Winter is truly here. Snow is falling regularly. The temperature has warmed from the frigid cold of a few days ago to a balmy -9. Our walk with Toby as the snow danced down was wonderful. -9 C is just perfect winter weather. Toby loves the snow. He jumps and plays sniffing every tree or bush along the path.
This is Ellen’s photo from Monday morning. Ellen comes on Mondays and Thursdays. All I have to do is say her name, and Toby’s eyes literally light up. When she arrives, he jumps up and down for joy. Our lad loves his walks. They usually go from 1.3 to 1.7 km in half an hour. Toby is truly tired when he gets home.
One of the things I often get asked is how we stay warm in such cold weather. First, our houses are super insulated, and ours has triple-pane windows with a gas-filled cavity between the mullions and special glass that holds the heat in winter and dissipates it in the summer. Doors fit super tight. Our heating bills can be high, especially in January and February. We dress to go outside. Our coats are rated to -40 C. Our coats are ‘800 fill down’. This means that one ounce of this down expands to fill 800 cubic inches. Our coats are fluffy, very lightweight, and super warm, as are our boots, which are also rated to -40 C. We wear natural materials such as wool. I find a cashmere turtle neck layered with another sweater works when it is truly around -30 C. Hats and gloves are lined, and we have scarves of every thickness and size. I find that when we are moving, we stay warm, but when we stop to chat with other dog walkers, we often start to feel cold, especially our toes.
Holidays are just around the corner, and during the days and weeks ahead, your lives will get busier. Hanukkah begins at sunset on the 14th, Christmas is on the 25th, and Kwanza, St Stephen’s Day, and Boxing Day are on the 26th. For my friends in Japan, the tradition of cleaning comes just ahead of the new year celebrations. Oh, how I would love to be in Kyoto munching on mochi!
Calico reminds all of us that it is the precious time we have together, not the money or the presents (the stuff we will happily discard later), that make us joyful or peaceful. So, please, take a breath. Please just put away the credit card if it is out of your wallet, and think of something that you can do for someone to help them. It could be an afternoon of babysitting. Or taking someone for a walk and giving a caregiver free time? Why not find some objects and greenery and make some small wreaths for friends? Or cook them a simple meal – it does not have to be elaborate. Remember it is the time together that is important. I cannot tell you how much Thursday afternoons with my daughter, Jaine, taking Don out for a long walk means to me. I cannot put it into words. Made some homemade jam? Put a ribbon on it! What a lovely gift. Be creative and smile after the holidays because you will not be agonising over how to pay for them. Then send Calico a ‘thank you’. She would love to hear what you did that didn’t cost ‘the bank’.
Calico found a great article in The Guardian, ‘Shop secondhand, shred your veg and try ‘furoshiki’ wrapping: 14 easy ways to cut Christmas waste’. Grab a ‘cuppa and have a good read. I do love the orange peel stars. We are going to work on that this week!
Snow is dancing down. It is really quite beautiful and festive. I will try and capture some of their beauty with the camera phone.
The early morning, but most especially the time right before the sun begins to set around 1600, is magical. There is a golden glow to the light. All of the garden animals are out eating – the Chickadees, the four grey squirrels, Little Red, the Starlings and Sparrows, Mr and Mrs Crow and, sadly, only a single Blue Jay today. This worries me, but we will see about tomorrow. Maybe there will be two.
As I mentioned at the beginning, the frigid temperatures disappeared on Monday, and it was wonderful to be outside in the snow. Toby loves the snow. He runs, jumps, and rolls in his snow suit, and he doesn’t even mind having his boots put on. Boots, you say? Boots for a dog? They have super grip on the bottom, and that keeps him from slipping on the ice while protecting his back legs. We don’t want any dislocations!
On Wednesday, we have hired a local photographer to take some very informal and fun photos of Don and me – and Toby, of course, at our local park. ‘The Girls’ would not sign the waiver!!!!!!! We have not had our picture taken together in any professional way for decades – and I do mean decades. I am so excited. We are just hoping that the warmer temperatures will hold. If they come out, I will be posting them here on the blog.
Pepe and Muhlady’s first hatch at North Central Florida (Superbeaks) Bald Eagle nest has been named Mira. I stopped covering this nest because the owners of the Superbeaks streaming cam took exception to Heidi posting videos of the nest. Over a year later, it appears that the owners have had a change of heart. Paul Kolnik on Bald Eagles 101 now states that they have said that it is alright to post videos and images from the nest on social media.
I have no idea what the term ‘professional scraper’ means, so I am including a FB post today by Maria Johnson so you can see that little grey fluff ball. Since I do not earn any income from my blog, I assume the term does not apply to me. That said, I will rarely post anything from this nest until there is a clear understanding of what is meant by the term. I do love Pepe and Mulady – they are incredible eagle parents.
Pepe has brought in prey, and both adults have fed Mira.
Egg number 2 has a hole and egg number 3 has a crack. Mira will have brothers and/or sisters soon.
The Laysan Albatross are incubating eggs on Kauai. Hob Osterlund keeps us up to date – check out the battle for incubation. Doesn’t this look familiar?
Big things are happening at Big Bear Valley for Jackie and Shadow, and they are really early this season. Has this pair figured out that laying their eggs earlier might lead to a higher hatching success? SPO gives us all the details!
Beau and Gabby continue to take turns incubating their eggs. Do you remember when Gabby had more suitors than days in the week? We wondered if V3 was worthy. There was blood and skirmishes and that first year everything went sideways after Samson disappeared. Then we wondered if Beau was up to the task of fathering after burying the egg. We learned that he is up to the task last year. Fingers crossed that this one is even better for one of our favourite Bald Eagle couples.
The camera operators at the Trempeauleau Bald Eagle nest in Wisconsin (Raptor Resource Project) are to be commended. We got a beautiful look at the nest and surrounding area. Mr T has been chortling with Mrs T. I wonder if he is also doing the same with the ‘other Mrs T’ on the other side of the lake?
Snow in Iowa at the nest of Mr and Mrs North at Decorah.
At the US Steel nest of Irvine (Irv) and Stella, Pix Cams caught the pair fishing and soaring. https://youtu.be/SSV1vj5o09o?
Snow covers the nest at ND-LEEF in South Bend, Indiana.
It’s a little warmer on Captiva where Connie and Clive are incubating their two eggs.
Warmer at Fraser Point, home of Cruz and Andor.
Jolene and Boone are at their nest in Johnson City, Texas.
Ron and Rose – oh, I do love Ron. What a character! Incubating eggs in the heat of a Florida winter.
Knepp Farm reintroduced White Storks to the south of England. Now London will be getting their own in a rewilding programme. Can you feel the smile on my face?
Saving Monarchs posted this really informative image on FB. We have always had a lone rabbit coming to our garden in the winter. This year is no different – it appears that the large rabbit population of fifteen years ago has dwindled due to habitat destruction and road collisions.
Since it is the holiday season, Everything Gardening posted a very appropriate information poster on what can harm wildlife. Please look it over and make certain that you have not inadvertently put decorations outside that will harm our beloved friends.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. We look forward to having you with us tomorrow as we continue our daily check in as we lead up to more eagle hatches.
Thank you to the owners of the FB groups and their posts, to The Guardian for covering wildlife stories and the environment, and to the owners of the streaming cams that give us a glimpse into the lives of these amazing raptor families.
I am sending this out Sunday evening as Monday morning is going to be a little hectic. Enjoy!
It is -17 C on the Canadian Prairies, and Brock is at the feeder for the fourth or fifth time today! It was much colder overnight, and he really needs a lot of food – like the birds – to survive.
Brock was the subject of our neighbourhood FB chat. It worried me because I am so afraid that someone is going to get him trapped and take him to our humane society. They would euthanise him as he is not ‘socialised’ with no hope for adoption, even though he has survived outdoors, alone for at least four years, and is much loved.
