Today it stopped raining long enough for me to get my four piece ladder in the boot of the car and go take a look at the Kestrel chicks. The grass and more importantly tree canopy was wet through, but undeterred I place my ladder of a small branch of the Oak, I really did not fancy it much but it was about the only place to put it. I got within touching distance of the nest water running down my neck, but not high enough to see inside, I lifted the camera and took a picture, not up to much i have to say, another couple more equally as bad so down I go for a rethink.

The only other place the ladder would reach was the nest box itself, so that would have to do.



I could just see over the lip of the box, this revealed that there were five baby Kes's in there, good news. Another quick couple of images and away I went.



It was not until I got back and looked at the pictures on my laptop that I noticed a small rodent next to the chicks, obviously left for them by the parent bird. I hope now these will go on and mature to adults although one (the one on the right) did not look too well. I guess the strongest survive and the week fall by the wayside, it will be interesting to plot their progress over the next few weeks and I intend to visit them again before they fledge.