As I write today, I’m preparing to be away for a couple of days. No prizes for guessing where! The summer weather is set to last, and the gannet chick at Bempton will be only three weeks from fledging when this reaches you. I’m determined to take full advantage of these precious moments while they’re available.

Meanwhile, I’m sharing more chick photos as much of my wildlife time lately has been spent watching events at the nest. I hope you’re enjoying them! A couple of days before writing this, there was lots of drama. A “stranger” landed close to the nest, a beautifully juvenile gannet, about three years old and not yet of breeding age. It was exciting to witness the parent bird’s protective behaviour, stabbing in the air towards the intruder. Mostly, such aggression is limited to display, but occasionally birds can engage more fully in conflict, even tumbling off the cliffs in the worst-case scenario.

During this visit, I was also awed to see the chick stand up for the longest flapping session I’ve ever observed. Its impressively feathered wings moved with strength and power, suddenly looking much more mature and showing that it is moving closer to the time it will leave the nest.

I was amused just as I needed to leave. The parent that had been out fishing all day had not yet returned. On a previous visit, I’d seen the fishing parent return at this time, around 4 pm. As I was saying my goodbyes to the birds, I muttered softly to the chick, “I’m sure tea will be coming soon.” I put my rucksack on to leave, but my attention was drawn by a passing gannet call. The parent on the nest became fully alert, gazing intently upwards in a way I hadn’t seen before. I delayed leaving, and within a minute, the second parent returned to the nest, bang on cue!

This week’s self-kindness invitation is to take opportunities to do things you love when they arise, if you can. Life changes, moments come and go. Enjoy them while you can, and embrace the simple joy they bring.