I have been watching a pair of Kestrels nesting in a box on my patch for some time now, keeping well clear most of the time, just having a peep with my bins now and then to see the hen is still sitting her eggs. I noticed one day last week she was missing from her usual spot, watching from the nest box as she surveyed her territory, I wondered where she could be. Had the eggs failed and she had deserted? Had the nest been robbed by a predator? A Crow, Squirrel etc? The nest looked so vulnerable without her siting in it, or on a more positive note had the eggs hatched and she was waiting somewhere for hubby to bring her a meal for her new born?
I would have to wait for the answers as we were about to have a few days away on our boat in Norfolk. Today I went and staked out the nest, I sat watching the front of the box for ages with no clues to what was going on, I was becoming concerned at the lack of attention around the nest box. I thought I saw some movement earlier which turned out to be a fly inside the box, its funny what tricks your eyes play when you stare in the same place long enough. All of a sudden I did see some movement and was mad with myself for not reacting quick enough to take a picture of what it was, I need not have worried as soon after I saw another movement which this time I did record, it was a pair of wings obviously from a baby Kestrel, how relieved I felt,soon after I was rewarded with a view of a couple of heads, happy days.
Being a natural worrier I was now wondering if my presence was keeping the parents away, I was in my dome hide, but I would be kidding myself if I thought the birds could not see it. I need not have concerned myself as suddenly the male appeared with an offering, a vole for his off-spring. He presented it to his partner, and in seconds he was off hunting again. It amazes me that most of the food finding is done by the male who usually brings it to the female to feed to their chicks.
It was another two hours before they returned with the next meal, it looked very much like a tree sparrow.
I am very pleased to report that all is well with the Kestrels on my patch, particularly as they are now on the amber list. I hope to monitor the progress of the chicks over the next week or so. happy days.
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