Sadly one of the four chicks of Big Red and Arthur’s did not survive hatching. I am going to presume that it was, as it appears, the crushed egg. The other one appears to be fine. Two more eggs to go.
Big Red tried several times to feed P1. There was even a live snake on offer! Eventually the little one was ready.
Meet Socialite Sandy & Laid-Back Luna ~ Figuring Out Who’s Who (2026 May 1)The votes are in and the 3rd graders selected the names Sandy and Luna for Jackie and Shadow’s chicks. I’ve pointed out some of the differences in the video to help you discern which is which.
Here’s the FOBBV announcement: ****** Chick 1’s name is Sandy with 30 student votes. Chick 2’s name is Luna with 25 student votes.
The remaining top 5 votes are as follows: Star with 22 votes. Chip with 22 votes. Phoenix with 18 votes.
Sandy was the most popular name entered with 3706 of the 63,915 names submitted. Please know that although Sandy would not have wanted us to outright name one of the eaglets Sandy, she would have been honored that you and the students went through the process and named one of the 2026 eaglets after her. Thank you for your participation and your generous support of Friends of Big Bear Valley from the entire team. You are much appreciated! ***** Video: https://youtu.be/lTEiU33HYgo
One chick gets chatty with neighbors ~ Birdwatcher in training (2026 Apr 29) Video: https://youtu.be/k1noEq1qAoE
Jackie & Shadow protected the eaglets through storm ~ Daylight brought sunshine (2026 Apr 26) Video: https://youtu.be/ckmcHQL6WFw
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
8-Day Old Chicks Place Rush Order for Lunch ~ Plus One Leg Down the Hatch (2026 Apr 28) There was an eating milestone during lunch ~ one chick downed a leg. (If you want to skip that celebration, it happens from 2:44-3:44 in the video.) Video: https://youtu.be/YQmkKceqN3k Redding Eagles ~ Redding, CA~ Liberty and Guardian Courtesy of Friends of the Redding Eagles, Redding, California Livestream page: https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsoftheReddingEagles/streams
Guardian romanced Liberty with a fish dinner and a bath in the river (2026 Apr 26) Video: https://youtu.be/K7ZhwXpLRq4
Check out Ruth and Oren’s two hawklets, too! And, of course, check out Monty and Hartley’s kids in SK Hideaways video.
Dual feeding with Milda and Zorro and the two White-tail Eaglets at the Durbe County nest in Latvia. They are getting pin feathers!
Ohk they are so cute.
Thank you for being with us today. It is a lovely 20 degrees and we are going to spend it outside. It is supposed to rain and get cooler. Tomorrow the cleaning lady comes and I am working on the moulding for the door. I will be watching some of the nests on my big screen but I might not be publishing a post until mid-week. So take care of yourselves. Enjoy the week, get outside, listen to birdsong. Be happy.
Thank you to SK Hideaways for their video links and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch the lives of our birds (the good and the not so good).
We woke up to snow. I almost cried. By the afternoon, the temperature had risen to 6 C. Tomorrow is to be much warmer before we are plunged into the deep freeze again. Talk about a roller coaster ride to spring!
So many Osprey eggs were laid today that I do not know if I can keep up with them –
Frankie and Angel at Roundhouse Loch Doon have their first egg.
Maya and Blue 33 have their fourth egg. Yes, you read that right. Our super couple are aiming for four again!
Nest 7 at Kielder Forest where Mum KX7 laid her first egg of the 2026 season.
CJ7 and Blue 022 have their first egg at Poole Harbour. Will they go for four?
CJ7 Lays Her First Egg!First egg! – Carey Osprey Tours Begin – Osprey Diary 2026 – Spring Safaris – Heathland Bird ID – Seabird FundraiserCJ7 with her first egg of the seasonWe are excited to announce that at 12:56 this afternoon, in rather drizzly conditions, CJ7 laid her first egg at the Carey’s Secret Garden nest! This is brilliant news and 1 day later than last year, due to 022’s delayed arrival. Eggs tend to be laid 3 days apart, this means we’ll expect the second egg on Friday. Delayed incubation until the second or third egg is laid is not uncommon. This can bring the hatching times closer together, sometimes resulting in a less significant size and development difference between the chicks.
Idris and Telyn have their first egg at the Dyfi nest.
I have probably missed some, apologies! Will catch up.
At Glaslyn, it appears that Elen is still the reigning female. Teifi has been feeding her some fish. People have asked if Aran has a ‘nest’. To my knowledge, the answer is no. He does have a tree in an area that he seems to be claiming as his territory. Perhaps someone will put up a platform there! Hey, Darren Moore!!!!!!
We are expecting an egg any time at the Pont Cresor nest of Aeron Z2 and Blue 14.
Geemeff gives us the latest knews from the Woodland Trust:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 14th April 2026After yesterday’s constant nest swapping, today was very much quieter. Everybody stayed on their own nests, Garry LV0 brought Aurora 536 two fish, taking his tally to thirteen, and Dorcha had an unusual visitor in the form of a Carrion Crow, a species not seen in this area before. JJ4, the male from the western nest who’s visited twice before did not make it three days in a row and sadly neither did our lovable Louis put in a much longed for appearance. While hopes for his return are fading, his nine years in Loch Arkaig have given us many wonderful moments to cherish, and he leaves a legacy of fourteen fledged chicks, six with Aila and eight with Dorcha – not bad for the inept youngster who turned up in 2017.
In the world of eagles, Jackie and Shadow have had to work hard to protect their babies! SK Hideaways has it on video: https://youtu.be/as3C9WW-3ho?si
Suzanne Arnold Horning reminds us of the dates of Big Red and Arthur’s eggs: Big Red and Arthur welcomed their egg#1 of 2026 at 804pm on 3/23, egg #2 appeared at 203pm on 3/26, egg#3 around 11am on 3/29 and egg#4 around 11am on 4/1. This is only the 3rd time the clutch as been 4 eggs (2022 and 2024 as well).
Today seems like a long day and I am ready for a big mug of tea and a chat with The Girls. Toby has been out helping me in the garden and he desperately needs a bath!
I have sadly added two new entries to the Memorial Wall: Louis from Loch Arkaig and Ethel from Russell Lake, Nova Scotia. Neither returned from migration this year. Basic information only at present. Will be filled in within a week, I hope.
Thank you for being with us. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to Geemeff for their great summary and videos, SK Hideaways for capturing how challenging life can be for dear Jackie and Shadow, to all the streaming cam owners and people who post information on FB – we are terribly grateful to you!
