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!
jot said: What on earth is Mum doing? Is she trying to bring up a pellet?
What on earth is Mum doing? Is she trying to bring up a pellet?
Mum and Dad! Briefly....
Jo T Always on the side of the feathered guy!
11.28: Looks like a slow worm for breakfast
Lol! :-)
jot said: That's true, bit of rain is nothing! I've just starting using a MacBook so still trying to get to grips with it! Still trying to work out how to get my screen captures on here, I can take them but they are in the wrong format! More research required!
That's true, bit of rain is nothing! I've just starting using a MacBook so still trying to get to grips with it! Still trying to work out how to get my screen captures on here, I can take them but they are in the wrong format! More research required!
Got to log off now, things called 'responsibilities' beckon sigh....but good to see that all remains well and that both parents are coping very well. A last glimpse is of the chicks alone, now spread evenly across the back of the nest box. I wonder where mum's going to sit? :)
17:45 dad brought a mouse and the bigger chick swallowed it within a minute! the brother on the right was expecting a share..but will have to wait his turn ;-)
Someone appears to have left a pile of kestrel chicks in the corner of this nestbox.
OH NO! Camera gone again :-(
Sorry-unfortunately the camera is down again this morning. We think it may be the same problem as last time so hopefully we can get it sorted as soon as possible!
We will get the team on it and will have the kestrels back with you all ASAP!