CHICK NO 2

Chick no 2 was already fully hatched and dry by the time the camera switched on this morning and we got our first sight of it at 0530, already able to wriggle around.

Breakfish duly arrived a couple of hours later and both chicks were eager to taste the grayling that was on the menu. Samson let the family eat what they needed and then retrieved the remainder from the nest and took it away to eat in peace. It was good to see (not for the fish!) that the grayling was still flapping when it arrived, showing that Samson didn’t have to go far to catch it.

A lazy morning followed but little tummies started rumbling quite quickly and they were excited to see Samson return with a small pike (definitely deceased) in the early afternoon. Both chicks fed extremely well with JW6 feeding both of them alternately.

I do love to watch them fall into a stupor at the end of a meal, trying for one last beakful before the heads drop and the rest of the body follows and they collapse just where they ate. They look like little humbugs when all you can see is their backs but JW6 was quick to settle down and brood them again while Samson carried away the leftover fish.

The weather couldn’t be better for the important first few days of these chicks’ lives. Warm, sunny and dry. I can’t help remembering last year when it was considerably colder and wetter. These chicks don’t know how lucky they are.

If chick 3 is as eager to arrive as its siblings have been, I wouldn’t be surprised if it arrived tomorrow but I’ll certainly let you know. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with the picture of the comatose chicks, post-pike.