Hello - This is a rather rushed first post but after a long time with nothing happening on the kestrel nest we came in this morning to find our surprise that the first egg has been layed! Very exciting! So I have switched the web cam over for the time being!
We are still keeping an eye on the buzzard nest so if they do decide to use it we will switch over to them!
But for the time being happy viewing of the kestrels
Michael
Ps - As this has happened quickly the web cam caption will still be for the feeder for a few days until I get the web team to change it over!
Squeal alert so dashed to computer, saw Dad fly off and Mum now feeding chicks but with back to camera and in dark corner so can't see what's been brought in.
Sad to hear no Kestrels in the New Forest any more, Mr Packham should move into the next county :-)
All chicks on their own having a preen - Mum just went out having been at the front of the box and occupying the whole screen for a little while :-)
We have come in to some bad news this morning. Unfortunatley I could only count four chicks so we thought something had happened to the fith one. So we went up to the farm and unfortunately found the chick below the box. We can't be sure what had happened but there is a chance it was pushed out by its sibblings or alternatively it could have died and then been taken out by its parents. It was unusual to have five chicks this year and all though there appears to be plenty of food coming in it is still a big brood to look after. We have had four chicks fledge for the last two years so we are really hoping the rest will be ok this year.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but fingers crossed for the rest.
Such a shame, here's hoping the other four will be ok. They look great at the mo, just been fed something fluffy :-)
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
We have had a water shrew brought in today which in a way is good news because they are in decline and we didn't know if we had any on the reserve!
And in the last 15 mins they have brought in a live vole that doesn't look too happy and a slow worm!
That is sad :-( Still, hoping for 4 healthy chicks :-)
Also sad about the Shrew seeing as there are lots of other things for them and in decline :-(
Glad I didn't see the live vole!
Just looked in very briefly before I go out and see all 4 chicks but one doesn't look too good at all and one of the others seems to be constantly pecking at it :-( fingers crossed things look better when I check back later.
Just looked in and all chicks seem to be sleeping.
Chicks hunkered down in the corner on their own, hope there are still 4, could only se 3 heads but hard to make out when all huddled together.
Group hug still going on, no sign of Mum or Dad for a while - been pouring with rain all day :-(