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
Harry was incoming with a fish. Flora and chicks #2 and #3 on the nest. Suddenly #2 lunged at Flora and grabbed her wing
Flora broke free and retaliated
She pecked at the chick’s head and flapped her wings
then flew off.Flora quickly returned to collect the fish.
It’s a flatfish.Harry flies off.
#1 flew back onto the nest
Flora starting the feed.
Flora decided to walk the fish to the other side of the nest
#1 saw its opportunity to take it.
17.42 Fish delivery from Flora, a flatfish again.
She allows a chick to take it.
20.18 A tiny fish from Flora
A chick grabs the fishand manages to win it.
Tuesday 11 July On the chat this morning, they’re saying chick #2 fledged yesterday. I remember a moment it could have been. A chick was teetering at the right hand edge of the nest, pulled itself back then flew off. I thought it must’ve been chick #1! Ah well, I’ll get a photo of chick #2 flying today if it has fledged.
Yesterday, chick #2 was 49 days old if she did fledge. Today the chicks are 52, 50 and 48 days old.
Only 2 chicks slept on the nest last night. A lot of rain fell.
#1 arrives at 04.15 and stays
They’re all snuggled together.
04.58 Flora arrives with a small flapping fish
One chick tries to grab it
but Flora holds on.
All chicks got a few pieces.
05.03 Feed finished.
09.31 #2 had been doing some flying practice across the nest.
09.34 Flora arrives shouting excitedly.
Harry follows in with a fish.
Flora collects it
#1 arrives whilst a chick (#3 I think) is grabbing at the fish.
The fish is taken by a chick who ran through the middle of the two in front of Flora. (#2 I think)
Chick eating fish (centre)09.49 Chick #2 still eating the fish. Flora arrives flapping and calling intruder alertChick #1 tries to take the fish from #2, Flora still calling, #3 joins in. #1 and #2 and squawking, grappling over the fish. NOISY!! It would be a brave bird trying to land on this nest!
The intruder is seen in the distance (magnified)
#2 manages to keep the fish. The intruder flies past again (magnified)
Things calm down again, just the squeals from #2 eating the fish (left) and the calls from #3 for a fish.(right)
The intruder returns. The chicks all pancaked at one point.
09.56 Then #2 got up to resume eating it’s fish.
10.03 Tail swallowed.
1147 Flora calling loudly, Harry incoming with a fish.
Harry starts chipping on landing
Flora has to fight to keep the fish as a chick pulls at it
11.49 The feed begins11.54 The fish is finished.
13.26 #3 fast flapping and tiny jumps. Hail is falling
#2 then does her flapping and manages to get airborne for a second or 2 flying over the nestThe rain has been on and off. The chicks have been wet a few times.
17.59 Flora flies to the nest and starts flapping and intruder chipping.
An Osprey flies past the nest.
The bird moved on. Flora has stayed on the nest. I’ve not seen any more fish since the one Harry brought at 11.47.
20.36
Wednesday 12 July
No more fish deliveries last night. Chicks will be very hungry.
Only 2 slept on the nest, joined by #1 this morning. Harry arrived at 05.53 with a tiny headless fish.
It looks like a fine day. Hopefully this will aid a lot more fish being brought to the nest.