Now the kestrels have fledged you can now watch our three barn owl chicks live via http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/a/arne/webcam.aspx.
They aren't very active during the day but watch during the evening as the parents bring them voles and mice that they catch on the heath and farmland close to their nest.
Feel free to use the forum to post any observations or questions and we will do are best to answer them!
Barn owl chicks take atleast 55 days to fledge which is a big difference to the kestrel chicks which fledged after 35 days. The oldest chick is about 50 days old and the youngest is about 40 days old so there is still abit of time before they all fledge. Female barn owls don't delay incubation of their eggs unlike the kestrels so there is always a big difference in chick size with the oldest being the most dominant and likely to eat its smaller siblings. It sounds gruesome but it is a survival mechanism and will see the older chicks through periods when food is scarce and often ensures that atleast one chick will always fledge. In the case of this nest they all look healthy and there has been plenty of food so fingers crossed for the smallest one.
Enjoy watching and listen out for the extremely scary noises they make!
The one that was in and preening away must have hopped out while writing the last message.
No nightly report this evening as webcam down.
Back on now - one in the box!
Saw one of the barn owl juveniles out and about at 6pm today. Must have been a youngster because it was flying in circles round the field and scaring every living thing away! On today's evidence they may be dependent on mum and dad for some time to come.
typical..I come down early and get wet..then the sunshines when I am on the way home..then you see 1 of the Barn Owls..when I stay late..they hide..:-(
Capturing the Light with an original perspective displayed in every Photograph..perhaps
I only managed to photograph its backside if that's any consolation Pete.
haha..oki dom that will make up for my wet dismal morning..:-)
You are so so lucky Dom, I can't believe it, 6pm?! I was on Coombe Heath for a couple of hours this afternoon and wouldn't have even thought to go along to the farm so early though had to leave before 5pm as out this evening.
Empty box but sound of hissing nearby so can sleep happy.
Mum & Dad obviously haven't sat them down and explained crepuscular yet then.
There was a report of one being seen in the cover crop field around lunchtime on Friday! It was sitting on a fence post and then flew along the side of the hedge. Probably was one of the youngsters having a bit of a practice!