Our date in the New Forest came to an end on the August Bank Holiday weekend. And it rounding off our busiest year since the project began in 2007, with a fantastic 22,000 visitors watching the goshawk and hobby nestcams at the Forestry Commission's New Forest Reptile Centre.
The non-stop action kicked-off in April with the surprise return of an old friend. An ex-captive female goshawk gone wild, who first appeared in 2007, made her spectacular return to our screens this year.
Two chicks hatched mid-May amidst heavy storms and high winds, knocking the female goshawk head over heels out of the nest! Sadly, the third chick only survived the first 24 hours and disappeared from the nest in bad weather.
The remaining chicks went from strength to strength, both successfully fledging late June, having proven their hunting skills by displaying their first 'catch' in front of the camera. The male goshawk was clearly a great provider for his family.
With summer progressing a-pace, next up on the webcam were the charismatic hobby pair. Two eggs were laid mid-June with one chick successfully hatching on 15 July. Rapid growth from downy chick to inquisitive juvenile in just over a month, puts this well-fed youngster in good stead for its epic trip to Africa, where it will spend winter.
Some 6,650 Bird of Prey Campaign pledges were signed over the season to help support these amazing raptors, and the New Forest team is looking forward to more incredible images next year, at what is a privileged look at the secret lives of our most elusive birds of prey.