Oh, gosh. I can’t keep up with eaglets hatching and ospreys arriving so…watch those eagle nests as I will be chasing after osprey arrivals.
The pair at the Port of Ridgefield have arrived.
Blue 33 and Maya arrived within hours of one another at Rutland’s Manton Bay nest! I am over the moon – and I will keep saying that. Geemeff has Maya’s arrival. https://youtu.be/Zc_Zd__2jZY?
Some want to argue that it isn’t Maya. As keen osprey observers know, the head of the osprey does not change, and Maya has a distinctive ‘X’ on her head. Thanks, Geemeff.
RSPB is giving a Zoom talk, ‘The Return of the Osprey’ in May. Here are the details if you are interested: Go to Eventbrite.co.uk. It is free. Below is the date and time for me.
Big Red and Arthur have their first egg as of the 23rd. Please consider joining the Cornell Hawk Cam Chatters if you are not already a member to keep up with the latest and learn when and where the live chats will take place during the hatch-fledgling period.
Osprey pair back at Cape Cod Mashpee, MA nest.
My goodness – I did say that they are arriving fast and furious.
Heidi’s watching a lot of nests and one of those is Seaside. We have Port of Ridgefield home so the rest should be arriving soon.
Heidi reports that there are now three osplets at Venice Beach and Golf Course Osprey platform as of 23 March!
The little one at Moorings Park is having some difficulties getting up to the table when fish arrive. It is having to wait but Sally is a good mum and the little one did get fish!
It takes a good food source and exceptional parents to have three osplets fledge – never mind four. I wonder if CJ7 and Blue 022 at Poole Harbour will go for another four this year? Their nest is waiting for them.
A memorial video dedicated to Rosie, Richmond’s mate who did not return this year to her nest at Golden Gate Audubon in the SF Bay Area, has been compiled. https://youtu.be/i4h2jIE8xuU?
Did I say get your tissues out?
Richmond loved putting sticks on Rosie’s back.
It is really hard to say goodbye to such a good Mum. Soar high, Rosie dear.
Thank you for being with me this evening. Osprey World is very busy – and so are the eagles and hawks. There will be some fledges soon – I might miss them so please send me the news. Take care.
Thank you to everyone for their wonderful videos, and to SF Bay Ospreys for a fine memorial video of Rosie and Richmond. To those who contributed news and images on FB, I am forever in your debt, as we all are to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these incredible birds.
Oh, what joy! The 23 year old Red-tail Hawk whose nest is on the Fernow Light Tower on the Cornell Campus in Ithaca, New York, laid her first egg of the 2026 season with mate, Arthur, this evening.
Here it is – and it’s raining.
Bravo!
Thank you to the Cornell Bird Lab for the streaming cams allowing us into the lives of this amazing family. I adore Big Red like hundreds of thousands of others.
We are in the midst of an unexpected blizzard, while thousands of miles to our southeast, it is green, and geese are enjoying the grass on a golf course. Thank you, ‘L’, for letting me share this lovely image of spring! We love our geese, but there is no place for them here, and yet, many arrived several weeks ago! The ponds have frozen, but there remains some open water in the two rivers that wind their way through our City. It is supposed to warm up beginning tomorrow, but I will believe it when I see it. We were not expecting this much snow today!
It doesn’t look like much, but the snow is blowing and accumulating so quickly! The lad who shovels or us thought snow was finished – he is going to get a real surprise! It is more than 30 cm deep on the walkway he cleared a few days ago, and is within 45 cm of covering the large bird table feeder. Unbelievable.
Toby loves it. He bounces through the snow if there is even a whiff of a ‘cat’ in the garden. My plan is to have a tall wooden fence built to match the one constructed a few years ago. I had not planned to put a fence on that part of the property, but the theft of dogs in our City has become quite troubling. Of course, ‘the cats’ – distinguished from ‘The Girls’ – come in from that back corner, so it is important to close it in. Toby loves his sisters, ‘The Girls’. He plays with them, but those that make their way into his outdoor territory will be ousted unless they are Brock (who now still spends 99% of his time at the neighbour down the street)!!!!!!!!!
I hope, after all these years, that each of you knows that I love all animals, but there is a special place in my heart for Big Red and Arthur, the late Annie at The Campanile, and ospreys. I have posted this song before, but I want you to get in the mood. Osprey season is starting in the UK – and has already begun in the US. Here are those wonderful school children with the Osprey Song (2011): https://youtu.be/KoOQK6ejuXY?
At the Lake Murray Osprey platform, Lucy has laid her second egg with a new mate. Please, please put up the owl defences for this family Lake Murray!
Company for Brutus. Storms are tearing down eagle and osprey nests around the US including an osprey nest that Penny Albright monitored near Sanibel that lost two chicks when the nest collapsed. These eaglets made it through…
Blue 25 has made another visit to Blue 33 and Maya’s nest at Manton Bay – Blue 33 normally arrives a few days prior to Maya, and Blue 25 enjoys his company! Geemeff caught her time on the nest: https://youtu.be/HU_XGU3NTro?
We have an osprey at the MNSA Osprey nest in Oceanside’s Jay Cool platform.
“WYL greets his chick upon returning to the nest in New Zealand. The adult male arrives from a foraging trip over the Pacific to feed his growing chick at the Plateau nest site. As the chick gets bigger, the parents will take longer foraging trips to collect enough food for both themselves and their chick.” (Cornell Bird Lab)
Peanut defended the Winter Park Florida nest against a RTH! Nestflix Memories (Gracie Shepherd) caught it on video: https://youtu.be/cQksMDubVEc?
Tonight, Wink is taking now chances. She is right in the nest with Peanut if that GHO returns – and, of course, it will – they never give up! Wink is an incredible mother – I am truly amazed and thankful for her diligence.
Gabby with her babies, Kai and Eve, at the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest in Florida. Best keep a close eye on these two – they could fledge before you blink.
At the Johnson City nest of Boone and Jolene in Tennessee, snow arrived. Jolene kept those two babies warm and tried to feed them at the same time. Like Wink, she is an experiened and an exceptional Mum.
Huge crop on JBS 24. Mum and Dad are delivering food and leaving it for self-feeding on occasion.
Harry and Sally are up there in my list of osprey parents. Three babies, three little fat bottoms. Large fish coming in and Harry on guard as it appeared there could have been an intruder around today during a fish delivery. If you haven’t been watching Moorings Park, then check out this osprey family. It is a success story – and believe me when I tell you that there will be few such stories in the NE USA this season unless a miracle happens.
