HAVE you even seen a barn owl hatch? Here's your chance.

Dorset Wildlife Trust's (DWT) live webcam has returned and this time two barn owls have taken up residence and are sitting on four eggs.

The webcam is sponsored by Dorset Tea and viewers from all over the globe can watch 24 hours a day. 

The nest box that the owls have made home is located at Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve.

It was first installed in 2010 thanks to Wildlife Windows, and has featured breeding pairs of barn owls, kestrels and tawny owls in previous years. 

DWT’s communications officer, Sally Welbourn said: "We were all disappointed last year when no one took up residence in the barn owl box at Lorton, so this is such an exciting time and the webcam is a great way for everyone to follow their progress.

"Once the eggs have hatched, they won’t leave the nest until they have all their plumage and are at least nine to 10 weeks old; they could continue to roost in the box for another 25 weeks, so we have a few months ahead to watch them grow and develop.

"Barn owls are now a rare sight in the countryside, and the future for these birds is uncertain, which makes this webcam even more special.” 

Lisa Worthington from Dorset Tea added: "We are delighted to sponsor the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Barn Own Nestbox Webcam – what better way to enjoy a delicious cup of Dorset Tea than watching the miracles of nature live from our beautiful county. 

"The Dorset Tea team are very excited about the chicks hatching now that there are four eggs.

"We feel lucky to live in such a beautiful county where the wildlife is so abundant and we want people to enjoy this at the same time as savouring our tea which is inspired by life in Dorset.”

The nest box is occupied for about 10 months of the year, as after the chicks have left, the male returns throughout the winter to roost, which will be shown live on-screen in the Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre.

To watch the webcam visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/raptorcam