Several feed him, and we might have even found his bolt hole – a small house with an opening under the porch, either into a crawl space or the basement. No one lives in the house, and eventually it will be torn down, and one of the new ‘infill’ houses will go in. I hope this takes years.
Calico will not wear a parka, but she sure likes sleeping on something soft. She is looking out the window at Brock. Is she his mother? Or his friend, who was also dumped at the same time? I will always wonder.
There is news in Bird World – and that is what I am supposed to be writing about today!
Mum and Dad put in appearances at the barge in Port Lincoln, South Australia, on Sunday. Mum was in the nest, and Dad was in his cave. It is so lovely to see them after the nest failed this year, when Mum abandoned the eggs. There have been other visitors – Ervie has been at the barge nest along with Calypso and friends.
Mum and Dad are looking quite well. I wonder if they have returned to the nest to check and see what their kids have done while they were away?
Diamond and Gimbir’s daughter is getting huge. Girri has turned out to be quite the character.
The necroscopy on SE36 has been released.
Thank you to SK Hideaways for their great videos of the week:
SK Hideaways Videos, week of 30 November 2025
Channel Island Eagles Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies, explore.org Two Harbors: Supermoon 🌕Chase ❤️🔥Sunset 🌅 Life is Good explore.org 2025 Dec 5
Cam ops captured the last supermoon of 2025 as it set over the hills. Chase soon arrived with a nice, big stick to continue shoring up the nest rails. We got a nice close-up of the nose bling he’s sporting at the moment. Later, he was found on his and Cholyn’s sofa, while Cholyn remained incognito. Finally, a stunning sunset capped off a lovely Two Harbors Day. (2025 Dec 5, 6:17-16:40)
Girri Gets as Close to Diamond as Possible ~ Precious Mum-Daughter Time (2025 Dec 6)
Girri couldn’t get enough of Diamond during this long visit. She got as close as she possibly could, nibbled Di’s talons, her feathers, and took a little nap with her. A sweet scene between mother and daughter.
Girri Sleeps in Mock Yogi Pose ~ Then Gravity Takes Control (2025 Dec 5) There’s something incredibly addictive about watching birds sleep ~ especially big, fluffy falcon chicks. Girri took the captivating, adorable slumber fest to a new level. Bonus: dancing around the egg and huge wingers. Video: https://youtu.be/dC31StjFAxs
Girri Grabs Whole Prey from Diamond 🍗 Mantles, Tries to Self-Feed🍽️(2025 Dec 4) Diamond brought Girri a large breakfast, which Girri was eager to consume. The chick grabbed the prey, pulled it away from her mum, and attempted to self-feed. Her fluffy mantling of the prey was a little comical, but she persisted. Diamond patiently waited 12 minutes before taking over the feeding. Once Girri calmed down, she realized that this was a more efficient way to eat. In the end, Girri had another huge crop, stretched to show her magnificent height and wings, and ultimately gave us a selfie on the Cilla stones. Another milestone completed. Video: https://youtu.be/CbDNoL_XujU Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW
Jackie & Shadow Begin & End Day in Song🎶➕Nest Bumps, Nibbles & Beakies🥰 (2025 Dec 1) As nesting season begins, there are more visits from Jackie and Shadow, and the most glorious serenades, filled with chortles and snortles galore. Today we got those gifts as well as body bumps, tail nipping, beaky kissing, and a sleepover in the Roost Tree. Welcome back, Jackie and Shadow! Video: https://youtu.be/Z9lSEHWL2yY
Jackie & Shadow Defend Nest 🪹 Juvenile Chooses Bad Time to Visit 😬 (2025 Nov 30) Jackie and Shadow were doing nestoration chores when a beautiful juvenile decided to stop by for an uninvited visit. Shadow karate kicked the young one away from the nest and Jackie delivered her one-two kick from a basement branch. She then appeared to follow the juvie, likely giving her one more piece of her mind before returning to perch on the Lookout Snag. Shadow remained in the nest a while longer. This defensive behavior is a good indication that nest restoration had begun in earnest. Video: https://youtu.be/0nMw_5DvSlk
At the Central Florida Bald Eagle nest of Pepe and Muhlady, there is a hatch. Congratulations! This nest has been the first to have hatches over the past few years. Next should be M15 and F23.
Raptor Persecution UK is following several stories including the shooting of a peregrine falcon in Derbyshire and a halt to international trade in falcons by downgrading their status.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. Looking forward to having you with us again tomorrow!
Thank you to SK Hideaways for their videos, to the authors of the FB posts and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these beautiful birds. Thank you also to ABC and their Bird of the Week highlights and The Guardian for their wildlife stories.
I cannot thank you enough for your letters. Please keep them coming! I love hearing from you, and it was so nice to know that you are enjoying the photos of The Girls, Toby, and the garden animals and birds. I have included more today, as well as another video. – More and more of you are in the hospital or have a partner who is. I hope Toby and HY’s antics bring some smiles to what could be very challenging situations.
We went to sleep with snow falling, and it was still coming down when we woke up Thursday morning. It is snowing as I write. Indeed, it has been snowing on and off for several days now.
Temperatures warmed up to a balmy -5 °C. Toby had a marvellous walk in the snow -he loves winter, frolicking through the snow while kicking up his heels in his new snowsuit. This one has one of those ‘silver astronaut blanket’ thermal linings. I was shocked at how toasty warm he was!
He does have boots and a hat – no scarf yet. The boots are so challenging to put on. He doesn’t seem to care – snow brings joy to his step. We clean his feet when he gets in and lotion is applied to keep the pads from cracking. Did I say that dogs are a lot more work than cats?!
Speaking of cats and dogs. Toby and Hugo Yugo had one of their little love fests. Enjoy.
Our Australian commentator, ‘A’, found some interesting news. I think you might be terribly interested in this:
“Watching an episode of one of my favourite shows this morning – Who’s Who in the Zoo (the episode is called Baby Boom). Apart from the babies, the episode covers a female WBSE that was rescued near the Olympic Park forest. From the dialogue, it sounds as though this was definitely one of our girls. Here is the WIRES post about the rescue:
The show includes them checking her injured/broken wing – initially they thought she would have to be euthanised but they keep trying with her and she is eventually released.
This was definitely one of our girls. Thought you might be interested. But it’s good to know that people like these are there for them.”
Reports are circulating of a sighting in the mangroves near the Parramatta River of a juvenile sea eaglet. Could that one be SE35? I sure hope so! Without a Darvic band or DNA, we can never ever be certain but it is so nice that there are people who love these eagles and look out for them!
There were 31 European Starlings at the feeders on Thursday morning.
The Starlings are going after cat and dog kibble. They even ate the kibble out of Brock’s dish.
Notice the beautiful, iridescent green back feathers. Do you know what those white tipped feathers indicate?
Rosemary’s blog has some excellent images and drawings explaining the Starling plumage.
Lots of sparrows were on the ground and in the little covered feeder searching for seed.
Mr and Mrs Crow were feeding along with three grey squirrels, one red squirrel, and at least one Blue Jay came to visit today.
The Blue Jay images above were taken with the iPhone and are very cropped – hence their softness. The ones below were taken in late August with the new lighter P1100. Certainly better images! (I am still getting used to this camera). Oh, I miss the green leaves and grass!
Hello Junior.
Oh, it seems like those warm days were aeons ago. I am already sick of the browns and greys of winter.
One of Dyson’s kits.
Beautiful Hope.
A last bit of news. The White-bellied sea eaglet that hatched on that crane in Port Lincoln has taken its first flight.
We hope you have enjoyed the videos, images, and today’s news tidbits. Thank you so much for being with us! Just imagine. It is approximately 108 days til the ospreys begin arriving back in the UK. I can’t wait. The failure of Port Lincoln to have nestlings this year has sure left a hole.
Take care. We hope to see you again tomorrow.
I thought that was the end of today’s offering…BUT. Around 2230, Toby began barking his curly ears off in the conservatory. Much to our surprise, there was a very large deer at the bird feeding table. Not a great shot through the glass in the dark, but this is what has caused all the commotion. What an extraordinary evening.
