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!
Got to go now so happy watching all; it seems food did get dropped off after all, the chicks started eating it appx half an hour later!
MICHAEL: Thanks for the update; it's good to know the other 2 have fledged safely and are enjoying life on the farm)
Looks like at least one has gone back in the box for the night with the other 2, hope the other one is OK if still out as sounds as though it's raining there now.
Mum just came in with a drop off but couldn't see what it was. Lots of munching going on at the back. Looks like still 3 in the box.
That was odd, went back to the box and just 3 sat at the front, food must have been very small. Sounds like pitter patter on top of the box now and again, wonder if it's the 4th one.Would be nice to know all OK and survived first night on its own - wonder how near Mum & Dad are roosting.
2 of them just turned round and did a poo outside the box - aren't they clean?!
1 just flown off.
if you remember last year..Dom put up a photograph of all 4 sat on the box roof..I imagine they are doing the same this year..:-)
Capturing the Light with an original perspective displayed in every Photograph..perhaps
Dad just dropped something off - was brilliant to see him on Coombe Heath on Saturday, sure it must have been him, shame bit too distant so photo is rubbish otherwise would have posted on Arne page.
Oh dear, think it was another lizard. Yes, I do remember Pete and was fantastic to see the chicks out on nearby posts too.
Oh no, must have just missed another one fly out! Have to go out now, shame.