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!
Enjoy your break Pudweena!
Hi all, just had to laugh; the chicks are doing so well and seem to be growing fast....at 11.30 am the parent ( i think it was the female but not sure) gave up trying to tuck them all under and just sat on top of them instead. The look on her face said it all....
They just don't fit anymore! All looking great.
Michael, will she eventually give up on that egg? Or will she keep brooding it?
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
Mum went out and came back in but didnt see what she had..now feeding the chicks..the one at front looks squashed..:-)
Capturing the Light with an original perspective displayed in every Photograph..perhaps
I think the chicks are brooding that egg for her.... got a good view of it 13.07, still intact
I hope it doesn't hatch now (I'm guessing it won't) because if it does it will be thoroughly out-competed for food.
Nice big lunch just arrived; looks like a blackbird maybe? Not sure but can see what looks like a beak.
Has someone censored it? My webcam is showing rainbow stripes.
Mine has gone off now too. Cam slip?/fault?
The cam's back on now, don't know whether there's much of the dinner to see though!!
Chick-tastic: