12 August 2026
Hello Everyone,
The tributes to Jackie continue to pour in and your wonderful, heartfelt words have meant so much to me. I hope to include them in a short tribute to The Queen of Big Bear Valley once the aching goes away. She meant so much to us and motivated so many people. It is still hard to put it into words.
Celebrating in the Olympic Park as SE37 has its beak out and by the time I send this tomorrow, it will have fully hatched. Congratulations Dad and Lady! SK Hideaways has the video: https://youtu.be/1gUHaF2o7nc?
Lady can hear her babies wanting to hatch:
Migration is starting and Hawk Mountain has put out its first count. “The wait is almost over! Autumn migration returns to the Mountain this Saturday, August 15. As raptors begin their journey south, Hawk Mountain comes alive with opportunities to observe, learn, and explore. Enjoy the Autumn Lecture Series, free weekend programs, time at the lookout, or a peaceful walk on the trails. See what’s coming up and plan your trip!
As always, thank you for your support, and you can stay up to date on all Hawk Mountain programs and happenings at hawkmountain.org/events.”
If you live near Hawk Mountain, why not participate? Here are the details:
Autumn Migration Hawkwatch Begins
Daily, August 15-December 15
9 am to 5 pm
Trail fee required for Non-Members
The Annual Autumn Hawk Watch begins August 15 at the Sanctuary’s famed North Lookout and is conducted daily, weather permitting, through December 15.
An average 18,000 birds of prey will soar over the Sanctuary’s rocky North Lookout, a 1,500-foot outcropping on the Kittatinny Ridge or “Blue Mountain.” Each year we tally the number and type of birds that pass. An official counter and interpreters are on hand to point out and identify birds.
Visitors should bring binoculars (or rent them at the Visitor Center), something soft to sit on, and a daypack with water and snacks. Plan to relax at the lookout and spend at least an hour. Many people spend the morning, afternoon or even the entire day!
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn more about hawk migration and enjoy this spectacle of nature!
Date & Time
August, 2026
15
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Daily through Dec 15
Location
North Lookout
We had a great Tuesday. Ann helped me with Don and together with Toby we went out to Wildlife Haven in search of a mystery. Lately there has been a Mississippi Kite in one of our parks. As it turns out, in 2014, a pair of kites made a nest and fledged young. One unlucky chick found its way to Wildlife Haven where it has been an ambassador ever since – Milan. Was Milan still alive? I had been at the rehab centre oodles of times, taking in birds, making donations, attending open house but I could never recall Milan. The cage was empty today but Milan is still very much alive. Inside away from the heat. We will double check on Open House!
Two Great Horned Owls were out, along with Majestic, and the two goofy Turkey Vultures – Gus and Leo. Gus and Leo will make you fall in love with Turkey Vultures, I promise. They are such characters.
Majestic.
Geese!
On our way home, we stopped in one of the developments just outside the City. I had been told by a former student, Selena Panchoo, that there was an amazing Latino bakery there. Her recommendation did not disappoint! Made on-premises- we could watch – the desserts were divine. A big plus was that, unlike most City cafes, Toby was allowed! The owner had owned a Cavalier at one time and fell in love with Toby immediately. They will certainly have our business.
Mango cheesecake – mango through and through and you can’t beat a Jarritos soda on a warm day.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 11th August 2026
Some aggression was shown by the chicks today, especially over Louis’ first delivery, which was just a scrap of fish, but as the day went on and Louis kept delivering a steady stream of fish, the aggression died down. Louis brought eight fish, taking the Nest Two tally to four hundred and eight, and there was so much fish that even the marauding Hoodies got a share. They were out in force today, probably the same pair throughout the day, and even Louis had to put up with one at close range, while a bold Hoodie flew down next to Amber and grabbed a big fish from right beside her. However, as she had just received the eighth fish from Louis and both she and Juniper had bulging crops, it wasn’t the disaster it would have been yesterday. Garry LV0 brought three fish for Aurora 536 and the Nest One tally rises to one hundred and ninety nine. Noisy RAF jets caught on both nest cams disturbed Aurora and she left her perch on Pole Tree and flew over to the nest.
It looks like Dorcha is still in the area, just not coming to the nest, as LizB spotted an adult Osprey perching near Louis behind the nest. Although it would be great to see her, with the chicks’ current aggro due to hyperphagia, that’s probably a wise move. The weather was settled and forecast to continue, with an overnight low of 14°C and a high tomorrow of 24°C.
