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Recent Events

June 22nd - 28th

Thurs 22: First thing our chick was looking rather cold and miserable, with the female sitting on the edge of the nest. Soon the male came with a flounder, with which she fed to the chick and herself. After this the chick perked up a little, standing and stretching, then feeding some more, still standing. It was very windy today, so our chick was soon sheltering underneath mum. In the afternoon, she left for a while, coming back with sticks for the nest. Two more fish were brought by the male during the afternoon, so no-one should have been hungry.

Fri 23rd: Early on the chick was being fed, then it did a little preening and wing stretching. The male brought more fish mid-morning, and we had a brief visit from the tree sparrow. The lunchtime fish was still alive and kicking, but still got eaten! After a snooze, the chick was trying to feed itself, the first time we'd seen this. Later in the evening, mum was feeding it again - it must have decided that do-it-yourself was too much like hard work!

Sat 24thOnce the chick had wakened, the female appeared to leave it for a while - but she probably didn't go far.It was late morning before the male came back, but no fish,  just another stick. Then he brought a piece of rope, not a welcome sight after our earlier experience. We were very relieved to see him take it away again. Then, at last, he brought a flounder, in the early afternoon. We didn't see the male, or more fish, until late afternoon, when he brought a large fish from which he had removed - and presumably eaten - the head. This was eagerly eaten.

Sun 25th: Quite a windy day, and after a bit of maternal persuasion, the chick consented to be brooded, and sat peering out from underneath the female, fiddling about with the bedding. It spent most of the afternoon snoozing , but there was no sign of the male or any fish whilst we were watching.

Mon 26th: Today we witnessed something we haven't seen before: whilst sheltering from the wind under mum, the chick suddenly turned on her and started to peck her quite aggressively for a few moments, before settling down again. When the male brought a fish, the chick was feeding itself quite a bit. It must have done well, as when the male brought another fish later, it wasn't interested, and watched the female eating. Later,  irt wanted to be fed, and when the male returned to retrieve the fish, she wouldn't let him take it untilmuch later,which seemed a little hard!

Tues 27th: Our chick was 'home alone' first thing, but seemed untroubled, stretching amnd preening.Its wing feathers are growing really fast now. The female returned with a piece of fish which she continued to eat. The male brought a mullet in time for a late lunch. Our family spent the rest of the day quietly, alternatly resting in the sun, eating and preening.

Wed 28th: Our chick is getting more active now, and was seen this morning walking around the nest and flapping its wings. When the male brought lunch, the female still fed the chick, although it has been seen feeding itself. It was spotted feeding eagerly again mid evening.

Thurs 29th: a dull and drizzly day ,with the chick sleeping when the female returned with an headless flounder for breakfast. The male arrived fishless mid-morning, and it was mid-afternoon before he brought in a large fish, possibly a bass, which he was most reluctant to give up. He seemed to have his talons caught in it, and flew off with the fish, pursued by the female. Our chick went back to sleep, with no food in sight. Later on the male returned with the remains of the fish, and the chick and the female tucked in.

Fri 30th: wet again, and the female was shielding her chick from the rain. When the male brought in a trout, she fed herself and the chick until it seemed full. We saw the male feeding on the nest on another fish mid-morning, whilst the other two looked on in the rain. By early afternoon the female was looking very wet and bedraggled, but she managed to keep the chick fairly dry underneath her. One fish and a couple of hours later the rain had eased enough for her to take a short exercise flight. When the male returned mid-evening, it was only to bring some twigs – not that anyone looked hungry!