I think it is now three weeks since I last wrote to you about the gannet nest I have been following at Bempton Bird Cliffs, first mentioned in my Easter story. It is hard to know where to begin, as so much has been happening.

As I write, the chick is now nearly six weeks old. As the chick has become more visible and active, I have found myself spending longer periods sitting near the nest. Perhaps this reflects the passions and patience of my early career as a zoologist. Watching the chick’s development, and observing the behaviours between chick and parent, is endlessly fascinating to me, as well as spectacularly beautiful. I feel deeply blessed to have this very special opportunity.

Since the chick hatched, I have been visiting the nest at least once a week. This last week, I treated myself to two nights and three days staying at the farm near the cliffs, which meant I could visit the nest on three consecutive days. What an absolute privilege. I rarely see another person while I am there. I am simply immersed in the life of the nest, surrounded by other gannets and seabirds, and when I am especially lucky, dolphins and even distant whales.

There is nothing that equals the level of nourishment and joy I receive from this time in Nature. It is hard to express just how grateful I feel for this good fortune.

It is difficult to choose what to share with you, or which of the many photographs to select. But I thought you might enjoy seeing the incredible progression in the chick’s growth and development over the past month.

Feeding time is particularly striking. When the chick is very small, the parent initiates each feed. Over the past couple of weeks, however, this has changed. The chick now actively vocalises and begs for food. It is extraordinary to watch. I am sharing a video that I hope you will enjoy. The chick in it is around five and a half weeks old.

If you watch with sound, you will hear the chick’s persistent calls, a vibrating, grunting ball of white fluffy down. The parent had just returned from a fishing trip after hours away and swapped places with the parent who had been on duty. The chick is never left alone. Before this moment, the chick had been relatively quiet, but immediately recognised the opportunity for a meal.

At first, the parent appears not to respond to the chick’s efforts. Then the parent stills its head and aligns its beak with the chick’s. The parent regurgitates food into its gullet and opens its beak very wide. You can see just how far the chick reaches in to receive it. It is truly amazing. While I watched, this cycle repeated four or five times over the course of a few minutes. Afterwards, the chick seemed satisfied and settled quietly again.

Today’s writing feels centred on the theme of nourishment.

This week’s self-kindness invitation is to reflect on the nourishing things in your own life. Notice your sense of gratitude for them, and gently consider whether there might be any adjustments that would support you even more. Nourishment comes in many forms, and attending to it is a profound act of self-kindness.