Slight delay in this update due to the Flickr issues.
Anyway, I've been somewhat concerning something was awry as since my return from holiday, almost two weeks ago, I've not seen the male. On the 23rd I saw the female leave the nest to go hunting and return a few minutes later with a vole.
On this morning the female was not in the nest but on a perch just above.
Kestrel 24-05-19 b by tblake2007, on Flickr
Perhaps not too much of a surprise as it was a nice warm morning. It did mean at last it was easy to see what was in the nest. There were 3 chicks and surprisingly 3 eggs
Kestrel 24-05-19 a by tblake2007, on Flickr
Think it likely the remaining eggs are not fertile. The female once again flew off to hunt and it did make me think that maybe something had happened to the male and she might have to raise these these chicks herself. Which probably would be unsuccessful.
I was just about to leave when, the male dropped in to the nest with a prey item
Kestrel 24-05-19 c by tblake2007, on Flickr
Can't say what it is but it was grabbed by the eldest chick who tried to swallow it
Kestrel 24-05-19 d by tblake2007, on Flickr
Male didn't hang around long and soon left
Kestrel 24-05-19 f by tblake2007, on Flickr
The chick didn't manage to swallow the rodent.
Anyway, I've been somewhat concerning something was awry as since my return from holiday, almost two weeks ago, I've not seen the male. On the 23rd I saw the female leave the nest to go hunting and return a few minutes later with a vole.
On this morning the female was not in the nest but on a perch just above.
Kestrel 24-05-19 b by tblake2007, on Flickr
Perhaps not too much of a surprise as it was a nice warm morning. It did mean at last it was easy to see what was in the nest. There were 3 chicks and surprisingly 3 eggs
Kestrel 24-05-19 a by tblake2007, on Flickr
Think it likely the remaining eggs are not fertile. The female once again flew off to hunt and it did make me think that maybe something had happened to the male and she might have to raise these these chicks herself. Which probably would be unsuccessful.
I was just about to leave when, the male dropped in to the nest with a prey item
Kestrel 24-05-19 c by tblake2007, on Flickr
Can't say what it is but it was grabbed by the eldest chick who tried to swallow it
Kestrel 24-05-19 d by tblake2007, on Flickr
Male didn't hang around long and soon left
Kestrel 24-05-19 f by tblake2007, on Flickr
The chick didn't manage to swallow the rodent.
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