Thank you to ‘A’ for the news on the sea eaglet in care and to the BOGS near the Olympic Forest who keep an eye out for SE35. Let’s hope they saw it!
We are so happy that you could be with us today! Everyone in the family – from the tiniest red squirrel to energetic Toby and the ‘sleepy’ Girls – hopes that you had a terrific week. If you are struggling, we will send you a virtual hug. The holiday season can be terribly difficult, especially for those alone.
We want to remind you that if you are planning to donate to your local wildlife rehab clinic or another organisation that helps our raptors, consider donating on Giving Tuesday, 2 December. All of the wildlife groups are struggling with limited funds, with donations, in many cases, being down due to the rise in the cost of living. Their costs are up, too. Thankfully, some individuals pledge to match any donations on Giving Tuesday (up to specific amounts). So, if you are thinking of giving, why not donate when the organisation can have double?
Or you might consider adopting (symbolically) a condor!
Before we begin, the greatest news of the week is that Wisdom’s young mate has returned safely to the Midway Atoll.
Our week sped by. Thursday was haircut morning, and during that time, Ellen arrived to take Toby for one of his two weekly walks. It was a bit chaotic for about five minutes as Toby really loves Miyoung, who comes to cut our hair. Honestly, I do not know where the time goes. On Saturday, Toby went to the pet store to get his photo with Santa. When the digital images hit our inbox, I will be happy to share that adventure with you. Pet photographers must have iron-clad patience – and humour!!! We also took advantage of the Black Friday sales to stock up on pet and bird food. It felt good to save 30% as prices have steadily increased here since the spring, with dry cat food prices tripling. Everyone is now set for several months into the new year. The ‘third’ annual visit with Don’s doctor was mid-week. Every year, he checks to see how Don is doing, and while we have had a little cognitive and physical decline, it is not nearly what should be expected as we head into either the fourth or fifth year of Lewy Body Dementia. Dr Classen attributes this to Don exploring ‘new’ things, going on adventures, walking anywhere from 1.2 to 3.6 km a day, eating well, and, last but not least, Toby. I am grateful for every moment we have together. I cannot tell you how it breaks my heart for this kind and ever-so-gentle man to have this disease. We are doing everything we can to make his and our lives as rich and full as we can as we navigate the unknown.
Snow began to dance through the skies late Friday and by today we had about 12 cm on the deck which Toby and I quickly cleared. We have found a product that will melt the ice but not harm the animals. It is a bit pricey but I cannot imagine Toby or any other dog or outside animal licking it and getting ill.
Winter is, indeed, officially here—no more sandals or lightweight jackets.
There have been some worries in Bird World. I did not send them out because it is often the case that we need to just take a deep breath and settle down to wait and see how things evolve.
Akecheta was not seen for three days. My heart sank as each day went by, but he showed up!
Akecheta spent some time on the far tor on Sunday.
The other issue was Gimbir’s lack of prey deliveries to the scrape for three days!
‘A’ fills us in with what has been happening- I am very grateful and I do not edit their ‘voice’:
The first paragraph is from today and the other comments come from various days observing the Australian birds.
“Girri did not get fed all day today. After a couple of good breakfast feedings, there was no prey brought to the scrape until 19:00, when Gimbir arrived with a beautifully prepared piece of prey, very closely followed by Diamond.
But neither was counting on a starving Girri, who immediately grabbed the prey from Gimbir and ran off with it, Diamond in hot pursuit. Eventually, she retrieved the food and began feeding Girri.. You have NEVER heard a feeding like this one. It took all of Diamond’s experience to negotiate the feeding process without losing her beak. The entire prey item (it was hard to recognise because Gimbir had already removed its head, wings and most feathers so that it most resembled a small lean beef roast) was demolished within about three minutes, with Diamond getting perhaps one bite while Girri was busy dealing with a particularly large beakful.
At 19:03, when Diamond actually dared eat a bite herself, Girri was not impressed. Making absolutely sure of the subsequent bite, she (this is a female – I agree with Cilla) leaned in, grabbed the prey from mum and tried to wrestle it away! Diamond was stronger and retained control but karma’s a bitch, and coincidentally, the next bite for Girri was a leg bone! That challenged her for a moment. She even checked mum’s talons to ensure she had eaten every last morsel
I think the lesson to be learned from this story is Girri needs food. Lots. Often. She didn’t become the gigantic fluffball we see before us without lots and lots of food. She INHALED that bird. And did I mention how beautifully prepared the prey was? Well done, Gimbir!”
From earlier:
“The cable has been repaired and the cameras are back up at WBSE but there has been no sighting or even any audio indication that SE35 is around. It has not returned to the nest tree over the past two days, despite prey being brought to the nest by the parents. This is worrying me greatly.
November 27: Camera streaming has been restored and we have been able to look back at some of the recorded action. Last evening at 19:19, gull prey was brought in, though SE35 was not seen at the nest. One adult spent last night by the nest. Early, both adults were seen on River Roost and lovely flowers were seen that were left in memory of SE36. Then at 7:24, fish prey was brought to the nest, though SE35 was not seen to eat any. We feel SE35 is still in the area though.
November 28: Lady brought a gull chick prey in to the nest at 6:22. The eaglet did not return, so Lady ate it herself nearby. Shortly after, neither parent was seen at the river, until just after 9am, when one was seen on Mangrove Island. A ground search in the morning showed no sign of SE35 in the area. A quiet day, then at 16.30, one adult was seen at River Roost being swooped by a currawong. Then a currawong escorted Dad in with a catfish at 5:40pm, followed by Lady. SE35 was still not seen and Lady again ate the prey herself – the parents then joined in a duet. In the evening, both parents were nearby, but we haven’t seen our SE35 today. We wonder how long the parents will stay around now?
November 29: Both parents were near the nest last night and flew in to the nest early – checking things and moving a few sticks. During the morning, lorikeets visited, with the usual lorikeet fuss and noise. Cockatoos were close as well. The wind picked up and was quite strong during this hot day. At 11am, both parents were seen on Mangrove Island. Then a quiet afternoon with no sightings – keeping their heads down in the wind somewhere sheltered. By late evening, no eagles had returned to the nest. Then, just after dark, at 8pm, both parents came in. A duet and moving a few sticks, then settled close by.
At 10.30pm (29 November), both parents are perched side by side, tucked and sleeping. We can only hope for the best, but the fact that there has been no sign of SE35 for three days now is depressingly familiar news. When they came in, one parent (Lady, I think) checked the nest and moved a stick, but primarily, she appeared to be studying the look and smell of the nest, as if seeking signs that SE35 had been there at some point during the day. After a couple of moments, Dad joined her for five minutes or so, and he did much the same, before returning to the perch branch. Lady stayed on the nest another five minutes or so, seemingly unsure, before joining Dad. They are both settled for the night.
Yes, I’m anthropomorphising, but rewind the footage and watch for yourself (time stamp from 20:04:15) and then tell me what you think she’s doing. She is looking for her eaglet. She is trying to ascertain with whatever senses she can bring to bear on the question whether SE35 has been on the nest since she checked it last. I’m not just looking at the footage, I’m emotionally immersing myself in it. I think you might be a person who understands what I mean by that.
But in any case, I really don’t want to speculate at this point. I would actually be surprised to lose SE35. I honestly would. Independence really should be at least as good a possibility as disaster in explaining its absence, but somehow that sinking feeling overwhelms me. SE35 was such a confident and competent eaglet, with a strong will to survive, and was obviously smart enough to return to the nest to be fed. I felt it had the drive and the skills to learn quickly. It would be possible that it is being fed nearer to the river, but it would then surprise me that the BOTG are finding no sign of it. These birds DO have very recognisable (and often very loud) vocalisations. I am so disheartened.
