Link to season’s opening post here
Link to June 2023 here
RECAP
Flora HK0 arrived 30 March 2023
Harry (unringed) arrived 4 April 2023
EGG No. 1 laid 15 April - Hatched 21 May (37 days)
EGG No. 2 laid 18 April - Hatched 23 May (36 days)
EGG No. 3 laid 21 April - Hatched 25 May (35 days)
FAMILY PORTRAIT
Our 3 thriving chicks almost adult sized with Harry and Flora. As of 01/07/23 the chicks are 42, 40 and 38 days old.
And the chicks faces (with Flora)
All captures and videos ©️ SSEN Transmission
20.22 Fish delivery, a little larger than the others today.
Flora raced over the nest like Usain Bolt to get to the fish first!
She barged through the middle of the chicks
She had a fight on her hands as a chick grabbed the fish with its beak too
the racket! I think Harry is away to get his ear defenders on! Wings were going everywhere
but Flora was the victor and the feed commenced.
All finished. Flora shouts for more.
Flora left the nest at 21.11. She still hasn’t returned. Harry dropped by with a small live fish. All 3 chicks approached him.
Harry looked for Flora then let go of the fish.
A chick grabbed the fish (not #1)
The chick held the fish in its talons and tried to pull pieces off
It was getting nothing substantial
Its solution was to swallow the fish whole! Luckily it was a tiny one!
Finished - Flora will never know!
22.20.10 Flora returned announcing her arrival as she approached the nest.
The chicks all started calling when she arrived. Flora joined in.
She has wet feathers so she’s been in the water either fishing or bathing.
Sandra P said:Good to see that Flora has now started fishing, Glider!
Yes, isn’t it wonderful Sandra, she’s doing an NC0! Not having followed this nest closely last year, I had no idea if she would start or not. I must say though, having seen her strong character, I’m not surprised in the least. She’s another of those “special” birds.
Monday 3 July
Flora arrives back on the nest to greet Harry as he delivers the first fish of the day at 05.40
Flora claims the fish
and takes control of the feed.It’s barely a 4 minute feed. Flora calls for more.
Chick #1 decided to have some flying practice.
It manages a little jump
Flora looks onThen she resumes calling for fish.
06.42 second fish delivery. Another tiddler. Harry needs to try another area!
Flora gets it again
During the feed, #1 managed to grab the fish
#2 tried to take it and #1 pecked on its head
#2’s response was to peck at #3 who as usual, was minding its own business.
With this going on, Flora managed to retrieve the dropped fish
#1 at one point grabbed Flora’s beak to get the fish (which had just fallen)
Undeterred Flora picked up the fish again.
She tried to grasp it in her talons. It was so tiny, she couldn’t get a hold.
So in the end, she swallowed it herself with #1 looking on.
Gone! Is that the face of a guilty parent!
08.21 small fish delivery
Flora takes it
During the feed, the chick in the middle grabbed the fish from Flora
It was unable to hold the fish to eat so tried to swallow it. After several attempts, it was successful.
11.59 Fish #4 a little bigger again.
One of the chicks grabs at the fish
In the tussle, Flora briefly takes to the airbut returns to begin the feed.
During the feed, Flora decides to move position. One of the chicks sees that as an opportunity to grab the fish.
Flora manages to hold onto it and resume feeding
The feed finished around 12.20 with a chick getting the tail and swallowing it after several attempts.
13.14 At last - a proper fish!!! Harry has had the head first.
The longest feed we’ve had in ages.
Flora pulling at the skin now
Hopefully #3 got a good feed along with the other two. Plenty to go around.