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!
1214 one chick went off for a wander, but soon returned to the huddle, must have got a bit chilly!
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
Lol Jot; when mum's away the chicks will play :)
They certainly got tucked under quick when she came back! Despite their best efforts fidget, wriggle!
12.41; Looks like a bird for lunch
12.44; and in the front right hand corner there looks to be a rodent on it's back, you can just make out its feet from a white blob
That was pudding! :)
1251; Goodness more food long slithery kind. Is it raining there? Dad looked a bit wet.
12.50 ...and here's dad with another snake, thinner this time - they've had a good variety today, gormet stuff :)
12.54 they're well stuffed! (snake now stashed in front right hand corner for later)
Just turned the TV down, actually sounds like it's raining pretty hard! Just shows what a good job Dad is doing bringing in so much food with rubbish weather!