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The chicks are still in the nest, but the largest one is getting increasingly adventurous. When its not too windy it often spends time hopping out onto branches next to the nest, and then vigourously flapping. Probably much to the relief of its siblings, which before kept getting clonked on the head when it wanted to exercise!

With growing chicks also come growing appetites, and this morning we had the unusual sight of one of the chicks with a crow's wing stuck out of its beak. Evidently the crow had been a road casualty and the remains had been brought back to eat. One of the chicks gobbled the whole lot down, but had trouble with the final piece. It finally managed to swallow it though, much to the relief of all.

The chicks are continuing to grow, and are fast losing their downy white feathers for something more adult looking. They've also taken to standing on the edge of the nest, vigourously exercising their wings. All very important to build up muscles ready for their first flights, but a tad nerve-wracking for onlookers here at the centre! We wonder how long it'll be before the first great leap into the unknown is made.

A common sound to be heard whenever children visit relatives, but equally true for our kite chicks. Seeing them every day, you don't appreciate how quickly they are growing in size, but having just come back from 4 days off the increase was quite apparent. Already the two larger chicks are starting to get darker flight feathers poking through the white down. The smallest chick is still entirely in white but it can't be much longer before it too starts to get the first trappings of adulthood.

Visitors to the centre this weekend will find more than just the kites to look at. We will be holding a 'Springwatch Weekend', where you can try out wildlife watching and see if you will be the next Kate Humble or Bill Oddie. There will be wildlife watching classes on both days, a dawn chorus walk on the Sunday and a demonstration of binoculars and telescopes on the same day. Well worth a visit!