Dorset Raptor Study Group
@dorsetraptors
Aims to further knowledge and protection of birds of prey and owls in the county of Dorset, with a special interest in Hobby. Support us at drsg.co.uk
The one on the right is a juvenile Buzzard tail feather. See attached image, top one adult tail, bottom juvenile tail. The black feather, not 100% sure but if you found them at the same time around woodland could be Raven primary flight feather. Featherbase (online) has images and measurements
We're delighted to announce the 2026 Dorset Live Hobby cam is back and the first chick hatched just this morning, happy viewing! More info here www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social y.social @raptoraidjimmi.bsky.social
Dorset LIVE Hobby nest camera 2026 coming soon! Will post details when live (24-48hrs from now).
Checked a few nest boxes yesterday. The same little owl site as last year has done it again....2 females (polygyny) have laid in the same box. I candled the eggs with my phone torch and only one of them developed an embryo. They should have all hatched by now. 🙁. Lack of males or nest sites?
At sunrise yesterday morning all 4 peregrine chicks were in the nest box. By 6 am 3 of them had fledged. The last one (female MS) left late afternoon and ended up on the ground. Thanks to a speedy rescue and access to the building she was back on the roof 2 hours later.
Pleased to have been able to ring a brood of Peregrines in Bournemouth town centre this weekend. One female and one male. Peregrines have bred in Bournemouth since 2009 and used 4 different buildings, not always accessible!
Another colour ringed Hobby back!! 😊. This bird 'BV' was ringed as a chick in Wareham Forest F.E. 2024 16km from this location. Not 100% sure on the sex of this bird yet. Was provisionally sexed as a female at ringing but looks more male from the few poor images so far. We will investigate!
Very nearly ready to go now! Blink and they grow up. We'll be keeping a close eye on these birds this week, fingers crossed their maiden flights go well.
A healthy brood of 4 kestrel chicks ringed for the retired Dorset Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer Friday just gone.
DNA samples were taken of the 4 Poole Peregrine chicks at the time of ringing. Samples are known as buccal swabs, akin to a saliva swab. These will be sent to the Raptor Forensic DNA Project based in Edinburgh and used to assist possible persecution/theft cases.
All 4 Poole Peregrines chicks doing well (the one male on the right). They have changed a lot in 7 days since they were ringed!
Poole peregrine chicks ringed yesterday. 3 females and 1 male (same as last year). All healthy weights and doing well. 3 females colour ringed white on blue HJ, MS and HH. 1 male black on blue WZ.
The 4 Poole Peregrine chicks are growing well and fast. Here being fed a late breakfast by the adult male.
Looking promising at one of the nests we are hoping to do a live stream of nesting hobbies. Male 'DB' (colour ringed last year) continues to show interest in this nest with his mate. Food pass yesterday eve and courting this morning. 🤞 they settle on this nest.
Check out the latest news of one of our live-stream camera hopefuls for 2026! Clips and details in our latest blog: www.drsg.co.uk/blog/hobby-news-may-2026 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @raptoraidjimmi.bsky.social
Was a bit concerned as couldn't see 4 chicks in many images BUT no worries, all 4 chicks present and correct this morning....being fed by their mother (ring ID VTR who herself was hatched at Winchester Cathedral 2023, 40 miles away)
All 4 Poole Peregrine chicks are doing well and growing fast! 8 to 9 days old now. Here their father is serving breakfast.
Pretty sure all 4 eggs at Poole Peregrines hatched. Tricky with occasional stills and what looks like one ball of white fluff! More egg shell appeared this morning at 0700. Nice, full house! Classic falcon hatching strategy with one delayed as a 'gamble'..will survive if super strong or lots of food
3 out of 4 eggs at Poole Peregrines have hatched within 24 hours now. Plenty of feeding happening so all looking good 😊
First egg hatched for Poole Peregrines this morning approx 0430. 🎉🎉
As of this morning no sign of eggs pipping at Poole Peregrines. Expecting eggs to hatch within the next 2-4 days. 🤞
Poole Peregrines egg #4 arrived yesterday some time between 10am and 3pm so if time averaged approx. 65 hours since the last egg was laid. That will/should be a full house now (this female laid 4 eggs last year). Now begins the long wait!
Early this morning an unringed Osprey landed on an F.E. nest platform we built in Dorset. A very brief visit so probably passing through. They are coming!! @forestryengland.bsky.social
On a recent work trip to Scotland I collected some prey remains from an osprey nest while revamping the nest. Not sure yet what species these belong to but the lowest being small and predatory I am guessing is perch. Any fish experts out there?
Poole peregrines 3rd egg arrived approx 1910 Sunday 22nd March approx 61.5 hours after #2 egg. Last year this female laid 4 eggs and raised 4 young so we should see a 4th egg Weds approx 0800?
Poole peregrines second egg arrived approx 0540 this morning making it about 98.5 hours between eggs. Normally eggs arrive 56 to 60 hours apart but longer intervals are not uncommon.
At last, first egg for Poole Peregrines confirmed 0340 16th March 2026.....in the new nest box....no chance of getting flooded out here 😊. Fingers crossed for a successful season.
On a recent work trip to Scotland (mostly maintaining osprey camera systems) I chanced upon a sparrowhawk plucking post with fresh feathers....classic. Feathers were from a female bullfinch.