This years kestrel brood

[Scotch mist]

This is the story of the kestrels that nest in my garden most years , I managed to get 4 pictures of the rearing of the brood
they nested in a pine tree this year , they built on top of an old magpies nest , there was a ladder already there from the year before
So easy to get to without disturbing them

This is the first picture I got , with 6 eggs it seemed a big brood so I was interested to see how many managed to fledge

 

[Phill D]

WOW!! IS THAT NOW? seems really late to be sitting on eggs. normally April ? May...

 

[movan]

WOW!! IS THAT NOW? seems really late to be sitting on eggs. normally April ? May...

I do worry about the birds. Around here they are amassing ready to fly to warmer climates.

They should have left a long time ago. . Hope they will be ok.

 

[Figaro]

Can't be now surely ?

 

[Podney]

Erm........the rest of the story please!

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[Scotch mist]

it was 19 may , I have 4 pictures in total at different stages , I’ll post one each day for the next 3 days
just to keep up the suspense ?.

it’s a very interesting story , not to be missed , the pictures tell the story

If you want you could guess how many eggs hatched , we’ll see who gets it rite
& the winner/winner’s will find out tomorrow along with the next picture

 

[movan]

it was 19 may , I have 4 pictures in total at different stages , I’ll post one each day for the next 3 days
just to keep up the suspense ?.

it’s a very interesting story , not to be missed , the pictures tell the story

If you want you could guess how many eggs hatched , we’ll see who gets it rite
& the winner/winner’s will find out tomorrow along with the next picture

My birthday then.

I'll guess ALL of them. Fingers crossed.

 

[Val 3 dogs]

I'll guess at two.
First picture brilliant and good for you for having the interest and catalogu ing it.
Thank you

 

[Anthea M]

I say 4 and hope the magpie didn’t come back as they destroy other birds nests don’t they?

 

[Scotch mist]

I say 4 and hope the magpie didn’t come back as they destroy other birds nests don’t they?

the magpies won’t come back ?. that’s why the ladders were there in the first place

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[Anthea M]

the magpies won’t come back ?. that’s why the ladders were there in the first place

Goid I do hate them!

 

[Scotch mist]

Goid I do hate them!

thats another story and more pictures ?

 

[Figaro]

I`ll go for three fledging

 

[Scotch mist]

I`ll go for three fledging

If you want you could guess how many eggs hatched , we’ll see who gets it rite
& the winner/winner’s will find out tomorrow along with the next picture

we are still on how many eggs hatch , who many fledge will be a later

so how many do you think hatched , kind regards Kenny d

 

[Figaro]

Oops, sorry, ok three to hatch

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[Carol]

Three hatched One survived

 

[Scotch mist]

Well nobody got it rite as it was 5 eggs that hatched , I know the picture only shows 4 but the other one hatched a day later , this picture was taken on the 31 may

next picture is on the 19th June , how many do you think were still alive then ?

 

[Val 3 dogs]

I'm going for 3 still alive on the 19th June.
Lovely to have this happening on your doorstep.

 

[Scotch mist]

This picture is the 19th of June , 4 still alive and getting big , I think they may have eaten their smaller sibling
, starting to loose the fluff lol

Next picture is the 26th of June , and the last picture I have , how many do you think will be still alive ?


ps you were closest val ?

 

[Val 3 dogs]

I'm guessing down to one on the 26th.

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[Val 3 dogs]

Lovely pictures though, brought back a lot of memories of the sixties, when I shared the rearing of one, we ultimately had it flying free and returning to a lure.
What a thrill! and what heart stopping times when first we did it.

 

[Carol]

I hope its all of them, but I'll say 3.
What a beautiful place to live.

 

[Scotch mist]

Now comes the harsh reality of nature , on the 26 June , approximately 5 weeks after I started watching them , I heard the distress call of one of the parents , I could see it on top of one of the trees so wondered down (300 meters from house) It looked like Armageddon, you would have thought it had been snowing , the down from the chicks were everywhere, as I got closer a big buzzard flew out the tree , I climbed up to find only one chick with it’s head missing , all the rest gone , presumably already eaten, it was a sad day for me , all my baby’s gone

 

[jumartoo]

Ah, so sad.

To address the loss, a pair of Kestrels here in Spain raised 5 young to adulthood. It was great to see all 7 of them flying.

 

[movan]

Now comes the harsh reality of nature , on the 26 June , approximately 5 weeks after I started watching them , I heard the distress call of one of the parents , I could see it on top of one of the trees so wondered down (300 meters from house) It looked like Armageddon, you would have thought it had been snowing , the down from the chicks were everywhere, as I got closer a big buzzard flew out the tree , I climbed up to find only one chick with it’s head missing , all the rest gone , presumably already eaten, it was a sad day for me , all my baby’s gone

View attachment 348741

Oh no. That made me cry. You did your best.

I remember the carnage when magpies snapped all the heads off my baby white doves... Had to clear the mess before my (then) little girl found them. ... Only to have it done again to my baby lop eared rabbits. I HATE MAGPIES.

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[Armytwowheels]

What a sad ending, but nature is what it is I suppose. ?

 

[Shrimp]

It’s horrible when any young bird/animal gets predated but everyone has to eat, that includes the predators!

 

[TheAleMan]

Buzzard just doing it's job. There would have been other Kestrel nests in the area that were more productive and make up for this shortfall.

 

[PhilandMena]

That's nature ! Thanks for posting.

 

[Mrsambulancekidd]

So sad, but that's just nature as nature is.

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