Rutlands Lagoon 4 nest is trying to keep the Egyptian Geese from laying eggs while everyone waits for the ospreys to arrive. This is a second nest with a camera amongst several nests at Rutland Water. AI says: “Based on 2025/2026 sightings, the Lagoon 4 nest at Rutland Water is often occupied by male 359 (a 2021 Rutland-born osprey) and female 3H9 (a 2023 Rutland-born osprey). They have been observed investigating the nest and strengthening bonds. Note: 359 and 3H9 are a distinct pair from the main Manton Bay pair, Maya and 33(11).”
I am getting impatient – and it is a tad early – for Maya and Blue 33 to arrive at Manton Bay.
At the Whitley Crane nest known as the Golden Gate Audubon Osprey nest, Richmond has worked and worked. There is a new female at the nest with him. I do not believe Rosie will make an appearance. Why do I say this? Well, when Aila did not return, Louis moved his nest to another location when he bonded with Dorcha. We often think animals and birds are not intelligent. If I have said it once, I will say it again million times, my teacher about raptor behaviour, the late Laura Culley, taught me that they are smarter and use higher levels of intelligence and communication that humans have lost.
I noticed in one of the chats – it was the Winter Park Florida chat – that someone noted that ‘animals have feelings’. Dr Mark Beckoff and Dr Jane Goodall taught us this. There are several good books out there. I urge you or anyone who is interested in the behaviour of non-humans to read any or all of the following.
Saddness at the Two Harbours as Chase & Cholyn lose their last egg. SK Hideaways has it on video: https://youtu.be/8vmMpnkNsh4?
Big Red and Arthur have snow on their nest at Cornell University.
Suzanne Arnold Horning caught Big Red relaxing on the lights!
Cameras are now live at the Poole Harbour nest of CJ7 and Blue 022.
We have an osprey at Threave. Is it Black 80?
At Achieva the third egg was laid on the 25th of January. Can someone who is watching this nest tell me if Jack is delivering enough fish to his mate? I did not see deliveries today, but I might have missed something.
In fact, start checking out all your favourite UK and European nests as the cameras are being turned on faster than I can keep a list.
The Pitkin County Osprey nest in Colorado is live.
I have such a soft spot for this White-tail eagle in Durbe County Latvia. Milda. Her current mate is Zorro. There was sorrow and now Zorro has proved to be a good mate and provider.
April 7. Hellgate Canyon. Iris’s favourite day to return to her nest in Missoula, Montana. Count the days – 20. Less than three weeks! The snow has melted.
There is evil in the world. I cannot imagine how anyone could harm an animal and yet, every day I find myself telling people not to give their kittens away to anyone. Russell Mason beat a Goshawk to death – how in the world can someone do this?
Large estates, with no eyes around in Scotland (and elsewhere), allow many horrific things to happen to our beautiful feathered friends. What can be done to stop this?
The Cornell Bird Lab gives us hope that people around the world are increasingly engaging with nature and birds. Yes, there are incredibly vicious people anywhere in the world that will harm birds and other animals, but there are more, I hope, that love and help them.
Thank you so much for being with me today and for your patience, as my posting is often irregular. I had hoped to keep to Fridays and Mondays til the UK osprey season began, but every day there is something new and exciting! I will continue to post at the oddest of times, sometimes two or three times a day as news comes in. As you can imagine, my life is anything but routine. We do have a schedule, but it all depends on my husband’s mood, which can vary. I am impatiently waiting for spring to arrive. What I miss most is reading. Yes, we have story time, but it isn’t the same as sitting quietly on a park bench with squirrels dashing around, the wind gently blowing, with a good book in my hand, reading in silence. So, no promises other than there will always be a Monday blog, often coming out late Sunday, until we have osprey chicks on the nests in the UK and Europe.
Thank you to everyone who created videos, wrote informative FB posts, to Raptor Persecution UK for keeping us informed, and to the Cornell Bird Lab for continuing to support education. I remain forever grateful to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to venture into the challenging lives of our feathered friends. To all my readers who are now long-time friends, I appreciate your support. Your letters and comments mean the world to me.
Gabby and the babies are on the big screen this morning. Gosh, they are big! It is windy and looks like rain coming to their nest.
Late note: Colonial Beach osprey cam is now live. We have lost a condor. Ventana Wildlife reports: “We recently found condor Vincent (892) deceased in Big Sur. He was just starting to come into his own as a breeding adult condor, and we are heartbroken to lose him so early in his life and when it was looking like he and condor Kodama (646) were about to nest.”
Thank you for all your lovely notes and supportive comments. We have had a good weekend. The weather has not always cooperated, especially on Sunday when we had pounding sleet during our walk with Toby (yes, we do get out no matter the weather). Today it is warm and the lads are in for a long walk – at least 3.6 km. We need it! And I cannot tell you how uplifting it is to go outside, even if it is for five minutes!
We hope that you had a lovely weekend. Did you watch that little sweetheart at the Winter Park, Florida Bald Eagle nest? And did you remember to put in a name for C14 at the Captiva nest of Connie and Clive?
The Winter Park eaglet is so cute!
The Winter Park female spent most of Sunday protecting her eaglet and 35-day-old egg from an intruder that was rather persistent.
It has been a gorgeous weekend. On Sunday, it will be 0 °C. We woke up to a fresh blanket of snow Saturday morning, and temperatures of -7 C. Toby was more than eager to get outside and go for a walk, and he was really excited when Miyoung arrived for haircut day. She is heading home to Korea for the New Year’s celebrations and to spend a month with her family. We are so very happy for her. It has been a true blessing to be able to count on her to come to our house, cut and style our hair in the conservatory, with Toby and the Girls looking on in awe. There should be more mobile units of all sorts – including dog grooming – for our ageing population. I have managed to figure out grocery delivery. Some people told me that they ordered too much because of the delivery charges – don’t do that. We want to cut down all waste, right? Just order what you need. The charges are a % of that, and you might be able to get free delivery by signing up for a service. Obviously, these conveniences are different wherever one lives! We have lucked out with the groceries, the snow removal, haircuts, and Ann. My next task is to try and organise friends and family to commit to coming one weekend afternoon a month. Those little breaks and Don’s ability to socialise with many different people make a huge difference. Keep that in mind if you or someone you know is in a similar situation.
Toby really enjoys his ‘Bully Sticks’ from Iceland. They help clean his teeth and are good at helping with the anxiety he is having. At the moment, he is wearing a sweater. The four days in the vet hospital matted his beautiful, long fur on his tummy. Poor Guy. He will go for a shave on the 17th.
