Author Archives: 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.

Compassionate humans help wildlife, Cornell hawklets anxious to fly…late Tuesday in Bird World

16 June 2026

Good Afternoon Everyone,

We woke up to blue skies and sunshine! And, while sipping our tea and munching on croissants, we counted two Blue Jays at the feeder! Did I tell you about the Cooper’s Hawk hiding in the lilacs that Mr Blue Jay flushed out on Sunday? It was a frightening moment. Mr Blue Jay was screeching at the top of his little lungs. I thought the hawk had his mate or one of their newly hatched chicks BUT maybe Mr Blue Jay just say the hawk loitering in ‘his lilacs’ and wanted him gone. He sure chased him out of the neighbourhood. Imagine.

Ann is taking Don to his annual appointment today and I am going to sit on the deck with Toby and relax. We had an accident yesterday. I know each of us has spilled a cup of water and marvelled at how much there is when you go to clean it up. Well, imagine an extra large mug of hot chocolate. My goodness. Poor Don just couldn’t hold it (early Parkinson’s). The key is like training dogs – nothing negative. Our little Bissell worked overtime after I had scrubbed with a brush. The space is dry but there is still a dark stain in one spot and hopefully after a couple more bouts of cleaning, we can get that out. I bought this big old carpet years ago when wool and silk carpets didn’t cost the price of a car. I love it but, is it time to give it up?

From our monitor, ‘V’, who is writing a book on her twenty-year experience with ospreys living right in front of her. Sadly, life has changed for the birds, but today VV sends us some good news. Please note that I am protecting the location for obvious reasons and the individual.

“Most of my observed nests are a bust again this year. But one of the two nests in front of my house still has at least one chick still alive (bad early bullying, haven’t seen bobble heads in a few days, but someone is still getting fed)— but in the oldest nest, THREE chicks have reached dinosaur stage — first time parents, male an excellent fisher. We’re rigging up a pulley to that nest so we can start adding fish if times get too lean for them. 🤞🏻”

More good news from ‘V’: “It seemed one of the nests up the road also had feeding going on as I drove by. So perhaps there will be a couple fledges from here this year. I can’t imagine we’d be so fortunate.

The fish- pulley apparatus has been “rigged” — waterman vernacular — and we’re going to try to attach it in the morning when the tide is lower. That’s what someone needs to video, the 74 year old woman wading out to the piling for the 83 year old man to haul and attach a bird feeder.   Dodo birds to say the least. Ha!”

V is my hero. Not afraid to save their babies. There are others – I’m like a geisha – I never tell, but there are a number this year that have decided to establish fish ponds to help their ospreys.

There has been questions about Iris’s other two eggs. Egg 2 is 40 days today. Not going to hatch. It is possible that Egg 3 might hatch. Personally, if every osprey nest fledged one very healthy chick, we should feel blessed. I keep thinking about Dewey Beach in the same way. One healthy – not four with 2 or 3 dying of starvation and battering.

Baby One is doing just fine. One nice, strong chick. Yesterday, it disappeared into that bark that was brought in, and many of you became concerned that something had happened. You had to look closely to find its little head.

A close-up of a baby osprey chick interacting with a parent, surrounded by nesting materials.

Another human is helping some storks, with one of the adults in trouble. There are so many compassionate people throughout the world. Sometimes we have to pull away from the news – and just look at the good or we can easily drop ourselves into despair.

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/fp6ZQJJmDbE?

A nest with young storks and an adult stork feeding them, with a view of a village in the background.
Two young storks are being fed in their nest, with a view of a rural area in the background.

“One of the storks with a leg ring has both legs wrapped in long pieces of metal bands. It can’t free itself from the tether. The parent with the ring was in the nest this morning and again this afternoon, and you can see that its legs are still tied. One parent is feeding the young, the other is charred with soot, but it’s not enough food. Yesterday, the storks received a large portion of meat food from a human, and today, the human also threw a large amount of fresh meat into the nest. Storks are afraid of people; it will be difficult to remove the metal band (because it’s not a string) from its tangled legs. Perhaps this stork will be caught on the ground and its legs will be freed.”

‘J’ sends us the latest installment of Kakapo news.

Kakapo Files podcast episode 18:
15 Jun 2026

Six months after this record-breaking kākāpō breeding season began, all 91 living chicks have fledged and left the nest. The chicks remain with their kākāpō mums and are still being fed by them, as well as eating a range of plant material, and as cold wet midwinter weather sets in the chicks are learning to find dry roost sites. The Kākāpō Team’s Daryl Eason and Andrew Digby answer listener questions, including why did Kākāpō cam star Rakiura spend so much time in the nest digging, what can you learn from a piece of egg shell, and could old museum specimens be a source of lost kākāpō genes?

In this episode:
02:06 – Island news with ranger Daniella Whitaker
06:21 – Update on Kākāpō Cam star Rakiura
11:43 – Sick kākāpō
15:19 – Are kākāpō smart?
18:19 – Previous nest cams
20:05 – Why did Rakiura dig so much in her nest?
24:00 – Do kākāpō compete with other species?
25:30 – Kākāpō on Coal Island and at Sanctuary Mountain Mangatautari
30:57 – Museum specimens and lost genes

Learn more:
Follow the Kākāpō Files podcast to keep up to date
Listen to the Voice of the Kākāpō series for a recap of the 2019 breeding season. Also listen to the episodes covering the interim 2022 breeding season, and about how a few male kākāpō have fared in the North Island, in the fenced Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
For more New Zealand science and nature find and follow the Our Changing World podcast, and subscribe to the show’s monthly newsletter

Guests:
Kākāpō ranger, Daniella Whitaker, Kākāpō Recovery Programme
Kākāpō technical advisor, Daryl Eason, Kākāpō Recovery Programme
Kākāpō science advisor, Andrew Digby

Kakapo Files season II:
https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/k%C4%81k%C4%81p%C5%8D-island-diary/id1447593081?i=1000762432199 
https://www.youtube.com/live/UL6P1TdsRXc?list=PLB06qFjAt4VBoq1t-spjkxq6IB5WcEexS 
https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/wild-sounds

Dewey Beach. This must be a female – and continue to send positive wishes to her so that she fledges!

An osprey adult stands near a nest with two chicks, one visible and looking up. The nest is surrounded by sticks and located near a body of water with buildings in the background.

The trio are so fully feathered at Manton Bay and the nest of Blue 33 and Maya.

A closely grouped family of ospreys in a nest made of twigs and sticks, with one adult bird observing the chicks. The background shows a body of water.

‘PB’ reports that Cowlitz has its first hatch today.

A pair of images showing bird eggs in a nest, with one egg hatching and a chick visible next to the eggs.

The reality of not enough fish is spreading through the nests – Forstythe, Field Museum, Farm Field amongst others.

Heidi reports on the loss at Field Farm:

An osprey feeding its chicks in a large nest made of twigs and branches, surrounded by green grass.

Heidi also reports on The Bridge Club osprey nest in NY.

An osprey taking off from its nest with young chicks visible inside the nest, surrounded by a natural landscape during dawn.

‘PB’ reports on Achieva:

Facebook post detailing a fishing report with timestamps and observations of interactions between birds and fish.
A collage of images depicting an osprey nesting area, showing the bird with its wings spread, sitting on a nest made of sticks, and interacting with nestlings or prey.

Charlie and the New Female together on the nest at Charlo Montana feeding their two babies.

Two adult ospreys in a nest with several chicks and remnants of food.

Look at those beautiful juvenile feathers on the Pitkin County Trails Osprey nest in Colorado!

An osprey stands over its chicks in a large nest made of sticks, set against a green landscape with shrubs in the background.

It can be very dangerous being an osprey chick during fish deliveries. We have seen chicks killed, almost smashed…today it was Louis turn at Lock Arkaig 2 to flip a chick. Geemeff has it on video: https://youtu.be/boMblyAoBC4?

A very successful nest is Wolf Bay in Alabama! One of the three chicks has fledged and the live feed has now returned. Aren’t they gorgeous?

Three young ospreys in a nest, surrounded by branches and overlooking a body of water.

At Osoyoos in British Columbia, Canada, the three osplets are still alive. Please send this nest good wishes. They have had trouble with heat and getting fish to the nest for many years.

Two ospreys sitting in their nest surrounded by twigs and branches, with some chicks visible beneath them.

So far it looks like we still have four osplets alive at the Blackbush nest in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Two ospreys in their nest with several chicks at Blackburn Beach Resort.

Two big osplets at the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum osprey nest.

An adult osprey feeding two chick osprey in a nest made of sticks and foliage.
A nest with four young ospreys, sitting on sticks and leaves, while one adult osprey is feeding them.

The Fortis Exshaw streaming cams in Alberta appear not to be working.

We still have two osplets at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. I will try to find any news I can about the woman who was caring for three osplets alone in Minnesota and post it tomorrow. If you happen to know, send me a note!

An aerial view of an osprey nest made of sticks and straw, with two adult ospreys visible near the edge of the nest and a chick resting inside the nest.

At the Red-tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur (one of my favourites) the two older chicks P1 and P2 are preparing to fledge. Cornell did a video of their anxious moments: https://youtu.be/vS44rBVDG_U?

They are so cute. Big Red and Arthur will be showing them where to fly to – and you can count on Arthur for making sure that his babies are well fed after they fly.

A group of red-tailed hawk chicks standing on their nest, preparing to fledge, with greenery and a road visible in the background.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. There is so much happening – it is very difficult to keep up.

