Late Friday in Bird World

25 July 2025

Hello Everyone,

Before I even begin, thanks to everyone at PSEG Oyster Bay. The chick with what appeared to be an injured leg was taken into care. The report from the rehab facility is that there is nothing wrong with the osplets’ legs. The chick was malnourished. Their plan is to feed this little one well, get it healthy, and then release it back into the wild to live its life. Wonderful news.

Just a few things to catch up on. It was a very hot day in the Canadian Prairies—30 °C and very humid. Toby didn’t even want to ‘walk’ at the park, preferring to be pushed in his pram with a towel wrapped around an ice pack! It is now just past 1900, and there is shade and a lovely breeze in the garden. The song birds, along with the Blue Jays, were feeding when the local Cooper’s Hawk arrived at 1900. There was quite a bit of commotion, and it flew out with something fairly large between its talons. Honestly, I hope that was not the Baby Blue Jay. The hawk flew in fast, grabbed its prey, and out it went. Some might not have noticed, and, of course, my camera was sitting in the house.

We are enjoying the evenings outside now that the perimeter of the garden is secure and Toby can wander at his leisure. Trying to hold on to a dog on a leash while relaxing is not relaxing!

‘PS’ sent me their report from Seattle. The images are so gorgeous. Please do go to the ‘PS’s Flickr account and read the entire diary!

“As for the Seattle Osprey – I visited every day this week through Thursday, sometimes for short visits, and both young continue to look good, fish looked to be in good supply (sometimes I’d come and mom would still be holding half a fish with nobody eating…and eventually they would get around to finishing it, which I imagine/hope is a sign of plentiful food). Lots of flapping, hopping around and across the nest, head bobbing, etc – I’ve said it for a while but fingers crossed they will both be fledging soon. I figure they are right around 50 days old (plus or minus a day or two) so right in that “typical” range. Unfortunately I am out of town until Sunday but I hope to have time to visit Sunday evening and then definitely Monday so will update you more then. Picture library continues to grow (https://www.flickr.com/gp/193514804@N08/x87X142Y7m), also sending a couple through here.”

 Take a moment to look at these amazing images. Thank you ‘PS’. There is something to learn in each of them. The top image is of an adult osprey. What colour is its eye? Now look at the chicks in the nest? What colour is theirs?

Osprey eyes change colour as they mature. Young ospreys are born with dark blue or black eyes, which then change to amber or orange. As they reach maturity, around 2-3 years old, their eyes transition to a bright yellow like the parents in the top image. 

Now look at the beak.

Just look at the wing span of the adult. The wingspan of an adult osprey typically ranges from 1.45 to 1.80 meters (55 to 71 inches), or approximately 4.75 to 6 feet. Females tend to be slightly larger than males, with wingspans on the higher end of that range. 

This is an excellent video about everything you need to know about an osprey. Please watch it even if you think you know everything! https://youtube.com/shorts/H6bklarQT38?

What is special about the osprey’s feet? and their toes?

What is special about their foot pads?

Are osprey talons unique? How?

What is special about an osprey’s beak?

What is the purpose of the dark band behind the eyes?

How long is it til the fledglings get their adult plumage?

Geemeff’s  Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 25th July 2025
Yesterday it was thought that Dorcha had brought a fish to the nest, a most unusual occurrence for her with a total of two fish to date (one each in 2023 and 2024) but on closer inspection she was just returning a fish brought earlier by Louis. However, it does appear that she brought a fish today – whether she caught it herself or received it off-nest from Louis can’t be known, but checking back doesn’t show Louis sneaking in with an extra fish so it must be concluded that Dorcha’s fish tally for 2025 soars up to the magnificent total of one. Louis brought four fish to the nest and his tally rises to three hundred and forty eight out of the three hundred and forty nine year to date total. Although it seems that Garry gave Aurora a fish off-nest, he didn’t bring any to the nest, preferring to attempt unsuccessful mating instead so his tally remains at one hundred and thirty five. The chicks Darach and Breac made sure of getting their share of fish, chasing away the other, lunging at their parents and trying to see off a persistent Hoodie while reacting to the occasional intruder Osprey seen in the near distance. Both are in excellent physical condition and plumping up nicely in readiness for the long journey south which probably won’t happen for a few weeks yet. The forecasted rain materialised late in the day and is due to continue overnight with a low of 13

