9 June 2025
Good Morning Everyone,
Just a quick update on late events:
Charlo Montana – first hatch!
Gizmo fledged. ‘B’ writes, “Hi Mary Ann — Gosh, I think nearly everyone on this continent knows that Gizmo fledged, so there is nothing more I can tell you. She made all the news. One youtube video I saw from a Los Angeles tv station looks like they maybe broke into standard broadcasting with a news bulletin when Gizmo fledged. The Big Bear eagles have really become rockstars this year. I trust we will see Giz and Sunny for a little longer now — at least I hope so! — but, gee, I know that you and I and many others are going to miss them so much. And we’ll miss Jackie and Shadow, too, because they won’t be coming to an empty nest nearly as much.
It has been such a wonderful season for so many of our hard-luck bird friends — Jackie and Shadow, Audacity and Jak, Gabby and Beau. Thank goodness it went so well for them, given the sadness we felt for M15 and F23, Annie and Archie, Chase and Cholyn, and Thunder and Akecheta. (Even with the miracle of seeing Akecheta again and hoping the same for Thunder.)
Glad, too, to see the San Jose falcons doing so well. They aren’t on camera so much anymore, but all four met on the city hall roof for breakfast early today, which was captured on camera.”
Gizmos’s fledge was the big good news of the past few days.
SK Hideaways caught it: https://youtu.be/1JaqDfBtSFE?
KTLA News has it: https://youtu.be/68kTZsSHJyE?
Gizmo returns to the nest! https://youtu.be/aq7jXo8MMK4?
And hundreds of more carried the news of Sunny and Gizmo.
‘B’ writes: “In case you have not seen it, Sunny and Gizmo are both back on nest. Jackie arrived with a fish at 18:53 nest time, Sunny was there within a minute at 18:54, and Gizmo in at 19:27. Sunny and Gizmo both came in smoothly through the front door. Jackie chortles at 19:28, perhaps to let Shadow know they are back, and then she leaves at 19:29, leaving the youngsters in charge.”
‘AK’ advises that the local owl has attacked the female on nest #3 in Finland on Sunday. So sad when the owls set their sights on these nests with eggs and chicks.
Sad news is coming in from Geemeff. Chick 3 at Loch Arkaig died mysteriously on Sunday.
It is so sudden and shocking, I doubt we’ll ever know. I imagine Dorcha will wait for a few days then take it out into the forest as she’s done before.
Timeline:
12.53.51 Chick3 is feeding, taking bites from Dorcha
14.08+ Chick3 is looking limp, lethargic, lying down, not interested in food
16.01.00 Chick3 can just be seen, back end peeking out from under Dorcha, movement of breathing seen but very weakly
20.46.19 Dorcha leaves, chicks 1&2 stand up and there is just a sad little bundle between them
20.47.56 Dorcha returns and leans down towards the chicks – has she noticed?
RIP Little chick3, we mourn your loss.. 27/5 – 8/6/2025
The good news in Manitoba is that rain has been falling all weekend. Some areas of wildfires have received moisture. Everyone is hopeful.
My garden is nothing short of breathtaking, with its vibrant, bluish emerald green hues. The trees and shrubs thrive when it rains, as opposed to watering. I am particularly proud of the dried pea and bean seeds that I planted, which are doing well. One is the Latvian Soup Pea, and it reminds me of a very kind woman living in Latvia who loves animals – Sassa Bird.
The image below shows the Latvian peas coming up. Sassa Bird sent me a recipe for their national dish, a soup made from these dried peas. I’m eager to try it.
There are also Cherokee Trail of Tears Beans growing despite Dyson loving to dig in the dirt and bury her peanuts!
Peppers and tomatoes are coming along nicely, too.
I am most pleased that the Prairie Climbing Roses that have been on this property for 123 years are blooming. This means that the bees will be arriving shortly!
The Fuschia are doing well out of the sun.
