“For the next 12 weeks we will be wowing people by giving them a privileged peek into this wild and inspiring world. We’ll be at the Reptile Centre everyday to explain what’s happening in the nest – seeing people’s reactions as they watch the raptorcam is just priceless."

Dan Parkinson, RSPB South East

What's all this about?

The RSPB is using cutting-edge technology to show birds of prey in their nests as they breed, hatch eggs, feed chicks and teach young how to fly.

First up was a pair of goshawks, whose journey through the breeding season was being beamed live into the New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst and broadcast here.

The project, run by the RSPB, the New Forest National Park Authority, the Forestry Commission and Carnyx Wild, kept Daily Echo readers captivated until the moment goshawk chicks Denny and Furzey - named by an Echo reader - flew the nest last month.

Now a pair of New Forest hobbies, which breed later in the season, take their turn under the raptorcam spotlight.

A Date With Nature in the New Forest runs until 1 September, 10am-4.30pm. Entry to the Reptile Centre is free although donations for parking are welcome.

See all our stories about the goshawks including footage of the mother being blown out of the nest, here

What will happen when?

Did you know?

Picture: Sergey Yeliseev on Flickr

Facts about the migrating hobbies

Hobbies fly from Africa to the UK every May to breed. They are named after the French word for stir because of the way they plough through the air.

Between 900 to 2200 pairs of hobbies breed in the UK every year, including 12 in the New Forest. Incubation lasts 28-32 days.

Courtship takes place in May and June with dramatic aerobatics that involve soaring and diving over breeding territory.

The size of a kestrel, hobbies are more rakish with long pointed wings, a white half collar and black moustache.

They hunt in the early morning or at dusk , lounging in trees during the day. Most of their food is caught in mid-air.

The female spends most time on the nest incubating the eggs but the male will take over to give her a rest.