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Recent Events

July 1st - 7th

Sat 1st: a dry day, which became warmer as the day progressed. The chick spent much of the morning alone, sleeping, preening and moving around the nest. Early lunch today was a mullet, and the chick was pecking at it after being fed. By mid-afternoon it was warm enough to make the chick pant.

Sun 2nd:after the sunshine, we had thunder and some rain. Our chick spent a lot of the afternoon preening; its proper feathers are coming through well, and it’s clearing out all the downy feathers. Two fish were brought in by the male in less than two hours, so no chance of the chick being hungry.

Mon 3rd: Early on the male brought quite a large branch, which he placed on the edge of the nest – more ‘nursery rails’! Although the chick seemed to be alone for much of the morning, it kept looking up, as though a parent, probably the female, were on an overhead branch. Early afternoon it was hot enough for the female and the chick to be panting while they fed. A tree sparrow was looking on while they fed, but probably not waiting for leftovers as they’ve not been known to eat fish, being basically seed – eaters.

Tues 4th: a sunny day found the chick sleeping first thing, then the male arrived with a fish. When the female returned, she was being a sunshade, and there was little interest in the fish. A large flounder was brought after lunch and another late afternoon. A very full chick was seen walking across the nest later on, cleaning its beak as it went. Before long it was demanding food - again!

Weds 5th: both parents were bringing in nesting materials today, building up the sides of the nest to prevent their chick falling out! The chick did quite a lot of preening, and when the male brought a fish late morning, neither chick nor the female were very interested, and it was midday before the chick fed. The afternoon was spent dozing in the sun, and the chick was eager to be fed when the male brought another fish late afternoon. By this time, all three birds were panting in the heat. In the evening, the chick was on the nest alone, stretched out enjoying the cooler part of the day.

Thurs 6th: Today the chick spent some time alone on the nest - though mumis never far away! By late morning, the chick was panting in the heat whilst being fed. The male brought a large mullet in at the end of the afternoon which they all fed from until they were full.

Fri 7th: the chick was alone on the nest this morning, preening and looking very alert. It is beginning to look very mature now. No fish was brought during the morning, but the male appeared with some more bedding material. Early in the afternoon, he brought in a live fish, still wriggling, which he put on the nest and left. Mum was nowhere to be seen, so the chick had an attempt at feeding, but appeared put off by the wriggling and soon gave up! when the male returned, he flew off with the fish, leaving a hungry chick. Shortly after, both adults returned with the fish, now headless, and mum fed a very hungry chick. After a snooze, our chick was ready for another fish, butagain wanted to be fed.