7 May 2025
Hello Everyone,
It has been one of the most roller-coaster years that I can remember in Bird World. Mates not returning. Mates arriving late only to find that younger birds have taken their place. Long standing residents have lost their nests. Single Mums struggle to tend their chicks. Today, for the very first time, Big Red’s third hatch O3 died shortly after hatch. In her history on camera, which began in 2012 (she probably began raising chicks in 2005-06), no chick has died on the nest. Every hatch has fledged except for one and that was K3 who had a problem with her jaw. She was rescued but had to be euthanised. I have to admit that I am heart broken. Like all other raptors, Big Red and Arthur have two other chicks to raise to fledge and then teach them the ways of the hawk so they can survive in the big world. Arthur has the nest full of food and the other two appear to be healthy. It has been the wettest season I can remember on this nest and I hate ‘wet’ nests. Many chicks of various species die from what harbours in that damp and with lung problems.
This made me feel very weepy. Friday and it is pitching down rain on Big Red and Ithaca. Send her good wishes, please.
Cornell’s official notification of the loss of O3.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 8th May 2025
Today was mainly calm and routine – Garry LV0 delivered two fish for Aurora 536 but seems to have adopted a pattern of making her wait, by arriving on the nest with the fish then immediately taking it away, and returning a bit later to give it to her. No mating behaviour has been observed lately, but as they’re off-nest most of the time, we don’t know if it’s taking place elsewhere on one of the other vacant nests in the area, or not at all. The two fish take Garry’s tally to forty three, while Louis, who also brought two fish for Dorcha, raises his tally to seventy five. Steve Q posted his fish statistics for week five, summing up Louis’ output as “Remarkably consistent numbers over the last 3 seasons”. There weren’t any overnight owl visits, but something unseen scared Dorcha off the nest today, leaving the eggs unattended for about two and a half minutes. However, they came to no harm and we’re still on track for first hatch in just about two weeks time. The weather was settled again, another stunning sunset was seen from Nest Two, and the forecast is clear skies and light winds tonight, and a positively balmy 19°C and full sunshine tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.39.20 (04.07.01); Nest Two 22.54.02 (04.12.47)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/Rq6jzQKsGi0 N2 Louis settles down to egg duty after delivering the first fish 06.09.05 (zoom)https://youtu.be/tS6l2Py6V74 N1 Yet again Garry makes Aurora wait to get the first fish 10.05.36
https://youtu.be/Z29I7aHzXyoN1 Fish 2 is a repeat of fish one – taken away before Aurora can get it 16.03.12
https://youtu.be/o2ZMRUIF0PQ N2 What makes Dorcha flee the nest? 17.43.47
https://youtu.be/3Ab39-Ps8TI N2 Dorcha’s still wary when fish number two arrives 17.53.59
Bonus action – Before vandals attack any more of our ancient trees, we can become citizen scientists, and help Woodland Trust record ancient trees:
https://ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/hGuegL1duZM N1 What scares Aila at midnight? 2020 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/fv2-S7IAT7g N1 Aila employs a tried and tested Louis-removal technique 2020
https://youtu.be/RydYvBR0m5I N1 Aila invents a new Louis-removal technique 2020
https://youtu.be/Ys65Fgfu9sM N1 Unusual visitor – a Twite (Linaria flavirostris) visits 2021
https://youtu.be/oMCTfmauWKA N2 First Owl-strike on Dorcha 2022
https://youtu.be/meJb_ovW0V8 N2 Second Owl-strike on Dorcha 2022
https://youtu.be/ea0yqDp1ups N2 Third Owl-strike on Dorcha 2022
https://youtu.be/uecjKN_3VQI N2 Late night fish supper arrives for Dorcha 2023
https://youtu.be/WD9vJ3lVeMk N1 Garry LV0 & Aida pay a flying visit 2024
https://youtu.be/vXtY4BrntTM N1 Garry LV0 wrestles with a huge clump of moss 2024
https://youtu.be/ZrKyT_jo5DI N2 Dorcha headbutts Louis to get him off the eggs 2024 (slo-mo repeat with zoom)
Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam
Life at home today was very interesting. The plan is to make certain that Toby loves to go in the car and behaves himself when we are out and about.
Many, many years ago when I travelled to Japan regularly, I loved watching the little puppies and dogs being pushed in the specially designed prams for them. I had never seen anything like it! Well, today, Toby got his very own little enclosed stroller so that we can literally take him almost everywhere.
Oh, but wait!!!!!!!! Who’s in the stroller?
Calico: ‘Can I go for a ride, too?’