The garden is giving us great pleasure. Toby loves to go outside sniffing and digging. He is a digger! This week, his portable pen will be raised, allowing him to run around without needing to be on a lead. I am especially glad to have all the garden work to keep my mind off what is happening in the nests. It has been a tough year in Bird World. I get two or three letters a day from individuals who are just worn out, feeling like they have nothing left to give. ‘J’ sent me a note that one of our heroes, Oliver Hellowell, the young man with Down Syndrome who has become a professional wildlife photographer, has made a film with his hero, Lolo Williams. I am putting the link to the trailer here. Listen to it. Oliver is happy – despite his limitations (perhaps they are not limitations but opportunities), he is happy. Each of us has lots to be thankful for – despite the hardships in my life, I would not change anything for the world. I will tell you a short story. The other evening, we made ‘smash’ burgers for dinner. I made two for Don. I noticed that he wasn’t eating his second one. He carefully went and got parchment and wrapped it up. When I queried him, he said he was concerned that Mary Ann wouldn’t have any dinner, and he wanted to share his with her. – He doesn’t always know me. There are five Mary Anns. I often joke with him and tell him that I wish the other four would step up and help me clean the house and feed the animals! It is all one can do – laugh. I know he loves me. What a beautiful way to show it. Could I want more?
Hugo Yugo and Toby are best friends. Toby copies everything that Hugo Yugo does, so I think he must think he is a cat! Before you ask – yes, he uses the litter box!!!!!!!!!!!
Toby is spoiled. I am grateful that all five of them get along excellently. They helped Don and me clean up the house and the fridge today!
Everyone in this house and in the garden bring me such happiness. Dyson has new kits. They will be out in the garden in a fortnight.
The baby Starlings get the food out of the dishes – kibble, nuts, and hot dogs.
They have enjoyed splashing in the lower bird bath.
Sitting in the glass room today I could not imagine being anywhere else in the world.
Now let us check on some of these nests -.
Saaksilvie #1, Finland. E3 hatched.
Rutland Manton Bay: Family portrait. All four of these babies are doing quite well. No wonder. They have Blue 33 for a dad and Maya for a Mum and the largest fresh water lakes in the UK stocked with fish right below!
That doesn’t mean that fishing is always good and you will sometimes see the fourth hatch in a submissive pose. It was awhile between fish in the image below. The little one is right up front.
Heidi’s Osprey Report: Heidi warns that the image for Fenwick Island is graphic. I chose to include it because we need to realise that our beautiful fish eaters are starving to death before our eyes. This nest is located at a fish restaurant. Am I advocating ignoring the law and putting a fish up there for them to survive? Yes. Some people should be moral compasses doing much worse than saving wildlife! In this case the eating area for the restaurant should be moved or fish provided since it is human activity that is causing the problem!
Heidi says, “
The Fenwick Island osprey nest platform is located behind a restaurant (Captain Mac’s Fish House), and it is very close to the back deck where patrons eat and watch the wildlife. I was told by a reliable source (a local osprey expert), that Johnny, the male osprey, doesn’t like the human activity close to the nest, whereas June has become more acclimated to it. And, sometimes Johnny will sit away from the nest on his favorite pole, and simply not go fishing. On 6/6, chick 2 died from starvation. This morning, June and her last remaining chick consumed the body of chick 2. They were both very hungry. I look for June to start going fishing soon. Last year, June caught quite a few striped bass to feed her only osplet.”
Thank you, Heidi!
Now on to other news..
Border Ospreys: The first hatch for Samson and Augusta on the 6th!
Dad brought in a really nice fish at the Carthage, Tennessee osprey nest. It has been raining. The only surviving osplet appears to be alright.
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: Fortnight til hatch for the single egg remaining out of three.
Loch of the Lowes:
Sadly, the egg at Loch of the Lowes was predated by a Crow on Sunday.
Eschenback Osprey Nest, Germany: Only surviving Bob is doing quite well. Zeus and Fjona keep a close watch over their nest, wary of the Red Kite that took their other two chicks.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 8th June 2025
Sadly tonight the main event is the sudden and unexpected death of the youngest chick. At 12.53 it looked fine, taking bites of food from Dorcha, but by 14.08 it was lethargic, lying down, and by 16.01 although movement was seen where its little body peeped out from under Dorcha, the breathing was erratic and its death was confirmed when Dorcha and the two older chicks stood up at 20.46. RIP little one 27/5 – 8/6/2025.
