Springwatch 2024

Dr. Loxodonta

Dr. Loxodonta

Well-Known Member
As Springwatch comes around once more, I thought it would be a nice idea to share the news on here.

General News:
The main location for Springwatch 2024 is RSPB Arne in Dorset. We’ll be returning this spring to catch up on the stories and wildlife characters from Springwatch 2023 – one of the most dramatic seasons we’ve ever had. We’ll also be exploring key sites across the county of Dorset, discovering the varied landscapes and local wildlife that call it home. We’ll also be on a road-trip discovering all that the Isle of Bute, Loch Lomond and Glasgow has to offer.
Live Cameras:

Barn Owl Nest: 4 Healthy Chicks, 1 unhatched.

European Robin Nest: 5 Chicks.

Peregrine Falcon Nest: 1 egg deceased. 1 chick cannibalised. 1 chick unknown. 1 chick alive and healthy.

Oystercatcher Nest: Unknown

Kestrel Nest: 1 chick (runt) cannibalised. 4 Remaining?

Blackcap Nest: 3 Young Chicks semi-fledged

Eurasian Blue Tit Nest: Not terribly successful. 5 chicks deceased. 3 chicks remaining

Chiffchaff Nest: Sadly all 5 chicks were taken by a Fox, edge of fledging. DECEASED

Goshawk Nest: 2 Young Chicks, alive and healthy.

Song Thrush Nest: Abandoned after Goshawk attack led to all chick being killed.
DECEASED

Eurasian reed warbler Nest: Unknown? At least 1 hatched chick.

Osprey Nest: Young Chicks, unsure on amount.

Dunnock Nest: 5 Young Chicks.

Siskin Nest: 4 Fully Fledged

Dartford Warbler Nest: 3 healthy looking Young Chicks.

So far this is all the news I have gathered up. All of the Live Cameras are accessible through the BBC. This thread will be updated weekly, if you happen to notice anything on the Live Cameras, please say.
 
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I have just noticed that there is a camera located at WWT London, focusing on the Sand Martin Bank, most certainly a nice spot for a camera.

Sand Martin Nest: 5 Young Chicks, seemingly all well
 
Dr. Loxodonta said:
I have just noticed that there is a camera located at WWT London, focusing on the Sand Martin Bank, most certainly a nice spot for a camera.

Sand Martin Nest: 5 Young Chicks, seemingly all well
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Interestingly, it was stated on Springwatch last week that Swifts mate on the wing. David Lack’s book ‘Swifts in a Tower’, stated many years ago that this is not the case, and that copulation happens only on the nest
 
Dr. Loxodonta said:
Oystercatcher Nest: Unknown
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Oystercatcher Nest: There are 3 eggs with no deficiencies on the shell, no sign of hatching as of current.
Dr. Loxodonta said:
Eurasian Blue Tit Nest: Not terribly successful. 5 chicks deceased. 3 chicks remaining
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Dr. Loxodonta said:
Just checked the Live Cameras and it shows only 1 Blue Tit Chick, hopefully this is not the case.
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Eurasian Blue Tit Nest: Sadly it appears there is just 1 surviving chick.
 
FBBird said:
That looks genuine. I wouldn’t have believed it possible. Thank you
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I have seen this once: about 10 years ago I was driving down a hill in Bury and saw a group of swifts more or less at my eye level, one seemed larger than the others and was flying rather slower - then suddenly this 'single' swift turned into two swifts as the pair separated. It should be noted that this was recorded by Gilbert White in a letter to Daines Barrington dated September 28th 1774, so this news is nearly 250 years old.
 
Live Cameras, 1 week later:

Barn Owl Nest: 4 Chicks, 1 egg (not hatching)
Peregrine Falcon Nest: 1 Chick surviving, looks healthy (3 Deceased).
Kestrel Nest: 5 Remaining Chicks (1 Deceased)
Blackcap Nest: 3 Young Chicks semi-fledged
Eurasian Blue Tit Nest: 1 Chick on the edge of Fledging (named ‘Sid’)
Goshawk Nest: 2 Young Chicks, alive and healthy.
Eurasian reed warbler Nest: 5 Chicks, on the edge of Fledging.
Osprey Nest: 4 Young Chicks with 1 being an obvious runt.
Dunnock Nest: 5 Young Chicks.
Linnet Nest: 4 Young chicks, may fledge by the weekend.
Meadow Pipit (and Cuckoo) Nest: 1 Large Cuckoo Chick, 4 Struggling Pipit Chicks.
Oystercatcher Nest: 3 Hatched Chicks, all looking healthy.
Sand Martin Nest: 5 Chicks, on the edge of fledging.

New Nests:
European Goldfinch Nest: 4 Chicks, 4 days old, Looking Good.
European Stonechat Nest: 2 Chicks, looking good

Failed Nests:
Chiffchaff Nest: Sadly all 5 chicks were taken by a Fox, edge of fledging. DECEASED
Song Thrush Nest: Abandoned after Goshawk attack led to all chick being killed. DECEASED
Blackbird Nest: Attacked by Buzzard, all chicks predated. DECEASED.
Reed Bunting Nest: 3 Taken by an Adder, 1 Taken by a Grass Snake. DECEASED.

Successful Nests (fledged):
European Robin Nest: All Chicks () Fledged on Wednesday (5th)
Siskin Nest: 4 Fully Fledged, unknown when.
Dartford Warbler Nest: All Chicks (3) Fledged on Wednesday (5th)
 
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