to look for him – an almost seven-hour stint for the female. She resumes incubation at 18:30 for the rest of the evening.
6 Apr – the female flies out at 5:50 and is replaced by the male. She is back at 9:10 but flies out quickly at 10:20 and is replaced briefly by the male. She is back a few minutes later until the male takes over at 12:50. She returns at 16:30 and incubates for the rest of the evening whilst the male sits on the edge from 19:35 onwards.
7 Apr – the male remains on the ledge until 5:50 when the female flies out and there is the first changeover. He flies out for a few minutes at 7:45, then returns to the eggs and again at 8:00. The female is back five minutes later looking well fed. She flies out at 10:30 returning a few moments later. The male lands on the ledge briefly at 10:50. At 11:30, she is startled by the noise of one of the cameras automatically resetting caused by the strong winds. Thankfully, she is unperturbed and is back on the eggs and preening a few minutes later. The male is back on the ledge with a full crop at 11:35 but quickly leaves. He is back to replace the female at 13:00 and she returns at 15:15. She flies out at 17:40 and he takes over until 19:50 when she incubates for the rest of the evening.
8 Apr – the female takes a short flight at 5:20 then returns to the eggs. The male arrives 30 minutes later to take over until 8:30 when she returns after he flies out. The next changeover is not until 14:40. She lands with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 18:55 and the male walks to the ledge to look. She flies out and he follows but he quickly returns to the eggs. She arrives back with a full crop at 19:50 to take over.
9 Apr – the male arrives on the ledge at 3:40 and falls asleep until 5:45 when he flies off. The female leaves the eggs at 6:45 but quickly returns until the male takes over at 8:40. He is reluctant to leave at 11:20 when she returns but eventually accedes. A few minutes after taking over incubation, the female calls loudly and walks to the platform, then flies out – there is probably an intruder in the area. She returns a few minutes later but leaves again at 12:10 and is replaced by the male. She is back at 12:45 to take over ten minutes later forcing the male from the eggs. He lands for a few minutes at 14:35 but she remains incubating. He is back again at 15:50 remaining until 19:55 when the female flies in for the remainder of the evening.
10 Apr – the male lands on the ledge at 3:50 but the first changeover is at 5:25 when the female flies out. She is back at 8:55 after the male leaves. She flies out at 12:40 and the male takes over. She is back at 14:25 and he reluctantly gives in. The male returns at 18:30 for his last stint of the day, remaining until 20:00 and the female takes over for the rest of the evening.
11 Apr – the male arrives at 5:35 to take over as the female flies out. She is back two hours later and the male leaves. She flies out at 10:10 but returns to the eggs five minutes later having failed to find the male. He eventually arrives at 11:10 to take over. He looks out from the platform out at 12:05 and 12:15 but is quickly back on the eggs. The female returns at 14:05 until 17:25 when the male takes over. He flies out at 18:20 but quickly returns to the eggs until 19:40, when the female resumes for the rest of the evening.
12 Apr – the female flies out at 5:05 and the male takes over. He walks to the platform at 5:45 then quickly returns to the eggs. He leaves and she is back at 6:25. She flies out at 7:10 but soon returns to the eggs. The male returns at 9:10 to replace the female. Again, there is another check from the platform at 9:45. The female takes over at 10:25 looking well fed. She flies out for five minutes at 13:30. The male is back at 14:25 and looks out from the platform at 15:00. The female is back 30 minutes later until 17:15 when she leaves and the male returns. She is back for another changeover at 18:05. The male lands at 19:40 and surprisingly, the female allows him to incubate until at least midnight.
13 Apr – the male remains on the eggs overnight until the female arrives at 3:50. A stint of 8hrs 10mins. He is back to take over at 7:55 and remains until 10:25. She flies out briefly at 12:30 then returns to the eggs. The male takes over at 14:15 remaining until 18:25 and is back again at 19:10 until 20:25.
14 Apr – the male arrives at 5:30 for the first changeover. He remains until she returns at 7:50. She visits the platform at 9:10, then returns to the eggs. She checks again at 11:15 and flies out at 13:45. The male lands but looks up to the sky and flies out returning a few minutes later. She is back at 14:55 and walks to the ledge at 17:20, then returns to the eggs. The male brings in fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 17:45 and he takes over whilst she flies out with her meal. She is back at 18:45 and sits on the ledge before resuming incubation at 19:05.
