THE goshawks may have flown the nest but the tale hasn't ended quite so happily for the hobby nest which replaced the young birds of prey on our online nestcam.

The hobby nest has had two of the three eggs taken out of it, with the final egg abandoned by its parents.

Cameras switched over to the new nest following the fortunes of the goshawk pair and their chicks taking flight last week.

Hobbies nest later in the season and a nest was chosen to film but when the camera was switched on at the weekend, only one remained.

Peter Dobson from Carnyx Wild said: "We believe that on Friday or Saturday last week, the hobby nest was predated by a crow or some other corvid.

"The female was still visiting the nest and spending short period of time incubating the remaining egg.

"However, she has not been at the nest since Sunday morning.

"The final egg will therefore be cold and will not hatch."

Although the male and female will remain in the area, it is too late in the season for them to attempt another nest.

Therasa Paul (corr), Date with Nature project officer said: "This is such a shame and the first time it has happened in the four years the project has been running.

"Although this is a disappointment, there is still plenty to see and do here at the Reptile Centre."

The Daily Echo had linked up with the RSPB, New Forest National Park Authority, Forestry Commission and Carnyx Wild to bring live pictures of the rare goshawks direct to the website from a secret location.

The project will continue until the end of August at the Reptile Centre in Lyndhurst.