Hugo Yugo got caught in Toby’s new car seat! You might recall that Hugo Yugo and Calico were quite interested in Toby’s stroller when he was a tiny pup. Well this very soft velvet carseat has caused a lot of commotion – no interest from Toby, however.
Missey has discovered a new spot to hide. I created a pile of wicker baskets – Toby chews on their handles – behind one of the sofas. Missey has taken it over. Toby can’t get back there and there is a nice window.
Baby Hope always sleeps on Don’s bed during the daytime. No one bothers her there and she does enjoy getting away from Calico once in awhile.
I might have missed it but I saw E26 getting fed ‘something’ dug up in the nest. I did not see a prey delivery on Saturday happen prior to 1600- but, please correct me. I want to be wrong. I know that road kill had been delivered and this looks like left over bones from it.
It was hot in Fort Myers.
M15 is OK. Flew in but nothing in his talons. Eaglets can go without food. E26 does not look like it is ‘starving’ – do not get me wrong but in the heat they depend on hydration from the prey. Fingers crossed for a nice whopping meal before bedtime.
Fish was on the menu for C14 at the Captiva nest of Connie and Clive! Oh, how I love it when those eaglets get to eat fish.
It is so good seeing those two healthy eaglets at the Dade County Bald Eagle nest of Ron and Rose. There is also news that R5 has been photographed at a golf course at Palm Beach, Florida. —–Imagine if they had not received their bands we would never know. So happy about the survival of these eaglets!
These two are so big.
I had the loveliest note from ‘N’ and I wanted to share the Eagle Country news with all of you that they sent me: “Wanted to update you on the latest journey we are blessed with at Eagle Country. We have a pair of Great Horned Owls (Willow & Gus-EC announced names yesterday). We miss the eagles being at the nest of course but am embracing this opportunity to learn about more about GHOW with the incredible cams there. Skye has been seen on the river cams (we see eagles daily there) and was last seen Dec 16th maybe the 31st at the nest. She has failed to bond this season with one of many suitors that have been about. Blaze has not been seen in months this season
Love what Eagle Country has said “It’s been a beautiful reminder of why this place we call home is named Eagle Country. Country means the whole wild story, not just one chapter. Nature is wild. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
NE32 & NE33 Crawl to the Pantry + Gabby & Beau’s Seamless Changeovers (2026 Jan 6) NE32 is 6 days old; NE33 is 5 days old. They’re seeing more and moving more, including galumphing over to the pantry for snacks. Gabby and Beau are providing ample nourishment for these adorable, growing eaglets. Video: https://youtu.be/13nHkRpPt2Y
FOBBVCAM Eagles: Jackie & Shadow Fluffed Up Nest Ready for Pancakes & Chick-Proof Rails (2026 Jan 5) Jackie and Shadow have added fluff to the egg cup and built-up the rails around their nest. With Jackie’s fertile time occurring from January to April, we wait with giddy anticipation and hope for another successful breeding season. (5 Jan 2026) Video: https://youtu.be/E6xPBIEXv9k 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
Two Harbors Eagles: Nest of Cholyn & Chase Cholyn Brings Lunch ~ Ravens Want It ~ Chase Shoos Peregrine Away (2026 Jan 8)After a brief morning chat at the nest, Cholyn and Chase departed to a secret hideaway. Cholyn later returned with a tasty fish, but had to defend it against a raven before consuming it in peace. Chase arrived as sunset approached to defend the nest again ~ this time a swooping peregrine falcon was the culprit. Both Cholyn and Chase made quick work of their respective unwanted intruders to get on with the next eagle task at talon. (2026 Jan 8) Video: https://youtu.be/2bUHUX55g-0 Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies, explore.org, Two Harbors Eagles Cam Ops Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ
Masked Eagle Takes to Nest ~ Visitor Perches On Hillside (2026 Jan 9) There was an eagle on the nest for the first time since 1 January. There is some discrepancy about whether it is Haku. I personally don’t think it is. What do you think? There was another eagle perched on the hillside as well. There have been no confirmed sightings of Haku since 1 January and none of Akecheta since 30 December.) Video: https://youtu.be/T3i1xbltjPU
Speaking of hanging around, how blessed are we that Girri continues to chase her parents, Diamond and Gimbir, for food, and that she’s such a strong flyer? Seeing reports on Girri just makes my heart beat bigger and warmer. Good weather and a big strong fledgling – what a difference.
The theft of the peregrine falcons in the UK:
“In the 90s, the UK trade in peregrine falcons was domestic, but it is now almost exclusively geared towards serving the market in the Gulf states. The UK exports more live raptors than any other country, and the UAE is the largest importer. “Over the past 10 years there has been significant growth in the falcon breeding industry,” said DC Steven Irvine, who has been investigating this trade.
Trading captive falcons is entirely legal, but what is not legal is the trafficking of wild birds into the captive trade. It is not known how many of those exported birds are wild caught, but police have identified at least some that are.” Read more…
It is now less than 60 days til we expect the first osprey to land in the UK. Who will it be? Seren Blue 5F at Clywedog? Blue 33 or Maya at Rutland? Blue 28 at Rutland?
Of you can’t wait that long, Moorings Park thinks they might have an egg this week – Harry and Sally are home.
‘A’ sends us a long commentary from Melbourne – thank you! “I was a huge fan of Beau when he was V3, as you might recall, and was thrilled when Gabby warmed to him (in her own time) and decided he was worth training. Beau was young and totally inexperienced at being a mate (and of course Gabby is one very demanding female). But he got there and look at who he is now. The most devoted of mates and a perfect dad. I adore watching the tandem feedings (where Beau usually feeds NE33 while Gabby feeds NE32, I have noticed, although occasionally it is the other way around), especially when he is feeding bites to Gabby that she in turn feeds to NE32, or vice versa.
What I do notice is that when Beau is doing a feeding on his own, he always makes sure that the food is shared between the pair, with a bite for NE32 and then a bite for NE33. These nestlings do have impeccable table manners, which helps a lot, but then I suspect the angelic behaviour at meal times is probably the result of knowing that they will each be given enough to eat so there’s no need for bonking. It just slows down their eating!!
I am so glad that Gabby found such a wonderful mate after losing Samson. She deserved Beau, and as I keep saying, I loved that he was patient with her and not pushy, allowing her to move on at her own pace. I think they did have a special bond. Something made Gabby chose V3 rather than V9 or V13 or even V14.
