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!
13.13 early afternoon snack still beckons in the right hand front corner
Got to go off now. Happy watching :)
Do you folks definitely mean snakes and not slow worms?
"Cu-ckoo"!
Hi Everybody, hope you don't mind me joining you? This family are just great. Are they the same pair as last year? I love the way Mrs K snuggles over her chicks - amazing she can still manage to do so - they are growing so fast.
Hi Natalie. Yes - same pair as for the last few years I believe. I don't think she will manage to stay on top of the situation for much longer!
Thank you Dom! I think you are right that she will not stay on top of the situation for much longer - laugh out loud - but she continues to try! Thank you for confirmation that the parents are the same as last year. Four healthy chicks last year I remember but this year there is a real little one. Much younger than the others. Seems to be doing okay though - big smile.
19.10 - Mr K brings brings home the supper. Backs to us on pass-over so couldn't really see what it was.
0838 Mums been hunting, chicks very hungry! Small fluffy breakfast.
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
0950 Dad bring in some food, gone too quickly to see what it was!