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!
They just won't stop wriggling! :-)
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
10.50 - 11.09 Mum returns to nest after appx 10 min break. Empty handed this time. Chicks gathered under and advised to be patient :)
That was still alive! Not for long tho.
11.16 Great - dad's brought a nice big snake
It was good to see the male again, all chicks excited and tucking in. A lot of preening and some wing flapping in mum's absence earlier - gosh they're growing strong so fast!
And pudding too!
11.29 pudding been stashed for later ?
Yes think you could be right.
If anyone missed that the second snake is hidden in the back right hand corner. Aw, it's a double edged sword for me lol - on the one hand I want them to get plenty of food, but on the other I feel sorry for the food.......
11.45 Pudding is served!