Springwatch animal star update
Post categories: Springwatch
| 16:29 UK time, Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Sadly we had to turn the webcams off before some of the birds we were following had fledged. We promised we'd keep in touch about their progress so without further ado I'll hand over to Russell Jones of for the latest news:
We checked the oystercatchers yesterday morning and they have not hatched yet. All the barn owl chicks are fine (we have had reasonable weather since the last programme). I will check the oystercatchers again tomorrow as they should be hatching very soon. I am afraid the buzzards are too difficult, as we have no means of looking into the nests.
Update 24 June: The heron chicks now rarely return to their nest and the female oystercatcher is still sitting on the wall. The eggs should hatch about now and Ynys-hir has promised to check again. All the barn owl chicks are OK and Bob's' fast catching up in size with the others.
Update 23 June: The Ynys-hir warden holds a licence to check barn owl nests and he reports that all four chicks in the nest are doing well.
Update 1 July: Sadly the oystercatchers are still sitting on their two eggs but the time for them to hatch has now passed. The good news however is that the barn owl chicks continue to all do well and are growing fast!
Update 5 July: News just in from RSPB Ynys-hir is that our second buzzard chicks have fledged! Just today they were spotted in the trees around their nest being fed by their parents.
Update 12 July: Great news from RSPB Ynys-hir: the barn owls have all fledged. They are now likely to now be roosting in nearby farm buildings. In the words of Martin HG, a happy ending!
Update 21 July: At long last the oystercatchers have left their eggs. I've checked with the BTO about the chances of the pair having another go and it's bad news. According to Paul Stancliffe: "Unfortunately this pair won't have another go this year. If the loss is early in the season, then pairs of oystercatchers often lay replacement clutches but it is now too late in the season for this to happen. What a shame."
Update 26 July: Last week RSPB Ynys-hir posted of our barn owls venturing out into the big world. (Word of warning... you have to look very closely to see anything, but it's worth it when you do.)
Comment number 1.
At 21st Jun 2011, Angela wrote:Thanks so much for the update, after being so involved for the last 3 weeks they are on my mind. Much appreciated
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Comment number 2.
At 21st Jun 2011, Mutley60 wrote:Thanks for the update. It occurs to me, how did you get your equipment down without disturbing the buzzards? That must have been a feat!
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Comment number 3.
At 21st Jun 2011, Jo Phillips wrote:Thanks for the update. Hope the oystercatchers hatch soon!
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Comment number 4.
At 21st Jun 2011, Ian wrote:Thanks for the update and all your hard work
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Comment number 5.
At 21st Jun 2011, brooker12 wrote:I am really glad that you are keeping us updated on the Oystercatchers thank you
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Comment number 6.
At 21st Jun 2011, Cardyl wrote:thanks for keeping us updated,it was sad not to be able to watch their progress to fledging
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Comment number 7.
At 21st Jun 2011, diane wrote:so glad the Barn Owl chicks are still healthy
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Comment number 8.
At 21st Jun 2011, Neph wrote:It's really great to get the updates - thanks for doing that for us.
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Comment number 9.
At 21st Jun 2011, Janet Jackson wrote:What a fantastic location this year. I used to take the children to Ynys las on holiday 20 years ago because it was so unspoilt - and this part of the Welsh coast has the best sunsets ever. It would be good to see more of the Red Kites, and also, perhaps all the mini habitats on Shell Island?
I loved the guest presenters, that was new excitement each week. I am going to Great Orme at the weekend and would love a personal guide from Iolo! Can also recommend Anglesey for brown hares.
Have already built a bee hotel with my daughter - we loved the practical projects, they are cheap and cheerful ways to encourage wildlife in these hard financial times. Oh - and can I have Chris's Airstream when he has finished with it?
Well done team, brilliant - but that's 'not unusual' for Springwatch!
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Comment number 10.
At 21st Jun 2011, meadoward wrote:I can't believe the oystercatchers haven't hatched yet! Thanks for the updates.
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Comment number 11.
At 21st Jun 2011, smokeysea wrote:thanks for the update i've had those oystercatchers on my mind ever sinse the cam went down , thanks again
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Comment number 12.
At 22nd Jun 2011, chipsaunt wrote:Great to hear this update and I'll check back for more in the future. Is there any way you could let us see photos of the barn owls and the other chicks as they grow up?
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Comment number 13.
At 22nd Jun 2011, waterscorpion wrote:Thanks so much for the updates - and all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to get them to us. Let's keep our collective fingers crossed for all our birds...
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Comment number 14.
At 22nd Jun 2011, Clare wrote:thank you for the updates
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Comment number 15.
At 22nd Jun 2011, SilverAndEbony wrote:Thanks for the update. I think we need a Facebook page 'Have the Oystercatchers hatched yet?' or something like that.
It would be great if it got a mention on the News - And Springwatch too. There are too many people that let Springwatch pass them by.
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Comment number 16.
At 22nd Jun 2011, chickenlips wrote:Thanks for the updates. Lovely. Would love some pics if you are able to get any?
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Comment number 17.
At 22nd Jun 2011, Janwilks wrote:Am delighted to find these updates, have been captivated withe the owlets and oystercatchers in particular, and was so sad to think I would not hear any more about them, now I can look forward more. Thank you Ö÷²¥´óÐã for persuading me to get on line!
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Comment number 18.