In other news, Louis brought four fish to the nest taking his tally to one hundred and sixty four, and Garry LV0 brought three fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to seventy seven. Tonight’s forecast is for light rain with a low of 7
°C changing to heavy rain tomorrow with a high of 13°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.52.28 (03.02.51); Nest Two 23.05.06 (03.36.17)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/VJEdZLysD50 N2 Littlest chick has a very good breakfast off fish one 04.29.02https://youtu.be/wmz8MeeJqPc N2 Fabulous fisherbird Louis brings fish2 just 7 mins 14 secs after the first! 04.38.15https://youtu.be/7zIZnvlliAw N1 Aurora lands seconds after Garry and grabs the fish but keeps calling 09.39.24
https://youtu.be/B2hF-nAlPzI N1 Garry gives Aurora a second fish but still she keeps calling 12.08.37
https://youtu.be/SZO4WBV4gcg N2 Chick3 awakes from dozing, manoeuvres to the front and gets fed off F4 12.47.04
https://youtu.be/zO7oeX2-eQY N1 Aurora gets a third fish, flies off to eat it elsewhere 18.40.10
https://youtu.be/vx1SAaWf0Kg N2 Sadly and unexpectedly little chick3 has died 16.02https://youtu.be/lRHEK3JNK_I N2 Fish number four arrives but sadly there are only two chicks to eat it 22.39.09
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/yZE9EAQksGk N1 Aila brings a big stick and nearly swipes her chicks 2019
https://youtu.be/qqqMygFh4Zc N1 Size matters: the obvious difference between the chicks 2019
https://youtu.be/pF2LiSTuhzE N1 A faceful of feathers 2020
https://youtu.be/-yjULpafPVw N1 Battling bobs behave when Aila returns with a stick 2020
https://youtu.be/ftsxwIcou9c N1 Big Bob goes walkabout 2020
https://youtu.be/DHriG93OSoo N1 Baby bob3 jumps the queue and gets a good feed 2020
https://youtu.be/c1kAM-bvMLQ N2 Louis divebombs crows near the nest 2022
https://youtu.be/oPYwqS_b3xo N2 A slice of normal life for the five family members 2022
https://youtu.be/uwYfJ2epH3E N1 Louis defends his old nest against LV0 2023
https://youtu.be/axna3nCdGf0 N2 Temper tantrum – mum quashes by squashing 2023
https://youtu.be/YUolx0HhZaE N1 LV0 brings Affric a fish 2023
https://youtu.be/rehTQilaRaU N2 Louis checks on his family in a howling gale 2023
https://youtu.be/WqbbBEotuK8 N2 Louis brings a stick and crashes and bashes the chicks 2024
https://youtu.be/uWMiCw0JZ3Y N2 While mum’s away, the chicks play 2024
https://youtu.be/Kj1PUHgYKoQ N2 Louis delivers fish four to Dorcha and flies off to deal with Hoodies 2024 (zoom)
You’re invited to 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
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 7th June 2025
All the action took place on Nest Two today – Aurora 536 visited Nest One but after yesterday’s three fish, not only were there no fish today but not even a sighting of Garry LV0. His tally remains at seventy four. Louis however is in full feed-the-family mode, and delivered five fish today, taking his tally to one hundred and sixty. He brought so much fish that the chicks were barely able to show interest after a while, with their crops bulging almost comically. All three chicks are feeding well and developing on schedule, despite the odd bout of aggression such as the ones which occurred today. Chick3 sensibly stayed out of it hunkered down while chick2 unwisely had a pop at big chick1 and once again paid the price. There’s no need for this aggression as there’s plenty of food but the pecking order needs to be firmly established and maintained, this is all part of growing up and we can expect to see more of it. The weather was reasonably settled today but the rain started before night cam switchover occurred although the forecast calls for a dry night with a low of 5
