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!
14.54; mum back at the entrance again, sorry I can't do the tech stuff, it would have been a lovely shot of her face and body looking out towards the camera.
15.58; Both parents arrive back with a lizard (green)
If this works (and it may not!) this is a pic of the chicks and the exposed egg, at 20.44
Sorry folks, the previous post is piccolated. Looks more like a marshmallow sundae.
Hi everyone, I am an intruder from the Loch Garten osprey forum - our webcam has been down so I was very happy to stumble upon your kestrels yesterday, I used to have a nest in the side of my flat and I love them.
Anyway, I happened to be downloading the webcam stream just now and luckily captured a complete feeding session, thought you might like it for a rainy day :-) I didn't see what prey was brought in.
IMAGICAT
Hi,mims & everyone.Been watching quietly from a distance when I can.Its as compelling as last year and looking good.Well done mum and dad.
A grass snake is a harmless snake (unless you`re a frog etc) that grows to about a metre long.A slow worm is a legless lizard;shows all the traits of a lizard and is rubbish at running.Its about half the length of a grass snake.There are loads of pictures on internet so wont post any...........Yes I will...Have been trying to encourage slow worms to my compost heaps with no success for ages so a picture will cheer me up.
Thanks to all for keeping me up to date.
I have just checked from home and the camera is down this morning - Hopefully it will be back online with in the next hour - A reboot is needed I think!
Hi Michael, hope you had a nice holiday! I need my kestrel fix! Hubby and son went to Pulborough yesterday and saw a White Stork, he managed to get a picture and has emailed it to them, typical I'm still stuck at home with my bad knee!
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
Unfortunately I have been unable to start the webcam and we have no picture in the centre either. Please bare with us whilst the problem is being fixed. Some one is coming to look at this afternoon.
Thanks Jo I had a nice break thanks! There seems to be loads of white storks aboput at the momment. Fingers crossed you will be able to get your kestrel fix later today. Even we can't see any pictures so will be interesting to see what we have missed.
oh dear! Fingers crossed nothing to serious, have you tried turning it off and on again?!