I left the country at the end of April and the Dippers were left to themselves. I returned to the territory yesterday to see how things had developed. The river was beautiful and the bankside vegetation had really grown, and it was even more attractive than it had been in spring. I was surprised to see a young Dipper almost immediately. Just one, and no sign of adults. The baby bird, estimated to be around six weeks old, was more approachable than an adult, it was a comparatively weak flyer and I can understand why mortality in young Dippers is said to be high. In the late evening, even though the weather was still wet and dull, I returned to the area to try get a decent photograph. I sat quietly camouflaged in my Gillie suit and covered in scrim netting, positioned in front of the boulders that I had seen it in the morning. I sat still and quiet for around 30 minutes and then, there he was just in front of me and to my left. Very rewarding to know that my subterfuge had worked and I managed to get close enough for a half decent photograph in the really poor lighting conditions. Having checked the dates and counted the days it is around 50 days since the 2nd round clutch was predated so this chick could quite easily be the result of the parents third attempt.