I think it’s easy to forget how urban their immediate environment really is. Far more like what the Collins Street fledglings face than we realise. This area of parkland is in the centre of a large city – a bit like New York’s Central Park in some ways, though it does have more ‘wilderness’ features, with a walking trail of 1000 steps, which tells you something about its size.
At Orange, Gimbir has not brought prey to the box for three days, with Diamond doing all of the hunting. That is an interesting development. Girri is GIGANTIC with all that fluff, and appears much larger than Gimbir. She brought in a banded rail this afternoon. The scrape is filled with feathers, some of which are Girri. Girri loves all four corners of the scrape and is usually napping in one of them. When Gimbir arrived earlier, he saw the empty scrape and there was a momentary look of alarm before he scanned all the corners and spotted Girri in the front right corner. He went over to check his chick, touching it with his beak. Too cute.
Girri’s feathers are starting to come through. Our little one will look very different by next week. But please don’t be in too much of a hurry to fledge – we will miss you! I wonder where Gimbir came from. Where was his natal nest? Is there any possibility that he is the offspring of one of Diamond and Xavier’s surviving chicks or have no recent fledglings survived? I am curious about where he came from, though, given that the males tend not to disperse nearly as far from their natal nest as the females. That would suggest that he was born within a 50-km radius of this scrape, perhaps even closer. I would love to know.
On the 30th:
The sea eagles were awake early this morning, by 5am. By 5.05, it was starting to get light and they had both come down to the nest – first Dad and then, a moment or so later, Lady. They spent about 15 minutes nosing about the nest, doing some aerating and moving the odd stick. Then one parent (I think it was Lady) moved high up the perch branch, then flew off at 05:23. Around 05:30, the other also moved high up along the perch branch, where he waited a moment or two, before flying off at 05:37. Around 07:13 some rainbow lorikeets visited the tree, their raucous vocals seemingly a mismatch for their gorgeous brightly coloured plumage (bright red beak, orange and yellow chest, blue head and green wings and back and tail – look them up because they are absolutely gorgeous and we see them here in Melbourne all the time). See the close-ups around 07:20 and especially 07:34. By lunchtime, the wind was starting to get gusty, and intermittently, the branches of the nest tree were really rocking. That nest is VERY secure. But no signs of any sea eagles, juvenile or adult. Or any vocals. Around 2.29pm, the whole tree was tossing, and I thought I heard a sea eagle in the background. But no sign of SE35. The wind has continued to gust, and by 3pm, the rocking of the nest tree branches was really quite violent. (Melbourne’s day is very similar today, with gusty winds, but we have some decent rain as well.)
At Taiaroa Head, mum BOK (Blue, Orange, Black), currently on incubation duties) has been fitted with a new GPS tracking device on her back feathers. Dad WYL (White, Yellow, Lime) will get his tracker when he returns from foraging to take his next turn at incubating. Their offspring will be known as ‘Plateau Chick’ until given a proper name. Their egg, laid on 6 November, has been candled and is fertile. Incubation will take 77 to 79 days, so it is due to hatch between 22 and 24 January. The rangers report that 47 eggs have been laid this year, only one of which is non-viable. I think that refers to the one egg that was broken. They are ‘holding’ that couple (GO and WO) with a dummy egg in case they are needed as foster parents. Our 2025 Royal Cam chick Kaewa (meaning traveller or adventurer, and she is certainly that!) has travelled over 10,000 km since fledging on 17 September and is now fishing the Humboldt Current off the west coast of Chile. Wow. Safe travels Kaewa. Hope to see you in 2030.”
Thank you so much!
I found the latest posting by the Sea Eagle Cam FB group for you:
An early update November 30: Parents were by the nest last night and came to nest very early, fiddled with a few sticks – then away soon after. During the morning both eagles were seen on Mangrove Island. We searched in the forest and nest area though no sign of SE35, & no alarm calls from currawongs. We found a currawong nest – with 2 Channel-billed Cuckoo chicks – probably a currawong we have heard calling at the nest. Late afternoon, we have not seen or heard any reports of SE35.
SK Hideaways has sent us her week’s videos – thank you so much!
SK Hideaways video for week of 23 November 2025
Redding Bald Eagles: Liberty & Guardian Attend to Some Branch Management(2025 Nov 27)
With a few challenging and wonky branches to place, Liberty and Guardian worked together (mostly) to resolve all their construction challenges. A crisp autumn day in Redding cast a golden glow on this beautiful couple.
Cholyn Tries Egg Cup ~ Fans Try to Relax (2025 Nov 25) During their evening nest check, Cholyn and Chase aerated the nesting material ~ all part of preparing the nest for eggs. But then Cholyn laid down to test out the nest cup for comfort. While we know that she has never laid before 15 February, this action still gave fans pause. She was clearly teasing us. A collective deep breath was taken. Video: https://youtu.be/hNt_gEbzjKA
Cholyn & Chase Spend Day Together ~ 23rd Anniversary Approaches (2025 Nov 24)
Cholyn and Chase met at the overlook nest before settling in on their couch for most of the day. Next year marks their 23rd year together, which we think deserves a big party. Video: https://youtu.be/wRZeXKpPz8c
FalconCam Project
Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University
Girri Gives Gimbir Feeding Lesson (2025 Nov 30)
Girri was already in a food coma from the huge breakfast Diamond had fed her. But like a good child, she rushed up to Gimbir when he arrived with more food. It took Gimbir a few minutes to remember why he had brought food, as he munched on it himself. But then he remembered and Girri obliged by taking the bites her dad offered. It was a heartwarming scene between this young dad and his big girl.
It is Bald Eagle season. It will not be long til eggs will start hatching while others are still working on their nests.
That incredible female at the White Rock Bald Eagle nest that raised her chicks alone is back at the nest.
It is exciting times.
Just a last check in on some nests before signing off.
Diamond stuffed Girri, and then Gimbir came in with prey, and the poor chick is going into a long food coma at the Charles Sturt University falcon scrape!
Beau and Gabby exchange incubation duties at NE Florida.
Incubation at SW Florida with M15 and F23 continues.
Liberty and Guardian have been restoring their nest at Redding.
Clive and Connie are enjoying the sunshine while incubating their two eggs at Captiva.
Mr North and Mrs DNF are undaunted by the snow that hit the Midwest.
Busy at John Bunker Sands!
Jackie and Shadow have been discussing stick placement at their nest in Big Bear Valley.
One of the short, 350 word pieces, in The Guardian, does reveal that patience and determination can change things. It put a smile on my face. Maybe it will yours, too.
Lastly, one of our readers who ‘reads’ extensively has spotted a trend in books being published. The titles are misleading. There is one way to spot these volumes quickly and easily, our astute fellow bird lover has discovered. They say ‘Pet Owner’s Manual’ – there is one for Kakapo!!!!!!! Indeed, the kakapo was the book that set off our friend to searching through some other titles. Can you imagine a Kakapo as a pet?!!!!!!! They say purchase at your own peril.
I have not read or purchased any of these books but just from what I have been told and read I would certainly say, ‘beware’.
Version 1.0.0
Thank you again for being with us. We hope that you have a lovely week and we look forward to having you again with us next Monday!
Thank you so much to SK Hideaways and ‘A’ for their brilliant contributions. I am grateful to the owners of the streaming cams and the authors of the FB posts that add so much to my blog, as well as to The Guardian for continuing to follow critically essential topics on the environment and wildlife. Thanks, ‘J’, for the book report.
I am so very, very sorry to bring you just the saddest news.
WBSE 36 had not been seen for several days, and there has been an issue with the streaming cams. They were not turned off, but a cable was cut. Unfortunately, I received the news this morning from SK Hideaways, and it simply makes me break down and weep. Lady and Dad work so hard to raise the most beautiful eaglets. Every year, we have a great heartbreak or two. This year seemed like it was going to be golden. Let us hope that WBSE 35 is safe and keep little 36 in your heart. He or she will be added to the Memorial Wall momentarily.