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/THyZ1Xc-YjI N2 First fish is just a scrap but the chicks fight over it anyway 05.37.02https://youtu.be/qf-pqHMMP74 N2 Louis waits on an empty nest for a chick to claim fish two 06.02.54https://youtu.be/66wY8eObpLI N1 First fish for Aurora is a frantically flapping flatfish 12.40.47https://youtu.be/ZV2_ovPhhoI N2 Amber’s ready and waiting when fish three arrives 13.56.52https://youtu.be/gwdI5EpnoA8 N2 Amber keeps old fish three as Juniper gets fish four 14.19.34https://youtu.be/OHcUmXoIf3w N2 Juniper still has fish four and also gets fish five 15.10.43https://youtu.be/gxQEHIylHo4 N1 Aurora grabs a few bites of fish two before departing 15.47.36https://youtu.be/4E-dIkqMwYI N2 Louis brings fish six and chases off Hoodies 17.05.12https://youtu.be/BilLYiGOQnI N1&2 RAF jets flypast both nests and disturb Aurora on Pole Tree 18.10.40 (zoom)https://youtu.be/2tYjw_SeLgw N2 Hoodies scarper as Louis brings fish seven 19.05.21https://youtu.be/AI9A_9sXt8U N1 Garry brings a third fish for Aurora 19.50.29https://youtu.be/wFRRo_54sN8 N2 Hoodie steals a fish from Amber but she keeps fish eight 20.59.02
Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam
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The Black Storks in northern Europe appear to have fledged.
My friend, Sassa Bird brings me news from Lativa about the birds in that area:
That is wonderful news. I have been following some nests in Estonia – and so happy that Urmas is feeding the storklets, as it appears the parents are gone.
Wensi is feisty! https://youtu.be/-BLS5TdUhWQ?
Wensi is, to me, very special. I don’t know if Iris, who is at a minimum of thirty years, will return next year to be reunited with Clarke and have other chicks. So I am treasuring every moment of them on the nest. They are on the big screen at our house -. I do adore this family.
Fledglings doing well at Clark PUD. Showing up for fish!
We have news that the only surviving osplet on the Osoyoos platform in Osoyoos, British Columbia is doing well and getting fish from the parents. The camera is down.
The osplet that was removed from the Tweed Valley nest due to thrashings and its old sibling not allowing it to it has been returned to the nest. Lots of fish gifts were left and observations show that the two are getting along and feedings are going smoothly. Well done, Tweed Valley and Forestry England.
Documentaries about a murder do not often have a connection with our raptors but in the case of the Edradymate Estate, they certainly do!
I was going to check on the status of the condors and the Big Sur fire and ‘B’ sent me the latest link. This is what he writes, “Hi Mary Ann,
I’ve pasted at the bottom of this email the link to a San Francisco Chronicle article about the Big Sur fire, which is dated yesterday and appeared in the print edition of the paper today. (I might be one of the last people who actually buys and reads the print edition of the Chronicle each day.)
It is only the last two paragraphs of the article that address the condor issue. To summarize those paragraphs, the article mentions that the fire has disrupted road access to the condor sanctuary, that Kelly Sorenson says the two condors confined there have gone four days without fresh food or water, and that Kelly is working with firefighters to open access to the sanctuary. But what I like best is the final quote from Kelly: “If for some reason they (the firefighters) are not able to do that (that is, open the access road to Kelly), then we’re prepared to hike up if need be.” Yeah, you go, Kelly!
Signing off. Don is out with Ann and Toby and I are going to go for a nice walk in the coolish breeze. It is such a gorgeous day. Tomorrow we are going to the farm to get produce and on the weekend, I am hoping we will have one of those mystery car tours. The goal is to get Don out every day and for me to get out, even if it is a walk with Toby and then a nice cuppa sitting in the sunshine. We have – Toby and I – decided no housework today! Melissa is coming Monday and she will have her work cut out for her.
You will notice that I have not included any of the thousands of tributes to Jackie. I am hoping that you will continue to send me a note about what Jackie meant to you so that I can include it on her Memorial Wall and here in the blog. I hope to do that next week, so please send a comment about Jackie or an e-mail. The address is maryannsteggles@icloud.com I will only use your initial!
Take care, everyone.
Thank you to Geemeff for her daily summary and videos, B for the latest on the Ventana Wildlife Society’s Sanctuary in Big Sur, to Raptor Persecution UK for following the most horrendous crimes against wildlife, to Sassa Bird for her notes about the NE European ospreys and storks, to Hawk Mountain for their great tracking of the migrating birds, and to all the streaming cams and individuals who put information on FB and images. I am grateful.
