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!
Joined by a sibling! It's always nice to have someone to chat to when your stuck indoors!
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
Rain getting really heavy here now - wonder if they'll all pop back.
We have rain, we have chicks sheltering.....
One just flown out into the pouring rain surprisingly.
Must either be hungry or seen Mum or Dad with food!
Rain just about to reach us - again!! Nice to get bonus views of chicks though - my one here has just jumped back into the hole - off to watch last Springwatch for an hour
thought you were off webcams!!!!!!!!!!!!!
morning all - better weather again = empty nest!! My kestrel chick being fed in nest still and then on cliff face by mum - he/she is so noisy though - still bleating away even though holding rather large vole. Mum keeps having a pop at the wood pigeons - trying to catch one???
am still watching Arne webcam - am i the only one?? Had bonus views of kestrels this morning - took some pics and one is back there now - looks awfully windy!!
No, still with you Wendy! Just a quick post, have not long got back from Arne and saw some of the Kestrel chicks in the flesh - was so exciting I can hardly describe the emotions, when you feel you know them personally! First spotted one a fair distance away with the bins on a fence post which eventually flew off and overhead and landed on top of the box! Then after about 20 mins or so another flew and then another - so 3 on the box and at one point one popped into the box for a few mins!!! Photos not the best quality but will put them up later, sorry no time as out for the evening in half an hour and tomorrow too but will try to put them up late tonight or tomorrow night. Will put most on the Arne page but will try here too.