It is so nice to have you with us, and I appreciate all your notes, your e-mails, comments, and good wishes. Everyone is so kind, and it means so much to me. I want to add that there is something odd going on with my e-mail at times. Several letters from one of my friends in SF, who supplies us with those wonderful videos, SK Hideaways, were a week late in arriving in my ‘Inbox’, and they all came at once. I could be missing yours, or they might not have arrived – so if you sent me something and I did not respond, please resend. I do try to reply within 48 hours, and normally the same day if things at home are going smoothly.

Thank you to everyone who sent me news, posted information or images on FB, created videos – I am so very, very grateful. To the owners of the streaming cams, we are all so very thankful that you allow us to watch these incredible families.

Late, late Monday edition of Bird World

15 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

It’s the end of the day and I have two great offerings for you.

We have SK Hideaways video of all of Clark’s fish deliveries the other day. My mailbox thought it was ‘Junk’ Mail – geez, what do they know!!!!!!! Ugh.

Clark Answers Iris’s Fish Calls ~ Chick #1 Gets Its First Meal ~ 2026 Jun 11

Hellgate Canyon Ospreys ~ Missoula, MT ~ Iris, Clark, Chick #1

Iris and Clark’s first chick hatched today, but Iris waited some 48 hours for Clark to bring fish. No one knows why he was delayed, but he certainly made up for it with 4 fish deliveries (as of this video). Once Iris refueled, she fed chick #1. Congratulations, Iris and Clark, and welcome to the world #1.

Video: https://youtu.be/Jkv-aKoTUBk

Courtesy CornellLab | Hellgate Osprey Cam | Montana Osprey

Nest cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qvYCbvbeN8

So sorry I missed it but I know that each of you won’t want to miss seeing Clark and all those fish again!!!!!!!!

Clark just keeps bringing those big fish in.

An adult osprey feeds a chick in a nest, with another chick visible nearby. The adult is holding a piece of fish with its beak while the chick eagerly looks up.

Louis delivered a late fish at Loch Arkaig. It is included in the daily summary.

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigMonday 15th June 2026

There was the odd chick fight today but not much, and not too serious so perhaps as both begin to develop the oily look of the reptilian phase, and with Louis bringing plenty of fish, the aggression will taper off completely. It was an otherwise calm day – Garry LV0 delivered two fish taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and nineteen, and he and Aurora continue to incubate their unviable egg. Louis delivered five fish, the first arrived as this season’s earliest shortly after day cam came on, and the last arrived as this season’s latest, with night cam coming on as he landed.The chicks lined up squeaking and will go to bed with full crops. The Nest Two tally rises to one hundred and forty four. The weather today was dry and warm as forecast, but also as forecast, is set to change back to wet with a 70% chance of rain overnight and a low of 11°C, and light rain, light winds, and a high of 18°C tomorrow. Actually, change that 70% to 100% because at the time of filing this report (midnight) it’s started raining and both females are pearled with raindrops.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/SICO1fO_G6U N2 Season’s earliest fish arrives, a feebly flapping trout 03.45.00https://youtu.be/tRcC-7CQYvs N2 Louis brings another lively trout 04.12.32https://youtu.be/1I4mu5_gtoA N1 Garry brings a large trout for Aurora 10.41.48https://youtu.be/ns1e7EHoVBM N2 Louis’ third fish is another frantically flapping trout 12.29.53https://youtu.be/05W6xEO7yfQ N2 Louis’ fourth fish is another whole trouthttps://youtu.be/g64K0qXZQEA N1 Aurora departs as soon as Garry brings fish two 19.11.41https://youtu.be/DyxghGADNlI

N2 Louis’ fifth fish arrives as night cam comes on, and is this season’s latest 23.10.26

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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Thanks so much for being with us! The rain and hail have stopped. The sun is out. Cats are fed along with Toby, and Don is fast asleep. I have a new bird book that I am going to start, but to my shock, it doesn’t contain anything about ospreys. What a disappointment. I was hoping it would be a gem so that it could be the book I donate to the final raffle for the Loch Arkaig group.

See you soon!

Thank you to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their incredible work documenting the lives of our raptors through video and summaries.

Hatches and deaths…Late Monday in Bird World

14 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

Oh, what a day. We are chilly and it has rained heavily with hail! There was even thunder and Toby got to wear his thunder jacket. He did not react to the weather events – not once. He was calm and sleeping. So, thunder or anxiety jackets work for him.

I took videos. WP won’t let me attach them. Says they are private. Really? Missey was scared and her eyes got really big. The hail was not large but it continued to cover the deck and garden.

A fluffy cat sitting on a black table with a window in the background showing a rainy view.
A wooden patio table and chairs covered with hailstones on a rainy day, with a deck and greenery in the background.

Of course, no one believes me when I say this might be the new normal. Geez.

Sadly, the only remaining eaglet out of two has died at the White-tailed eagle nest in Scotland. Its body is being retrieved, and the camera will be down. They want to determine the COD. This is so sad. Each adult and chick is precious. They are being reintroduced to Scotland.

The White-tailed Eagle (also known as the sea eagle) was driven to extinction in the UK by 1918 due to human persecution and habitat loss. Thanks to landmark, multi-phase reintroduction programs that began in 1975, this apex predator has made a remarkable recovery and is now an established breeding species in Scotland.

The successful return of the White-tailed Eagle to Scotland occurred in three distinct phases involving the translocation of young eagles from Norway: 

  • Phase 1 (1975–1985): A partnership between the RSPB and Nature Conservancy Council began translocating Norwegian eaglets to the Isle of Rùm in the Inner Hebrides. This resulted in the first successful wild breeding pair on the Isle of Mull in 1983. 
  • Phase 2 (1993–1998): A second phase of releases took place in Wester Ross to expand the eagle’s geographic distribution across the west coast.
  • Phase 3 (2007–2012): A final set of birds was released on the east coast of Scotland in Fife, successfully establishing a population there. 

Current Status and Ecology

  • Population: There are currently around 150 to 300 breeding pairs established in Scotland. 
  • Habitat: They primarily inhabit coastal areas, sea lochs, and large inland bodies of water, which provide ample fish, waterbirds, and nesting cliffs/tall trees. 
  • Source for England: The Scottish population has been so successful that conservationists have utilized Scottish chicks to help repopulate the species in England (such as on the Isle of Wight).

Ongoing Challenges and Conflicts

While celebrated as a major conservation success, the reintroduction has caused friction with local communities. 

  • Livestock Predation: Farmers and crofters, particularly in Argyll and the West Highlands, have reported significant losses of vulnerable lambs to the eagles.
  • Management Plans: NatureScot has implemented Sea Eagle Management Schemes to help mitigate these impacts, including financial support and scaring tactics for farmers in designated areas. 

The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation became actively involved in the reintroduction of the White-tail eagle. The following is taken from the RDWF Website:

PROJECT START: 2019
EAGLES RELEASED: 45
PAIRS BREEDING IN ENGLAND: 2
CHICKS FLEDGED FROM BREEDING PAIRS IN ENGLAND IN 2025: 3

White-tailed Eagles were once widespread along the whole of the South Coast of England, from Cornwall to Kent, before being driven to extinction by relentless persecution that began in the Middle Ages. The last pair bred on Culver Cliff on the Isle of Wight in 1780. Many parts of southern England remain highly suitable for the species, and following the reintroduction of White-tailed Eagles to Scotland – where there are now approximately 180 breeding pairs – we were granted licences by Natural England and Nature Scot to begin an English reintroduction in partnership with Forestry England, based on the Isle of Wight. A feasibility report was submitted to both Natural England and Nature Scot as part of the licence applications. The initial licence permitted the release of up to 60 young eagles on the Isle of Wight over a five year period, beginning in 2019. It is hoped that a small population of 6-8 breeding pairs will become established within 60km of the Isle of Wight, with birds spreading east and west along the South Coast. In 2026, Natural England issued a further license to release up to 20 White-tailed Eagles over 3 years from Exmoor National Park, to support the expanding population in Southern England.”

Every chick is precious. I hope to have news of the necroscopy for you when it is released. This could take weeks.

More great images from Seattle by Ping Shen of Harry, Sally, and their ‘Only Bob’. Thanks so much, Ping, for sharing these with us. Ping notes, “from the looks of things, an only child. Quite adorable, peeking at mom, and then sleeping at the foot of dad’s talon…”

An osprey perched on a nest made of sticks, looking down at a chick in the nest while surrounded by greenery.
Two ospreys sitting on their nest, with one looking directly at the camera while the other is feeding on a fish.

A beautiful sunset with Clark, Iris, and what might be another ‘Only Bob’. We are on pip/hatch watch for that second egg. We will see if Only has a sibling. I sure hope it is strong as Big Bob is a smart survivor – it has sure been beaten around by fish and nest materials.

Two ospreys are perched on a nest made of twigs and branches, with one parent bird standing close to a chick in the nest. The background shows a parking lot with trees and streetlights.

Make sure to check out the summary – what was it that frightened Louis?

