I will start with the bad news and it looks like the Red-wattled Lapwing nest with the 4 eggs has been subject to predation. Initially I thought perhaps the eggs had hatched and the parents had moved off into cover with the chicks. A thorough search of the surrounding area however did not produce anything. The parents were not to be seen, and normally they would be vocal and aggressive if protecting chicks. Later I came across two Lapwings in another area of the farm and had to presume that these were the parents that had moved away from the original nest site. I just hope it was natural predation and not egg collectors. Hopefully they will attempt another breeding effort this summer. The good news is that on a return visit to the two owl burrows my initial owlet counts needs to be revised upwards. At site one there are 5 healthy owlets and at site two 3 were present. A record image showing the five owlets just outside their burrow at site one Here four of the owlets are seen near the entrance with the other one perched out of sight above them on the rocks At site number two I did not manage to get a collective image. Here are individual images of the three owlets The one owlet and the one parent were quite vocal, repeatedly calling out to each other It looks like this owlet had been feeding recently with signs of blood on the breast feathers still visible Here the third owlet gives me a quizzical look. Quite often they would bob their heads or cock them to one side whilst looking in my direction A proud parent on look-out duty
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Here are some of the highlights from my visit to the local patch this week This obliging Collared Pratincole is a new tick for the patch A Little Tern resting in this shallow puddle A Grey Francolin against an OOF background An Indian Peafowl hen with her brood of 8 chicks in close attendance. She better be aware of the hungry fox mouths that need to be fed A Common Redshank gives me the once over A female Rose-ringed Parakeet busy feeding in this tree
Given what I had seen at the first site I decided to check out the other owl burrow to see what was happening there. When I arrived one of the adults was on the usual look-out rock on guard duty. It vocalised almost continuously for a period of five or so minutes whilst looking off in a direction across the Wadi. Using my bins I eventually managed to find the other parent perched in the shade of a rocky outcrop. It was content though to stay where it was. The owl at the burrow eventually stopped calling and shortly thereafter much to my surprise, out popped an owlet into the open. Two sightings of successful breeding attempts on the same day, it doesn't get any better than this!!! One of the parents vocalising whilst looking across the Wadi towards the other parent First owlet hops out into the open Another owlet appears An image with both offspring together in the frame Given my experience last year I will revisit the sites to check on the head count. I suspect that there may be more owlets on offer
My observations have led me to believe that the owls breeding attempt at this site had been successful. I have been waiting patiently to see when offspring would appear outside the burrow. Well today when I arrived I was treated to good views of their brood. At first one owlet was out in the open in the company of an adult. It then hopped back down into a large almost cave like recess in the rocks. Shortly thereafter three owlets appeared from within this hideout and sat out in the open on the rocks. First owlet observed in company of a parent Owlet looks down towards cavern entrance Jumps nimbly off the rock Pausing outside the entrance to the cavern Three healthy owlets put in a joint appearance Adult owl with the left overs of a meal One of the adult Owls on alert near the entrance to the cavern
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April 2024
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