We have all waited patiently with fingers crossed to see if our pair of buzzards would settle down and raise a family on our webcam nest but after a lot of early activity they seem to gone to somewhere else. So not to worry here at Arne we have always got something else up our sleaves and I am sure a lot of you will remember our kestrel family from last year. They had a brilliant 2011 by succesfully raising four healthy chicks including the smallest one that worried a few people early on.
We have decided to put this nest back online now and you can also come and watch it in the visitor centre. The female is sitting on 5 eggs at the moment and this is the same as last year although one failed to hatch. We are not sure when she laid her eggs as she was already sitting on the 5 when we turned the camera back on a week ago. However we think she is at least 2 weeks earlier than last year and the first chick actually hatched on the 21st May 2011. It is a bit difficult to predict when they will hatch but the female will incubate for about 28. So given this information please feel free to have guesses on dates!
To Watch this webcam online follow the link on our main web page or click here http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/a/arne/webcam.aspx
Don't be confused by the buzzard information still on the page it will be updated in the next couple of days!
She is sat pretty tight at the momment - perhaps I will have to wait for tommorrow to see chick action!
lovely family scene indeed!
Can't wait until tomorrow! I have a poorly child so should be able to watch all day! It did cheer him up to see chicks.
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
Relying on you again then Jot to spot third chick - no pressure :-)
:-) I'll do my best!
An action replay from a little earlier for anyone who missed today's excitement:
This shows 2 chicks being fed with morsels of rodent before mum briefly pops out to down the rest of the furry wee beast off camera.
It really was great to see her feeding such newly hatched chicks, very good Mum! And Dad of course!
testing screen capture
Well you are the 'Capture King' Dom. I have just tried and eventually succeeded but I have 32 separate instructions on what to do to achieve it. I think if I try to do this too often they will have all fledged by the time I get back to the action. There must be an easier way! At least I am trying though :-)
If I spot the third chick pudweena I'll hv a go at 'capturing' the moment!