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 14th June 2026

Daily summary Sunday 14th June 2026

Today was mainly about fish – there were many deliveries and both females rejected a fish at the first time of offering then accepted gladly when the male returned with it a bit later. Garry LV0 brought two fish on cam for Aurora 536 and his tally now stands at one hundred and seventeen, while Louis excelled with five deliveries, including his first flatfish this season, taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and thirty nine. The chicks did a bit of fighting but nothing serious, and both decided mum was taking too long dishing up so tried a nibble at the fish she was holding – they’re healthy and developing as expected. There were some intruder alerts, no intruders seen on nest cam apart from a pair of Wood Pigeons who perched on Nest Two for a few moments, but local resident LizB saw two Golden Eagles flying near an Osprey around the time Dorcha was on high alert and shortly before Louis arrived with the flatfish. Later Garry and Aurora were also on alert, perhaps the pair of eagles were still in the area. Only one Eagle has ever been seen on a nest – a juvenile Golden Eagle who touched down for a nano second on Nest Two in April 2023 – but distant eagles have been caught on nest cam on a couple of occasions and Dorcha returned once with a blood injury from an eagle encounter. Both White-tailed Eagles and Golden Eagles share the forest with the Ospreys so perhaps it’s fortunate we haven’t seen them close up too often. The weather was much more settled today and the promised sunshine did materialise. It should continue dry overnight and partly cloudy with a low of 9°C, continuing with a high of 20°C tomorrow and no rain before midnight.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/w7zZRXu3pZ0 N2 Louis’ first fish is small and doesn’t last long 05.29.41

https://youtu.be/XYllXMRX7vA N2 A pair of Wood Pigeons pay a visit in Dorcha’s absence 08.27.59

https://youtu.be/BecPV01-e_E N2 Both chicks don’t wait for Dorcha and have a nibble at fish two 11.22.47 

https://youtu.be/MoOhTnm6YZo N2 Louis’ third fish is his first flatfish 14.39.15

https://youtu.be/grrb8lfBmMs N1 Aurora takes fish one from Garry and they both leave 14.14.51

https://youtu.be/Gmec-mfvgPI N2 Chick2 gets impatient and tries to take bits of fish four from C1’s beak 16.05.00

https://youtu.be/IK7rPRrh6-w N1 Aurora takes fish two the second time Garry brings it 19.13.05

https://youtu.be/VpjzqTKFTYc N2 Dorcha takes fish five the second time Louis brings it 20.36.58

Bonus guide to rapid growth of young Osprey chicks – our two are 13 and 11 days old today (thanks Dyfi)

https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/blog/emyr-mwt/rapid-growth-phase-young-osprey-chicks


Everyone’s 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

Buddy’s Mum catches D4 at Decorah fledging. https://youtu.be/pFLwncKkHH0?

‘L’ sent me the link to remind us that the Port Lincoln Osprey barge is now back online for the season !!!!!!!!!! https://www.youtube.com/live/47K1i7qCzaI?

‘L’ also sent me another link. A video of Wisdom’s grand chick getting banded. Oh, have a look!!!!!!!!! Isn’t it adorable?!!!!!! https://youtu.be/ZW8gHzCVBwU?

A young bird standing on sandy ground, surrounded by sparse vegetation and dried branches.
Close-up of a grand-chick with a red identification band on its leg, standing on sandy ground with some grass and strands of dried vegetation around.

I learned something. Maybe you will, too. ‘R’ sent an article on Aquaculture and shorelines. https://sercblog.si.edu/imani-black-sustainable-aquaculture-and-misconceptions/#more-13282

How big a fish can Ospreys bring in? And why can females catch bigger fish?

An osprey perched on a branch holds a mullet fish in its talons, with a lush green landscape in the background.

Is there an Osprey fishing contest going on right now? Louis brought in a whopper to Dorcha and the two surviving chicks.

A mature bird of prey stands over its nest, where several chicks are visible. The adult is holding a fish, preparing to feed the chicks in a natural setting surrounded by greenery.

Two osprey chicks have been observed at Loch Inish.

We wait to see how many chicks Aran fathered this year with his new mate. At least one! Next year, Friends of the Osprey will put a streaming camera on Aran’s nest. This is fabulous news.

It looks like donations to SaveMoonCamp, the land near Jackie and Shadow’s nest, have reached the 1/3 mark. They will need lots more funding by the deadline of 31 July 2026. It is unclear to me the precise amount of funds the group needs to get a loan to continue their fundraising. If you intend to help, please do it now! Go to SaveMoonCamp.org

The baby at Poole Harbour is just starting to get its feathers while the others are really being camouflaged now. CJ7 and Blue 022 making raising four osplets look effortless — and we know, for certain, that it isn’t.

An adult osprey stands near its nest, which contains three young chicks, surrounded by trees and foliage.
An adult osprey feeding its chicks in a nest made of branches, surrounded by a natural forest environment.

Syfadden and Clogwyn are doing fantastic with their two chicks in the Usk Valley in Wales.

A bird sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, with a scenic landscape of fields and hills in the background.

Little Bob is trying to get under Elen at the Glaslyn Osprey nest she shares with her mate, Teifi. The two Big Bobs are napping.

An osprey standing over three fluffy chicks in a nest made of sticks, surrounded by a green landscape.

Closeby at the Friends of the Osprey Nest of Aeron Z2 and Blue 014, there are another three. They have been enjoying some trout today!

An osprey chick sitting in a nest made of sticks, overlooking a scenic landscape with hills and trees in the background.
A bird's nest made of twigs with two chicks and an adult bird on a hillside, overlooking a landscape with mountains and greenery in the background.

The single surviving osplet at Loch of the Lowes seems to be doing alright.

An osprey sitting on a nest made of twigs and branches, with greenery in the background.

This is incredibly compassionate. One of the major killers of chicks/storklets/hawklets/osplets etc in the nest is damp. These two good samaritans are blow drying the storklets so that they will hopefully survive the storms that have come to Europe.

Two people care for four stork chicks in a large nest on a rooftop, using a hairdryer to warm them.

Much better!

A stork stands on a large nest made of sticks and hay, with several baby storks resting inside. The background features a residential area with rooftops and solar panels.

What I wouldn’t give to see this at our osprey nests in North America. The kindness to stork families across Europe warms my heart every year and brings tears to my eyes.

No hatch as yet at Mlade Buky White Stork nest.

A stork standing in its nest, surrounded by sticks and grass, with a scenic view of houses and hills in the background.
Two storks nesting in a large bird's nest on a rooftop, overlooking a residential area with green hills in the background.

UK Parliament has recognized the persecution of raptors – should I add the word ‘finally’.

Parliamentary motion recognises ongoing illegal killing of raptors in Scotland – Raptor PersecutionDownload

Second hatch at The Lesser Spotted Eagle nest in Estonia. While this might be cause for celebration, Lesser Spotted Eagles practice obligate siblicide whereby the eldest chick always kills the second. There are rare exceptions.

The following comes from Animal Diversity Web:

A majestic eagle perched on a tree branch, showcasing its brown feathers and sharp beak against a clear blue sky.

Lesser spotted eagles live primarily in patchy woodland areas, meadows, fields, and natural grasslands, often in moist environments. Although forests are not used as primary habitat, they often build nests near forest edges. Lesser spotted eagles have been found in African dry mountain and grassland savanna habitats during their winter migration. Within these dry mountain habitats, their range typically extends to a maximum elevation of 2,200 meters.

Lesser spotted eagles generally hunt by walking along the ground. However, they typically nest and perch in the branches of forest trees. When nesting and perching, lesser spotted eagles often use branches closer to the ground rather than higher in the trees.

Adult lesser spotted eagles also are distinguished by their yellow eyes, whereas adult steppe eagles and greater spotted eagles have brown eyes. Juveniles of all three species have brown eyes. The head and wings of lesser spotted eagles are a lighter shade of brown compared to the rest of its body; in steppe eagles and greater spotted eagles, the entire body is a dark shade of brown. Lesser spotted eagles also have a small head and beak for an eagle. Like other eagles in the genus Aquila , lesser spotted eagles have a white V mark on their rump. Finally, differences in the shape of the wings cause lesser spotted eagles to appear to have a longer tail (96.6 to 123.75 cm) than other closely related species. Lesser spotted eagles have narrower wingspans (145 to 165 cm), whereas greater spotted eagles have broader wingspans.

Lesser spotted eagles are considered monogamous birds. Currently there is no clear evidence of partner fidelity, however most birds return to the same nest every year.

Lesser spotted eagles breed once per year. The pair builds a platform nest, generally in a tall tree. Egg laying begins after the nest is complete in late April to early May. It is believed that males are responsible for defending the immediate vicinity around the nest. Lesser spotted eagles lay one to two eggs, but typically only one survives. The older or stronger sibling usually attacks the weaker one. Eggs are laid in the second half of April and between May 23 and 27. The egg incubation period ranges from 36 to 41 days. Fledglings have been observed in the middle of July, with a fledging period up to eight weeks. Juvenile lesser spotted eagles do not reach reproductive age until they are 3 to 4 years old.

The new babies. In rare cases, when prey is very plentiful, both have survived, but if you are watching this nest, please be advised that when I say rare, I do mean rare. Adults will often withhold prey to get the stronger eaglet to attack the other weaker one. When the kill is done, the prey returns.

A golden eagle parent standing over two fluffy chicks in a nest, surrounded by greenery and tree branches.

Two beauties at nest #5 in Finland.

A pair of ospreys tending to their nest, which contains several fluffy chicks. The nest is built from twigs and branches, with a natural landscape in the background.

At the NCTC nest, Susie fledged this afternoon. Congratulations to Bella and Scout.

I hope that Little Dewey’s crop continues to be filled.

Some fish came to the Santiam Canyon Osprey nest for Mum and the trio. They don’t get much fish. It was nice to see their crops filling.

An osprey stands next to its chicks in a nest made of twigs and moss, with a backdrop of trees and a road.
A mother bird feeding her chicks in a nest made of twigs and moss, with a residential area visible in the background.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care and wish for fish at all nests!

Thank you to ‘R’ for that article on aquaculture. Thank you to ‘L’ for the links to Wisdom’s grandchick and a shout-out to Ping Shen for those great images of Harry and Sally and their baby. To Geemeff, we are always grateful for your daily summaries of all news at Loch Arkaig and your videos. To everyone who posted information on FB and images, to Raptor Persecution UK for telling it the way it is, and to the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and the owners of the streaming cams – we are always thankful to you.