Suffice it to say that Gabby (and her nest) represented prime eagle real estate and there was much competition for both. It is interesting that a very young, inexperienced male should be the ultimate victor – it surely has to represent a choice on her part because otherwise, it would be most unlikely that V3 should successfully see off so many older, more worldly competitors to ultimately win her talon, so to speak. A true bald eagle love story.
And now look at the results. Super parents in a relaxed, happy, mutually supportive partnership. What a truly adorable family they are.
Meanwhile, the pair at WRDC are also adorable, I agree with you about siblings. I think they are a major plus on a nest, and was really amused to re-read the story of Bodie and Juvie at this nest. I truly believe that was a huge plus for Bodie, and it was so typical of this particular family that they adopted Juvie as their own. I wonder what the motivation was for that on the part of Gabby and Beau. Did they understand the bonuses in the situation for Bodie? Or were they simply reacting instinctively to a young bird begging for food, in pretty much the same way as the parents of Junior did when they brought in Malala, the red-tailed hawklet, to feed to their own chick as lunch but then adopted?
But I’m rambling. It’s a lovely sunny 18C day today with a cool breeze and a blue sky. There are still fires in parts of the state but some rain overnight and the halving of temperatures have helped the situation immensely. Everyone In the family is safe.
At Tataroa Head, the Royal Cam egg (laid on 6 November) is 66 days old today. The egg has been candled and we know that it contains a living creature that we presume to be a miniature northern royal albatross. That means we are less than a fortnight from pip watch. TOO exciting. I’m wondering whether the incubating parent is aware of the impending hatch – I’m presuming they can hear that a hatch is underway – and be reluctant to leave the nest during the hatch. Or whether the foraging parent has some way of knowing that a hatch is due and so hurries home for the hatch.
Of course it is possible that they are remarkably unconcerned about the whole process, given the fact that the rangers remove the egg as soon as a pip is detected and take it to hatch in a supervised incubator, leaving the proud parent carefully incubating a dummy egg that suddenly ceases to emit any sound whatsoever. I do have to wonder whether that distresses them in any manner (it doesn’t appear to do so and fortunately, but somewhat strangely to me, there is no information to indicate any of the bamboozled incubating parents abandoning the suddenly silent egg. Maybe they just accept the happy ending and/or have learned to trust the intervention of the rangers, whatever form it takes.
But to return to my point, the Royal Cam egg is due to hatch in 13 days (which is 24 January by my estimate). The egg takes many days to hatch, so I’m not sure what stage the 79 days takes us to. The pip? The hatch itself? I will have to look it up, but based on my memory of previous years, I think it means we should have a small damp fluffy person on 24 January. I will look it up to be sure but the timing of a hatch on day 79 is perfect – it’s two days before Australia Day.
I’m so excited. I do adore the early weeks of a baby albatross, and this nest is such an easy watch because of its isolated setting and the rangers’ dedication. Intervention? These birds get squid smoothies when they need nutrition, electrolytes when they need hydration, sprinklers when it’s too hot, supervised hatching of the eggs in incubators, and regular general health monitoring throughout, and of course all nests have one chick only and the albatross is the most gentle of birds, so a bit of posturing and bill clacking is about as aggressive a watch as it gets. The birds are just exquisitely serene, as you would be if you planned to spend more than half a century drifting around the world on air currents. Their entire life is a meditation.”
Thank you so much for being with us today. We will see you next Monday.
Thank you to those who post news on the various FB groups – what would we do without them?! And to the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to look into the lives of the Raptors, as well as news agencies and blogs that report on the atrocities that happen to our beloved feathered friends, such as The Guardian and Raptor Persecution UK.I am grateful to ‘A’ for her long commentary, to ‘N’ for writing in about Eagle Country, and to SK Hideaways and their amazing videos. Thank you all!
It might be the shortest day, but it also harks back to the days when they were not longer. It is a welcome day in our house because it has been getting dark by 1630.
So what is Winter Solstice? This is what Google said: “Winter solstice rituals focus on welcoming the return of light after the longest night, often involving candle lighting, feasting, creating altars with natural elements (evergreens, stones, candles in white/gold/green), and intention setting like writing and burning wishes or fears to release them, reflecting ancient traditions of Yule, Saturnalia, and Dongzhi that celebrate rebirth, renewal, and hope.”
There are so many ways to celebrate the solstice. The Nordic countries do a fantastic job of lighting up their community spaces and their homes, creating a warm glow using candles. I would love to do that with real beeswax candles, but the last time I tried, Missey almost caught her beautiful, fluffy tail on fire. So I decided to do some research, and here are some other ways to celebrate. I particularly like number 6: “6. Connect with nature:
Spend some time outside, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Take in the beauty of the winter landscape and appreciate the natural world around you. In these darkest days, seeking sunlight on your face becomes even more important. A brief moment in the sun can lift your mood, boost your energy, and remind you of the light slowly returning with each passing day. If you’re near water and feel called to it, cold water swimming can be an invigorating way to connect with nature and your body. Immersing yourself in cold water sharpens your senses, grounds you in the present moment, and leaves you feeling refreshed and alive. Whether it’s standing under the sun, walking through frosty fields, or dipping into icy waters, connecting with nature during the Winter Solstice invites us to align with the Earth’s rhythms and find peace in its beauty.” Oh, I don’t think I am brave enough to take a plunge in our icy rivers but a nice walk with Toby in the park will be perfect.
Toby’s friend, Nellie, is already to make some holiday memories with him and The Girls.
This is just the best news about Girri. We knew she was a strong girl! And thankfully the weather has been brilliant after her fledge. Please read and smile. (There is older news below).
Jak and Audacity have been together for eleven years. We have witnessed their triumphs and their struggles. Cried and leapt for joy. SK Hideaways gives us their history. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/jCVVKQNIbfw?
News on Girri on the Falcon Cam chat: “21 DEC BOX 04.38.50 distant call heard; 04.41.52 D out; Gimbir in box 05.51.33, 06.12.22, 06.22.01, 06.31.00, 10.03 44; Girri update: seen by Cilla in roost trees this morning!”
Gimbir is in the scrape. What an amazing first-time dad he was!
There could be a pip in the second egg at the SW Florida nest of M15 and F23. I sure hope this second hatch is strong and feisty.
E26 is doing great!
Protecting Mum and the nest. M15 is one of those great Bald Eagle dads!
NestFlix Memories gives us some insight into little R9 and Mummy Rose moving the fish to give it some room! https://youtu.be/dyxhLia-f6c?