°C, a dry morning and rain tomorrow afternoon with a high of 14°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.53.47 (03.18.37); Nest Two 23.12.13 (03.47.36)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/MCa6HYiTIFs N2 Louis brings his family a small early breakfast 04.10.19https://youtu.be/T7L1YanTF7E N2 The chicks are so full they’re not really interested in fish two 05.26.37 https://youtu.be/8Lweiby7JoQ N2 Stramash! The two oldest fight while the smallest ducks 11.58.00
https://youtu.be/2OIh11HHJQ4 N2 Louis delivers lunch and leaves the family to their meal 12.48.42
https://youtu.be/xOJBcPPuxyM N2 The chicks are eager when fish four arrives but wander towards the nest edge 16.55.04
https://youtu.be/XD9VFpXwQZ0 N2 Two of the chicks are in a food coma due to fish number five 18.54.31
Bonus video – BBC Springwatch 2024 episode 8 with Osprey hero Roy Dennis:
https://youtu.be/ILLmt5olhHs ©BBC
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/BXrNCnCudWk N1 Louis imprisons his chicks while he eats his fish 2019
https://youtu.be/xQIO6hSViF4 N1 Battling Bobs fight it out 2020
https://youtu.be/tXWzwrFL_Lw N1 Aila returns with a large log and lays it on the bobs 2020
https://youtu.be/omvqc0IOxrE N2 Another dawn fish, another back flip from wobbly bob3 2022
https://youtu.be/6E5_ZD5gY1s N2 Mum watches as the bobs battle to establish the pecking order 2022
https://youtu.be/XuB21e3Flak N2 Louis looks silly flying off with a fish stuck to his beak 2022
https://youtu.be/wm8O9fdCWr8 N2 Bob home alone during Dorcha’s comfort break 2023
https://youtu.be/9aXdRWiSkOw N1 Elevenses: Prince gives Affric a fish 2023
https://youtu.be/ooaGPm9JfJs N1 LV0’s turn to visit the nest – no sign of the others 2023
https://youtu.be/CrPrSiNziog N1 Prince brings fish, won’t give it to Affric, takes it away 2023
https://youtu.be/2Gzy2d9N1nA N1 Prince turns up to an empty nest with a late evening fish 2023
https://youtu.be/gnf980A9NfU N2 Dorcha causes havoc with a stick 2024 (quick-time)
https://youtu.be/GZcRTnIdwUA N2 Dorcha causes havoc with a stick Round Two! 2024
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
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 6th June 2025
Today was all about fish – they just kept coming! Garry LV0 brought three for Aurora 536, who mantled over them and shouted at him each time as if he were about to snatch them back. His tally now stands at seventy four. Louis brought five fish to the nest taking his tally to one hundred and fifty five, and despite absolutely bulging crops, Dorcha kept feeding the chicks and they managed to stuff more down. The final fish only took 5 minutes and 24 seconds to vanish down those gaping beaks, Dorcha’s included. Copious quantities of fish didn’t stop the chicks from testing their place in the pecking order – spoiler alert, big chick1 came out on top. The weather was reasonably settled, but the overnight forecast is for light rain and light winds with a low of 7°C, continuing tomorrow with a high of 13°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.51.28 (03.05.20); Nest Two 23.15.30 (03.48.39)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/f6F4Olsm6QM N2 Breakfast arrives at dawn 04.56.20
https://youtu.be/AfCsanCJ5NI N1 Just shut up and eat, Aurora! Garry brings the first fish 08.49.56
https://youtu.be/_qgaFjC3Ygk N2 Chicks fight, big chick even has a pop at mum 09.05.10
https://youtu.be/bnjJUdumPds N2 Sticks go overboard when fish two arrives 11.48.43
https://youtu.be/ZKJlzsFIBds N2 Louis returns and takes the fish away 12.05.13
https://youtu.be/rv0mN90rkaY N1 Takeaway lunch arrives for Aurora 13.37.06
https://youtu.be/wemuiZrsjyc N2 Afternoon tea anyone? Trout’s on the menu 16.30.18
https://youtu.be/TB63TohnyYY N1 Aurora gets a third fish and she’s still shouting at Garry 18.23.49
https://youtu.be/BXDq_W6-TkI N2 Louis had a good meal before delivering fish number four 19.23.23
https://youtu.be/uj1imb8JM9I N2 Home alone chicks have a chat and a squirt 20.58.54
https://youtu.be/5wcaL8_osto N2 Late night fish supper dispatched in 5 mins 24 secs 21.59.54
Bonus read – What links a native breed of cow, the latest satellite technology, and ancient oak woodland?