Thank you SK Hideaways and the deepest condolences to Lady and Dad and all who love these amazing birds.Thank you to the Eagle Cam FB group and to the community for supporting the streaming cam that allows a glimpse into their lives, however joyful or tragic.
I am too excited and couldn’t wait til tomorrow to share the fantastic news. Gabby and Beau have their first egg at the NE Florida American Eagle Foundation nest! That egg arrived around 18:33. What a way to start the week!
I hope you had a remarkable weekend and spent some time outside, enjoying the crisp air of late autumn/early winter and getting those legs moving! Don went with Anne to the nature centre for a walk in the golden sunlight and to see if there are any geese on Friday. Toby and I have come in from our walk, and all the Girls, including Calico, are napping. Calico is doing well. Thank you for your kind notes. She is a very special girl to me, and I was so afraid we would lose her!
It has been quite warm. 8 or 9 degrees C on Sunday! We had such a lovely walk. The children were outside playing with only light jackets. We could tell which houses had birdfeeders by the song from their gardens, and many were taking the opportunity to put up fairy lights on a day when their fingers wouldn’t freeze. The time is speeding by. It was a blink, and a week disappeared.
Toby is getting his photo taken with Santa on the 29th. I will post it for you. I can’t imagine taking The Girls to the pet store to get their photo taken although it would be so cute and it is an excellent fundraising idea.
As I mentioned in earlier blogs, the raptors are still in Manitoba, along with hundreds of Canada Geese. It is hard to believe. What else is hard to believe is that for the past couple of weeks, we have seen Christmas trees decorated inside the homes as we go for our evening walk. The lights are gorgeous – I do appreciate them – but when did we start getting ready for the holidays (no matter which one/s you celebrate) right after Halloween?
Look what arrived in the post! (Our postal workers are on rotating strikes, and to receive any mail is rather remarkable.) I am so delighted. The Dyfi calendar is full of beautiful images and historical facts and those beanies will come in handy when winter does arrive.
I want to wish all of our readers who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week a very special day to enjoy good food and the companionship of friends and family.
SK Hideaways Videos, week of 16 November 2025
Channel Island Bald Eagles Sauces Bald Eagles, Santa Cruz Island, CA: Jak & Audacity’s Stunning Habitat plus Roosting On the Night Perch (2025 Nov 21) Cam ops treated us to spectacular views of Santa Cruz Island before panning to the night perch, where Jak and Audacity roosted for the night. Video: https://youtu.be/G4Wa_vOuuYQ Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies, explore.org Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnTsOesC6hE
West End Eagles: Haku Scarfs Lunch ~ Meets Akecheta on Tor + Night Perch Rendezvous(2025 Nov 18) After cam ops gave us a glorious tour of the area from the HD camera, they caught Haku devouring a nice, big vermilion rockfish on the nest before setting off to Wray’s Rock and then the far tor, where Akecheta met her. As evening approached, they rendezvoused on the night perch, much to the delight of fans. They don’t tend to spend the night on this perch and this night was no exception. But they did seem to spend much of the day together, and most likely roosted together out of prying camera eyes. Videohttps://youtu.be/dLIlDCq_DO0
West End Eagles: Akecheta on Sentry & Haku on Fish + Island Fox ~ HD Cam New Position (2025 Nov 16) The IWS re-positioned the West End low cam for better visibility of the nest (no more secret hideout), but it also provides excellent views of the tors. Here we see both Akecheta and Haku from the re-positioned vantage point. As a bonus, an island fox makes a cameo appearance. Seeing Haku devour a fish on the nest gave us the view we needed to get our bearings of the re-positioned camera. The cherry on top was seeing Akecheta and Haku meet up on the far tor, this time on the original West End camera (not HD, but a wonderful scene nonetheless). (2025 Nov 16; 7:12-15:02) Video: https://youtu.be/ILrE2CbmkoI Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org Nest Low Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfuqjSNXZ14 Other Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmmAzrAkKqI Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kad6O4nF6bg
Girri Burrows into Diamond for Cute Cuddles (2025 Nov 18) Girri got the cuddles they were craving from super mum Diamond. A mother-child connection at its sweetest. Video: https://youtu.be/aHzjeTDcHcY Girri Tries to Teach Gimbir to Brood ~ Detente is Achieved (2025 Nov 17) 12-day old Girri still likes to be under a parent, where it’s nice and warm. Gimbir, however, hasn’t yet learned how to brood. Despite Girri’s efforts to wedge under Gimbir, it is not to be. A side-by-side arrangement has, however, been achieved. Not to Girri’s full satisfaction, but it’s working. Video: https://youtu.be/vWzj5tnUWOs
FOBBV Eagles, Big Bear Valley, CA Jackie & Shadow Herald the Start of Stick Season ~ with Raven Cameo(2025 Nov 20) It was a 9 stick day in what might have been the beginning of stick season. Jackie and Shadow came and went from the nest throughout the morning with Jackie making a final visit just before dusk. It was all about delivery, but little placement. There’s plenty of time. During the day, Jackie and Shadow rested on Split Pine, a raven visited the nest, and there was a sprinkling of snow at day’s end. Video: https://youtu.be/GNMyJtB-Zbc Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://youtube.com/live/LCGYWfbyBWc LIVE Recap & Observations https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz
Redding Bald Eagles Liberty & Guardian Have Some Branch Management Issues (2025 Nov 19) Liberty and Guardian performed some serious nestorations, some of which involved tricky branch placement. They each had a troublesome branch that we think will require ongoing tweaking before they’re content. Their new nest is coming along beautifully and will be ready for breeding time whenever they are. Video: https://youtu.be/5cl-uDFTq0I Courtesy of Friends of the Redding Eagles, Redding, California Livestream page: https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsoftheReddingEagles/streams
SE35 Attacks Camera Parts ~ Tired of Paparazzi (2025 Nov 22) SE35 has had an ongoing rivalry with the nest camera that we fans cling to, day in and day out. With SE36 out exploring, SE35 has been the sole star of the show. On this day, SE35 put their talon down and went after the camera equipment, tired of being in the spotlight. They succeeded in pausing its operation for about 10 minutes, but when operation resumed, we were right there watching. SE35 has since realized that being the object of so many fans’ affections is really not so bad after all. Video: https://youtu.be/_U_eFdYLgec
SE35’s Quandary ~ Self-Feeding or Being Fed ~ Tricky Fish Skin/Bones (2025 Nov 21) When Dad delivered a fish, SE35 was somewhat conflicted between independence and the comfort of being nurtured. It was a pretty gnarly fish from a skin and bones perspective. Lady knew just what to do. She let SE35 stand on part of the fish while feeding the other part. Then she stood back and watched as SE35 practiced self-feeding before helping again. It was a very long meal with lessons learned along the way. Video: https://youtu.be/h0y6JphCKDY
The Tweed Valley Osprey Project has reason to celebrate and so should we. Blue 722.
The Raptor Resource Project wonders which eagles you are watching at Decorah?
Beautiful condors in heraldic pose captured by Tim Huntington.
Speaking of condors, did you catch the Condor chat with Kelly Sorenson and his team at the Ventana Wildlife Society? If you missed it, here is the link and as always, you will learn so much! https://www.youtube.com/live/XBZIu2i9l5s?
Here is the population update and, of course, it is only one page in the presentation. Please do check this presentation out!
‘A’ sends us her commentary on the Australian nests with a nod to Beau and Gabby:
“Just WONDERFUL news about Wisdom. You know my soft spot for albies – I’ve been watching the returnees at Taiaroa Head finding each other and laying eggs. The announcement of the Royal Cam family for this season is coming any minute now – literally. I will let you know when I hear. The educated money is on LGK and LGL, who are experienced parents and previous Royal Cam parents with a fertile egg this year.
