What a weekend we've had here in the Tweed valley, with everything from blazing summer sunshine to torrential downpours! Our Osprey family on the main nest are doing well, with the three chicks growing before our very eyes- the youngest still obviously whiter than its two siblings who have already started to darken into deep grey 'bandits'.
On Sunday however, we were all given a terrible fright when the male bird brought in a huge trout to the nest - alive and very much kicking! This is unusual as he most often eats the head himself before bringing his catches to the nest, On this occasion, perhaps sensing his offspring were hungry, he brought it in still flapping and dumped it rather unceremoniously in the nest. The female Osprey did not immediately kill it or begin to 'serve' it to the chicks and for some ten minutes or so it flapped around, and being quite large it represented a considerable threat to the chicks. It landed on top of them once or twice, and we held our breath , hoping they weren't injured- luckily they seem to escape unharmed, as mum eventually tucked them under her for safety until the flapping subsided. What a day for a baby Osprey- nearly flattened by your supper!
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