15 Apr – the male takes over at 5:20 when the female leaves. She is back on the ledge at 6:35 and resumes incubation 20 minutes later, until the male takes over at 10:35. She returns at 13:00 but flies out after 45 minutes. The male takes over five minutes later. She lands on the ledge briefly at 13:55 and is back at 14:40, but the male is reluctant to give up incubation. She stands beside him for five minutes before he gives in. He is back at 16:55 but the female remains tight on the eggs, so he flies out. She leaves at 18:45 and is replaced by the male. She briefly lands five minutes later to pick up some scraps from the platform. She returns at 20:00 but sits on the ledge until 20:40 when she takes over as the male flies out.
16 Apr – the first changeover is at 5:20 when the male arrives. He looks out from the platform at 8:15 then returns to the eggs until the female flies in at 8:50. The male is back at 14:00 remaining until 16:35 and again at 20:20, and for the second time he incubates until midnight at least.
17 Apr – the female arrives at 5:50 to take over – after another unusually long evening stint for the male. The male lands briefly at 7:15 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey but the female does not move and so he flies off with it. He replaces her at 8:00 until 11:00 when she forces him from the eggs. He is back at 13:30 carrying plucked prey which the female snatches and flies off with; he resumes incubation. She is back to take over at 14:35. The male lands on the ledge at 17:50 and twice checks the female, but she does not move so he flies out and she remains on the eggs until at least midnight. The male lands on the platform at 18:55 for ten minutes.
18 Apr – the female has a look from the platform at 4:05 then returns to the eggs. The male arrives an hour later to replace her. He flies out at 7:45 and the she takes over five minutes later. The female leaves at 9:45 and the male incubates until 10:45 when she lands with a full crop. She looks out from the platform at 11:20, then returns to the eggs. The male is back incubating at 13:30 but flies out after just ten minutes and the female returns. He takes over again at 14:55 for an hour and is back again at 17:50. The female returns at 20:45 to take over until midnight at least.
19 Apr – the female flies out at 5:20 and the male takes over. However, the male flies off at 6:30 and she soon returns five minutes later. She leaves at 7:50 and the male takes over. He walks to the ledge at 8:15 and the female flies in. The male is back at 10:55 and the female leaves. The male is blown about by the strong winds but keeps tight on the eggs until 15:20 when the female is back. The male lands on the ledge at 19:40 and she allows him to take over until midnight at least.
20 Apr – the female forces the male from the eggs at 2:00. She flies out at 8:10 but soon returns. The male arrives at 9:10 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey which she starts to eat in the box but then leaves with it, and the male takes over incubation. She is back on the eggs at 10:55. She flies out at 14:15 but soon returns. The male is back at 15:45 but she forces him from the eggs at 17:05.
21 Apr – the male takes over incubation at 5:15. He flies out at 8:10 and the female returns 15 minutes later until leaving at 9:40 when he returns. She is back at 11:25 looking well fed and forces him from the eggs. The next changeover is at 15:15. The female returns to the ledge at 19:45 for the last changeover of the day five minutes later.
22 Apr – the male takes over at 5:35 until she returns at 7:40. At 8:50 the male brings in the remains of Feral Pigeon prey. Initially, she feeds on the platform but then flies out with it, so he sits on the eggs. She is back at 9:30 looking well fed and resumes incubation. He is back in the box briefly at 11:50 but the female refuses to move. The next changeover is at 14:10 when she leaves. She is back at 18:50 for the last change of the day.
23 Apr – the first changeover is at 5:05 when the female flies out and the male flies in. She lands a few minutes later to check that he has arrived. She is back at 7:15 until 11:05. The male walks to the platform at 14:30, then returns to the eggs. The female takes over at 16:15. She flies out at 18:35 and the male incubates until 19:45.
24 Apr – the male arrives at 5:05, the exact same time as yesterday, and she is back at 7:20. The male flies in with part eaten Feral Pigeon and the female stashes it by a column. The male brings in fresh Feral Pigeon at 13:40 and she feeds. When she rises from the eggs, a pip can be seen clearly in one of the eggs. She flies out with her meal and the male takes over. She is back at 14:25 and forces him from the eggs – obviously aware that they are close to hatching. The exchange shows that two of the eggs are now pipped. The male returns to the box at 16:50 but the female will not move. He is back again at 18:05 with the same result, so snatches the stashed prey from this morning. She allows a changeover at 18:50 until 20:00 when a second pipped egg could be seen nut no hatching occurred before midnight.
