THE first two Peregrine chicks have hatched.

This photo shows one of the birds with the other hidden.

Keith Betton, county recorder and chair of Hampshire Ornithological Society, said that they hatched overnight (April 20/21).

"The first two Peregrine chicks have hatched overnight and here you can see one with the other hidden," he said.

"The other two eggs should hatch today or tomorrow. Winnie had been very edgy for the last day and that will have been because the chicks start calling from inside the unhatched eggs in the day before they are about to break free. "Chester has also been around a lot so he will have been aware of the changes. Winnie has been eating the empty eggshells to get rid of them - but it also provides her with useful calcium.

"Winnie will be keeping them warm with Chester bringing in the food for her to rip up into small bits. He may also do some of the feeding if she lets him."

For the next week, Winnie will stay with them, and then she too will go hunting for prey as they grow fast.

Keith added: "No amount of food seems to be enough!"

Winnie laid her first egg a week ahead of schedule on March 10.

To view the nest via the webcam, visit Winchester Cathedral's website.