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/PSpl1ZDtGM8 N1 Bob1 bashes Bob2 to prevent her getting fed 2019 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/pEGDvB-G8QE N1 Acrobatic Aila does handstands 2020
https://youtu.be/2bkBBksOu4g N1 Be careful mum! Aila drags Bob3 out of the nest cup 2020 (Slo-Mo)
https://youtu.be/RPu-hNcphjc N1 Be careful dad! Louis stands on the bobs 2020 (Slo-Mo)
https://youtu.be/oQ7tWwuWHRw N1 The bobs play poo sticks 2020
https://youtu.be/LQf4pBL8axQ N2 Breakfast for the chicks including day-old Bob3 2022
https://youtu.be/2HAt_Xj2qIA N2 One day old Bob3 demands and gets a really good feed 2022
https://youtu.be/L0A9BO_sEwU N2 Tawny Owl strike 2023 (real time)
https://youtu.be/vwV0CSTXDcI N2 Tawny Owl strike 2023 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/au75jd0XBi4 N1 Ménest à trois? Affric & LV0 together without Prince 2023
https://youtu.be/SYD_vlEqAoo N1 LV0 brings a tv aerial 2023
https://youtu.be/Bkflj5NDmc4 N2 Indignant chick has a go at mum when food’s not offered 2023
https://youtu.be/3-P2RHjTOa4 N1 Prince brings a small fish snack to Nest One 2023
https://youtu.be/ix7t4W1kjlg N1 A Jay visits and perches for a few moments 2024
https://youtu.be/5R1dTZvaJqM N2 Fish number four, lively trout, arrives in a gust of wind 2024
https://youtu.be/T6gbL4s71z0 N2 An absolute whopper whole trout, number five, arrives 2024A warm welcome awaits you at the Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s a
friendly community, and free to join:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam
Russian White Tail Eagles Chulman & Kama in Lower Kama National Park: Look at that lovely eaglet! Juvenile feathers, self-feeding. Doing well.
Charlo, Montana: Charlie and Lola are checking the eggs for pips. Note above: First hatch on Sunday.
Dyfi Osprey Project: The trio are doing well—lots of fish arriving at the nest from Daddy Long-legs Idris.
Foulshaw Moss/Cumbria Wildlife Trust:
Birds of Poole Harbour: Little four is hanging in there. Could you look at the second screen capture and see if you can find four?
San Jose City Hall Falcons: I want you to dance up and down. These four are flying well. Parents providing lots of food and little Chico is right in there. A video by SK Hideaways: https://youtu.be/q9rt2B1BZ8A?
‘A’ sent us a note: “I thought you might enjoy this as much as I did: https://www.google.com/search?q=trempealeau+eagle+cam+live+stream+youtube&oq=tre&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgBECMYJxiABBiKBTIGCAAQRRg5MgwIARAjGCcYgAQYigUyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRg9MgYIBBBFGD0yBggFEEUYPTIGCAYQRRg8MgYIBxBFGEHSAQgzNTU5ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:09cf4342,vid:XngiaRqFxcw,st:0
Sorry about the length of the link but it brought a tear to my eye, especially Mrs T sheltering TE3 through that storm, and of course Betty Lou’s efforts at learning to fly are a scream. But this little piece really was precious. I do wish I’d watched Andor and Cruz this season. Blue and Kai are adorable. Watching the two of them playing was a highlight too – so sweet. It reminds me of how grateful I am that Juvie adopted Bodie and the NEFL nest so that Bodie had at least something of the sibling experience. “
An article you might be interested in. What helped butterflies thrive?
Butterflywatch: British populations thrive thanks to record sunny springhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/05/butterfly-watch-spring-numbers-good?CMP=share_btn_url
Do you ever go bird watching when you travel on holiday?
Do you remember Oliver Hellowell? The budding photographer whose hero is Lolo Williams? Well, he is a photographer, doing well, happy, and has made a film. ‘J’ sent me the trailer! In it, he says that his Down Syndrome does not impact him; he is just happy. A lesson to us all!
‘EJ’ sends us news of a 19 year old osprey that sharpens the need for banding!
Rare 19-year-old osprey returns to West Des Moines after being rescued
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/west-des-moines/2025/06/06/iowa-osprey-y8-reintroduction-rescued-army-post-road/84027876007/
Thank you so much for taking the time to be with us today. Do what you can, when you can, to help wildlife. We look forward to having you with us again on Friday. In the meantime, take care.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: I want to thank especially ‘A, AK, B, EJ, Geemeff, Heidi, J, and PB’ who wrote and sent me news. I am extremely tired, and I hope that a thank you to all of the streaming cams and news outlets listed above will suffice instead of individual names this evening. I am grateful that they allow us the privilege of witnessing the lives of our beautiful feathered friends and report about them. I am thankful to The Guardian for its coverage of wildlife and the environment and to those individuals who take the time to create videos for our enjoyment such as SK Hideaways and Nest Flix Memories.
The long link you posted with T3, Betty Lou, and Blue and Kai didn’t lead anywhere for me, but I found this Explore eagle nest update which has these moments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XngiaRqFxcw
Hi Dev, Thank you for letting me know. I will put that in the blog tomorrow so if others had the same issues they can go to your link! Much appreciated.