How lucky are we?

[sandersj89]

Just back from a great few days at home on the Farm in Devon. Spring has well and truly sprung down there and I spent a good few evenings wandering the farm on my own to see what was going on and to try and bag a rabbit for the pot.

The highlight of the trip was to see the new residents. Mum and Dad told me a few weeks ago that a Kestrel had taken up residence in one of the barns, only 50 or so paces from the front door. The hen had been sat on the nest in an “arrow slit” on the wall of the barn. The barns were built in 1846 so the arrow slit is purely aesthetic rather than functional, other than when I was a kid and many people were slain by my hazel stick arrows!!!!




As the birds were well used to human company I spent a bit of time sat in a tractor cab a few feet from the nest and managed to take a couple of pictures of the first chick. This also showed that the hen had laid 5 eggs in all. So far we know for sure that one had hatched:



She has been sat tight for the last 4 days so we are not sure if any more have hatched. The male has been helping feed both her and the young one.

I have to say the eggs are wonderful to look at and I hope more hatch!!

As well as the kestrels we have the old residents on hand and breeding, the little owls (at least 3 pairs I thinks) and the Barn Owls (2 pairs).

Jerry

[sandersj89]

[Marianne]

How wonderful you are so close to wildlife on your farm Jerry !  I envy you!  Please do keep us updated on the progress of the chicks and their parents.  thanks for sharing! :D :D

[honeybee]

Yes you are extremely lucky to be so close to such a wonderful thing, and those eggs are indeed , very beautiful.

[Mothy]

Wow jerry...lovely phots and a sight for sore eyes..I love to see our native raptors!!

[tim]

Fab Jerry - good enough to eat??

[Roy Bham UK]

 ;D They look as safe as houses in there, bless em ;D

[dibberxxx]

wonderfull u are very lucky great pics and please do keep us updated

[Emm P]

Like most of our birds - they have hatched out as 'Ugly ducklings'.
Isn't Nature wonderful.
:)

[giantseye]

Yes you are extremely lucky. :D :D

Give the youngsters 4 months and the mouse population will start taking a nose dive ;D ;D ;)

Let us know how they get on :D

[sandersj89]

Thanks all.

Just been speaking to Dad, no sign of more chicks yet as Mum is still sat tight as a drum.

Fingers crossed!

Jerry

[Heldi]

Wow,you are lucky!  Brilliant picture of the chick.

[aquilegia]

Wow. just wow. You certainly are lucky.

keep us updated.

[Glyn]

Great pics...

[Andy H]

excellent ;D

[redimp]

That ain't no ugly duckling - there is no such thing - try telling that to the signets down the end of our road.  ;D

[clairenpaul]

you lucky thing, what fantastic photos- thanks. Bet you could watch them all day

[Val]

 ;D Your own 'springwatch' Oddie eat your heart out.....lovely.

[Carol]

Oh you are so lucky.  I do like the Kestrel!!  One sits on top of the telephone wire adjacent to our house and I love to watch them hovering as usual over the main road. 

:D :D :D :D

[GREENWIZARD]

very lucky indeed :)
what's the latest?

[sandersj89]

Quick update, spoken to my parents over the weekend, there are now 3 kestrel chicks, we dont expect the rest of the eggs to hatch :-(

But we also have 3 new arrivals, three barn owl chicks have hatched in a barn owl trust box that was installed 2 years ago!

:-))

Jerry