THE Echo's online audience will again be able to follow the life of a pair of goshawks as they bring up their family in the New Forest thanks to the magic of Carnyx Wild’s nest cam.

The Date With Nature camera is hidden away high in a tree in a secret location in the heart of the New Forest.

Previous year's footage of the goshawks

Over the course of the coming weeks, it will bring live pictures of the female hawk sitting on her eggs, feeding the hatched chicks, their adventure to the edge of the nest and their first flights.

The images will also be beamed to the Forestry Commission’s New Forest Reptile Centre at Holidays Hill, just off the A35 south west of Lyndhurst.

Two eggs had appeared by teatime on Wednesday and a third was laid that evening, but goshawks can sometimes have a fourth.

The live streaming is down at the moment due to a reported broadband issue, but keep checking back to see live footage from the nest cam at bournemouthecho.co.uk/goshawks

Goshawks are large birds, almost as big as a buzzard.

When seen close up they have a fierce expression with bright red eyes and a distinctive white eyebrow.

Their broad wings enable them to hunt at high speed, weaving in and out of trees, and their long legs and talons can catch its prey in flight.

As well as eating small birds, they will also dine out on small mammals.

Last year more than 20,000 people visited the Reptile Centre and took a look at the screen there.

The project begins April 1 and is run by the RSPB, New Forest National Park Authority, the Forestry Commission and Carnyx Wild.

RSPB project officer Therasa Paul said: “It’s a rare privilege to be able to watch birds of prey up close like this, and it never ceases to amaze visitors; or our staff and volunteers.

“We’re looking forward to sharing the experience with visitors old and new this year, and explaining what’s happening in the nest.”