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Update, Elle.
The rangers have Tweeted that the littlest chick died last night after getting caught at the edge of the nest.
They hope to put a blog up, later.
I thought he/she looked trapped somehow.
Very sad.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, you were right about the chick getting trapped - well spotted.
I have tried rewinding the webcam video recording somewhat, to see what happened to the chick after that ...
I found the part where it was on its back, and crying piteously...... and then appeared to be still.
But couldn't discover anything that happened to the 'body' overnight?
I have wondered why Lassie did nothing to attempt to "rescue" the chick?
But as you say, EJ just let her babies die around her.
Hurry up, Rangers, and give us some information!
That will be nice having your grandson come to visit, later!
I expect you will be able to see him more often, now that he lives so much closer.
A nice puzzle today, I thought?

Hello, Elle!
I think Lassie is programmed to care for the stronger chicks.
She probably does not understand how to help the youngest one.
I saw Laddie landing on top of the chick.
The chick was chirping for a long time but Lassie "ignored" the cries for help, if that's the correct word.
No blog up yet.

Hi, Rusty!
I couldn't find any footage of Laddie landing on the nest...but I'm not very technical, so perhaps I wasn't looking back sufficiently carefully.
Neither mum nor dad are there at present, and both chicks are tottering about .
One has just gone very near the edge of the nest, and somewhat precariously seemed to peer over the edge.......
Looking for his mum?
We don't want any more casualties!

Hello, Elle!
Laddie landed on the chick and later Lassie trampled on the chick and he/she was stuck, then.
Usually they build up the nest at the edges, after hatching, to prevent a chick falling out.
Wonder why the blog has not been put out yet?

Hi, Rusty!
Oh , I see...…. the chick's becoming stuck happened AFTER the landing and trampling…..
I didn't search that far back...…
And I don't think I can go that far back in the video now ?
it will be simpler by far to wait for the Rangers' report!
When it finally comes!
Have you finished your crossword?
I am stuck on 14a?
Our lot 'll visit Tyneside thoroughly prepared (4,4)
?E?E/?O?E
And cannot fully parse 26a:
A Balkan drinking book is about constant pursuit of tumblers (10)
I have "ACROBATICS" = "pursuit of tumblers" (def)
But cannot see the rest?
What am I missing here, please?

Hello, Elle!
If I were you I would not try and see what happened.
Not very nice!
14,
Our lot'll, is, "we'll". Tyneside is "NE", visit is "do".
"Well done" is thoroughly prepared.

The Balkan is a "a Croat", "b" for book, "is" around "c" for constant.
That's about it, Elle, I think.

It seems cruel to say it, but the third chick is generally a "spare" - most years the parents would struggle to provide food for more than two as they grow.

Update, Elle!
There is a blog posted on the loch site now.
Does not tell us much more than their earlier Tweet.

I agree, Chris, it's unusual for three chicks to fledge.
Though I believe four fledged at one nest previously, but I can not remember where the the nest was.

Hi, Rusty!
I have just read the blog after seeing your post.....
I saw the photo....the poor little thing......it was well and truly squashed, wasn't it?
I actually saw that, this morning, on the video recording when I looked back .....but it wasn't at all a clear picture.
The horror of it is that I did not realise that it was the chick I was seeing...and when I watched Lassie feeding the body to the other two chicks, I had thought she was feeding them a fish!
Nature at its rawest!
Thank you for the parses.....
I would not have got either of those, even had I persisted longer!
I can "put the puzzle" to bed , now!
John sent me five crosswords today!
But I am welshing on the rest ...and I am going out with the dog while the sun is still shining!
Back in a bit!



Hello, Chris!
"Runt of the litter" sydrome?
Our dog was considered by Battersea to be the runt of the litter..... the last to be born and the only girl out of the three pups.
She might have been the smallest, and the weakest , but apparently she became the "boss"!