Meanwhile, the WBSE story continues to be a happy one, with the eaglets doing fabulously well. They continue to sleep in or near the nest, with their parents nearby, and they continue to return to the nest to wait for food deliveries or follow their parents in to the nest when they see them returning from a successful hunting trip. Each day, they are bigger and stronger and more confident. We can only hope they are following their parents down to the Parramatta River – they have been spotted near River Roost – and learning to fish for themselves. But at least they are getting that chance this year. What was it, I wonder, that so convinced me that this would be the year? As you will recall, I have been saying this since they were far too young for it to be even an educated guess. This was just a ‘feeling’, a premonition if you like. But I did feel it, and you are my proof! I am SO happy to be right about this. There are no words. There has been so much hope with such beautiful eaglets in previous seasons, only for them to come to a tragic end or disappear altogether. But this is so special and so beautiful to watch. They are operating as a family group, and this is the secret to the success of this year’s fledglings.
Meanwhile, I have no news to report on the Collins Street fledglings, and this is good news. My sister tells me that there have been no fledglings brought into care so far – if there are, her husband will know because he will be the person they are likely to be brought to. So the absence of any word is wonderful. I spoke with her this afternoon, just to check, and so far, so good. I am annoyed that Mirvac turned off the cameras on 16 November, so we have no idea whether the chicks are returning to the ledge for food. I am hopeful that they may be, based on what we saw before the cameras went off. The parents both visited the ledge on that final day of footage – I told you about the behaviour in the scrapes – but we also know that all three did return to the ledge on the day of or the day after fledging, and the returnees foraged for leftovers and self-fed in the gutter. So I remain hopeful that they may be continuing to do so.
At Orange, Gimbir is really taking to the role of dad enthusiastically, but it is also true that the little one adores its dad. Watching it trying to get Gimbir to brood made me laugh so much, because of course despite the best efforts of father and chick, nothing was going to make Gimbir large enough to cover the fluffball. Still, both tried hard. Girri was SO determined. The wee one has also followed dad to the ledge more than once – heart in the mouth stuff – and on one occasion, nipped at his tail and wing feathers (playfully or perhaps thoughtfully might be a better description). But it really does seem like dad is a bit of a favourite with Girri.
As you might remember, I was a huge fan of Beau when he was V3 (I believe there were a total of 13 suitors for Gabby when Samson disappeared), and where all the others were pushy, V3 was quiet and loyal and took his time to respect Gabby’s grieving process and the time she needed to bond to a new male. I was always fond of the way he did his courting (yes, anthropomorphising to the max here but he really was the quiet devoted type when all his rivals were the exact opposite). It felt like Gabby needed to take whatever time it took her to process the loss of a long-term partner, and V3 was the only visiting male to recognise that. But whether or not that was the case, Beau certainly had staying power, and he is certainly doing his job with gusto this season. Just take a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITiCBZwVQys&list=TLPQMjExMTIwMjVp9OEdcQ6I4Q&index=11. What a man!
Update from WBSE:
November 21: Early to wake and away from the nest before 6am. Dad brought a good-sized fish at 8:35, with SE35 in quickly to claim it. Lady followed soon after with the remains of a gull. SE35 was quick to grab that, a little tussle, Lady fed a little, then SE35 self-fed well, Dad calling in for the tail. Then, it was fairly quiet until mid-afternoon, when one eaglet was close by, with currawong swoopers close too, swooping enthusiastically. Late in the afternoon, the parents were seen down on the river. Then at 7pm, just one was there and one eaglet came in to the nest, hoping, and finding a little scrap. At 7:30pm, Lady and one eaglet were above the nest. The other adult joined them shortly after. The second eaglet was not to be seen. A late duet then. Now all settled?
November 22: Early duets and SE35 came to the nest. At 5:30am, Dad flew in apparently with a small fish which SE35 ate on the nest. Both adults were seen on River Roost. Meanwhile our other eaglet was heard and then seen closer to the river, but in the Armory area. Swoopers were chasing it, ravens and currawongs. SE36 was flying strongly and seen in a tree. Has it been fed during the past day or two when not seen? At 11:20am, SE36 was seen again being chased across parklands – both adults were on River Roost. SE35 was seen below the camera at 13:40, still near home.
So one of our eaglets, SE36, is being chased and harrassed but is apparently flying strongly and could, we know, return to the nest if it wanted to do so. Perhaps it is exploring the Armory area and the Parramatta River, watching its parents fish. It is healthy and strong, so we continue to hope both are doing well even if we don’t see both every day – the BOTG at this nest provide wonderful information for us all. As I type, SE35 is playing with the twine holding the microphone above the nest, having finished eating the fish that Lady brought in.
More when there is news at Taiaroa Head.
Much love to you (and a special chin scratch for Calico)”
And more from ‘A’ on Sunday: “There are some concerns about SE36. Last night, SE35 slept in the nest tree, but I saw no sign of SE36. This morning, SE35 was where it had slept, in the branches of the nest tree, and waiting for breakfast. Around 06:28, a parent flew in to the nest with a piece of leftover fish, and SE35 hurried down the branch, squeeing with excitement, to self-feed. Happy eaglet noises! The juvenile seemed to be begging to be fed but Lady (I think it was mum) was having none of that. You’re a grown-up eaglet now! Feed yourself! Eventually, SE35 settled down to eat very proficiently, gripping the chunk of fish tightly in its left talon. The currawongs were swooping but SE35 seemed unconcerned. The parent remained on a branch above the nest while SE35 ate breakfast. The rain was falling and the wind gusted up and Lady flew higher in the nest tree. SE35 responded by doing a bit of flapping of its own, whether to get the water off its wings or whether a burst of energy suddenly overcame the fledgling, I have no idea. But there was jumping and flapping in the rain. At one stage, SE35 took the chunk of fish halfway up the perch branch, where it ate the remainder of its breakfast, still gripping its fish tightly in its left talon. Very well done SE35. But there was no sign of SE36.
It is noteworthy that only one parent slept in the nest tree last night from what I could see. So the other parent could be with SE36. And it is worth remembering that the BOTG have heard SE36 and spotted it in the Armory area. I think it has also been seen and heard around River Roost. The question is whether SE36 is being fed. When it has been spotted, it has been flying strongly.but it has also been pursued by currawongs. So it is not being harrassed to the point that previous fledglings from this nest have been. However, it is critical that SE36 gets fed, wherever it is at the moment, and I have to wonder why it was not sleeping in the nest tree lasts night, if only because the nest and the nest tree have proved to be a reliable family-run restaurant for both juveniles since fledging. So it follows that if SE36 is healthy and hungry, it should be at or near the nest tree. The only reasons for this not being the case would be that it is injured or exhausted or that it is being fed elsewhere. We have to believe that the BOTG will report some sighting or audio of SE36 today (it is a Sunday in Australia so there should be people out there looking for these two today – and yesterday) and remember that when last spotted, SE36 was in good shape.
We know little or nothing about the dispersal of fledgling sea eagles in this area because there really hasn’t been any recorded, thanks to the damned currawongs. And we have no idea of the genders of these two. So we don’t know whether one or both of the fledglings will instinctively move to establish a territory away from the nest area, though I would be surprised if either has learned to hunt independently as yet. So there remains a concern that if SE36 is not returning to the nest tree, things are not proceeding as smoothly as they have been. I will of course get today’s ranger report to you asap. It should be posted in the next couple of hours, but with daylight savings, it could be as late as 8pm (it’s 5.22pm now and I would expect it by 6.30).
After breakfast, SE35 hung around in the nest tree, drying out its wings once the rain stopped, and occasionally vocalising when a currawong came too close. It was obvious that a number of them were above SE35 in the nest tree, but SE35 seemed confident that it was the boss. SE35 is the most exquisite creature, looking absolutely beautiful with its wings outstretched and the glint of the early morning sunlight on its plumage. After foraging around in the nest for any scraps, SE35 flew off the nest at 08:27.
