Just hatched!

Today I've been working in the house and garden as well as some time sitting reading in the sunshine.

Late this afternoon I popped to the castle for a blip and was delighted to see that the second nest of coot chicks had hatched. There were six chicks and Mum (I assume) was sitting on more eggs.  Dad was busy feeding the chicks when a swan came a bit too close. He squawked loudly and flew at the swan and chased it away. 

I hadn't got my long lens so popped home to get it. In the ten minutes it took, all except one had disappeared under Mum's wings. This brave one went down to the water and so it got most of the food. It was also the one that ended up as a blip.  They're such strange looking chicks with their bald heads!

There were also a family of mallard chicks swimming around and the swan is still sitting on her eggs. 

Apparently there are two pike in the moat which would take the chicks. A man was trying to catch them yesterday but I do't know if he was successful.