Hawklet falls out of nest onto platform, Peace fledges…late Sunday in Bird World

14 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

It is a beautiful coolish summer day on the Canadian Prairies. We had a lovely walk and visited with our neighbour and her two Cavaliers and watched as everyone put the final touches on their front flower beds. I admire ‘our block’. Everyone helps one another, comes together for a cause, and takes care of their property. People with big dogs cross the street so as not to confound the little ones. Nice.

We have been spending so much time on the new lounge sofa and chairs. It was the best thing I could do for Don. It is not soft like the sofa, and he can lift himself up and out much more easily. Toby gives it a thumbs-up, since he can stay in the shade or run around in the sun. From the top deck, we can listen and watch the birds without frightening them. The Starling fledglings are still here. Too soon, they will leave with their parents and return later in the fall. What I like is that the garden, with all the rain we have had, is now so private. The trees are tall, and all the shrubs are doing well. It is like living in a forest full of birds.

Birds are falling for all kinds of reasons – weather and storms making old nests heavy and weak and they are falling or accidents especially when prey is delivered.

Everyone held their breath. Big Red is not at the nest so much now that the chicks are self-feeding and nearing fledge, and when she is there, all eyes are on that nest. Well, today we held our breath as P1 fell out of the nest cup. At first, everyone worried that it was all the way to the ground, but thankfully, it was only to a lower platform. Big Red was feeding P3.

A nest of Red-tailed Hawks with several young birds visible, perched and interacting on a rooftop ledge, surrounded by greenery and a city street below.

Siblings look down.

Two juvenile red-tailed hawks perched in a nest on a rooftop, surrounded by foliage.

My goodness. They are cute. Look at the eyes of P2.

A close-up view of a Red-tailed Hawk nest with three chicks resting inside, surrounded by greenery and a cityscape in the background.

The camera went to the construction site and then we see P1 stunned back on the nest. P1 flew back into the nest from the platform. It did not fall all the way to the ground.

Aerial view of a red-tailed hawk nest with two hawk chicks perched among twigs and leaves, surrounded by an urban environment.

Everything is OK.

A young red-tailed hawk sitting on a nest made of twigs and leaves, with a metal structure in the foreground and greenery visible below.
Three young red-tailed hawks sitting in their nest made of twigs, perched on a structure with a view of greenery and a street below.

What a relief.

At the Royal Oak nest, Peace successfully fledged. Two local individuals went to the tree to try to help if Peace was grounded. It is on a branch. Everyone is hoping that the adults will feed their chick.

Black storklet hatches in Estonia.

A black stork stands over its nest in a tree, with a recently hatched chick visible on the ground of the nest. The surrounding area is lush with greenery, indicating a natural habitat.

There is a fourth osplet that has hatched at the Prince Edward Island Osprey nest at Blackbush.

Osprey nest made of sticks on a platform, with some chicks visible in the center. The photo is taken from above at Blackbush Beach Resort.

The Stellar’s Eagle ‘Stella’ that has been living in North River, Newfoundland, Canada, displaced a fledgling Bald Eagle. Here it is on video by Bald Eagle Lives Nests and News. There is also ome other good information on both species and their interactions: https://youtu.be/5DS5PJ71c7M?

A large eagle perched on a tree branch, with green foliage in the background and text overlay discussing the rarity of encounters with such birds.

We have news from Ping Shen in Seattle. “Good news to share – a bit behind last year, but Osplet #1 has hatched for Harry & Sally! Visited today and noticed an egg shell on the side of the nest, and sure enough…there was a little one! Perhaps a day or two old, is my guess. Saw a quick feed, and noticed (at least) one other egg still in the nest, so likely more to come…Harry and Sally both seem to be doing well – still very sweet to observe them watching over their precious Osplet.”

A pair of ospreys perched on a nest, one feeding a chick while the other watches attentively among twigs and branches.
Two ospreys in a nest made of sticks, with one bird standing and the other crouched, possibly feeding on a fish.

There is at least one osplet at Threave Osprey Nest 3.

Clark continues to keep the big fish coming to the nest. Will this little cutie pie be an only? Someone mentioned a possible pip in egg 2.

Two ospreys in their nest, with eggs visible among twigs and branches, in a clear outdoor setting.
Close-up of a young osprey chick nestled among eggs and twigs in a nest.
Close-up of a young osprey chick sitting on a nest with its parent nearby, surrounded by nesting materials.
An osprey standing on its nest filled with sticks and grass, with a view of a parking lot in the background.

The two eaglets at the Big Bear Valley nest, Luna and Sandy, are getting very close to fledge.

Are there intruders around Loch Arkaig 2? https://youtu.be/BecPV01-e_E?

Two birds of prey standing guard in their nest with green landscape in the background, and three chicks visible in the nest.
A bird of prey stands near its nest where three baby birds are visible among twigs and moss, set against a green landscape in the background.

Little Dewey has won all of our hearts and minds. Please continue to send good wishes to this nest.

An adult osprey standing over a chick in a nest made of sticks, with a view of a waterfront area in the background.

At Pitkin County, Emma and Charlie are being incredible parents.

An osprey perched on a nest with two chicks, surrounded by greenery in the background. The scene captures a caring moment between the parent bird and its young.
An osprey sits on a nest made of twigs and branches, with two chicks visible in the nest. The background features a green landscape with shrubs and trees.

It looks like Charlie and the New Female at the Charlo Montana nest could have three soon – is that a crack in that third egg?

A fluffy owl chick resting on a nest surrounded by straw and a cracked egg.
An osprey perched on a pole overlooking a grassy landscape, with another osprey resting in a nest below.

I keep checking on Bety and Bukachek to see if we have a hatch at Mlade Buky. I am not seeing anything else.

A pair of storks in a nest atop a rural setting, one standing and the other resting, with houses and hills in the background.

After fearing the worst, the Mum returned to the Kaljukotkas 2 Golden Eagle nest in Estonia – a fact that saved the life of that healthy little eaglet.

A young bird with fluffy white and black feathers stands next to an adult bird with mottled brown feathers in a nest surrounded by trees.

Life+ posted:

A man in a suit stands on a rocky shore, gazing upwards as a California condor flies overhead, while a sea otter rests nearby on the rocks. The image conveys a message about a new law in California aimed at protecting endangered animals.

We have another hatch today in Finland and it is at the Ilomantsi nest.

A view of an eagle's nest on a branch, with one eagle standing on the nest and another lying down, overlooking a calm lake surrounded by trees under a cloudy sky.
An osprey perched on its nest made of twigs and branches overlooking a calm lake surrounded by trees, with a cloudy sky above.

Take care, everyone. We hope the start to the week is a good one for each and every one of you.

Thank you to Ping Shen for the excellent images of the Seattle ospreys. It is so great to hear from you and see that Sally and Harry are doing well. Thank you to everyone who posted information and images on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams from which I took my screen captures today. I am eternally grateful to witness our birds’ lives.

Late, late Saturday in Bird World, and it’s all good!

13 June 2026

Greetings,

I wanted you to have SK Hideaways videos for the week. They are cute and special and please watch them. I am so grateful that they are sent as a list each week to share with you.

SK Hideaways Videos Week of 7 June 2026

FOBBVCAM Eagles Big Bear, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow, Sandy (hatched 4/4/26), Luna (hatched 4/5/26)

Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley

Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE

Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4

Live Recap & Observations: https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz

Luna Gets Big Lift ~ Fledge Fever Nears (2026 Jun 11 )

Luna got a burst of energy that triggered some big wingers, creating a lot of wind and lifting him quite high. He gave us a really good show! Sandy seemed impressed with her brother’s performance, but really just wanted to chill out for the night.

Video: https://youtu.be/W1TSYPxDU_I

Fraser Point Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Cruz, Andor, Sasha, Zuma, and Ryder

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops

Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s

Sasha Fledges ~ Waiting and Watching for Her Return (2026 Jun 9)

It appears that the eldest eaglet, Sasha, has fledged, having branched two days ago. While we don’t get a clear view of the flight, we do see the launch, which does look convincing. Sooo, we wait, watch, and wish Sasha all the best in this new adventure. 

UPDATE: Sasha returned to the nest at 18:10:03! No question about this successful fledge. Congrats, Sasha!

Video: https://youtu.be/TGfNgOd13wg

Cruz Lunches on Nest Till Eaglets Squee for Theirs ~ Family Time on the Zen Nest (2026 Jun 8)

Cruz and Andor spent their lunch hour with the 3 eaglets. Between allopreening the eaglets, Cruz enjoyed some fish while also answering to the loud squees of eaglets who still enjoy being fed. A multi-tasker extraordinaire. Sasha has branched and enjoyed her perch till that juicy Blacksmith fish lured her back to the nest. Very special to see the whole family together for an extended time. (2026 Jun 8)

Video: https://youtu.be/-xuk4F-09Vk

Hellgate Canyon Ospreys ~ Missoula, MT ~ Iris, Clark, Chick #1

Courtesy CornellLab | Hellgate Osprey Cam | Montana Osprey

Nest cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qvYCbvbeN8

Clark Answers Iris’s Fish Calls ~ Chick #1 Gets Its First Meal (2026 Jun 11)

Iris and Clark’s first chick hatched today, but Iris waited some 48 hours for Clark to bring fish. No one knows why he was delayed, but he certainly made up for it with 4 fish deliveries (as of this video). Once Iris refueled, she fed chick #1. Congratulations, Iris and Clark, and welcome to the world #1.

