Link to first page opener - here
Link to May 2023 - here
Recap:-
LJ2 returned 31 March 2023
LM6 returned 4 April 2023
Egg No. 1 laid 20 April - Hatched 27 May (37 days)
Egg No. 2 laid 23 April - Hatched 29 May (36 days)
Egg No. 3 laid 26 April - Hatched 1 June (37 days)
LM6 LJ2
So far so good! The first 2 chicks are doing well, the 3rd just hatched this morning.
21.27 LJ2 arrived with a live pike.
As the fish was passed between birds, it broke free and landed next to the chicks.
The chicks must’ve thought all their Christmases had come at once! They both started pecking at an upright fin.
Of course, they couldn’t break it off, they tried the belly with no success either. LM6 didn’t seem to know what to do as the chicks were huddled over the fish.
LM6 paced around and ended up sitting in behind the chicks. The pike then did a somersault and almost went off the nest but luckily ended up beside the chicks again, facing the other way.
LM6 made another attempt at getting the fish. She grabbed it with her beak to pull it away from the chicks but she let it go again.
The fish flapped about hitting the chicks in the process.
#1 got hit and reacted by pecking #2 who then curled up.
LJ2 flew to the perch. He must’ve wondered what all the commotion was about.
LM6 made another attempt at getting the fish and managed to pull it up and walk around the nest with it.
She twice let it go again but luckily it didn’t flap and she was able to secure it for a feed - 10 minutes after it arrived on the nest!
It was a blocked view feed.
LM6 was still feeding when the night cam came on and stopped at 10.14 as it started raining and she wanted to shelter the chicks.
Good afternoon LM6 tried her best to shelter her chicks from the elements overnight and early morning.
04.47 LM6 got up and walked round to where last night’s fish was lying. She started cleaning up the scraps when LJ2 arrived with another fish.
Both birds ended up feeding at the same time.
LM6 finished first and took a wee bit from LJ2’s fish, which she ate
LM6 then walked around to the other side of LJ2, he was still feeding his chick, which turned out to be #1.
LJ2 ended up dropping his fish and going to get the larger pike
LM6 cuddled in the chicks and started pecking at the fish lying next to her. LJ2 was eating the pike.
When LJ2 had had enough, he discarded the pike on to the nest, cleaned his beak and flew off at 05.24.
LM6 left for a comfort break around 05.45 and on return, she gave the chicks a feed from this morning’s fish.
07.10 LJ2 floated in with a piece of bark.
After landing, LJ2 went to collect the pike end. LM6 got up at the same time.
LJ2 started feeding #1 who came over.
LM6 approached a few times to take the fish.
She eventually got it and took over the feed.
07.34 after finishing the fish and cleaning her beak, LM6 took a comfort break.
09.09 LJ2 arrived with a fresh fish.
He resisted LM6’s efforts to take the fish and started the feed himself.
At 09.13 LM6 was able to take the fish.
LM6 walked around the nest with the fish back to where she started. Although the chicks weren’t interested initially, LM6 got them feeding at 09.40
It was a short feed and at 09.47 LJ2 collected and flew off with the fish.
11.35 LM6 is disappointed when LJ2 arrives with a piece of bark.
With the chicks being bigger now, LM6 has been taking more frequent and longer breaks.
Approximately 15.00 LM6 has been doing housekeeping, tidying sticks around the edge of the nest. LJ2 arrives with another which he places.
LJ2 leaves after 5 minutes. LM6 leaves a minute later to fetch another stick. Looks like quite a few have been brought in today.