Fluffy Falcons

Yesterday evening Dave Parsons (East Norfolk Ringing Group), and I went to check the kestrel box at Lound Lakes. Upon inspection three fluffy kestrel chicks were staring out and whilst small they were duly bagged up by Dave and brought down to be ringed, weighed and measured.

Three fluffy kestrel chicks

This is the second year that the box has been used now with three chicks being ringed last year so another good result for a new box.

Dave and I then went to carry out checks on some Barn Owl boxes in the locality but all three boxes visited had Stock Doves present. 2 young pulli in the first checked, eggs in the second and an adult with two very large and well feathered chicks in the third. So another good night for Stock Doves and a poor one for Barn Owls. It does seem as though Barn Owls may have struggled to get into breeding condition or suffered higher mortality than usual after the heavy snow in December last year. It may well be worth re-visiting some of these boxes to check for late breeding.