When this kestrel nest box was installed in late winter 2024 on regenerative farmland managed with wildlife in mind, we hoped it might one day provide a safe home for a breeding pair of kestrels. There was no guarantee it would be used, but we believed it could make a difference.
For over a year, the box remained empty — then everything changed.
This spring, a resident kestrel pair, Hover and Dash, finally chose it as their nesting site and went on to successfully raise five healthy chicks.
One of the greatest joys of wildlife monitoring is being able to witness moments that would otherwise remain hidden.
Through the cameras, we have been privileged to watch every stage of Hover and Dash's journey unfold. From courtship and egg laying to hatching and raising their young, the cameras have provided a fascinating insight into the daily lives of these beautiful birds.
We watched Hover patiently incubate the eggs while Dash worked tirelessly to provide food. Together they formed a perfect team, each playing a vital role in ensuring the success of their growing family.
As the chicks hatched, the pace of life inside the nest box changed dramatically.
Tiny balls of white down quickly transformed into energetic youngsters, each demanding regular meals. Hover and Dash responded with incredible dedication, making countless hunting trips and returning again and again with food for their growing family.
Watching the chicks develop from helpless hatchlings into confident young kestrels has been one of the highlights of the season.
Every day seemed to bring a new milestone.
Young kestrels being fed by Hover
Most people know kestrels for their famous hovering flight. Seeing one suspended above a field before suddenly dropping towards its prey is one of the most iconic sights in the British countryside.
But the cameras have revealed so much more.
We've witnessed the gentler side of these birds — attentive parenting, sibling interactions, careful feeding and the endless commitment required to raise a successful brood.
The project has given us a unique opportunity to better understand and appreciate these remarkable raptors.
Two weeks old and growing fast
Four weeks old and fully grown
An important milestone came when all five chicks were safely ringed. This was carried out alongside my friend, Chris Payne from the Northants Ringing Group, a licensed Schedule 1 ringer whose expertise ensured the process was completed safely and with the welfare of the birds as the highest priority.
Each bird now carries a unique identification ring that may one day help researchers learn more about kestrel movements, survival and breeding success. Ringing provides valuable data that helps build a clearer picture of the lives of these birds long after they have left the nest.
Seeing all five chicks healthy enough to be ringed was a proud moment and another wonderful indication of the success of Hover and Dash's breeding season.
No family would be complete without names.
Thanks to the imagination of local primary school children, the five young kestrels have been named:
Flapjack
Ash
Crumble
Cookie
Christopher
Ash
Crumble
Cookie
Christopher
It was fantastic to involve local children in the project, helping them connect with the wildlife living right on their doorstep.
Then came the unforgettable moment — the first tentative movements outside the nest box, as the young kestrels began to venture out onto the entrance ledge and test their wings for the very first time. What followed were those nervous early flights and short hops, building confidence day by day, until finally the moment arrived when they fledged the nest box and took to the air properly, leaving their home behind and launching into the wider world for the first time.
Getting Brave
Exploring beyond the box
What began as a nest box installation in 2024 has become a remarkable wildlife success. Watching Hover and Dash raise five healthy chicks has exceeded all expectations and provided a fascinating insight into their lives.
It has been a real privilege to follow their journey this season, from breeding through to weeks of growth and care, all captured on camera.
A sincere thank you to the landowners for allowing the installation of this and other camera nest boxes, including those for owls, making this work possible and giving valuable insight into their lives and all the other wildlife on the estate.
