19 May 2025
Good Morning Everyone,
If you missed my late Sunday post, Akecheta was photographed near Ventura, California. His blue and white wing tag is clearly visible. Akecheta was not seen after the 19th of January on the Channel Islands when he appeared injured near the top of Tor where Thunder stood next to another male. I wish Thunder had her wing tag! As ‘PB’ said when she told me the good news, ‘This is why those tags are important’. They are so big they can clearly be seen.
Dr Sharpe was surprised that Akecheta was so far from home but we also know from the numbers and Dr Sharpe’s own posts, the fledglings have been seen as far as Oregon and Washington. I am just so glad that he is alive!
The straight-line distance, or “as the crow flies,” from Catalina Island to Casitas Lake is approximately 120-130 miles.
Google Maps had me pick a different means of transport. We might presume that Akecheta flew more or less over the water to Lake Casitas. But, maybe not? I want to think that he stayed on Catalina Island and got well form the injuries of the 19th of March. Then, once well, he went to check on Thunder and seeing him well, she got up and left with him. Of course, this is a romantic fairytale of the best result for this couple. But Thunder did leave abruptly, and there is no reason that I can think of that she was so bonded with Makaio that she would not have left, having heard Akecheta’s chortles. Call me crazy! ‘B’ notes that if you check the map you will see Ojai, and that is where Andor and Cruz’s Victor went for rehabilitation when he had zinc toxicity. Victor was released in the area and it looks like a good one for prey.
It was still chilly on Sunday. The sun came out, and the rain disappeared, warming us and the garden birds and animals. We visited our friend and got to see ‘Fred and Ginger’ enjoying themselves in their pond.
Water is such a gift. My great hope is that sooner than later, many will find ways to create ponds, some with fish, for those lovely osplets that need food near the Chesapeake Bay! Or elsewhere. Many of you have seen the ospreys bring the koi to the nests. I wonder.
Over the next week, we will be helping them, and Toby will hopefully assist us as well. We will walk the dogs and check on things. Hopefully, Fred and Ginger will still be around.
Well, get the tissue boxes out. We are on fledge watch for Sunny and Gizmo. Let us hope that they return to the nest to be fed by Jackie and Shadow for a month so that we can continue to watch their wonderful lives unfurl.
That gorgeous video is worth watching again. This was a double miracle for Jackie and Shadow – and for us! https://youtu.be/WraMnX8mFy0?
Loch Doon: Frankie feeding Angel!
Frankie feeding the two osplets!
RSPB gives us information on this nest which you might not be very familiar with: “Loch Doon is situated in East Ayrshire, and the nest has been used since 2012, with 18 chicks raised in that time. The current resident pair of Ospreys are Frankie and Angel. Angel turned up in 2013 and paired with Cullen. However 2017 saw the arrival of Frankie who deposed Cullen and became the new resident male.”
Goitzsche Wildnis: J Castnyer caught Zeus bringing a nice fish to Fjona, who is incubating three eggs in Germany.
Dyfi: Idris and Telyn have two beautiful babies hatched close together. We wait for the third and it looks like that egg is pipping! Telyn is an expert at delayed incubation!!!!!!!!
Rutland Manton Bay: Four babies screaming at Maya to get those fish bites coming faster!!!!!!!
Poole Harbour: Four eggs waiting to hatch for Blue 022 and CJ7.
Llyn Clywedog: Dylan and Seren have three eggs. The first hatched at First Chick Hatches at 10:37 on the 19th of May!
Latvian Golden Eagle: Amanda Lake has Spilve feeding both eaglets! https://youtu.be/JhXp3Uy-GC0?
Milda and Zorro: Durbe County White Tail Eagles. Zorro finally brought in a headless fish for Milda and the two eaglets! https://youtu.be/C9Oc5dwolmE?