We did have a delightful day. Toby got to take in all of the shops, see the animals, and even enjoy the sunshine while we had a picnic. No whining, no barking, just a quiet puppy playing with his toys in his carrier or sleeping. Did I tell you that I feel blessed?
Back at home, the energy came out and this old pair of shoes took a bit of a beating!
Being outside really helped to get over the loss at Cornell. Toby and The Girls help, too. As I told someone today, ‘Toby is my heart’. He is the most incredible little creature.
I checked on only a few other nests, but will try and catch up tomorrow. Sometimes it is just nice to ‘stop’ and reflect on how much these amazing birds mean to us.
Heidi’s Nest Notes:
You will be hearing about intruding ospreys – lots of them. Many are the two year olds returning after their first migration. Kielder Forest has some of those visitors.
FOBBV: SK Hideaways caught our dear Gizmo and Sunny sleeping alone. Their time with us is getting shorter and shorter. Visit the cam as much as you can – you will not regret it. You will only regret it if you don’t. https://youtu.be/vnLAyVBKCPI?
Trempealeau Bald Eagles: Baby has a full crop!
Video of little T3 protecting the nest. https://youtu.be/tYbkLV7v-60?
Duke Farms: ‘PB’ writes: “Duke Farms. 6:31am…mom brings fish and feeds all 3 then dad brings large Eel and other 2 share a meal…all 3 having breakfast!”
Hellgate Canyon: Iris has a new male companion and he brings fish. What more can we ask? Oh, and he’s pretty cute.
Will there be more eggs?
If the first clutch is lost early in the season, they may attempt a second nesting attempt. A second clutch is likely if the eggs are lost early in the season, but the pair is less likely to breed again if the eggs are lost later in the season.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
- Single Breeding Attempt: Ospreys generally have only one breeding attempt per year.
- Early Loss: If the first clutch of eggs is lost early in the breeding season (before the eggs hatch), the pair may attempt to lay a second clutch.
- Timeframe for Second Clutch: A second clutch is usually laid about three weeks after the failure of the first one.
- Late Season Loss: If the eggs are lost during the middle or later stages of the breeding season, the pair is more likely to skip breeding that year.
Dr Greene has some thoughts for us:
Sorry for the radio silence – I have been travelling and busy. At the start of the season, we cautioned you to buckle your seatbelts for the Hellgate Soap Opera! And our cautionary warning was warranted – there has certainly been a lot going on.
Finnegan did not return, and alas, we suspect that he might have died over the winter. He could have gone somewhere else, but with such a successful breeding season last year, if he was still alive he would have most likely returned to the Hellgate nest.
Louis visited Iris and mated repeatedly with her, and she laid three eggs (April 29, May 1 and May 4). Iris’ behavior is very interesting: without a dedicated mate, she has not been super attentive to her eggs. We suspect that from previous experience, she knows that without a partner bringing her food and helping to share incubation with her, the eggs won’t survive. So she has been flying off leaving them unguarded.
The astounding thing to us is that the half life of an untended osprey egg is measured in seconds or minutes!! Almost as soon as Iris leaves an egg untended, a raven swoops in and flies off with the egg. This demonstrates the need for the eggs and small chicks to be tended 24/7, and without a bonded pair bringing up young is not possible.
But a few days ago, NEW GUY 2 showed up, and Iris seems to be pairing with him! He has been bringing in fish and driving off Louis. This is exactly what happened last year, and so Iris may lay some more eggs. Stay tuned . . . .
I have posted a timeline that summarizes events from the 2024 breeding season (on the bottom half), and the 2025 events so far.
More later!
Think pure thoughts, Erick Greene and the Montana Osprey Team
More osprey news from Geemeff for us!
Ospreys will nest where they want to nest, whatever humans do! Let’s hope the landowner doesn’t kick this nest into the water again..https://www.easthamptonstar.com/villages/202558/ospreys-return-to-site-wrecked-nest
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A migrating Osprey spotted at night!
https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/sefton-coast-natterjack-toad-song-an-experience-to-be-remembered
I will continue with the Spark Birds that inspired you. If you have a comment on a bird, please send it. Thank you!
Thank you for being with me today. Please take care. We hope to see you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, PB’, Cornell Bird Lab Red-tail Hawk Cam, Cornell Bird Lab, SK Hideaways, Trempeauleau Bald Eagle Cam, Montana Osprey Project/Cornell Bird Lab, Dr Greene, East Hampton Star, inyourarea.co.uk, Duke Farms, Colonial Beach. Osoyoos, Smallwood, Patuxent River Park Nests 1 and 2, Kielder Ospreys