Video: https://youtu.be/Jkv-aKoTUBk

Two Harbors Eagles ~ Catalina Island, CA ~ Cholyn & Chase

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Two Harbors Eagles Cam Ops 

Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ

Two Harbors Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI

Cholyn & Chase Bond at Dusk & Dawn ~ Perfect Pairing for 23+ Years (2026 Jun 9-10)

As the Queen and King of the Channel Islands approach their 29th birthdays and 24th anniversary, Cholyn and Chase continue to bond year-round. In addition to bonding, they are ensuring a continuous presence in their seaside territorial paradise. Here we saw them bonding at dusk and dawn at their Two Harbors nest, then transitioning to the salt-water “jacuzzi” and bunker to enjoy a roiling Pacific Ocean. 

Video: https://youtu.be/J0Cg2O0mUgI

San Jose City Hall Falcons ~ San Jose, CA ~ Hartley, Monty, Jet, Scout, Stewart, Walton (hatched 4/21)

Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam | Predatory Bird Research Group

Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBSxPjy5sow

Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pp9TisLmLU

Roof Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQLhmV6bP6o

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SanJoseCityHallFalcons/

Wiki https://sanjoseperegrines.editme.com/

Where the Boys Are ~ Eyes on Jet, Scout, Stewart & Walton (2026 Jun 12)

Thanks to the work of our tireless cam ops team, we are able to see all four rascals in the morning, in the evening (ain’t we got fun?). Here we’re treated to morning shenanigans, including some wild and wonderful aerobatics. Bonus sighting of Hartley and Monty with lightning quick bonding.

Video: https://youtu.be/YYo8HrvKVxM

Jet Flies Home with Prey! Everyone Else Follows (2026 Jun 8)

We see 3 juvies fly west, then east ~ in normal and slo-motion. Ultimately, Jet arrives on the nest ledge with prey in his talons. A major accomplishment as Hartley and Monty teach the boys to hunt. Eventually all four chicks visit the ledge, but only Walton seriously challenges Jet for the food. Jet emerges victorious.  While I cheer on their accomplishments, I know that each one inches them closer to dispersing to their new life adventures. Grateful for the remaining days we have to watch them.

Video: https://youtu.be/fLh1sQlYR6g

Where Are the Chicks? Where There’s Food!  PLUS Hartley & Monty Are Chased Away (2026 Jun 7)

The chicks have been zooming around the skies of downtown San Jose for over a week. Their days consist of eating, sleeping, chasing their parents, and eating and sleeping some more. We are so fortunate to be able to watch this formative time in their lives.

Video: https://youtu.be/htZQHY9KYeE

I also have Geemeff’s daily summary:

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 13th June 2026

Today was fairly quiet, an intruder or intruders were about but didn’t come close enough to get caught on nest cam. What was caught by the camera was the two chicks taking lumps out of each other when Dorcha left them alone, and not even her return stopped them, she eventually broke up the fairly evenly matched fight by sitting on one of them. Louis delivered two fish taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and thirty four, and Garry delivered one fish during cam up-time taking his tally to one hundred and fifteen. Sadly the deadline appears to have passed for Aurora’s egg to hatch and it’s almost certainly time to wish them better luck next year – meantime it will be interesting to see what happens to the egg, and for how long the pair will continue to brood it. Steve Quinn produced his usual thorough fishing stats analysis but while Nest One deliveries will continue to be recorded, they will not be included in future analyses as without chicks and with the cam going down in the morning they aren’t meaningful. Info on where to find his reports in the bonus section. After days of rain, there’s a break in the weather for the next couple of days – it’s be cloudy and dry overnight with a low of 9°C followed by sunshine with gentle breezes and a high of 20°C tomorrow. Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/e4Uuq-3RPV0 N2 Louis brings breakfast – fish one is a big trout 08.56.44https://youtu.be/66YKfKgWRxc

N2 Bonkers! The chicks fight viciously 17.52.09https://youtu.be/qy4rmt6y99E N2 Louis brings a second trout for an early supper 18.28.53https://youtu.be/5ziBMr9mqEw N1 Aurora departs with fish one as soon as Garry brings it 18.30.34

Bonus info – Steve Quinn’s excellent analysis of Louis’ fish deliveries to date: copy & paste Nest 2 fish summary to week 8into the search field (click on the magnifying glass symbol on the right directly above George WTS’ featured comment).

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

And some brief nest news:

Jill and Jack each brought in a Spadefish this evening for Big and Little!

Screenshot of a social media post by Pam Breci detailing a fishing trip on June 13, 2026, involving Jack, Jill, and Little, highlighting events like catching headless Spadefish and sibling competitions.
A nest with two young birds and an adult bird, surrounded by twigs and leaves.
Two young ospreys feeding in a nest made of sticks and twigs, with one parent osprey nearby, surrounded by greenery.

About two months ago, I realised that my life now is very similar to what all our lives were like during Covid. I am mostly at home, or we walk Toby in the parks and go to a couple of outdoor markets. Mostly we enjoy the garden. It is easier for Don (and thus me), and a few places are dog-friendly, as they are in many parts of Europe. Oh, how I wish! So I have started making little tweaks inside and out to make our lives more beautiful and our spaces safer and more useful to all of us, especially Don.

I purchased our little Bistro set at a shop called Pier 1 approximately 22 or 23 years ago. It is nice for a quick coffee or tea, but uncomfortable for long periods, and there is no way for Don to raise his legs. The picnic table is perfect for a huge group, but not for a leisurely evening. So I found a little teak loveseat with two chairs and a coffee table that can easily double as a footstool! The young man came to assemble it this evening. We just need a few outdoor toss cushions.

Toby approved.

A cozy outdoor seating area featuring two wooden chairs and a bench with white cushions, arranged around a wooden coffee table on a patterned rug. A pink flowering plant is nearby, against a backdrop of a wooden wall and a window.

Inside, I have been decluttering for a good year. One of my long-term readers cum friend in Berlin has joined me in the quest to donate and clean out. It has been fun to see how each of us is progressing. Inside the goal is to create a calm, easy-to-navigate space if and when Don ever needs a walker or a wheelchair. At the same time, I want it to be a beautiful space with things that mean something to me, not just ornaments picked up at the shop. It is coming!

I am just smiling. Clark has had some whoppers come on the nest. There is fish and fish. Oh, please let it continue.

A pair of ospreys on their nest, featuring a fish lying on the nest floor, surrounded by twigs and greenery.
Close-up of an osprey chick peeking out from a nest with eggs and nesting material.
Two ospreys standing on their nest made of sticks, with a view of a parking lot and trees in the background.
An osprey standing on a nest with a chick in a parking lot setting, with trees and a train on a track in the background.

Cornell Bird Lab’s video of Iris feeding the little one. It is precious. https://youtu.be/Xcxl0Q8AIw4?

At Charlo, Charlie has been providing plenty of fish for his new mate and their two chicks, too.

Close-up of a bird nest with a speckled egg and two fuzzy chicks resting on a bed of dried grass and twigs.
An osprey perched on a wooden pole above a nest with another osprey resting inside, set against a backdrop of green fields and mountains.
A live view of an osprey nest in Charlo, Montana, featuring an adult osprey perched on a post and another adult tending to its chicks in the nest, with green fields and mountains in the background.

Here is an update on Snow and it looks all good!https://youtu.be/UIJbRtVy2SU?

A young bald eagle named Snow eating breakfast on Day 10, with food placed in front of it.

At Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, there are at least two osplets on the South nest. One appears to be much larger than the other with the small one in the Reptile phase and the other getting some juvenile feathering. I wish Mum would move for a second so I could verify this!

Mum is anxiously looking around for her mate for their evening meal and maybe a break. If there are only two and there is such a huge size difference, were there three eggs? Did one not hatch? Did all three hatch, and the middle one died? Or are there three under there??? I wonder.

A bird nest made of twigs on a tree branch, situated above a park with a colorful playground in the background.

Anyone know about this nest? Shoot me a note!

As the sun fully sets, Toby and I want to wish each of you a wonderful end of the weekend. We are so thankful for your notes and comments, and the news and images that you send. Take good care. We will see you soon!

Thank you to ‘PB’, SK Hideaways, for their great videos and Geemeff for their daily summary with videos. To all the owners of the streaming cams, we are so appreciative of being able to see these amazing birds and their families. We could not do that without you!

Late Saturday in Bird World

13 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

First, Salmon Idaho is an osprey nest not a Bald Eagle which is what I inadvertently said in my last posting. Apologies. There is still issues with baling twine all over that region. It is endemic to farming where they should be looking at other methods than twine and cord. Most of our farmers put their hay and straw in a type of plastic wrap that does not do so much harm to the environment as lose pieces of twine.

It was the middle chick that got pulled off the nest and died. Dad is bringing in some nice fish but they can always use more and more as there are four to feed – dad, mum, #1 and #3.

An osprey feeding its chicks in a nest, surrounded by twigs and grass.
A pair of osprey adults feeding their chick in a nest, surrounded by twigs and grass, with a green landscape in the background.

Clark brought in a huge fish. Iris got some bites, baby was full and then more feedings. Looks like that fish was gone – with Iris taking what appears the tail later.

Two ospreys sitting in their nest with a view of a parking lot and trees in the background.
An osprey tending to its nest with visible chicks, surrounded by a natural environment and a parking lot in the background.
An osprey feeding a chick in a nest, surrounded by twigs and greenery.

At one point the baby got out from under the adults. It caused worry. They are seemingly obsessed with nest material and also intruders. Fingers crossed. It is chilly in Montana. 65 F.

An osprey sits in its nest made of sticks and twigs, with a background featuring a parking lot and trees.

Daddy Clark came in with another whopper – maybe even more than a whopper! So happy the fishing is good. He is taking excellent care of Iris and baby.

