Fledge watch at Cornell…late Wednesday in Bird World

17 June 2026

I am feeling very nostalgic. The very first time I visited Japan was in 1988. It was August. My friend, Ikuhiko, introduced me to the culture, the temples, the gardens, the pickles, and the food in a much condensed two-week period. It was the first of so many trips – most of which centred on Kyoto.

Tuesday night, I watched a gardening show from the UK, Monty Don’s Japanese Gardens on YouTube, that looked at Japanese gardens in both spring and fall. It is a strange thing, but I can close my eyes and walk from the JR Station to the little apartment where I stayed a few blocks from the Kamo River and the old area of Kyoto. The place that I found tranquillity, however, was in Ohara, a the Sanzen-in temple on the mountain. It is a very old site, sacred to the Tendai sect, and famous for its gardens. To get there, I had to take the #11 bus, if I recall correctly. At the beginning of the trek were two shops – one with delicious food and the other with textiles created in various techniques using Indigo. They seemed to specialise in Shibori. Away from the road and up the mountain, artists were drawing and painting at the edge of a field. It was the amazing moss gardens at the top that drew me there. I do not have the proper words for how peaceful it was away from the hussle and bussle of Kyoto.

Ironically, one of the other programmes on the telly that Don enjoys, Death in Paradise, is set in Deshaies, Guadeloupe. There are always one or more images we recognise, including Katherine’s restaurant, which is on the beach in the main town.

Wonderful memories.

Tuesday was a very beautiful day. There was a breeze, and the temperature remained mild. No rain, no hail, and dinner was on the deck with the birds singing their little hearts out. Beautiful. Oh, being outside just brightens one’s soul!

Wednesday is busy. We have Tolu; Toby will stay with Ann while Don goes to his psychiatrist’s appointment; and then there is the first day of our South Osborne Farmers’ Market. Think yummy Chinese dumplings and fresh local honey! So this report is shorter than normal.

The weather has been more than windy in Hellgate Canyon. Clark had trouble bringing in a minnow-sized fish. I became concerned for the little one. He stayed with Iris and his baby and finally came in with a good-sized fish around 1020. Relief

Two ospreys resting in their nest at night, with a dimly lit parking lot in the background.
An osprey standing on a nest made of twigs and branches, overlooking a parking lot in the background.
An adult osprey is feeding a young chick in a nest, surrounded by twigs and leaves.
Osprey feeding a chick in its nest, surrounded by twigs and dry leaves.

It is still very windy at Hellgate Canyon. Clark brought in another fish after 1500 (he might well have brought in more earlier).

An osprey nest with two ospreys, one perched and one standing, surrounded by a parking area and greenery in the background.

Iris feeds the baby while Clark keeps guard. Clark is so protective of his family!

Two ospreys perched on a nest made of sticks, with a parking lot and green areas visible in the background.
Close-up view of an osprey nest with a chick and surrounding twigs, leaves, and nest materials.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 17th June 2026

Today was calm and routine, no upsets, not much in the way of chick aggression, and no intruders. Louis brought three fish for his family, taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and fifty one, and Garry LV0 brought one fish for Aurora 536 taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and twenty one. It rained on and off today and rain will continue through the night with light winds and a low of 12°C, continuing tomorrow with light rain, a gentle breeze and a high of 17°C. 

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/AXFpJ8nfXoU N2 Louis brings his leftovers for breakfast 03.54.38https://youtu.be/Wet3grKylU8 N2 Dorcha’s dulcet tones summon a second fish 06.34.51https://youtu.be/C1actFs_pO8 N2 Louis’ third fish is a magnificent and lively big trout 12.49.59https://youtu.be/rnC3K-WuNTM N

1 Garry remains while Aurora flies off with her fish 17.17.46

Bonus watch – Classic Ospreys series, special moments over the years preserved and set to classical music, quite a few involve sticks!

https://www.youtube.com/@GeemeffGeemeff/playlists

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 Tuesday 16th June 2026

The chicks threw a strop and fought each other, Dorcha took no notice, Louis got his toe nibbled, Aurora got a fish and Garry didn’t spend much time on the nest. He only brought one fish for Aurora, on camera anyway, he almost certainly is bringing fish during the approximately four hours daily cam down time, and his tally now stands at one hundred and twenty. Louis brought four fish for Dorcha and the Nest Two tally rises to one hundred and forty eight. The chicks fought with the eldest coming out on top but then looked ridiculous attacking the nest itself! The weather forecast for the Inver Mallie area is light rain and winds overnight with a low of 13°C, continuing tomorrow with light rain showers, a gentle breeze and scattered sunshine with a high of 17°C.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/boMblyAoBC4 N2 Louis’ first delivery is a large flapping fish 04.47.56https://youtu.be/4YvuTEwPFYs N2 Louis’ second fish is snack-sized 09.41.49 https://youtu.be/mCbfkDybVic N2 Older chick throws a strop, batters the younger then the nest! 11.33.30https://youtu.be/UIH0JbgLebs N1 Both Garry and Aurora leave when he brings a fish 15.48.25https://youtu.be/efCAsuesBwA N2 Is fish blood why C2 keeps nibbling Louis’ toe? 16.58.26https://youtu.be/WJY4sDQmPIE N2 Louis looks magnificent and well fed bringing a fourth fish 19.05.00

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

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Fledge watchers are ready and signs will be going up on the Cornell Campus for Big Red and Arthur’s hawklets.

I love Big Red. She knows when her babies are about ready to fly, and she often chooses to feed them. She is an incredible RTH. The number of chicks she has fledged is unknown, as she has only been on camera with her mate, Ezra, since 2012. She hatched in 2003 and was probably raising babies in 2006. She glows when she has chicks. Positively glows.

