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!
I pop into the bakers in wool for a breakfast pasty and get a couple of buns as well pudweena..you could always make the vc staff a cake or 2 as you are at home alot these days watching kestrels on the computer..:-)
Capturing the Light with an original perspective displayed in every Photograph..perhaps
You lot are making me hungry - shush!
Amazingly we now have a fourth chick. I wasn't really expecting that but it appeared about 4 this afternoon. Still one egg left! Havent seen the male too much today has been a bit cold!
This was the second time in about 5 minutes the father had returned to the nest with a rodent (vole?). The mother hadn't finished giving out the first one. She seemed to give all of the first rodent to the chicks and some of the second before taking the rest outside to finish herself.This was the first time I had watched the webcam, which I found by accident in an RSPB tweet. Looking at previous comments it seems that I came upon this not long after the 4th chick was born!I've only been to Arne once, late last year, but it was such a stunning place and I would love to return for a visit at some point. In the meantime I'll be keeping up to date with the kestrels by watching the webcam and following your blogs.
yes i saw 4 chicks great
Been waiting for this and.......missed it! Thanks for this photo - the little one looks strong so far. I'm new to this and didn't know whether it would have feathers or not! I thought if it was bald it would be easy to spot from the others!
Well captured!
Lots of feeding going on today, Dad doing a sterling job! Also had a lovely visit to Arne today, possibly saw Dad out hunting this morning, and it was great to put a face to a couple of the names I've seen on the forum!
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
I'll bring a cake next time, bit difficult to carry with the crutches!
Yes good to meet you today. All sorts of things being brought in today including a bank vole, a common lizard, a slow worm and a common shrew - It shows that they aren't fussy eaters and will catch hat ever is about!