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!
better day forecast tomorrow - if you go can you get a shot of the kestrels outside the nest box - I saw one from Michael Wilson from last year
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
I wish I could get so close to the box..its on a farm and no entry..you can see the box from a field but long way off...Dom's the man that gets close..cmon Dom come back and get some Kestrel chick photographs..:-)
Capturing the Light with an original perspective displayed in every Photograph..perhaps
Are you listening Dom? Empty nest again today so they must all be hanging around outside. Forget what I said about better weather today - it's pouring & miserable again here in East Kent!! Disappointing about my kestrels here too - looks like only one fledgling which was flying yesterday but is now hiding out in nest hole 'cos of the rain. Looks to be only one parent - neighbour of mine told me the other day that he found a dead kestrel in his garden - apparently uninjured- about a couple of weeks ago. Shame he didn't mention it at the time so I could see exactly what sex it was - sad!
Good afternoon everybody. Just tuned in and two chicks at the front. Don't know if any in back of box.
I wish I could get an idea of how big they are.
I wish I knew how you captured that picture!!
Just spent last 30 mins watching kestrel chick perched on cliff face under an overhang of shrubbery obviously too near a blackbird's nest perfect position for nest-raiding if it only knew how to! Every bit as big as an adult. Two blackbirds agitating & tooting drying to draw it away - have watched many blackbirds bombarding kestrel chicks over the years - actually making contact and causing kestrels to sit 'crying'. This chick must be getting hungry - have seen no parental visits at all today
Just a quick look in, to see Dad drop off (twice) rodents; the first time the youngest was eating but then another sibling joined in and took over. Then Dad returned with yet another rodent and another chick came in and ate. So fast, sorry blurred!!
And again....
No chicks returning with their own meals yet then?
What is the unfortunate white fluffy thing in that picture?
I've been experimenting with print screen to get pics but can't get it to email - help!