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Recent Events

July 8th - 15th

Sat 8th: the chick was doing a lot of wing flapping early on, and is obviously getting stronger every day. Mid morning chick and mum were feeding off a piece of fish on the nest, when the male came in and flew off with it - so the two remaining birds had a snooze! The chick spent much of the rest of the afternoon asleep, sometimes alone, sometimes with the female for company. Later on, a persistent shower left a very wet chick, until the female returned to shelter it.

Sun 9th: Early afternoon the chick was alone on the nest with the remains of a fish. It was stretching its wings and preening. The male returned to feed briefly, but the chick spent most of the rest of the afternoon alone and sleeping.

Mon 10th: nice and sunny this morning, and our chick was sleeping in the sun early on. The male brought a fish for a late lunch, which both chick and female fed on. Late in the afternoon, the chick was very active, wing stretching and taking small jumps across the nest. The male brought in more nest material, almost landing on the female before leaving again. The female was very vocal for a while, and could be heard even after she had left the nest. The chick was left excercising it wings vigorously on the nest.

Tues 11th: although the chick appeared to be alone on the nest, we could see a shadow of one of the adults on the side of the nest. Later, the chick was stretching it wings, looking almost ready to jump, with a tree sparrow on the back of the nest.Lunch today was mullet, brought by the male, served up to the chick by the female. Then it was time for a sleep, until more fish mid evening.

Weds 12th: first thing our chick was asleep - again! But it woke up for food, and then indulged in some preening and wing stretching, before more food at midday, and again mid-afternoon. The rather wet weather didn't stop the chick's wing flapping excercises, but it was very vocal - complaining, perhaps! Late in the evening, the female was on the nest feeding, but the chick was ignoring her, obviously full.

Thurs 13th: a lot of activity from the chick this morning, wing flapping and hopping across the nest and jumping up and down on the spot. Then it did a bit of 'housework', re-arranging the nest. We saw no fish until late afternoon. Then, early evening, the female was heard calling above the nest, the chick was crouched low on the nest - and a man appeared next to it on the nest. The ringing of the chick had begun! The chick was lowered down in a bag, and as well as being ringed, a few feathers were removed for DNA testing. After everyone left, the female quickly returned to her chick, who seemed none the worse for its adventure.

Fri 14th: first thing 05 was practising flying very energetically, jumping up into the wind. Then the female returned with a trout - but proceeded to eat it herself! It was not until several hours later that the male came with another fish, and, unusually,started to feed the chick. Then it was time for more flying practice, but unfortunately 05 got tied up in a piece of black  plastic bag - which it had been trying to eat earlier - and the nest was only cleared of 'stuff' yesterday! It managed to free itself, though.

Sat 15th: Female and chick were feeding first thing, then time for more flying practice. It can't be too long before 05 flies! Then it was time for a spell of preening, before lunch of mullet. Several times one of the adults came in with fish, then took it away again. Are they trying to encourage the chick to feed itself - or fly? Late afternoon we thought 05 had flown, the nest looked empty. In fact, it was sitting on the edge of the nest, watching the world, but was so well camoflaged we didn't see it! Late evening we had a beautiful view of the female on the edge of the nest, with the setting sun lighting up her breast feathers so that she glowed.