Two ospreys perched on their nest, with one bird eating a fish, surrounded by twigs and grass.
Two ospreys are seen in their nest, one is pecking at a fish while the other stands nearby. The nest is made of twigs and situated outdoors with greenery in the background.
Two ospreys are perched on a nest made of sticks and branches, with a view of a landscaped area and cars in the background.

Oh, look at that little morsel of fish for the baby. So tiny. It’s already getting a crop. Well, if there is only one, I am fine with that. Better to be spoiled rotten and have a fat bottom than be thin. (My vet wouldn’t agree with me – even Hugo Yugo is a little ‘plump’). I think all osprey chicks should be plump.

An osprey feeding a chick in a nest, surrounded by twigs and remnants of prey.

Big Red and Arthur’s oldest is now good at horking chipmunks whole! These three are doing so well. Two look just like Mum with their beautiful peachy chests.

I cannot possibly tell you how much I love that ‘old hag’ – as Laura Culley used to call Big Red in endearment.

A live cam view of a red-tailed hawk nest featuring several chicks among sticks and greenery, with a landscape of trees and a road in the background.
Four red-tailed hawk chicks nestled in a nest made of twigs and leaves, perched on a rooftop railing with a clear view of greenery and a road in the background.
Three young red-tailed hawks standing in a nest made of twigs and leaves, perched on a structure with greenery in the background.
A nest of Red-tailed Hawk chicks being fed on a balcony with greenery and a road in the background.
Three red-tailed hawk chicks resting in a nest on a tall structure, surrounded by twigs and overlooking a green landscape and street below.

I have heard from Sassa Bird and it has started to rain in Latvia. This promises frogs for all the very hungry storks that have chicks in the nest in that country! So happy.

Wow. This is fantastic news from Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Now, if more males would happily share these duties, we might not face the dire consequences we do when the female goes missing.

An osprey feeding its chicks in a nest with visible large fish catches, surrounded by a natural landscape.

We need to do better cleaning up. If you are going to fish – and yes, I know that lines break – lend a hand and clean up anything you do see and never leave anything behind, when possible. It can be deadly to wildlife.

A juvenile bald eagle at the NCTC nest with a treble hook fishing lure caught on its talon and another hook stuck on a nest stick, showing signs of struggling but successfully released after about 45 minutes.
Text about the dangers of human intervention on young eagles and the impact of trash on wildlife.
Close-up view of an orange object partially buried among twigs and bark.

Before I even get to the end. ‘The Girls’ are fine. The Calicos are keeping comfy in Don’s room guarding it in case Missey might want to go in there. Meanwhile, Toby is my ‘Velcro Dog’ and he is always with Hugo Yugo. They are my shadows. Missey is out here with me, too!

A fluffy tabby cat lying on its back on a table, looking at the camera with green eyes, surrounded by a window and greenery.

My new camera is not always so great. I wanted to get the babies being fed but it just wasn’t quick enough. Here are three of them wanting food – they can feed themselves, but like all babies, everything tastes better when Mum does it.

We are so happy. This is four fledglings for the European Starlings that trusted our lilacs to protect their eggs and chicks from predators. We no longer have the Grackles come but this is so great. Mr and Mrs Blue Jay as well as Mr and Mrs Crow have babies and soon their fledglings will be at the feeder.

Years ago, we vowed to care for the animals that came to our urban lot. So far, knock on wood, we have been able to keep that promise. When Tolu, the bathing lady, asked the other day, I told her it was a matter of priorities. We no longer travel around the world, spending the summers in wonderful exotic locations. We do not drink, smoke, go out to restaurants, or hardly drive anymore. The purchase of bird books has dwindled because there simply aren’t that many out there worthy of holding a space on the bookcase. Mind you, I am waiting for a delivery of of this book today. I hope it is good. I always donate a book to the last charity event for Loch Arkaig so this might be the one for this year!

Book cover of 'The Story of Birds' by Steve Brusatte, featuring illustrations of various birds including a cardinal, an eagle, and feathered dinosaurs.

Funds are simply to keep the house, provide help for Don and me, and feed the animals and us. What is incredible is that we really need very little. Yes, corporations and fast-fashion companies would like us to think that we do, but in reality, that simply is not the case. Besides, the happiness that these amazing creatures provide cannot be measured in financial terms – our hearts and souls are lifted and made lighter just watching them.

Three birds perched on a pile of peanuts, with one bird prominently facing the camera while another is slightly blurred in motion.
Two small birds perched on a mound of peanuts, with greenery in the background.

Intruders are causing sibling rivalry at Glaslyn as Teifi is unable to fish.

Text discussing sibling rivalry among Osprey chicks and its relation to food availability, with specific mention of dominance during feeding and intruder activity affecting fishing trips.
A pair of ospreys in a nest with several chicks, one adult holding a fish, surrounded by greenery.

I have good news coming from our good friend Sassa Bird in Latvia – first, it is raining, and the storks should now have frogs to eat and little fish. There are three baby osplets in the Latvian nest, but the camera went down in May, so we will not know the end result until banding time in July. Osprey parents are Selga and Svings. Great news: the Golden Eagle Mum at Kaljukotkas 2 in Estonia, who was missing, is now home and protecting her baby from the heavy rain. Sassa Bird also sent the forum link that has a discussion and images of the Black Stork nests, and they are doing grand. Please look: https://forums.dabasdati.lv/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=4453&start=480

The third hatch osplet at Field Farm has died of siblicide/starvation. Heidi gives us the details and an image of all three on a better day.

Port of Ridgefield. Two good fish deliveries as per chat with times: 6/13 nice headless breakfast fish at 5:32:44. Nice big headless fish delivered at 9:57:18. The third egg did not hatch.

An adult osprey standing near its nest, with two young chicks resting beside it, surrounded by twigs and nest material.
A close-up view of a bird's nest featuring a parent bird and several chicks, with an egg visible in the background.
Two chicks in a bird nest surrounded by twigs and straw, with an adult bird partially visible in the background.

Only one very ‘thin’ chick survives at the MNSA Osprey platform amidst all the human debris.

An osprey is standing on its nest, which is constructed of twigs and branches, with two chicks visible below it.
An osprey nest containing a parent osprey and two chicks, with a blue identification tag visible on one of the chicks. The nest is built from sticks and is situated near water.

Two tiny babies at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Two ospreys perched in a nest, surrounded by branches, with a view of green fields and a dirt path in the background.
An osprey sitting in a nest with three chicks, surrounded by twigs and branches, with green fields in the background.

Wildlife Haven is now the only wildlife rescue in my province and the strains of that are beginning to show. Here is their latest patient update – another turtle, a bat, and some surprises.

This Weeks Patient UpdatesDownload

Wild Heart Rehabilitation in Oklahoma has some advice if you think a fawn is in trouble.

Important info about what NOT to do about fawns, so might be worth a read. Thanks, ‘J’. The same might be said for a clump of bunnies – leave them alone. Observe to see if parent comes to feed.

https://www.facebook.com/WildHeartRanch

Rutland Water is celebrating 50 years of success at reintroducing the ospreys! You can take boat trips to see them including Blue 33 fishing for Maya and the kids!!!!!!!!

Two ospreys flying near a nesting platform with a nest in the foreground and a historic building in the background.
An osprey takes flight from a large nest with two chicks, located on a platform near a historic building in the background.

Thank you Geemeff for these great images.

We are already experiencing a decline in fish in some areas of the NE as Omega Protein has had six ships out sucking up the Menhaden and all the Bycatch this weekend. It is truly sad.

The birds are on the move to the delight of bird watchers in the UK.

Tropical heron spotted in UK for first time as more exotic birds arrive to thrill birdwatchers

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/13/tropical-heron-spotted-first-time-uk-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

It looks like another stormy Saturday in Winnipeg. The trees are whipping around and the sky is heavily overcast and dark. We even have the heat on! After last week that sounds so funny. Stll it is beautiful and green.

Some of the kids wish you a great rest of the weekend. They are napping.

Two cats cuddling together on a couch, one with orange fur and the other with a mix of gray and black fur, both nestled comfortably.

Poor Toby doesn’t fit anymore. He doesn’t understand why.

An orange tabby cat and a small black and white dog sleeping on separate levels of a pet tree near a window.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care of yourselves. We hope to have you with us again soon.

Thank you to everyone who sent me a note, including ‘PB’ who is loving those fish that Clark brings in, those who post on FB with images and information, groups, newsletters, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to stare at our screens, wondering what is going to happen today. We are grateful to all.

Chick at Hellgate doing well, RJ does the shake shake and gets that fish hook out of its talon…late Saturday in Bird World

13 June 2026

Greetings Everyone,

My goodness.

First up. Some good news. At the NCTC nest of Bella and Scout, RJ got a fishhook attached to a stick stuck in its talon. That chick did the ‘shake, shake, shake’ and got rid of that nuisance. Well, it is more than a nuisance. Could have caused permanent harm or death. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/Kx5Fw2LwQT8?

Sad news coming from the Salmon River Bald Eagle nest. ‘PB’ writes, “1:41 Salmon nest baby 2 gone confirmed with Idaho Fish and Game. Parents brought more twine in, and Sweet #2 was by mom’s foot when she left, took the twine and the baby with her. He managed to hang on to the far left side before falling, and they had someone check, and he was confirmed dead.”

More information from the Missoula team:

Post about the hatching process of a baby Osprey, detailing the egg's structure and development.

Cutie Pie waiting for some more fish.

An osprey standing on its nest made of twigs and branches, with an empty parking lot and trees in the background.

Clark brought several fish and then a mid-afternoon whopper!!!!!!!

An osprey standing on a nest made of sticks and branches, with a fish partially visible in the background. The scene is set in a parking lot area, indicating the nest's location.
Two ospreys in their nest, with a view of an empty parking lot in the background.