25 April – the female keeps tight on the eggs through the night. The break in the eggshell was getting larger. There appeared to be a breakthrough at 00:30 when a large crack could be seen in one of the eggs. Although the chick could not be seen, hatching was confirmed when half the eggshell was noticed at 1:20 – the FIRST chick. She walks away at 4:35 and the chick can be seen clearly, with a large hole in another egg. The male arrives to incubate. The female is back at 5:50 and there is still only one chick seen. The male arrives a few minutes later with part-eaten prey which she ignores, so he flies off. At 7:15, the female can be seen removing a piece of eggshell and the SECOND chick has hatched. There is a changeover an hour later and both chicks can be seen. The female returns at 9:30 carrying a small parcel of food which she eats. At 12:10, the male brings in Starling prey, she refuses it and he flies off as she returns to the scrape. She checks the platform at 14:10, then returns to the chicks. At 15:00, the female stands, and a pip can be seen in a third egg – the very pale one. The male lands at 16:20, but the female does not move and he leaves. He is back again at 16:55 and goes into the box but the female sits tight. At 18:45, she stands again, and the egg has broken in half and the THIRD chick falls out. The female flies out at 18:50 and the male walks to the scrape. When he looks in, he sees the new chick and leaves. The female arrives with Feral Pigeon prey, stashes it in the box, then incubates the chicks.
26 April – the male lands at 4:50 and sits on the ledge. The female moves the stashed pigeon to the other side of the box then flies off at 5:00. The male sees his opportunity and steals the meal and flies off with it. She returns a few minutes later. The first changeover is at 6:50 but the female arrives 15 minutes later with fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks for the first time and stashes the remains. She flies off at 8:40 but is back a few minutes later. At 10:15, the male arrives with freshly plucked Starling prey which the female feeds to the chicks; he flies off. She leaves at 11:25 returning after five minutes. There is another feed at 13:20 using the stashed prey. At 14:40, the male arrives with more Feral Pigeon prey but flies out with it when he sees that there is plenty already stashed. The female looks out from the platform briefly at 16:25 and takes a short flight five minutes later. The male arrives at 17:00 and removes the stashed pigeon. The female flies out at 17:50 and returns with the pigeon and feeds the chicks. The male removes the pigeon at 19:10 but returns with it ten minutes later and the female feeds the chicks.
27 Apr – the male arrives on the ledge at 5:00 but the female sits tight on the chicks until 5:05 when she feeds them with the stashed pigeon; he flies off. She leaves with the remains but quickly returns to the chicks. She feeds them again at 6:25. The male brings in a small morsel of food ten minutes later, but the female ignores him, so he eats it. He is back briefly at 7:30 and at 8:20 brings in more Feral Pigeon prey and there is another feed and again at 9:05 and 10:25. At 12:15, the male flies in with another parcel of food. He retrieves the stashed meal at 13:05 but brings it back ten minutes later. The female ignores him, so he leaves with it. He flies into the box at 13:40, checks the female then moves to the ledge before flying off. He is back at 15:05 and there is a five-minute changeover as the female retrieves food for the chicks. The male lands on the ledge at 18:35 and the female leaves the scrape. For the first time the FOURTH chick can be seen free of its shell. She flies out so he incubates whilst she fetches some food. The final feed of the day is at 20:20.
28 Apr – the male flies in at 6:25 and checks the box, and the female instigates the first feed using the stashed pigeon; he flies out. The male lands at 9:10 and removes the stashed pigeon. He quickly returns with a fresh Feral Pigeon fully plucked but then leaves with it. He is back again with the meal 15 minutes later and the female takes it from him and feeds the chicks. She then flies out with the remains, returning with a larger meal which she stashes. The male brings in some scraps at 12:00 and gives them to the female, then flies off after a few minutes on the ledge. He is back at 14:45, checks the box then flies out. At 16:05 she flies out, then quickly returns to the chicks. The male brings in more Feral Pigeon at 16:30 for another feed. She flies out to stash the remains. She flies out at 17:45 and the male takes over incubation briefly. One of the chicks manages to get out of the scrape but thankfully the male quickly notices and drags it back in. The female returns at 18:00 and feeds them again. The male lands on the ledge at 19:55 and the female feeds the chicks, the last of the day. She leaves to stash the remains and he incubates the chicks. She soon returns and also has problems controlling one of the chicks that tries to escape from beneath her but quickly recovers it. Comment: during feeding time, the final chick gets stuck under its siblings and sometimes looks though it misses being fed.