Osprey chick hatches in harbour nest

An osprey chick has hatched in a nest belonging to the only breeding pair on England's south coast.

The hatching, from one of four eggs, was captured on a webcam set up by Birds of Poole Harbour which monitors the nest in Dorset.

The egg began to crack at 04:45 BST and the chick made its first appearance at 07:44.

This is the third time female bird CJ7 and male 022 have nested at a secluded site in Careys Secret Garden in Poole Harbour.

The egg began to crack at 04:45 BST and the chick made its first appearance at 07:44

The first of this year's four eggs was laid on 15 April.

Liv Cooper, from Birds of Poole Harbour, said the team was "ecstatic" as every chick that hatches in this nest is a reason to celebrate".

She continued: "The laying of the eggs was staggered at around three days apart, and so the remaining eggs will hatch at different times over the next week.

"The parents will then have the hard job of providing the chicks with plenty of fish and protection over the next eight weeks, as the young birds prepare to fledge from the nest."

She added the nest played a significant part in the recovery of the species in the south of England.