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!
Thanks for all the updates Pudweena:-) Shame about the fifth chick, but today all are looking healthy. The parent has just dropped off lunch, looks like a vole, clip to follow. The chicks are learning fast, pecking at it and trying to feed. But it's hard work, and they remain together looking a bit bemused at times. The larger one has managed to get a few beakfulls and there was a bit of tug-o-war going on at one point.
Here's a clip around 12.08 when the chicks were home alone
Here's the clip of the chicks feeding themselves....or trying to lol. The two at the front did very well....
Since then I have heard a couple of drop offs but didn't get back in time to see what went on.
While the chick towards the back eats, the one at the front stumbles around aw and I think the prey that was dropped off earlier, in the above clip, is still there. The one who stumbles around I think tries to eat it when his/her back is to the camera. Clip to follow..
Now MrAK briefly appears, can't see whether he drops yet another meal off, but he is in and out in a flash - little clip to follow
Here is the clip of the chicks trying to feed themselves with a new meal....another vole I think. the chick at the front stumbles around.
The brief appearance of the male...
14.52 It's only 15 mins since the last drop off - what again???!!! Yes, another meal is dropped off too quick to catch, and may have been a double drop, dinner and pudding, as there are two mammals (voles or shrews I would think) just been grabbed by the chicks.
Some pics of the feed before this last one....
....and AGAIN lol at 14.58, another vole?? There will be a shortage of voles at this rate lol. The male drops it off and I just manage to get him in the clip. No time to arrange the recording area hence the white margin. To follow....