There is a pip. R10 is wanting to hatch!
Feeding at Dade this morning:
Missing Big Red and Arthur and those cute little Red-tailed hawklets? Well, here is a video of the season’s highlights for you to enjoy. https://youtu.be/0PY02IzVD48?
Have a glorious day everyone! We will see you tomorrow after all the drama of Nellie’s arrival has settled. It is -28 C. Whew. So cold you don’t feel it. Bye.
Thank you so much to Cilla Kinross for her report on Girri and those lovely photos, the owners of the streaming cams, Gracie Shepherd for her FB posts, and SK Hideaways, always, for their videos!
We hope you are well! It has been a cracker of a day, and it all started in the garden at the feeder…
A morning video of the garden and yes! Two Blue Jays. I am so relieved. Junior and Mrs J are alive!
Birds and Squirrels at the table feeder – and look two Blue Jays!
Today we have a news story about Cornell University and its attempts to protect Big Red’s nest during a construction project! Lovely. Now if we could get them to make sure every window on that campus had bird strike preventative measures.
Suzanne Arnold Horning, the admin for the Cornell Hawk Cam Chatters FB group is posting daily images of events from the nest. Today it was a flap fest. Oh, goodness, these end of the year summaries and montages are really quite wonderful while we wait for all the action to start. Let’s see – third week in March for eggs for Big Red and Arthur? What do you think?
Suzanne picked the top five viewing moments. Aren’t they cute?
Speaking of protecting birds from window strike, I am ‘horrified’ that my city, under its mayor, Scott Gillingham, has altogether scrapped a programme to protect birds that came into effect only a year ago. Unbelievable. We will just have to try and fight this decision.
‘J’ in Berlin sent me a great announcement. It has to do with a young man that I mentioned several times in past years – Oliver Hellowell who lives in the UK. I love his wildlife and landscape photographs.
Oliver Hellowell loves raptors and he has photographed many. He is quite the talent. Keep your eyes open for his work.
It might have been ‘only’- 10 °C, but it was cold on the Canadian Prairies. The snow keeps on giving, and today was the photo shoot in the park. Instead of spending half an hour, we stopped at fifteen minutes. It was that wet, cold to the bone. Of course, Toby loved it! We didn’t get a chance to take off our Dyfi toques – so the whole shoot is now dedicated to a great osprey pair, Idris and Telyn. If the pictures turn out, I will post some. I, who do not like to have my photo taken, promise.
We now having a warning for -40 C (with wind chill) coming for Saturday. The frigid cold is to begin tonight!
Heidi gave me the best holiday present. She made a montage of the indoor and outdoor animals set to holiday music for us – and she included dear Lewis. I broke down when I saw him. Oh, how I loved that boy. Since so many of you have been readers for years, you might enjoy seeing HY when she was little and dear Lewis along with everyone else. Thanks, Heidi – that is what it is all about. Giving of your time and love. I so enjoyed this montage. https://youtu.be/yKOeSsFwJcE
You forget how little they once were!
Hope with her first Christmas tree.
No plant was ever safe with Lewis or Missey! He was my darling.
Heidi’s video really hits the holiday spirit even if many, who knew Lewis and saw it, have wept. Please enjoy! There is even a baby HY in there.
Bella and Scout at the NCTC nest are working hard. Last year their three beautifully feathered eaglets perished when their nest collapsed. We wish them a great season this year.
While we wait for eggs at NCTC, we do not have to wait long for little eaglets at SW Florida. My calculations indicate that we should see an eaglet around Tuesday of next week. M15 and F23 are excellent parents. This is exciting.
Gabby and Beau will have to wait a little longer. Egg dates: 23 and 26 November. End of December eaglets!
Superbeaks (Central Florida) has two hatchlings. The third egg was laid four days after the second (Froto). We wait to see if it is viable. Mira and Froto are doing well.
We have eaglets at the Duke Farms nest! No eggs. Just nest prep.
Ron and Rose continue incubating at the WRDC nest. Egg dates: 12 and 15 November. I will be looking for a pip around the 18th of December or that first egg. That would be 35 days.
Clive and Connie at Captiva on Sanibel Island are also resting and waiting while incubating. Egg dates: 16 and 19 November. I do love that camera that Window to Wildlife have installed.
There are no eggs at Eagle Country. The river cam caught the eagles bathing.
Girri is 36 days old today. Female falcons, on average, fledge at 40-44 days, slightly longer than males, because they need to fill out that larger body mass and cover it with more feathers. Girri is quickly losing her baby to all that flapping! Could you take a look at that crop? Diamond and Gimbir keep their only baby full to the brim! I recommend watching because Girri is going to fledge soon, and whether she returns to the scrape afterwards is anyone’s guess.
That’s a wrap for today. Thank you so much for your comments and your letters. We are glad that you are enjoying this daily mix of pets and birds!
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care of yourself. We will be back tomorrow!
Thank you to Heidi for that amazing holiday present. I am so very grateful – and for the spirit of love, care, and the time it took. These really are the best presents of all! To ‘J’ for sending me the news about Oliver Hellowell and to the owners of the streaming cams and authors of the FB posts, you have my thanks.
Sunday was a glorious 11 degrees C on the Canadian Prairies. Where did that beutiful warm wind come from? Please send more! We got the lights on a little Blue Spruce tree in the front garden. It was planted for one of our Tuxedo cats, Melvin. Melvin was named after the Jack Nicholson character in As Good as It Gets. And like that character, Melvin did not like patterns. He would only sleep on a blanket if it was a single colour! He was quite the character, living to be 17 and not being sick until the very end. I adored him. Hopefully the little solar panels will charge soon and we can see how we did stringing the lights in a kind of clear rope.
It is International Polar Bear Week, and what a special time for our friend Geemeff to be visiting the bears in the very north of Manitoba. I hope that she has an incredible time on this dream-come-true holiday! I’m really looking forward to seeing the images and hearing the stories.
I am always grateful for the talents of SK Hideaways and here are the video offerings from the past week for your pleasure.
SK Hideaways Videos for the week of 26 October 2025
Introduction: I first fell in love with raptors in 2019. All the videos I’ve created since that time stem from that love and my desire to learn all I can about these and other raptors. My mission is to inform, educate, and entertain viewers. I have never and will never monetize my videos. They are purely a labor of love that give me great joy to share with anyone kind enough to view them. Much gratitude for Mary Ann Steggles for bringing my videos to you.