°C, through to tomorrow, with a high of 17°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.06.00 (04.15.54); Nest Two 22.51.27 (04.23.56)

Today’s videos: https://youtu.be/GUmC2NK_rwA N2 Breac’s allowed to have the first fish 08.28.02https://youtu.be/IjXxfMRafVc N2 Did Dorcha really catch fish number two? 11.27.34 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/ER6LoV2oGZQ N2 The chicks watch something before Breac tucks into fish three 15.15.31

https://youtu.be/t0Y9BSUsV3Y N2 Darach lunges at Dorcha, chases her away from fish four 16.30.15https://youtu.be/PqLvfIFdy-Y N2 Dorcha keeps fish 5 despite a combative chick and a pesky Hoodie 18.08.03https://youtu.be/ywvzszOj8-Q N2 Persiste

nt Hoodie intrudes on Dorcha and Darach 18.14.01
Bonus action – voting now open for Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year, link to vote for your favourite:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/tree-of-the-year

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/kGQ3dyIJkCg N1 Doddie piggybacks on Louis 2020

https://youtu.be/y_H5V8LSawI N1 No one wants Louis’ fish so he takes it away 2020

https://youtu.be/y4c9zsaxflg  N2 Synchronised flapping as mum watches 2022

https://youtu.be/PYaDCd_5M0c  N2 High off the screen helicopter! 2022

https://youtu.be/B4EbyOjxxKc N2 FLEDGE! Willow finds her wings 2022

https://youtu.be/X839GjpyvY0 N2 Sarafina reacts to seeing Willow 2022

https://youtu.be/8-Wb41wJuH8 N2 Willow’s second flight via nest cam 2022

https://youtu.be/dJ9IvFCEPbk  Willow’s second flight via long lens 2022 (thanks LizB)

https://youtu.be/sI6lN7wD5OA N2 Ludo and the Jay 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/9FcJOMLI9Cg N2 Ludo allows Dorcha to take the fish 2023

https://youtu.be/k0pKZzcF5Zc N1 Garry seems reluctant to give Affric the fish 2023

https://youtu.be/9NadyAHk6Gc  N2 Ludo lives up to his name and plays on a seesaw 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/S3V8_nzaX6I  N2 Ludo grabs Dorcha’s head feathers to stop her getting his fish 2023

https://youtu.be/Dy4yQvefzA8  N1 Affric 152 follows Garry LV0 to Nest One 2024

https://youtu.be/ePTJwID4lmQ N2 Louis visits his nest bringing a stick 2024

https://youtu.be/kroSVUdVBKU FLEDGE – the great news that 1JW has found his wings and flown 2024

Kielder Forest: Latest news on the fledglings.

Green Ledge Light Preservation Society: First fledge on Friday!

Marlene Harris and Ferris Akel and the O’s!

The Russell Lake Ospreys are really starting to flap their wings!

That’s it for today! Thank you so much for being with us. We look forward to seeing you on Monday!

Thank you to those wonderful people who send me reports on the birds including Pam Breci, those great images and information from Seattle ‘PS’, Geemeff keeps us up to date with all things Woodland Trust, UK Osprey Info FB has amazing information please think about joining, and thanks to all the others that have streaming cams whose images we have used, those who contributed newsletters such as Kielder Forest, Marlene Harris, Ferris Akel and the Cornell Red-tail Hawks, the Green Light Preservation Society, and of course the driving forces behind letting us know about Nova Scotia ospreys – Connie and Don Dennis.