Gabby is home…Late Saturday in Bird World

29 August 2026

Hello Everyone,

Thank you so much for your prayers, your notes, e-mails, and comments. I really appreciate them. Don is very, very ill. At the moment, he has multiple infections, and he is not responding. He remains in a state of delirium, the same as he was Thursday morning when he went into the hospital. He has the best of care and there is someone with him 24/7 and the doctor has asked me to take a day off and take care of myself. I have done everything I possibly can and now we wait. Ann is going to be with him today and she will let me know if he is improving or if I need to grab Toby and get to the hospital fast. Otherwise, I am going to try and recharge my depleted batteries a bit.

The good news (and then the bad) is that Don responded to the antibiotics and had a good visit with Ann. He was ‘bright eyed and bushy tailed’ as my mother would have said. He also had a good visit with his brother. And then – he fell. They are supposed to have someone with him 24/7. That did not happen. He injured his upper right arm, his right ribs, and hit his head on a concrete floor. He knew me and he knew Toby when we got to the hospital but it is clear he is not the same as he had been a few hours earlier. I don’t get ‘worked up’ easily but when I do – watch out. All I can say is that he is monitored at home and has never fallen. When he wandered, he only made it to the neighbour’s house and then we had that fixed so he could be in the garden but not beyond it and sometimes only in the house. So when someone tells me that they are concerned for his safety at home and he needs 24/7 care, is this the best they can do?—–Thank you for letting me vent!

Before the fall, Ann took it. I even talked to him on the phone and it was all good:

The big news for the day in Bird World is that Gabby has returned safely to the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest she shares with Beau (who has already arrived).

Here’s the video clip of her arrival: https://youtu.be/OEEfSyJqF9E?

I want to thank Geemeff for their wonderful summaries and videos from Loch Arkaig all season. You will see that they are off on their own adventure – migrating away from the UK to enjoy some other climates. Bon Voyage, Geemeff! Likes the ospreys – travel safe, eat well, and come back safely!!!!!

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 29th August 2026

A peaceful calm day with just a little harassment by the Hoodies, but Juniper managed to keep both of Louis’ two deliveries safe from them. The second fish was the season’s first mackerel, polished off by Juniper in under twenty minutes, which took the Nest Two tally to four hundred and seventy three. Will Juniper stick around long enough for the tally to reach five hundred? As always, it’s wait and see but the days are drawing in and warmer climes will start beckoning. The weather was mild and settled but that’s set to change to  persistent cloud cover and periodic spells of rain overnight with a low of 12°C, and cool and wet tomorrow with a high of just 16°C.   

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/LrXqneSVATs N2 Fish number two is the season’s first mackerel 17.58.23

https://youtu.be/FcE6JU5rI1o N2 As the sun sets, Juniper departs for the night 20.38.21

I’m off on an adventure of my own tomorrow, so I’ll take this opportunity to give my best wishes to everyone until we meet again for Season Eleven, and wish our feathered family fair winds and plenty of fish on their journey south.

Maya and Blue 33 were still enjoying one another’s company at Rutland’s Manton Bay nest after the kids had flown the coop yesterday. I love how they enjoy spending time together. I have only seen Blue 33 today.

Latest report from Usk Valley in Wales – ospreys still hitting the nest.

https://www.uskvalleyospreys.org/news/ly3vjkqkkb7swddcq5ox2yeb3ns595?fbclid=IwY2xjawUAR5dwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWdwVmJ5cDRIejJsOHZ6RmpzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeKtlJiSP_Slj7Boa4XWe4886bI2w41CHwIdprcC-B3rqYneT4iJxECLSd-lg_aem_osTeor_yXKRv7iM2KATZpw

Hungry juveniles from elsewhere stealing fish of a nest in Tweed Valley – this is happening everywhere.

Rose Shields gives us the latest on the Border Ospreys – with a surprise twist.

ADDENDUM/ERRATUM

Shadow almost gave everyone a heart attack. Where was he?

https://youtu.be/dCAow_Hsih4?

Some gorgeous images of Wensi – thank you cam operator, again.

Thank you for being with us today. It is a gorgeous evening and Toby and I are off for a walk. He was fantastic at the hospital and proved how good he is at being a therapy dog to everyone who wanted to sit and pat him for awhile.

Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to Geemeff, to the AEF, to everyone who created videos, to Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Information, to those who write newsletters, and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us see these amazing birds. We are grateful.