Derby Cathedral peregrine lays first egg of 2024

Webcam watchers were able to see the first egg of 2024 arrive

A female peregrine falcon living in the tower of Derby Cathedral has laid her first egg of 2024.

An eagle-eyed bird watcher spotted the moment on a webcam at about 12:00 GMT on Sunday.

Peregrines have been nesting on the cathedral tower since 2006 and cameras have been set up to allow viewers to watch them live.

The bird of prey is expected to lay another three eggs this spring, with two-day gaps between each.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said the egg, which was laid a day earlier than the first of 2023, was spotted by Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project webcam watcher Vic Pearson.

Peregrine falcons have been encouraged to nest in the tower of Derby Cathedral since 2006

Nick Brown, inquiries officer at the trust, said: "Females tend to lay a bit earlier as they get older so we were expecting to see an egg about now.

"With luck the female will lay a further three eggs to make a complete clutch, doing so at two to three-day intervals.

"Once complete, incubation will then last about a month before the eggs start to hatch."

Peregrine falcons are the world's fastest animal, able to reach speeds of up to 200mph (322km/h) when diving down on to prey.

They nest in high places such as urban towers and rural cliffs and have excellent binocular vision, allowing them to see prey from as far as 1.8 miles (3km) away.