Our Kestrels are now live on the Arne website! The female has been sitting on the eggs for 32 days so the first should hatch any time. She seems particularly restless today and sometimes you can even hear the chicks calling from the eggs. Who will be the first to see a hatched chick? It would be great to see everyones observations on this forum so we can keep updated with all the excitement! To see the webcam follow: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/a/arne/webcam.aspx
And just after posting that some food came in!! Like the pic Dom :)
Was there food Mark S? I didn't see any change mouths? How could I miss that :( Been waiting here long enough ..!
Mum was outside for a while then came back in closely followed by Dad. Definately food this time but Mum took it to the back of the box so didn't see what it was. She is now being ambushed by her chicks. It didn't last long, whatever it was that was brought in! Dad only stayed for a few seconds and maybe realising he might get ambushed too ... he made a sharp exit left ...
The chicks have been sqwarking for food pretty much since they last got fed at 2.30 p.m. ish. Mum has shown that she has the patience of a saint!
I do hope they fed well yesterday to help see them through?
Dad just brought something in but Mrs K was that eager to get it, she'd snatched it from him before I could see what it was. Didn't last long so maybe lizard? All 4 chicks went mad for it and, even though it's now all gone, they continue to snap at her beak - "Surely there's more than that Mum?"
There's a lot of bird life in the immediate vicinity of the nest, so plenty of options, but maybe they have an unspoken neighbourly agreement? A big fat pigeon was sunning itself right below the nestbox yesterday, but too large to be bothered by them perhaps.
Haven't seen anymore food since the last time I posted. Mum's been outside the box for a good half an hour 'just waiting until he gets home'. I hope the weather conditions are better for them tomorrow ...
Dad just brought home 'the bacon'! Something bigger - vole or bird. Chicks going nuts!!
Wow...Rugby scrum brawl.....
That is one demanding crowd! They're much more mobile now and follow her round the nest to get the grub. When they stand up on their legs they're almost as tall as she is! She tries to incubate that last egg with something approaching nostalgia.