The coots have hatched!

I've been keeping an eye on the coot's nest on the castle moat as Mum had been sitting on the eggs for about three weeks. Today five chicks hatched - this morning I could see little heads peeping out from under Mum's feathers. This afternoon two chicks had left the nest though they stayed very close to it, it payed off as they were getting most of the food. 

The coots are always the first Castle birds to nest and they usually have a second brood.