Heidi’s Osprey Notes:
Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 18th May 2025
A settled day weather-wise with plenty of sunshine, and apart from one or two minor alarms, a settled day on the nests too. The two resident males brought two fish each for their respective mates, and their tallies rise to fifty eight (Garry LV0) and ninety six (Louis). Things are moving along nice and calmly for the big moment expected in a few days when the first egg is due to hatch – tonight’s bonus item is all about what’s happening inside those beautifully patterned eggshells. The forecast for tonight is clear sky and light winds, with sunny intervals and a high of 20
°C tomorrow
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One
23.09.05 (03.19.23); Nest Two 23.03.37 (03.38.20)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/gbPmKsPWAnIN2 Louis brings fish but Dorcha’s not interested 04.42.03
https://youtu.be/SAq7QwtZohg N1 Fish number one is a very small snack 14.45.45
https://youtu.be/3hMF9N6hYbs N1 The second fish arrives and departs in 13 seconds as Aurora watches! 16.48.21
https://youtu.be/9j9aCYQ6pnA N1 Garry returns with the fish – Aurora grabs it and goes 18.00.31
https://youtu.be/EXW79QoaRtU N2 Having declined the first, Dorcha grabs the second fish 16.11.27
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/at5go-cg9A8 N1 Louis’ turn to dump a stick on Aila 2019
https://youtu.be/9_X4DMti3Gk N1 I’ve got your back: Louis, Aila, and a stick 2020
https://youtu.be/W04J7cJyYss N1 Aila screams until Louis brings fish 2020
https://youtu.be/Z6UfoL5Hb7c N1 Time to go – Aila head-butts Louis 2020
https://youtu.be/0vfmJaN8vG4 N2 Little bird perches next to Dorcha 2023
https://youtu.be/Epa8-yc2CKU N1 Louis warns away a distant intruder on his old nest 2023
https://youtu.be/M2Fz6H4TedA N2 Unringed intruder on the nest! 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/rLuxQPEUP1c N1 A little bird is barely glimpsed among the pine needles 2024
https://youtu.be/vHH0SsHb-Ls N2 Dorcha practises her ballet moves 2024
https://youtu.be/oG-WC3EAf5E N2 Air on a Sunset: glorious sunset in quicktime 2024 (Classic Ospreys: JS Bach)
Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam
‘PB’ brings us news from Saltpoint Ospreys: “Salt Point babies are so adorable. Lil 3 has my heart. Mom feeds them all! Dad waits his turn and when mom lies to cover them, he takes his share. Dad also stays on the perch, protecting!
Cornell Red-tail Hawk: Arthur has the pantry full to running over. Both hawklets are doing really well! The Os are growing so fast.
In Victoria, Australia, Glossy Black Cockatoos could be pushed to extinction. Why?
Birdlife Australia describes the Black Cockatoos as, “The Glossy Black-Cockatoo is the smallest of Australia’s five species of black-cockatoos (~48cm). It has a brown-black head, red or red with orange/yellow tail panels, and an otherwise dull black body. Adult females have irregular yellow patches on the head, and the tail panels tend to be redder with orange/yellow and black bars but may become less barred and redder with age. The tail panels on adult males tend to be solid red (no black barring). Young birds have yellow spots or streaks on their breast, belly and flanks, with some yellow spots on the cheeks and sides of the head.”
“Glossy Black Cockatoos fly in to drink during our devastating bush fires 2020” by Bowerbirdaus is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
San Jose City Hall: SK Hideaways catches Monty and Hartley’s chicks growing up fast! https://youtu.be/KK0sW6otfiE?
Thank you so much for being with me today. Celebrate. Smile. I have ever hope that Thunder is out there, too. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me write my post today: ‘B, Geemeff, Heidi, PB’, Livia She, Peter Sharpe, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, Loch Doon, RSPB UK, Joan Castnyer, Dyfi Osprey Project, Rutland Manton Bay LRWT, Birds of Poole Harbour, Llyn Clywedog, Amanda Lake, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Saltpoint Ospreys, Cornell Red-tail Hawk Cam, The Guardian, Openverse, San Jose City Hall, Moraine Park, Mispillion Harbour, Fenwick Island, LDF and Lizmn, Google Maps
Thanks Mary Ann for all these updates. There is a lot going on for sure. So glad Ak has been seen and that he’s alive! I had the same thought as you that Thunder went where he is or they may have gone together. Hopefully we will know next season if not before. Good lick for all of the chicks who are about to fledge and the ones just born and growing up fast. See you here soon Mary Ann!
Have a good evening.
Linda
I couldn’t stop crying. It is wonderful that he has been seen and I am going to believe that Thunder is with him…