Oh, my heart.

A close-up view of a young osprey chick sitting in a nest, surrounded by dried leaves and grass.
Close-up of a young osprey chick resting in a nest made of twigs and grasses, with some greenery in the foreground.

Wide open. Iris seems to be getting more fish around its beak than in its mouth.

An adult osprey feeding a chick in a nest, with the chick visibly begging for food.
A close-up view of a young osprey chick being fed by an adult osprey, with remnants of fish visible on the nest.
An Osprey chick is being fed by an adult Osprey in a nest, surrounded by nesting materials and greenery.

I hope that baby got some fish – it is definitely hungry.

More fish for Iris! Clark, I want to hug you. This time Clark ate the head but the fish is big and it is getting late.

Two ospreys in their nest with eggs, perched on a structure made of sticks and twigs, with an empty parking lot in the background.

Baby gets feed while Clark keeps watch over it and Iris.

An osprey stands on its nest surrounded by twigs and branches, with two chicks visible in the nest. The background shows a parking lot and trees.
Close-up view of a young osprey chick in a nest, with a glimpse of its parent's wing in the foreground and other chicks visible nearby.

Two precious babies and baling twine on the Charlo Montana nest. Please make some calls if you are in the area. Try the biologist for the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Audubon Society. This is human-caused!

A newly hatched bird chick is resting beside an unhatched egg on a bed of pine needles and small debris.
An adult osprey is seen close to its two newly hatched chicks, which are pecking at an eggshell in a nest made of twigs and other natural materials.
An osprey is sitting in a nest, gently inspecting a single speckled egg surrounded by green vegetation and twigs.

I dislike the camera at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. No rewind. There are babies. You can see movement but that is all I know.

A bird of prey sitting in a large nest made of twigs and branches, with a park and playground visible in the background.

Just look at the temperature on the nest at Dewey Beach today and our precious Little Dewey.

An osprey standing beside two chicks in a nest made of sticks, with a scenic backdrop of water and buildings.
An osprey standing in a nest with a chick, surrounded by sticks and branches, overlooking a waterway and buildings in the background.

Menhaden are a big deal for the ospreys that live in the NE.

Map displaying fishing fleet locations near Reedville with annotations for schools of menhaden fish and probable set locations marked in red circles.

D3 and D4 nearer and nearer to fledging at Decorah.

Decorah Eagles: DH3 and DH4 Climb Higher Before First FlightsDownload

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigFriday 12th June 2026

Today was much calmer after the upset of losing little Chick3 yesterday. Early this morning Dorcha removed the body and disposed of it in the forest, leaving the two remaining chicks more room and a cleaner environment. There were some minor intruder alarms but none came close enough to be caught on nest cam, and both males had ample time to fish, and in Garry LV0’s case, to take over egg-sitting duties and release Aurora 536 to eat and stretch her wings. Sadly it does look like their hard work might be in vain because today is Day 43 and Osprey eggs usually hatch between 37-42 days. However, there is still a very slim chance that their egg might hatch, many eyes are watching Nest One hoping for a chick for them this year. Aurora returned to the nest with fish shortly after the cam came online, almost certainly caught by Garry and with his other delivery, the Nest One tally now stands at one hundred and fourteen. Louis brought three fish today and the Nest Two tally now stands at one hundred and thirty two. The thunder didn’t materialise but the showers did, with frequent dry spells throughout the day. However more rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow, with an overnight low of 10°C and a high of 14°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/BZs0k59dgeQ N1 Unfortunately there’s no sign of a pip 02.11.42 (zoom)https://youtu.be/lppct_pvTHc N2 Early breakfast, fish one is still flapping 05.41.39https://youtu.be/_tczuzhplOk N2 Dorcha removes the remains of tragic little Chick3 08.09.00https://youtu.be/34AODPhClto N1 Aurora appears with a fish when the cam comes online 08.25.02https://youtu.be/gjkV9TBdV1A N2 A second whole trout arrives 14.55.39https://youtu.be/HWDQIKWiWac N2 Fish supper for the family, fish three today 19.18.57https://youtu.be/PvnULhnXmC8 N1 Fish supper for Aurora, second fish today 20.20.03

Bonus Osprey longevity info – for those who feared Louis was too old to return when he was late back this year, at thirteen or fourteen years old he’s not even half as old as the world’s oldest known Osprey – Iris of Hellgate Montana. She’s been nesting there since 1999, and yesterday, at the grand old age of thirty or thirty one, she hatched another chick! First hatch of her clutch of three eggs. Congratulations Iris and new mate Clark!

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, fun, and free!

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

You need to be vocal. Not only is the price of timber causing habitat loss at a time when we need trees more than ever, but tourism and luxury hotels are now threatening wildlife and our precious birds. In Manitoba, our Premier and everyone I know have been protesting AI data centres. I am glad our leader is Indigenous. I am proud that he is protecting wildlife habitat in the north. But I still need to be vigilant because my City seems to be doing the opposite! Please have your say when you hear about new developments – with strong united voices, we can invoke change. We just have to be patient sometimes. We cannot give up!

‘The birds will fly away’: can Albania’s flamingo revolution keep its wetlands free from Trumps and tourists?https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/12/albania-flamingos-wetlands-trump-tourists?CMP=share_btn_url

Quiet Eagle brings us an update on little eaglet Snow that was in the nest that slid at Traverse City and survived! https://youtu.be/j756uY1hbZE?

I want to close with an image of one of our local ospreys. My grandson, Jeremy, sent it to me. It is a short video and this osprey has a fish.

We have a growing number of osprey in our City. People are putting fish into the retention ponds for them. That might be an idea for some of you in the US, where there is a fish shortage. :))). I can’t seem to post the video so here are some screen captures. Look at the size of that fish. Wow.

A bird, possibly an osprey, perched on a pebbly beach with water in the background.
An osprey takes off from a pebbly beach, carrying a fish in its talons, with water in the background.
A bird flying low over calm water, reflecting its image on the surface.

We have rain or storm clouds brewing overhead. So much rain! There should not be any wildfires, and the trees and shrubs are doing incredibly. It is a green paradise with a touch of pink or red! There are now four fledgling Starlings – I probably said. They fascinate me. Tonight they are eating a New Zealand dog nugget that is a whole meal – Toby said he didn’t mind since we ran out of minnows and hot dogs! The weather is cooler – 14 C. I wonder if that makes them need more food to stay warm?

It’s too grainy. I so wish I had my long lens camera!

They are so cute and have entertained us all day.

Two small birds perched on a feeding tray filled with grain, surrounded by greenery.

I want to thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We look forward to having you with us again soon.

Thank you to everyone who posted information on FB, with or without images, and to Geemeff for her daily summary of the activities of the two nests at Loch Arkaig, Scotland. I want to thank the authors of newsletters and articles that provide us with a wealth of information. To the owners of the streaming cams, we are grateful to be able to watch the lives of our feathered friends and their growing families. I also want to thank the Guardian for their continued reports on the environment and wildlife and last, but not least, Jeremy, for remembering me and sending me that great osprey video to share with you.

Golden Eagle female missing and chick cannot self-feed…late Friday in Bird World

12 June 2026

The female at the Golden Eagle 2 nest in Estonia has been missing since the 11 June. Dad continues to supply food to the eaglet but as his role is hunting and protecting, he is not feeding. The chick has tried to eat but just can’t. This could quickly turn into a very sad situation where we lose both a healthy bouncy eaglet and its Mum.

A nest in a tree with a chick resting among twigs and greenery, surrounded by lush foliage.

“The Bald Eagle 2 nest camera is located in the extended danger area near the Estonian Defence Forces Central Training Area in Northern Estonia. Defence Forces training involves quite noisy activities or a large number of equipment and people moving around the training area. In order to clarify the impact of these activities on eagles nesting in the vicinity of the training areas, the State Defence Investment Centre has commissioned a study, which is being carried out by the Eagle Club. During the study, we installed a nest camera on a bald eagle nest, among other activities.

Kaljukotkas 2 is a native territory of golden eagles – one of those located south of Lahemaa National Park in Põhja-Kõrvemaa. The nests have been located in this territory over time on different bog islands or on the edge of the bog; the generations of golden eagles have changed there, but the territory has remained the same. The eagles have been nesting in this nest at the end of a large stump since 2016. In recent years, the chick here has become capable of flying, although at a later time than average. This indicates that the laying of eggs is later than average. The chick of 2023 also got a companion with the help of our German colleague Oliver Krone. It flew from the breeding territory to Latvia in early November, returned to Estonia in early December and spent the winter here. We have not added the monitored golden eagles to the migration map, because they tend to be quite sedentary. However, some of the young birds hatched in Estonia move as far as Poland and Ukraine for the winter.

Both adult birds are here without rings, so we do not know their age or origin. The first egg appeared in the nest this year on March 26 at 2:46 p.m. We can expect the chick to hatch at the end of April.”

Clark brought the first fish right after 0900 but immediately an intruder was in the area. He flew off with the fish and returned it to Iris at 0931 so that her and the baby could eat.

Two ospreys are standing on their nest made of sticks and branches, with one chick visible among the nesting material. In the background, a green space and a parking lot can be seen.
Two ospreys are nesting on a large nest made of sticks and greenery, with a parking lot and trees visible in the background.
A pair of ospreys in their nest, with one chick visible among twigs and greenery, set against a background of an empty parking lot and trees.

Baby has had at least one other feeding before noon! Things look good for Iris and Clark who has been bringing in nesting materials, too.

Heidi reports that Miles and Hennie now have three babies. Wish them well.

