28 July 2025
Good Morning!
The neighbours were busy sending me texts. Guess where Brock was?
Brock had wandered into the back garden for his late dinner at 2000. He did not realise that we were sitting and having our tea with Toby on the top deck. Toby barked. Toby only barks at the Hoover. But he barked at Brock, and Brock took off. Well, As Geemeff says, he’s smart and safe from Toby!
Do you use wet wipes? Not just on yourself but also on your pets? Well, guess what? They have been discovered to be a major polluter. The study is in the UK but it would apply to anywhere else in the world.
Let’s make a determination, each of us, to help our waterways by ditching any use of any wet wipes – for pets, babies, and for our faces!!!!!!!!
It rained on Sunday. The rain poured and poured. There was thunder and lightning that scared Baby Hope. The trees will now have sufficient moisture, thank goodness. We also hope that this will help with the wildfires north of us.
Did I say that Toby and I secured the perimeter of the back garden so that he can roam and sniff to his heart’s desire while I sit and sip tea and read? The best thing that I have done this whole summer season. I can relax. What a concept.
The decluttering continues, and the ‘bug’ has caught on with many of you and some of my friends here in Winnipeg. It is unbelievable what we stuff in bin bags and hide the bags in the back of closets or in our basements and attics. Thank you to everyone who wrote and thanked me for the inspiration – my pleasure.
I am preparing for the painter who will be here on Tuesday. The old paint has been matched perfectly. The girl at the shop could not believe it! Neither did I. But all is well; four gallons are ready to go. The living room is going to undergo a dramatic change despite staying the same colour. Our favourite place to travel was Southeast Asia, and we returned to it time and again. The cabinets are full of treasures that are going to be sorted, with some coming out in the open to live with us. The feel of the room will hopefully be a blend of Indochina and Malaysia.
All the pictures are down, and the holes are filled. Furniture has been measured, and several changes are underway. There are two large and heavy tansu, or Japanese cupboards. The design is so interesting. The bottom section of each has drawers, and it is actually ‘separate’ or can be separated from the top – they stack! The bottom of one is going to become the stand for the telly. The individual who built the tansu also allowed that the top could sit independently and open. I am excited. It is always nice to have something to look forward to. Stay tuned!
The news in Osprey World is the last of the fledging and the return of the osplets to their nests screaming for fish. Some of the females will be eating ‘up’ to start their migration south while the males stay behind feeding their youngsters until they leave. I remember Aran was kept well into September one year by one of his chicks. These males are devoted – don’t ever think they aren’t!
While it is not unusual for fledgling ospreys to return to the nest screaming for fish, it is for Big Red’s chicks. Big Red generally likes her hawklets to get their prey on the tops of buildings or in the trees. On Saturday, however, one of the Os visited the nest to the surprise and delight of everyone – and then the other landed, so both fledglings were at home looking for food. Cornell Bird Lab caught that on video for us: https://youtu.be/aZx5W3IyfRg?
The UK Hobbies are getting their pin feathers, and there is a lot of competition for the tiny prey items that come to the nest. SK Hideaways caught some food fights for us! https://youtu.be/aZx5W3IyfRg?
There were at least five fish deliveries at the Fru Rauer osprey nest in Norway on Sunday. Oh, these fledglings are healthy. Beautiful long legs, lovely plumage.
Mantling helps protect this fish from incoming siblings!
At Loch Doon, Bonnie finally gets a fish. She works on it for at least half an hour until mum, Angel, comes in and takes it. (Bonnie needs to work on her unzipping). Everyone expects Angel to migrate by August 6th, so she needs all the fish she can get.
Fish deliveries at Poole Harbour on Sunday were: 08:45 (022), 11:15 (CJ7), 13:39 (022, escaped), 14:31 (022), 15:26 (CJ7), 16:30 (022), 17:22 (CJ7), 18:49 (022)
At Dyfi, Idris keeps up the deliveries for the boys.
Aran came to check out what was happening at his old nest at Glaslyn. I do wonder what will happen next season. Aran looks great!
At the Usk Valley, the first osprey chick to fledge in over 250 years is enjoying his fish! And we also get a nice family portrait with Only Bob and his parents, Syfaddan & Clogwyn.
