Big breakfasts = big chicks

The two osprey chicks are flourishing and getting bigger by the day. They really do like their big breakfasts and at 8am yesterday morning they were just polishing off the last of a sea mullet that had been brought to the nest early by the male.

They are showing signs of wanting to feed themselves - pecking little bits off the fish when they can sneak a cheeky nibble - though they are still fed by the parent birds in the main and will be for some weeks to come.

They are really starting to explore the nest and move around more now. One chick was sat near to the edge yesterday, peering around inquisitively. Thankfully, it wasn't near enough to the edge to topple over, which is just as well because they won't be ready to fly until early July. Their World at the moment only consists of their parents, the nest and, of course, FOOD - lots of it!  

They are certainly not babies anymore - their talons look much more developed, they are starting to grow proper feathers on their heads now and we can even see the vibrant orange of their eyes quite clearly on the viewing screen. The eyes will remain orange for some time before changing to the piercing yellow of adult ospreys.

The dead chick was ejected from the nest at the start of the week. It had been there late on Monday night, but was gone by 7am on Tuesday morning. The female is likely to have pushed it over the side during the night.