SAN JOSE CITY HALL FALCONS: Hartley & Monty’s Brief Tête-à-Tête (2025 Oct 31)
Hartley and Monty stopped by for another off-season bonding, albeit very short this time. Just a couple months till breeding season begins.
SE36 says, “This is MY Fish🦈 ALL MINE” 🙃 It Almost Was (2025 Nov 2, 11:06-13:50)
When Lady brought a fish, SE36 pounced on the opportunity to grab it first. He/She protected it, mantling like a pro as SE35 tried every angle to get the steal. When Lady returned, apparently deciding SE36 had had enough, she took the tail, which SE35 quickly grabbed. Seems everyone was content with the outcome. At the end, cam ops gifted us with some stunning close-ups.
SE35 & SE36 Go From Chaos to Cuddles in <24 Hours (2025 Oct 31, 12:56-13:22)
After SE35’s chaotic return to the nest the previous day, the two eaglets we saw in the nest this afternoon looked completely different. We think yesterday’s eaglets were imposters.😉 It was a relief to see SE35 and SE36 behaving nicely together again. Wonder what tomorrow will bring.
Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park
SE35 Retains Control🔫But Lets SE36 Relax and Eat😮💨(2025 Oct 31, 7:02-9:31)
After a mostly calm night, 11-week-old SE35 and SE36 had a much calmer morning. While SE35 quickly grabbed and mantled the first two meal deliveries, both eaglets got good feedings and spent time near each other with no aggression. SE35 may continue to show aggression at mealtime, but the fact that they did not attack SE36 was great progress.
Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park
SE35 RETURNS TO NEST ~ Attacks SE36, Forcing Him/Her High Up Branch (2025 Oct 30, 15:49-18:13)
SE35 had been near the nest tree the previous day, where Lady and Dad could keep an eye on them and feed them. SE36 knew their sibling was nearby and watched from the nest. But today at 15:56, SE35 returned to the nest and did not want to share it with SE36. SE35 attacked SE36 multiple times, forcing them up the branch and then to the nest rim. Both Dad and Lady brought food, which SE35 quickly grabbed and mantled. Fortunately, SE36 had eaten earlier in the day. At one point, Lady got between the eaglets to distract SE35 from attacking SE36, like she did when they were wee. It still works. At the video’s close, SE35 is laying in the nest while SE36 remains on the rim and parents are nearby. Hoping for a peaceful night.
Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park
367 COLLINS ST. FALCONS
Morning Means Madness for Chicks ~ When 1 Feather is Everything (2025 Nov 1)
On their morning walk, one chick found a most fascinating feather, which kept it occupied for some time. The other two chicks were spellbound. Then a spider passed by ~ not sure if the chicks saw it, but it was on a mission to reach the top.
Mum F24, Dad M24, 3 Chicks (2025 Oct 29, 7:27-12:33)
The chicks are now frequently on the move from one side of the ledge to the other, delighting us with their gutter stomps, food fights, and uncontrolled wingercises. They’re 4 weeks old and their next growth phase will pass with lightening speed.
TWO HARBORS EAGLES: Cholyn, Building Inspector🔍Chase, Branch Manager🪵Both, Beakersons (2025 Oct 27)
Cholyn and Chase worked on the original nest again today. Cholyn was the eagle-eyed building inspector, Chase the branch manager. Occasionally this meant there were discrepancies about what should go where, resulting in some beaky disagreements. I urge you to watch the whole video, but if you can’t spare the time, do not miss minute 17 and minute 20. Enjoy!
FOBBVCAM BIG BEAR EAGLES: Jackie Returns with Head Smudge ~ Shadow Dons All White (2025 Oct 26)
After a two-week absence from the nest, Jackie and Shadow visited for just over an hour. Jackie arrived with her now signature head smudge, while Shadow’s coif was pure white. They saw that the nest was still a mess and did some half-hearted aerating. But mostly they just enjoyed the view and each other.
We are waiting for the eggs to start pipping at the Charles Sturt University falcon scrape in Orange, Australia.
At the Olympic Park in Sydney, life has settled back to what it was before the fledge of 35, more or less. How many of you had your stomach in knots like I did? I hate seeing them fight, even though it is a normal process for living in the wild when they are independent and not around one another.
Prey is being delivered. In the background you can hear those Currawongs. I know I shouldn’t say it but I would like to cook them in a pot and serve them on that nest – the damage they have done over the years to the sea eaglet babies when they fledge!
35’s knowledge of flying in the forest could help the pair navigate to get out of the trees and to get down by the roost of Lady and Dad near the Parramatta River.
I really urge you to check out the Sydney Sea Eagle FB group. Great images are always being posted with updates from Ranger Judy.
They are not babies anymore at 367 Collins Street. All that flapping and running up and down the gutter means that there is little down left on those wings and back.
Helen Matcham got some great captures of the three!
There might not be eggs at Port Lincoln or any little dinosaurs but Ervie is still around~
There is at least one chick in the nest at Price, South Australia. Friends of Osprey Sth Australia must be delighted.
Geemeff sends us the season highlights from Loch Arkaig – all things Louis and Dorcha! https://youtu.be/-kK4vb1OTiw?
The Bald Eagles are getting ready for a great season!
Connie and Clive at the Windows to Wildlife nest at Captiva:
Gracie Shepherd caught Haku and Akecheta at the West End.
Haku is a big girl!
Mr T is bringing fish gifts to Mrs T at the Trempeauleau Bald Eagle nest – now, please Mr T, do this when there are eaglets in the nest – fish double time or whatever it takes if there are two families!!!!! Early Bird caught it on video: https://youtu.be/5Eo1_m00KDs?
Sandhill Migration inspires many here in Canada, where they are plentiful in Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba, and down in the Midwest. Grateful to the photographers like Michael Boeckmann who shares their talents with us.
There is good news coming from Wildlife Haven and Assiniboine Park Zoo here in Winnipeg. Lumi, the rare lynx cub taken into care, got very ill. She is now responding to treatment.
Beautiful E3 as an ambassador at the Cornell Bird Lab. Much loved and very well cared for, even if they cannot fly free. Looking at Big Red’s baby!
Jane Goodall is an inspiration to so many of us us. What can we do to live up to her example? https://youtu.be/trv_8XQKTWQ?