Shortly after 3:05pm, an eaglet landed on the nest. I am not sure which one but I think it may have been SE36. They’re very hard to tell apart when they’re not together, and I could easily be wrong because the pics of SE35 from this morning were in quite heavy rain and its plumage was therefore looking different. This afternoon visitor was getting dive-bombed by currawongs, swooping low over the nest, and it stood in the centre of the nest, looking up at the currawongs and vocalising as they swooped past. It was definitely an aggressive response, not one of fear and intimidation. But the currawongs are certainly as relentless as they have been in every previous season. Certainly, this prolonged dive-bombing did not occur this morning when SE35 was on the nest, so I wonder whether that also suggests that this afternoon eaglet is SE36. If so, the currawongs are attacking it far more fiercely than they did SE35 this morning, which is concerning, but SE36 (if it is 36) is giving back as much as it can muster and is refusing to be cowed. No parent arrived with food, though the eaglet continued to hang around in the nest tree.
So SE36 has not been seen at the nest for the past two days, so we are starting to worry. SE35 is doing wonderfully well but I am concerned about SE36. “
“There was no ranger’s report for WBSE yesterday, which is why I didn’t send it to you, but I was hoping it would go up later. Not so. I fear they may have decided the season is over and ceased doing daily reports, which is frustrating because now is when we really need them. There has been no sign of SE36 at or near the nest for two days and two nights now, which is very worrying because it represents a sudden change from the routine the fledglings had established since leaving the nest. I can only hope for the best, and rely on the parents to do their job. At least SE35 is doing well and standing its ground against the currawongs. But I am very worried for SE36.
News from Taiaroa Head is that the RoyalCam couple for this year is BOK and WYL, who raised a chick in 2024 at Top Flat Track. These are experienced parents and are incubating a fertile egg.”
Thanks, ‘A’ – so glad there is no news to report on the Collins Street kids. It is as they say: No news is good news!
We are all concerned about what is happening to the osprey and other species due to industrial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay region – I say region because Omega goes out from the Bay since they have taken all of its Menhaden. Heidi found a really informative article from The Washington Post for us on this very subject. Please lobby to protect the ospreys!
Red Kites are one of the most magnificent raptors. The RSPB describes them thus: “This magnificently graceful bird of prey is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world’s longest-running protection programmes. It has now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland. Red Kites are listed under Schedule 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act.” In terms of their conservation status, the RSPB states: “Back in Shakespeare’s day, Red Kites were really common, even in cities, where they acted as clean-up crews, catching rodents and scavenging on the scraps of meat that littered the streets. But attitudes changed and Red Kites became the victims of intense persecution. By the end of the 19th century, they were extinct in Scotland, England and Ireland, and just a few pairs were clinging on in Wales.
Thanks to reintroduction projects led by the RSPB and other organisations, Red Kites have made an astonishing comeback in the UK, with numbers increasing by 2,464% between 1995 and 2023. The UK is now home to about 17% of the world’s population.”
The study intended to shed light on the release of non-native gamebirds in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, which is proving problematic. Thank you, Raptor Persecution UK.
What a stunning image by one of our Manitoba photographers of a Northern Harrier.
Mark Avery brings us up to date in his 21 November blog on Bird Flu in the UK:
“Bird flu: Defra’s most recent update seems to cover the period up to 16 November and has a lot of positive records, especially of wildfowl, with Black Swan, four new duck species and Woodpigeon added to the 2025 list of affected species bringing the total to 52: Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Bewick’s Swan, Black Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Eider, White-tailed Eagle, Red Kite, Buzzard, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel, Curlew, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Kittiwake, Little Gull, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, Gannet, Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Cormorant, Razorbill, Guillemot, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Grey Heron, Pheasant,Woodpigeon, Greenfinch and Starling. The flaws in the ‘surveillance’ scheme mean that it is difficult to know what this species list means in terms of species affected – click here.
Notice, Woodpigeon is on the list. Maybe it would be helpful to know a bit more about those Woodpigeon movements at this time of year.
In Germany (1000+ birds) and France (maybe 10,000 birds) very large numbers of migrating European Cranes have died of bird flu. “
It’s not a bird or a plane, but just a bit of fun with fashionable dogs and a cat in Country Life! (I do think Toby fits the Spaniel – his ability to track the cats that come to the garden is undeniable!)
Toby has more winter outfits than I do! He loves his red turtleneck.
Adorable friends.
Dear Calico.
Toby and Hugo Yugo caught horsing around.
Thank you so much for being with us today! We hope that you have a marvellous week with lots of birdsong and fresh air – please do get outside if you can! It really does raise your spirits. We look forward to having you with us again next week.
I want to thank SK Hideaways and ‘A’ for their generous contributions to my blog. SK Hideaways’s videos are first-rate and I am so grateful that they create them out of love for the birds and not for subscription numbers. That said, please give them a like and share them with friends and family. I also want to thank ‘A’ for their lively commentary and observations of the Australian raptor families. To the owners of the streaming cams, the blogs and the FB groups that are indicated in bold throughout my blog, my post would not be the same without you, too. I am grateful to all of you!
It is a beautiful Saturday on the Canadian Prairies. On Friday, many towns in and around Winnipeg reached a high of 16.7 degrees C, the highest temperature recorded in Canada that day. It was truly uncharacteristically warm, and thus worrisome.
I am actually sending this post out Sunday evening instead of Monday morning. I hope this is not too confusing! Monday morning is going to be very hectic. Toby has an organized dog walk with Ellen and then we are going to fetch our friend Ruth who is coming for lunch with a pop in visit by our daughter. Enjoy!
Oh, how nice it is to have you with us today. I hope that everyone has been watching that cute little fluff ball of Gimbir and Diamond. He or she now has a name – Girri – and thankfully it is one of two syllables that is easy to pronounce!
Cilla Kinross broke down the votes – but look at the number of votes. That is a fantastic response!
I have the listing from SK Hideaways of her weekly videos but this one is particularly cute. Can we truly take our eyes off little Gimbir, first-time dad, and his little baby!?? https://youtu.be/SyatpPaTnJU?
Is it my imagination, or is Gimbir getting much more time with his chick than Diamond allowed Xavier? Gimbir even tries to brood the baby! Or is Diamond just away a little longer and doesn’t see the interactions?
There was lots of activity and SK Hideaways has caught it on video:
We love that little fluffball of Gimbir and Diamond. Can you imagine someone stealing it to sell for profit? Well, Raptor Persecution UK is following a court case for someone who does just that!
Some of the cute stills of Gimbir feeding the little one for the first time. This is precious.
Look how big Diamond is compared to Gimbir in the image right above.
Just imagine Gimbir and Diamond arriving at the scrape with that precious baby gone?
Raptor Persecution UK continues to follow the plight of the Hen Harriers especially those found dead in and around the large hunting estates. You might recall that I reported on five little Hen Harrier chicks stomped to death several years ago. Their mother has now been found dead, and once again we are made starkly aware of how dangerous the lives of these amazing birds are!
Snow on the nest of Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear Valley on Sunday.
Both eagles at US Steel.
Both eagles at Cardinal Land Conservancy. Will there be an egg soon?
On a sad note, Blaze has not been seen at the Eagle Country nest for eleven days now.
I am enchanted with what is happening at the Sydney Sea Eagle nest this year. Lady and Dad arrive at the nest in the early morning with prey and no sea eaglets. They begin to defeather, looking around, and then both eaglets fly to the nest! In all the years I have watched this nest, this has never happened (at least to my memory). Does anyone else remember a year where the fledglings could fly freely around the forest returning to be fed? Please let me know!
This just brings tears to my eyes and I hope yours, too. These two eaglets from the Olympic Forest in Sydney will surely survive. They will get strong, learn how to hunt and beat those darn Currawong!
Just over the moon – almost beyond giddy. How long have the supporters of this nest have waited for a season like this one?
‘A’ has sent in a lot of commentary, and I need to post it, as I have been sending out little blurbs when an event has happened without a comprehensive narrative. I know how many of you enjoy their ‘take’ on what is happening in and around Australia, so here we go – albeit some out of order. Enjoy.
