Third chick hatches for ospreys

The osprey nest can be watched on an RSPB webcam

A rare pair of ospreys has successfully hatched a third chick at Glaslyn, near Porthmadog, Gwynedd.

The birds of prey are thought to be the only known pair of nesting ospreys in Wales and have been returning to the same nest site since 2004.

The third downy white chick was hatched on Sunday morning, following earlier arrivals on Wednesday and Friday. All three appear healthy and are feeding.

The nest is being watched via webcam by a 24-hour RSPB protection team.

The RSPB said that the adult male has been bringing a number of fish back to the nest and both adults have been seen feeding the youngsters simultaneously.

The ospreys attract crowds to the nesting site

This joint feeding is described as "unusual behaviour", because it is normally only the female that would be carrying out the feeding duties at this early stage.

However, Emyr Evans, RSPB Cymru's osprey officer, said it had been "a textbook season" for the nest so far.

"Breeding, laying and hatching has all gone like clockwork," he said.

"We are looking forward to watching the chicks develop over the coming weeks, building up to their first flights from the nest, which should happen in the middle of July."

The viewing site, which is hosting a community event over the bank holiday weekend, is manned by RSPB staff and volunteers and is visited by thousands of people hoping to catch a glimpse of the ospreys.

See the latest from the nest on the BBC webcam