RARE birds of prey are keeping thousands of fans guessing after delivering a clutch of chicks at a specially protected Yorkshire Dales nest, but it’s hard to tell how many of them there are.

It is known there are at least three but possibly four Peregrine Falcon chicks which have been hatched by the nesting pair at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Northern Echo: PROTECTED: The Peregrine project has been nurturing the birds at Malham for 15 years_ Photograph RSPB

PROTECTED: The Peregrine project has been nurturing the birds at Malham for 15 years Picture: RSPB

More than 4,000 people have already visited the breeding site since it opened at the start of April. The Peregrines are TV stars after being the subject of Channel 5 documentary A Year In The Wild.

The chicks started to hatch a week ago, but the mother is keeping such a close eye on them it has been impossible to say for definite how many there are.

Ian Court, wildlife conservation officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park, said: “The female is doing a great job of brooding the chicks and the dry weather has had a positive impact.

"Peregrines tend to do badly in wet springs. Over the coming weeks, the male will continue to do most of the hunting, bringing prey to the site for the female to feed the chicks.

"I’d expect activity to increase as they provide for their growing family, so it is an excellent time to come to the cove to see them.”

Paul Brady from the RSPB said: “It’s fantastic news that the peregrines have successfully produced young ones again this year. The next few weeks are going to bring lots of activity as the parents catch food for their hungry chicks."

Information assistants and a team of volunteers staff the public viewpoint at the base of the cove which is open Saturday to Wednesday until July 30.