An osprey nest containing three chicks, with one chick being fed by the parent osprey. The nest is made of twigs and is located in a grassy area.

There is a baby at nest 12 at Kielder Forest!

Nest 12 hatch news

Dani Connor saved a plantation forest in Sweden near her home in the north through a GoFundMe. She was determined that the red squirrels and other wildlife would not lose their home. Just look at what is happening in Norway. Our wildlife need trees and it isn’t just the birds. Our planet needs trees. I know the plantation trees were planted to be cut down but perhaps with the climate heating up so much, it is time to find a way to purchase these lands.

A view of a logging site in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, showing cleared land with fallen trees and stumps, reflecting deforestation efforts. The background features a green landscape and cloudy sky.

This reminds me. It appears to me that the fundraising for Moon Camp to protect the land around Jackie and Shadow’s nest has stalled at about 3.3 million. That is a huge amount of funds donated by fundraising by viewers and local school children. They are posting that they need 6 million by the end of the month. If you are intending to donate but haven’t yet, please check in and do so. Help them save this land where other wildlife also live. Go to SaveMoonCamp.org

A plea for donations to save Jackie and Shadow's home, mentioning a fundraising goal of over 6 million by July 31.

It looks like SK Hideaways has caught Jackie and Shadow’s Luna getting lift, and believe me, everyone is concerned about fireworks with Luna and Sandy. They are in a fledge window. https://youtu.be/W1TSYPxDU_I?

I love this family tree from Big Bear that was posted on FB.

Infographic detailing the Eagle family tree associated with Big Bear, featuring images of eagles and their names, from the founders Ricky and Lucy to current generation Sandy and Luna with 2026 eaglets.

SW Florida’s Bald Eagle nest in Fort Myers on the Pritchett Property M15 has a new female to replace F23 who was killed during the 2026 season. Check out Photos by Donna Lee on FB to see all of the images of M15 with his new mate.

A Facebook post dated June 10, 2026, describing the author's encounter with a bird named Mighty M15 and his new companion, the Lady Eagle, including a narrative of their behaviors and a photo opportunity.
A collage of several images featuring a Bald Eagle perched on a metal structure, showcasing its feathers and silhouette against a cloudy sky.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigThursday 11th June 2026

Sadly, there’s only one talking point today and that’s the loss of little Chick3. Hatched on 6th June shortly after midnight, the little chick was five days old today and didn’t really have a chance against its two big siblings. Despite Louis delivering plenty of food, Dorcha keeping the chicks warm and dry, and the older pair mainly taking out their aggression on each other, the youngest chick was too weak to survive on a reduced diet. Comfort can be found in that Chick3’s death was as peaceful as is possible on a lively Osprey nest. In other news, Dorcha furiously saw off an intruding Osprey who first perched on the camera pole and then on the nearby Scots Pine – she kept it so well away that it was impossible to see if it was yesterday’s intruder JJ4 returning, or a stranger. Louis delivered four fish taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and twenty nine, and Garry LV0 delivered three fish to Aurora 536, taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and twelve. Aurora’s egg is now forty two days old and the possibility of hatching is improbable but not yet impossible. The weather was a repeat of yesterday’s, wet and windy, and tonight’s overnight forecast is light rain and light winds with a low of 11°C overnight, continuing with thundery showers, a moderate breeze and a high of 15°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/000FxooDYzw N2 All three chicks are up and begging when fish one arrives 04.21.29https://youtu.be/yMsFcwb3ydo N1 Dorcha furiously sees off an intruder Osprey 08.34.16 (zoom)https://youtu.be/I8khzUqtd8I N2 Mum blocks the view when fish two is dished up 09.06.53https://youtu.be/XhHOcGuOSM0 N2 A little life has ended: RIP Chick3 10.00+https://youtu.be/i7VWDUd6J0k N1 Is Garry’s first fish a Silver Tourist? 10.53.39https://youtu.be/gRTAjaxD40k N2 Fish three is huge but there are only two chicks 14.15.26https://youtu.be/fVKuNTE9nDo N1 Aurora’s very quiet but does take fish two 18.45.22https://youtu.be/fn1jj9Oh-4w N1 Aurora takes fish three and stumbles on a loose bit of bark 21.36.09https://youtu.be/u3rJzYfaS1M N2 Fish number four is tiny and is quickly demolished 21.51.01

Bonus read: Toby Carvery apologise for cutting down one of the important trees on Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Register and will plant 1,000 new trees (Ed: as if that could replace the 500 year old oak!) 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c05yz89jrleo

You’re invited to join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, fun, and free!

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

I am happy to say that our garden animals are thriving. We now have four European Starling fledglings! And I have discovered that Crows like large raw minnows – the ones that were in the freezer that Toby decided were not ‘dehydrated’. So there you go – have large minnows in your freezer, and you don’t go fishing, well, feed the crows. Their babies need mushy protein.

Thank you so much for being with us today. I am signing off. Toby and I are going to relax a little while Don is out with Ann. We wish you a lovely weekend with a lot of ice cream. And watch Iris and Clark with their new baby – . Might there be others? I promise you that unless there is another weather event there, this nest is going to be one to watch and I was a huge skeptic.

Toby loves strawberry ice cream.

A close-up of a bowl of pink ice cream on a colorful patterned tablecloth, with a small dog resting its paws on the owner's leg, eagerly looking at the ice cream.

Thank you to everyone who contributed information and images to FB, to SK Hideaways for their video, Geemeff for their daily summary, and Donna Lee for those great images of M15 and his new lady. Always great to have news from Heidi and Keilder Forest. hank you to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these amazing bird families.

First bites of fish

11 June 2026

I don’t know about you but I am so overjoyed that if my house blew away today it would probably not have even phased me.

Clark arrived. Saw the shell, listened to Iris, saw his first baby and went fishing. Within three hours, he had brought in three fish. It is 1827 nest time and it might have even brought in more. It seems his protective instincts along with paternal ones kicked in right at the time of hatch and right when the Clarke Fork River had descended and slowed. Dr Green noted that it was now good for osprey fishing.

Did you shed any tears as you watched Iris gently feed that wee babe the tiniest little pieces of fish? Despite not having had chicks every year, Iris knows how to feed them so they get the fish.

An osprey feeding a chick in a nest, surrounded by twigs and grass.
An adult osprey peering at its chick in a nest, surrounded by twigs and grass.

As you know, I was extremely worried, even going so far as to wish those eggs would not hatch. That was when the first egg was hatching!!!!!!! I worried Iris’s babies would starve to death. This has happened with Louis. Or worried she would be so hungry she would have to leave them. Well, thank goodness for miracles! And today felt like a miracle.

Proud parents.

Two ospreys are nesting on a platform, surrounded by sticks and grass. One osprey is holding a stick while the other looks on. A parking lot is visible in the background.

Happy Mum! The oldest breeding osprey in the world – at least thirty years. Imagine.

An osprey sitting on a nest made of twigs and branches, with a parking lot and green landscaping visible in the background.

Oh, another fish. 1747.

Two ospreys on their nest with twigs and green grass, in a parking lot setting.

Iris plays with her stick while Clark prepares to brood his baby and incubate the other two eggs.

Two ospreys sitting on their nest, with visible chicks and greenery around them, set against a background of a parking lot.

It sure sounded like Iris was ordering more fish when they exchanged places and Clark flew off.

Osprey sitting in its nest made of twigs and branches, with a parking lot and trees in the background.

First fish: 1242. Second fish: 1414. Third fish: 1512. Fourth fish: 1747.

I might have missed one between 1512 and 1747 but if you look that is five hours and four fish. I would say Clark is doing so well as a new dad. I am without words.

RP sent the following video links for us to enjoy:

Chicks first PS

Little Dewey got fed well today, too. Three fish by the time this image was taken. Little Dewey looks like the Hulk. Thanks ‘PB’ for the image:

A close-up of a young bird in a nest, with fluffy gray feathers and an open beak, surrounded by twigs and branches.

That’s it for today….let’s all walk around smiling. Two nests doing fantastic. With Little Dewey not so little anymore. Notice the feathers coming in. What a character.

Take care, everyone. Hugo Yugo and Toby wish you a great end of the week.

A dog resting on a cat tree with a scratching post, while a cat peeks out from a small hiding space below.

Thank you to PB and RP for their images and video links. Much appreciated. Thank you to the Montana Osprey Project and Cornell Bird Lab for their streaming cam so that we can watch this miracle unfold at Hellgate Canyon.

Clark arrives with a fish…

11 June 2026

The time was 12:42:50.

Clark arrives with a small fish for Iris and gets a surprise – the hatch of his first chick!

Two ospreys standing in a nest made of twigs and branches, with some green vegetation visible at the center.

Iris was so hungry, and this will feed her, but we need lots more fish as this baby gets bigger. I wonder if Iris will try to feed the newly hatched chick???

Clark was curious about the eggshell.

Two ospreys sitting in their nest, with one osprey holding an empty eggshell. The background shows a parking area and foliage.

Clark stayed with Iris while she ate her fish making me think that there could be intruders about. Then I think Iris gave him some marching orders for more fish!

Two ospreys are seen in their nest, with one bird looking towards the camera and the other partially visible in the background. The nest contains sticks, grass, and possibly some eggs.
An osprey sitting in its nest made of twigs and branches, with greenery in the background and a parking lot visible in the distance.

I am cautiously optimistic – don’t kick for not being over the moon. I am really concerned about what is going on around this nest. Is it the river causing issues? Does Clark not understand how many fish are required? Are there intruders?

I know you wanted to know if fish came and it did!

Take care.

Thank you to the Montana Osprey Project and the Cornell Bird Lab for this streaming cam and remember – they are fundraising to keep this cam streaming!