At 22nd Jun 2011, jeztorrance wrote:Sorry guys, it's unlikely we'll be able to get any photos of them until they've fledged. Even then, we don't have anyone there so will be tricky.
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Comment number 19.
At 24th Jun 2011, Dianne Gregory wrote:Thanks for the updates. I miss seeing the owls but glad to hear their doing ok.
DG
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Comment number 20.
At 24th Jun 2011, Carol wrote:Hi, do you have any footage about birds breeding which was shot in Wales? I am a fan of birds conservation. So I'd love to see and collect those kind of video.
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Comment number 21.
At 24th Jun 2011, jeztorrance wrote:@Carol, there is a vast selection of Ö÷²¥´óÐã material here /nature/wildlife. You might not be able to search specifically for breeding in Wales but you can search via any species you're interested in.
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Comment number 22.
At 24th Jun 2011, Helen wrote:I'm sure we've been told, but how many weeks does an oystercatcher incubate? It seems a long time.
I'm glad we have a news update. We feel that we are so involved and responsible and hope for a happy ending for all the nests.
Thank you.
HelenA
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Comment number 23.
At 25th Jun 2011, jeztorrance wrote:@ Helen, the normal incubation period is just under a month.
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Comment number 24.
At 25th Jun 2011, diane wrote:So glad the barn owl chicks are still all healthy.Barn owls are my favourite birds of prey
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Comment number 25.
At 25th Jun 2011, tina wrote:i still miss watching the owlets....glad bob is catching up with his siblings...thanks for the update
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Comment number 26.
At 26th Jun 2011, WildifePhotographerSmith wrote:Thanks for this. Good luck to BOB and all the other fantastic animal stars. You make my spring!
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Comment number 27.
At 26th Jun 2011, george thompson wrote:can you give me an update on the ospreys.
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Comment number 28.
At 27th Jun 2011, jeztorrance wrote:@ George, the Dyfi ospreys have their own Facebook page where you can keep in touch with all the news:
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Comment number 29.
At 27th Jun 2011, wildlifeloversharon wrote:So pleased barn owl chicks doing well, it was brilliant to watch them over the three weeks, it would be wonderful to see them fledge. Look forward to more updates. Many thanks for a wonderful programme.
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Comment number 30.
At 28th Jun 2011, Iveta wrote:Are the oystercatchers hatched yet?
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Comment number 31.
At 3rd Jul 2011, chel wrote:So pleased the barn owls are doing well,when are they due to fledge?
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Comment number 32.
At 5th Jul 2011, jeztorrance wrote:@chel, the barn owls are due to fledge in the next 1–2 weeks.
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Comment number 33.
At 7th Jul 2011, Syrinx wrote:Thanks for the updates. It's sad about the Oystercatchers - I wonder how long it will be before they realise that their eggs aren't going to hatch. Will they breed again this season?
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Comment number 34.
At 7th Jul 2011, chel wrote:Jeremy,Thankyou so much for replying.Are you going to keep us updated on them?Is such a shame we can't watch them anymore on web cams
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Comment number 35.
At 7th Jul 2011, sandi43 wrote:I am so glad the barn owl chicks are doing well. It's a shame about the Oystercatcher eggs.
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Comment number 36.
At 7th Jul 2011, jane wrote:hi thanks for the updates. i am really keen to know how the owlets are getting on, and when they are likely to leave the nest. is it possible to post a picture on how they are now.
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Comment number 37.
At 7th Jul 2011, jeztorrance wrote:@jane, much as we'd love to this won't be possible as we don't have any cameras there now. We're relying on the updates from the good folk at RSPB Ynys-hir.
@chel, we'll keep updating as soon as we have any news. Think I'm missing them as much as you are!
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Comment number 38.
At 7th Jul 2011, jeztorrance wrote:@Syrinx, the oystercatchers might well have time for a second brood.
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Comment number 39.
At 12th Jul 2011, chel wrote:That is fantastic news about the barn owls,let's hope they keep showing thierselves
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Comment number 40.
At 13th Jul 2011, tina wrote:awwww thanks for telling us about the barn owls fledging...wonderful news...go bob go lol
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Comment number 41.
At 22nd Jul 2011, sue wrote:Thanks for the update, so sad about the oystercatchers after all that sitting on the eggs. I think that they would have made good parents if the eggs would have hatched.
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Comment number 42.
At 23rd Jul 2011, groovy7355 wrote:Great that we can still keep up with the birds really enjoying it. Really pleased about barn owl so proud of Bob he has come such a long way, its amazing how attched i've grown to him. Cant wait for autumn watch
Thanks again for updating, its appreciated
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Comment number 43.
At 25th Jul 2011, chel wrote:That is such a shame and sad news about the oystercatchers.Is there anymore news on the barn owls?Thankyou for keeping us updated
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Comment number 44.
At 26th Jul 2011, jeztorrance wrote:@chel, just updated the blog post with a link to a new pic of the barn owls. Enjoy!
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Comment number 45.
At 26th Jul 2011, chel wrote:Thankyou Jeremy.Your not wrong,you do need to look hard but definately worth it,they look so grown up now,here's hoping for more pics of them,would be fantastic to see all 4 of them together.Again thankyou for your updates,really do appreciate them :-)
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Comment number 46.
At 13th Aug 2011, chel wrote:Evening,just wondering if there is anymore news on the barn owls please?
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