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!
See Dad's taking a turn on the nest, think they are in for a very windy night.
Windy and Wet according to the boffins on the tv weather forecast..safe as houses in the box and warm I guess..
Capturing the Light with an original perspective displayed in every Photograph..perhaps
Actually it looks really, really damp in there today. Hope it dries out before the hungry mouths need feeding 24/7.
Pleased to see the Kestrals on web cam, love to watch, lets hope weather improves soon, we have had enough rain and wind for one day!!
You would think a little more care would be made to ensure she was not disturbed, She has been scared off her eggs by people a few times now!
the nest is at the back of the farm not near the walks..so how did she get scared off her nest by people?
someone scared her watch from 0940
It's a working farm so they are well used to noise and people around which is why they have been so successful. However, I'm sure they do still get jumpy by a sudden noise from time to time.I'm sure the Arne Rangers will reassure you darren.
Chicks! I've counted 2. Just watched the female eat the egg shells, I guess she does that to regain the nutrients. The male came in briefly, he kept looking at the chicks as if to say 'what the heck is that?'
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
Oh my goodness, just got in and catching up with things before looking at the webcam! Yes, Jot, brilliant, thanks, just got a peek when Dad just moved around and definitely saw 2 tiny chicks - now will not get anything done at all! :-)