Four red-tailed hawk chicks huddled together in a nest on a balcony, with a view of a tree-lined street and buildings in the background.

On the rails.

A red-tailed hawk perched on a nest near the edge of a building, overlooking a tree-lined street below.

This one decided to check out the camera! https://youtu.be/x3kee2NoBCc?

A close-up of a young red-tailed hawk perched on a railing, with a nest visible in the background and trees and a road below.

Big and Little fledged, and Jill, with some help from Jack, is still feeding these two at the Achieva nest. What a wonderful nest this turned out to be this year, thanks to Jill.

A post featuring ospreys Jack and Jill engaging in fishing activities, with Jill holding a headless spadefish and siblings fighting over the catch in their nest.

Big and Little waiting for Mum to deliver an evening meal. They ‘trust’ that she will being food back. What an incredible nest.

Two ospreys are perched in their nest, surrounded by greenery and a view of a residential area in the background.

Mum never disappoints. ‘PB’ thinks it could be a mackerel.

A bird holding a fish in its talons near a nest made of twigs and branches, set against a green background.

Hatch at Sandpoint!

An osprey sits in a nest with a visible egg, surrounded by twigs and branches, overlooking a parking lot with trees and buildings in the background.

Not quite sure what is going on with Bety and Bukachek this year. Will keep monitoring. Gosh, that nest is full of human debris.

A stork standing on a nest filled with twigs and grass, with a village and mountains in the background under a blue sky.

Baby being fed at Cowlitz.

An aerial view of an eagle sitting in its nest made of twigs and branches beside a road.

The trio at Dyfi are fantastic. Telyn and Idris are exceptional.

An adult osprey is perched on a nest surrounded by three young chicks. The nest is made of twigs and is situated in a green, grassy area.

We have a second hatch at Ilomantsin sääkset #2. It is rainy and wet, and I hate that when there are babies in the nest. They get cold and die – let’s hope for sunshine.

An osprey in a nest made of sticks and moss, feeding its chicks near a body of water.

Storks being banded: https://youtu.be/xI-AJgtA6Fc?

A person in a safety harness is interacting with young storks in a nest on top of a structure, with a scenic landscape in the background.
A person in a safety harness is working on a large stork nest on a rooftop, with several chicks visible in the nest. The background shows a lush green landscape and houses.

Boys being boys at San Jose City Hall. https://youtu.be/u0dIuFbxwBs?

It is really raining in Estonia at the nests of the Golden Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle. Both Lesser Spotted chicks have eaten, with the oldest having more – a rat that came in later. Wish them better weather.

Some have been worried about Little Bob at Poole Harbour. He was in a food coma earlier and gets up and eats when he is hungry. Everything looks fine to me.

A bird nest containing three chicks and one adult bird, surrounded by twigs and greenery in a forested area.
An aerial view of an osprey nest, featuring several young chicks and one adult osprey, surrounded by twigs and greenery.

Family portrait at Rutland with swans. Chicks will be ringed soon.

A nest of osprey chicks surrounded by adult ospreys near a body of water, showcasing the birds in their natural habitat.
A group of ducklings resting in a nest made of twigs and branches by a body of water.

Smile. Little Dewey at Dewey Beach has had seven fish so far today.

An adult osprey stands in a nest with two chicks, surrounded by twigs and foliage, overlooking a waterway.

Thank you so much for being with us – there is so much happening, fledges, hatches, and sadly, what looks like pending deaths at some nests. Will try to catch everyone up on the latest tomorrow or Friday. I may take tomorrow off -. Need to enjoy some time with Don in the country! In the meantime, take care! See you soon.

Thank you to Geemeff for those two great reports on Loch Arkaig, PB for alerting me to some nest news, SK Hideaways for their wonderful videos. I am grateful to everyone who posted information and images on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these incredible bird families. Thank you.

Published by maryannsteggles

I went to the UK as a Commonwealth Scholar in 1990 and received my PhD from the University of Leicester in 1993. After three decades of university teaching, I retired to devote my time to the study of raptor behaviour. I am particularly interested in Ospreys and am working on a long term project on third hatch survival and siblicide in these raptors. My blog is a result of a fascination with my local wildlife and the desire to encourage others to love and care for birds! I live on the Canadian Prairies and prior to the pandemic travelled a lot. I am questioning the use of aviation fuel at the moment as we all strive to help our planet. My early research was in politics and art including British public statues exported to Southeast Asia and Vietnam Resistors that contributed much to Canadian ceramics. Books and articles were published on those subjects over a period of 3 decades. Now I am working on books for children so they can learn about the challenges our raptors face.

2 Comments

  1. Linda Kontol says:
    11 thAmerica/Winnipeg-05:0030America/Winnipeg06bAmerica/WinnipegWed, 17 Jun 2026 18:54:34 -0500 2021 at 18:54

    Thanks Mary Ann for these updates. There sure is a lot going on all over.
    Prayers for all who need them and best wishes to those who have fledged and those who will soon fledge. Thanks for these pics and links. I enjoyed the story when you were in Japan. Your and your husband enjoy the country tomorrow and see you here soon!
    Linda

    Reply
  2. micpark9 says:
    11 thAmerica/Winnipeg-05:0030America/Winnipeg06bAmerica/WinnipegWed, 17 Jun 2026 21:21:56 -0500 2021 at 21:21

    You are so right about the Achieva nest. “Jill,” as the Facebook chatters call her, certainly did save this nest. I was so shocked to see the whole thing roll out. It looked as though she was another Diane. And, of course, Jack is Jack. Have a good time, Maryann.

    Reply

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