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!
Thanks for that info Michael & will look forward to eggs at Arne - my Kestrel pair here are in & around the nest but only still thinking about egg-laying!! They were well behind Arne pair last year but maybe will synchonise this year due to the weather problems - have seen them eating birds & a huge rat the other day - wonder what the vole situation is like?
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Hi Michael, it's that time of year again when I ask if you will be having a live streaming cam from your Kestrel box? Any signs of mating yet where you are?
Regards
Wendy
Hi Wendy,
Yes it is that time of year again - It is still slightly early but there are signs of activity on both the kestrel and buzzard nests. We are watching both closely and will make the decision on which one to stream shortly.
Hope that helps
Michael
Thanks Michael, obviously I hope that your Kestrels get their act together first & win the live streaming issue as it's a great indicator to what might be happening here with my pair who are also getting together albeit spasmodically! But will still be interesting to watch if you decide on the Buzzards. BTW, have been enjoying the bird feeder cam immensley but have been unable to log on recently, is it broken?