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!
1336 Sand lizard lunch!
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
No. 1 Chick:
Something rodent-like was on the menu at about 15.35 but I was too slow to grab a pic. All being well though, I have followed the various tips in this thread to post pics, so here goes ...
You ain't going nowhere sunshines ...
... hmmm, trying to escape through the back door, huh? ....
Yay! It worked! Thank you for all the tips :) :)
Tee-hee! :-)
LOL - I know, my first shots and all but hey :)
Some supper just now - sorry don't know what it was but least they have all eaten for the night,
Hi all, just logged on; computer painfully slow:( all looking well, chick just forced itself out from underneath Mrs K at around 13.45, very amusing
14.02; Lunch is served.... grass snake or slow worm, sorry but i can't tell the difference but it's a long one. Would welcome a description of the two, if anyone can help, as it's years since I've seen either :)
14.32; Mum has been at the entrance (looking for a snack?) for the last 10 mins or so: gave her feet a really good clean - great shot of those talons. It makes you appreciate that no matter how easy they make it look, it must be hard grasping something as thin and wriggly as a slow worm/snake, with those large powerful claws.
14.45; Mum returns from entrance and settles next to chicks; they look - and sound most disappointed that there's no snack and one of them has taken to pulling at mum's feathers just to reinforce the fact :)