Dylan and Seren Blue 5F are delivering lovely trout to their two fledglings at Llyn Clywedog. Look at those healthy Bobs.
Blue 33 continues to deliver fish to the screaming osplets – four of them – at Rutland Water’s Manton Bay. The last image is a huge fish left by one of the kids. Maya arrives, looks at it and thinks ‘Mine’!
West Midlands Ringing Group: Three chicks fledged! Brilliant.
At Loch Arkaig, the fish keep coming in, too! Lots on Sunday. Topping off these babies so that they are big and strong for their long migration.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 27th July 2025Today was an amazing fish day – one on Nest One, the first since the 23rd, and seven on Nest Two, including Dorcha’s second fish delivery, the most she’s ever brought in one season. While Garry LV0’s tally stagnates at one hundred and thirty five, Louis’ soars to three hundred and fifty six, and Dorcha doubles hers to two, with a nest total of three hundred and fifty eight. It may have seemed that Breac 7P7 got most of them – he was often the first to get to the fish – but even he couldn’t consume everything, and Darach 7P0 got a good share along with Dorcha. Both chicks are making steady progress towards being ready to migrate when the irresistible urge is felt. Intruders were around both nests but didn’t interrupt proceedings much, apart from Aurora 536 landing on Nest Two and being chased off by an indignant Breac. Although it rained overnight, the rain forecasted for today didn’t materialise and the weather was settled, drizzle is expected tonight with a low of 11°C, and a mainly dry day tomorrow with a high of 18°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.57.08 (04.27.13); Nest Two 23.02.01 (04.35.45)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/3Gn24PPg1q4N2 Fish one delivered by Louis 08.04.07
https://youtu.be/UUm18nxN7zoN2 Fish two
delivered by Dorcha 09.37.02
https://youtu.be/PxNKOsW743o N2 Aurora intrudes on her neighbours and is chased off by Breac 11.28.20 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/AHyCVZQVtlMN2 Fish three
delivered by Louis 12.18.07
https://youtu.be/l-68y3DO5NE N2 Fish four delivered by Louis 13.15.13
https://youtu.be/b2A98606O2s N2 Fish five delivered by Louis 15.39.34
https://youtu.be/YoJwI4TWukw N2 Fish six delivered by Louis 17.31.52
https://youtu.be/4sQdqbxalvc N2 Fish seven delivered by Louis 19.42.55 https://youtu.be/PwWDqs3IxdE N1 Finally a fish for Aurora, first since 23rd 20.32.45
Bonus read – Ospreys are included in the Times list of endangered or extinct species now making a comeback:
https://www.thetimes.com/magazines/the-sunday-times-magazine/article/12-amazing-wild-animals-that-are-thriving-again-in-britain-h7rhzrxpq
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/_Z48xWVluSw N1 Oi mum! Careful with that! 2019
https://youtu.be/1Y9dGaIFCAc N1 FLEDGE! Rannoch finds her wings 2019
https://youtu.be/TPzBKE5vAEU N1 Aila & Louis steal a moment alone together 2020
https://youtu.be/aBuSSB6OHM0 N1 Louis and the lively fish – everyone wants it 2020
https://youtu.be/dmO1Gqac36Q N1 Affric nips Prince as he tries to steal her fish 2021
https://youtu.be/TbSOZNCrLNE N2 Dorcha gets nipped when she tries to steal Willow’s fish 2022
https://youtu.be/PlVdlOWq8DE N2 Dorcha gives Sarafina a bit of stick and gets a nip 2022
https://youtu.be/3-PXNmOwWMk N2 Ludo arrives squeaking, lands on the high perch 2023
https://youtu.be/z1_voshU-z8 N2 Flight of the Bumbling Hoodies (Classic Ospreys Rimsky-Korsakov) 2023 (quicktime)
https://youtu.be/HxQNOrkv2u8 N1 Garry brings moss and takes it away again 2023
https://youtu.be/J0o52mX6AAQ N2 Dorcha is intruded upon first by Ospreys then by Hoodies 2023 (zoom)https://youtu.be/OuuyJzYB3ZM N1 Garry LV0 brings a stick and does some nest prep
2024
https://youtu.be/K3oYtZEf5MA N1 Dorcha visits Garry LV0 but another Osprey makes them flee
2024
https://youtu.be/6FoEZpmrZks N1 Dorcha pays another visit
2024 (zoom)
Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 26th July 2025Not a lot happened today, it was a very slow day all round. Garry and Aurora turned up on Nest One, she spent a lot of time there but when he turned up he didn’t bring any fish, he tried mating instead, and his tally remains at one hundred and thirty five. For a while it looked like there might not be any fish deliveries to Nest Two either, but Louis did eventually turn up with his latest ever first fish at 16.34, and followed it up with a second fish about two hours later. Breac got the lion’s share again but Darach got a good share also, and it was Dorcha and a persistent pair of Hoodies who lost out. Louis’ tally now stands at three hundred and fifty, with the nest total at three hundred and fifty one after Dorcha’s surprise delivery yesterday. It was damp from late afternoon on, the wind picked up and the forecast is for heavy rain overnight with a low of 13°C and light winds which of course are much stronger on the exposed nests. Light rain showers and gentle breezes are expected tomorrow with occasional sunny intervals and a high of 17°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.44.16 (04.12.32); Nest Two 22.32.13 (04.20.46)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/t9MiGMh0piI N2 Finally! The first fish arrives very late 16.34.32https://youtu.be/CT6jENLhsC8 N2 Hoodies harass Darach and peck his tail! 18.22.15https://youtu.be/BLknOJ9kXa4 N2 Dorcha gets the tiny second fish but lets Darach take it 21.21.43
Bonus read – article about benefits and problems with imported plants, Woodland Trust discuss ash diebackhttps://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-courier-advertiser-angus-and-the-mearns-edition/20250726/284013313167447
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/GrVXgF0XtTI N1 Captain nips Louis’ leg 2020
https://youtu.be/LXVBy7anRo4 N1 Mum brings dinner: Aila delivers a whopper 2020
https://youtu.be/Lj4S0NPDbLM N1 Doddie and the flatfish 2020
https://youtu.be/p2y97A3kIv4 N1 Affric (Blue 152) calls for fish to no avail 2021
https://youtu.be/BBdVW_8z9rI N2 Meet Aspen (LW3) & Alder (LW4), Louis’ chicks with new mate Dorcha 2021 (thanks Lewis)
https://youtu.be/7Yz_fuHpp8Q OMG! Tawny Owl pulls Willow off the nest! 2022 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/qYDQTkEH89o N2 Relief as Willow finally returns, is unhurt 2022
https://youtu.be/4plSH4d1ves N1 &2 Flypast by USAF jets 2022
https://youtu.be/XP2ydlIOQkY N1 Garry appears out of the mist bringing a big stick 2023
https://youtu.be/isjMxlmejNs N1 One member of the threesome visits, no one else comes 2023
https://youtu.be/8-31dibUJCo N2 Ludo flies with fish for the first time – accidentally! 2023
https://youtu.be/XROITiomjHE N2 Ludo achieves another milestone – flies with fish intentionally 2023
https://youtu.be/IQMVxtoxhek N1 Garry LV0 visits bringing moss 2024
https://youtu.be/TkmVmX5YaVA N1 Dorcha spends time with Garry LV0 already there 2024
https://youtu.be/MRew3k_UKwA N2 Dorcha isn’t amused when Affric 152 & Garry LV0 invade her nest 2024
At the West End Bald Eagle nest, formerly home to Thunder and Akecheta, Haku has been bonding with the new male. SK Hideaways caught their sky bonds on video for us. (Do I think Makaio is in the ‘picture’ – no. We might never know what happened to him and there has been no further photographs of Akecheta on the mainland. That, of course, does not mean that Akecheta is not there nor does a lack of Makaio mean that he is unwell – he could be on the mainland, too!) https://youtu.be/s87ziXROLwM?
Some images from our walk in the English Gardens on a very hot 30 C day.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care, everyone. We look forward to seeing you on Friday.
I want to thank our notable contributor, ‘Geemeff, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos, including SK Hideaways and the Cornell Bird Lab, and all others, often too many to name. I am very grateful to you and to newspapers like The Guardian, which still cover environmental issues as they relate to our precious feathered friends and to Jeff Kear and the UK Osprey Information FB. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.