“It is nearly 8pm in eastern Australia and starting to get darker (it won’t be dark for a while yet with daylight savings) and both our eaglets are settling for the night on the branches above the nest. Lady is also perched nearby, in the nest tree. As I said, this is a family unit, working together. It is wonderful to watch, and the eaglets are gaining in confidence by the day. I have not seen this before. I hardly dare to hope that this really is the season they will succeed but I have felt that all along, as you know, and it is beyond thrilling to see the eaglets flying with confidence, returning to the nest for food and rest, and refusing to be cowed by those damned currawongs. “
“The upshot is that all three chicks have fledged and that one of those three has successfully returned to the ledge. Mum brought a snack too, which is encouraging – I am hoping we see all three return to the ledge. As I said, I’m hoping no news will be good news in terms of their welfare and whereabouts.
I will keep an eye on the cameras to see if we get any returnees but you would be best keeping an eye on the Facebook group – I am not a member of Facebook and refuse to become one at this late stage, but it might be worth it at this stage of events for the Collins Street group. It is exciting news that all three have fledged successfully and each one of the three appeared to fledge strongly and confidently. It terrifies me to even think about how difficult it is for young falcons to learn the intensely dangerous skills involved in their hunting technique, but I suppose this is where the parents play yet another critical role. I have been tremendously impressed by these parents, and the moment the crash landing back into the gutter occurred, a parent (probably mum) was immediately in the frame, doing a fly down (probably following the chick) to check that the chick was okay, indicating that the parent in question had been very close by during that fledge and obviously supervising everything that was going on. I do hope that indicates that these parents are going to be good teachers of their chicks. So many times during this season, I have been astounded at the size of the prey items brought to the ledge. These parents are very good hunters – let’s hope they’re great teachers as well. I suspect they might be. How wonderful would that be? There must be room for at least one more pair of peregrines in the CBD area. I’m still wondering where there are suitable nesting areas near Melbourne Airport. I must ask my sister that question again.
It will be raining in Melbourne over the next couple of days – not good flying weather for new fledglings. I do hope they return to the ledge for shelter, rest and food. There is plenty of time to learn all the skills they will need to survive alone out there.”
“Superdad M15. My favourite bald eagle male of all time. He is amazing. We will never forget his efforts the season he reared two eaglets alone. I think Mrs T might be in front in the female version of that award. And I noted from your blog that Mr T is up to his old tricks yet again. Leave the woman alone, you cad! What’s the betting he leaves her incubating a fertile egg and then takes off for the girlfriend’s island nest? I have no trust in him, I’m afraid. Once a cheat, always a cheat.
Oh, the joy of watching WBSE post-fledge. I never thought I’d type that! What a happy mutually supportive family they are this year. That nest makes me so happy at the moment.
Meanwhile, at Collins Street, two fledglings are on the ledge. The little male who returned after fledging yesterday spent the night on the ledge and in the scrape, and one of his sisters joined him around lunchtime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYQ2f7XnC8I&list=TLPQMTMxMTIwMjUIejz-QtbpwA&index=6. Wonderful! The returnee’s first priority is a little self-feeding in the gutter. Excellent. Let’s imprint that return to the ledge for food behaviour. The control she showed flying onto the ledge was impressive, don’t you think? Strong and balanced.
All three of the Collins Street fledglings returned to the ledge yesterday – the little male was still there from his fledge and immediate return the day before, but both his sisters joined him there during the day (how cute were the beakie kisses when the first sister returned and they lay side by side on the ledge? Just too adorable. I hope they can help and support each other just as the sea eaglets are doing. I’m sure it helps. Meanwhile, at Orange, our darling dad in training is progressing with determination. “
The Friends of Osprey South Australia and Port Lincoln have announced that, due to the failure of the trackers that have been placed on the osplets, they will now only be banding the little raptors.
Our local wildlife rehabilitation clinic, Wildlife Haven, is helping a Red-tail Hawk!
It is that time of year when people start thinking about the upcoming holidays. No matter what religious persuasion you are (or maybe not any), gifts find their way into the celebrations. Why not do something to help wildlife? One year, our family adopted the hawks, the Crow, and some of the other raptors at Wildlife Haven instead of buying ‘stuff’. Indeed, I do not need anything, having spent the last year trying to rid myself of the many things accumulated over a lifetime. Instead, we now gift small, locally made consumables. We will also reach out to local clinics in various ways. We have two large, used once dog carriers that are way too big for Toby. They will be donated along with a pet crate and various items on the wish list. I hope our family approves! Over the holidays, we will have a four-legged visitor to join our gang – Nellie, a very large British White Retriever. She is Toby’s bestie. The plan is to invite another four-legged friend and provide treats for the cats and dogs, along with some delicious shortbread for the adults.
There continue to be an enormous number of Canada Geese in and around Winnipeg along with Bald Eagles at every turn. Many of the geese have turned into lunch or those eagles. Great image by Kevin Eisler.
We still have osprey in Manitoba, too – the water is still open and fish and prey are readily available for the raptors. Migration times are extended!
Hawk Mountain’s latest migration chart for the week of 12 November. Those osprey numbers are not good.
Please continue to spread the word: Good Wolf reminds us that balloons have no place in celebrations in 2025. We know that they harm wildlife – it isn’t speculation. There are many other ways to decorate that are safe for our raptors and other wildlife.
Thank you so much for being with us. Please take care of yourself. We look forward to having you back with us for our next Bird World post which should be on Monday 24 November. See you soon!
Thank you so much to SK Hideaways, Heidi, and ‘A’ for their videos, notices, and commentary and to the owners of the streaming cams and FB groups who keep us informed, and The Guardian -I am in your debt. I am grateful to everyone behind Raptor Persecution UK who are working hard to bring justice for our raptors and to all who work hard to protect our precious feathered friends.
I knew you would want to know – if you didn’t see for yourself. The male that has remained on the nest ledge after fledging has flown off. How wonderful.
Let us wish this wonderful family a very long, healthy life. May the Melbourne pigeon population thrive!!!!!!!!!!!
Here he goes!
So reassuring now that the camera will no longer be operational til next August.
Thanks again to Victor Hurley and Mirvac for the two streaming cams that allowed us to observe this family from egg to fledge!
Victor Hurley has posted a very informative post regarding the male fledgling from the CBD in Melbourne. There has been some speculation as to why he has remained on the nest after he fledged yesterday.
Here, it has been 16.7 C. Unthinkable the middle of November. We even had rain and when Don and I were having tea with Anne today there was a Dark-eyed Junco scratching for seed along with nearly 40 European Starlings, 80 Sparrows, 5 Blue Jays, 2 Crows, and any number of squirrels roaming around.
We are trying to teach Toby the difference between Brock and ‘Cat’. He is learning – and, indeed, he knows Missey and Hugo Yugo so hopefully he will not bark at Brock but only ‘Cat’ – meaning the domestic pets that come into the garden who do not need to be fed and who occasionally try to take a bird.
I hope this finds you well and happy. We are doing superb! Take care.
Thank you to Victor Hurley for sharing his thoughts on FB.
We hope that you had a terrific day. It was glorious weather, again, on the Canadian Prairies and due to be +12 C tomorrow – unthinkable but welcome.
The male fledged at Melbourne followed by the last female. Here are the details from Victor Hurley. Please note that the live stream will be turned off almost immediately.
Off the goes:
The return – thank goodness he wasn’t injured.
More images from today:
We will miss them! People working in the offices have confirmed sightings of the first female that fledged afterwards with her flying brilliantly. My contributor ‘A’ has a direct line to the rehabber that will care for any of the trio should they get injured and will alert us.
Congratulations to everyone at Melbourne, and a big thank you to Victor Hurley and Mirvac for the two streaming cams that allowed us into the special world of peregrine falcons.
In another note, Rose and Ron have their first egg at the WRDC nest in Florida. Thanks, Heidi! Rose laid this egg 21 days earlier than the first eggs in previous years.
