Wildlife cameras
We're raising funds to install more webcams and stream live wildlife footage from across our parks and nature reserves. It's compelling viewing. Please note that cameras may not always be live.
Thanks to everyone who’s donated so far, to help us fund more wildlife cameras.
Any donation you can make will be gratefully received and will enable us to carry out essential maintenance on the Heron, Kestrel and Barn Owl cameras and the costs of streaming the live footage 365 days a year. Through your support, we look forward to bringing many more wildlife adventures into your homes.
To start watching the live streams, click the red ‘play’ button with the arrow in the middle of the video.
Hengistbury Head barn owls
Live webcam
Barn owls usually lay 4 to 6 eggs, with one egg laid every 2 to 3 days. This pair have been observed mating, so please keep a look out.
The baby owls – called owlets – take just over a month to hatch and, when born, they’re tiny, pink, and have no feathers at all!
By the time they are around two months old, they’re ready to fledge, which means leaving the nest and learning to fly on their own.
Hengistbury Head herons
Live webcam
The grey heron is a majestic bird commonly seen in Christchurch Harbour where it nests in the tall pines on Hengistbury Head.
Herons typically lays a clutch of 3 to 5 eggs – usually from early March into April. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for about 25 to 26 days.
After hatching, the chicks are initially fed by both parents, who regurgitate food for them. The chicks grow rapidly, and by the time they are about 50 days old, they are ready to fledge, or leave the nest.
3 eggs were laid in this nest and they hatched in mid-March. Unfortunately, one of the chicks did not survive, but the remaining two appear to be doing well and we’re hopeful they will thrive.
If you enjoy watching, please consider a donation to help keep these wildlife cameras running. Thank you.
Winton Park bird feeder
Live webcam
Birds can come to our feeder at Winton Recreation Ground in Bournemouth to supplement their diet with a regular supply of seeds and nuts, which are an important food source – especially if our summers are very hot, or as food becomes more scarce during winter.
Heron time lapse
March to May 2020 Video timelapse
Watch a time lapse of a heron chick hatching, feeding and growing into a mature bird from the nest aloft the Scots Pines of Hengistbury Head. The heron’s now fledged and will be spending its time in Christchurch Harbour and along the Stour Valley. What a fantastic experience this was to witness the maturing of this fascinating creature.
Kestrels nesting
2018 Video timelapse
Our Kestrels nest high in the tops of the tallest pine trees on Hengistbury Head. We had 5 eggs laid at the end of April 2020 which hatched and the chicks fledged in the middle of June. The male bird does most of the hunting until the chicks are bigger and only then will the female risk leaving the nest to hunt close by. Voles are their favourite prey but they will search out small birds, woodmice, shrews, insects and earthworms. The Kestrel has amazing eyesight and can spot a beetle 50m from its perch!
Please bear in mind these are live streams of wild animals and from time to time they might be bringing live prey back to their nest. This is live unedited footage.
If we raise more than our fundraising target, it will go towards our other projects and general running of The Parks Foundation.
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