Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve: Monday April 20th to Thursday April 30th

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Sunday April 19th - Late News

The female Kestrel laid her first egg at around 23:29. It wasn't spotted until the following evening as it was laid off camera, but once spotted egg laying time was able to be calculated.

Monday April 20th

We got our first views of the first Kestrel egg this afternoon. 2 food passes recorded today.

Tuesday April 21st

Dina Burford: Oystercatcher.

The 2nd Kestrel egg was laid at around 8pm this evening. They are right on the edge of the camera’s field of view so keep disappearing. Only 1 prey item brought back to the box today - the male tried to feed a common lizard to his egg!

Not to be out-shone by our Kestrels, our Barn Owls have laid their first egg!

Wednesday April 22nd

Dina Burford: 2 White Stork (presumed reintroductions - 4th record in past month).

No sign of a 3rd Kestrel egg (yet). The female spent most of the day in the box, with the male bringing her 4 meals.

We were delighted to hear from the Corbishley family that they have eggs in their nest box - one of the batch we donated to pupils of Badshot Lea Village Infants School.

Thursday April 23rd

Richard Seargent: 9 Mediterranean Gull.

Leonard Winchcombe: Ringed Plover & 2 Garganey (m & f).

8th record of Garganey on site, last recorded 15/08/19. 108th bird species recorded in 2020.

Ringed Plover is the 109th bird species recorded in 2020.

At circa 18:14 this afternoon the third Kestrel egg was laid. The Male brought back 3 meals today, and he seemed to be encouraging the female to eat them on the perch or box roof.At least 3 times this afternoon, the female Kestrel was spooked by a low flying buzzard (heard calling on camera). The Male also had a go at sitting on the eggs for a bit.

Friday April 24th

Richard Horton: Curlew.

Five meals brought back to the nest box today by the Male Kestrel. The female spent most of the day sitting on the 3 eggs.

The Barn Owls now have 2 eggs.

Saturday April 25th

Dave Baker: 2 Hobby.

Hobby is the 110th bird species recorded in 2020.

The 4th Kestrel egg was laid at c 16:51 this afternoon. 3 food passes today.

Sunday April 26th

Dina Burford: 3 Little Egret.

The female Kestrel did a great job fighting of an unknown avian intruder this morning who disturbed her eating breakfast. 3 food passes from Male. Female spent over 23 hours on eggs.

Monday April 27th

The 5th Kestrel egg was laid at c 18:00 today. 3 food passes from the Male. The female spent c23 hours incubating the eggs.

The Barn Owls now have 3 eggs.

Tuesday April 28th

The male Kestrel is doing a great job. Despite the rain, he brought his mate 4 meals, and sat on the eggs each time she ate, appearing reluctant to hand over incubation duties back to her.

Wednesday April 29th

Dina Burford: Redshank.

Redshank is the 111th bird species recorded in 2020.

Dina Burford added 4 new species to the pan-species list this week:
- Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca).
- Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana).
- Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea).
- Large Bitter-cress (Cardamine amara).

The Kestrels are doing a fine job incubating their eggs. Covered for c23 hours today. Only left uncovered for the 4 food passes from the male. Still 5 eggs so unlikely to see a 6th now.