One of those whom Goodall inspired is Beth Pratt, who has been studying the animals in Yosemite National Park in the US. A lovely article in The Guardian where Beth says, “We think we as humans are so exceptional, but come up here and even the smallest of critters will put you in your place very quickly”. The article continues…”The world Pratt captures is fierce and fragile: Butterflies, weighing no more than a feather, fly over 12,000ft (3,650-meter) peaks. Freshwater crustaceans called fairy shrimp spring to life in small, temporary ponds left after the mountain snow melts, their eggs able to last up to a century in suspended animation, waiting for the right conditions. Pratt even saw a marmot chase off a coyote.
But it also highlights how exceedingly vulnerable these animals have become. The climate crisis and the encroaching development into once-wild places have added challenges even for the most hardy.
“People don’t understand that wildlife operate on the barest of margins,” Pratt said, pausing to ferry a caterpillar off the trail and onto the underbrush in the direction it was heading. “Something like trampling their nest or leaving trash out can result in dead animals or a loss of habitat or scaring an animal who doesn’t have a lot of energy reserves to begin with.”
The book will be released in Canada in 5 days and I have placed an order eager to support the work of these talented and determined environmentalists. Calico and I will have her Golden Paw Award in about a month!
A lovely children’s book about an osprey nest is going to be released soon and the funds will go to help ospreys in South Australia.
Migration updates from Hawk Mountain for the week of 25 October:
I had hoped to complete my entires in the data forms on osprey mortality by the 31st. What I am posting today is a partial entry. I had both my flu and Covid jabs on the same day and they quite knocked me out. I was so very sick that it was one of those weeks when I just wanted to roll over and never wake up. I am grateful to Anne who came and took care of the household while I recovered. But, here is what we have so far. What you are not seeing are the tens of thousands – if not hundreds of thousands – of failed eggs or chicks that died from lack of food nearing fledge – in the region in and around the Chesapeake Bay. The sheer magnitude of the deaths and the nests and the lack of specific dates meant that it was impossible for either Heidi or I to deal with those entries. We were able to post those coming from VikiV in Maryland where the adults laid their eggs in May only to abandon them a fortnight later. At least the chicks did not die on the nest from starvation like they did last year. That is what I am thankful for. There is also some confusion in my mind over the number of nests in Nova Scotia and that has to be explored before the entries are put into the boxes. There are 18 nests in Italy to be added along with some from Denmark and Norway. So keep that in mind. Blow this up on your screen to see but here is the summary. The chart below represents all the nests around the world, with 292 eggs out of 103 nests. 82.88% of those hatched while 26.03% died.
If we look at just North America, there are 185 eggs. 81% hatched. 29.3% of those died. Highest cause of mortality was DNH followed by siblicide.
I have not completed all of the entries for the UK, but the chart contains 79 eggs. Of those 88% hatched while 22.8% o those died. The highest cause of mortality was DNH in the UK.
I hope to have this completed with comparisons going back four years for you before the end of the year.
There is at least one osprey still in the UK that has not migrated but who continues to fish.
Everyone going nuts for the rate Spotted Cuckoo that should be in Europe.
Calico wonders what you are doing with those leftover pumpkins. In the UK, the Leicester and Rutland Wildlife Trust suggests hollowing them out and turning them into bird feeders. The reason? Hedgehogs love them, but will get very ill if they eat them. Where I live, in fact, right in my neighbourhood, we save them and put them in the park for the deer to eat. I will be asking my neighbours to leave their unwanted pumpkins on my doorstep to take to the park nearby.
Rutland Water’s Photo of the Month:
I want to conclude with some very good news coming out of Scotland. The loopholes that allow for the killing of the raptors at the grouse moor estates is being closed. Thanks, RP UK.
Thank you so very, very much for being with us today. It is my great joy to be amongst such a supportive group of individuals who treasure the raptors and the environment and who want to do whatever they can to protect our planet for them. Please take care of yourself. I will be back with you again on Monday the 10th of November!
Thank you so much to SK Hideaways for their great videos, which support and educate, rather than thrill. None of this would be possible without the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to observe the daily lives of these magnificent creatures. Thank you also to those who administer and post on the numerous Facebook groups, so that we can stay aware of the latest happenings on the nests. I am immensely grateful to all of you. My blog would not be what it is without your contributions.
The leaves on the trees in the garden are primarily on the ground. We can now see into the previously hidden back area that was obscured during the summer. Brock continues to sun himself on the farthest woodshed. He is cautious now to let me see him when he comes to the deck for food, preferring to grab my attention and hide under the highest decking, waiting to be sure that Toby is not about. Toby ‘guards’ the territory. It is unclear whether he believes he is a cat, like The Girls, but he decidedly does not like any other animals in the garden, including Mr Crow and Mr Blue Jay. Of course, they pay him no mind. Tonight, Hugo Yugo and Toby are curled up in the small dog bed with HY holding Toby’s head firm and washing and washing his neck. I do think they ‘love’ one another in only a way that they understand.
We have experienced torrential rain and storms, primarily characterised by heavy rain and strong winds. This summer, the province posted that we had only 1/3 the average rainfall – hence, all the wildfires. That has corrected itself. This is good news for all the trees and shrubs that require a lot of moisture before winter arrives. All of the trees and shrubs we planted this year are doing very well. The new Amur Cherry stands tall in the front garden while the Wisteria has wound itself around the stairs and is beginning to climb the side of the porch. I hope to post images of huge clumps of beautiful purple flowers one day. The debate is whether or not to bring the Jasmine plant inside. The problem lies with the aphids, and whether they will also infest the inside plants despite the cleansing and soil changes. The Coral Hibiscus (image near the bottom of the blog) is beautiful, but its flowers are toxic to pets. Although it will not be available for purchase, it can be given to someone who can care for it without harming any cats or dogs. Sometimes the first frost comes and surprises me, and that ends all the debate!
Next Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving. It is timed with the harvest and has nothing in common with the underlying motives for the American Thanksgiving in late November. Ours is more simple – a people grateful for the harvest. We will have guests that otherwise would not be with anyone that day. The Girls and Toby will be delighted for the attention.
We hope that you have been having marvellous times watching that terrific trio of fluff balls in Melbourne at the 367 Collins Street falcon scrape. What cuties they are. The female, F23, looks formidable. I would not want to mix it up with her.
Suzanne Arnold Horning caught Big Red on the Cornell Campus today, and it is always a pleasure and a relief.
The videos by SK Hideaways for the last few days with some new offerings:
Diamond & Gimbir Welcome Their Second Egg (1 Oct 2025)
Diamond laid her and Gimbir’s second egg 59-1/2 hours after the first. Her typical laying interval is between 50 and 60 hours. Congrats, Diamond and Gimbir!
Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW
Gimbir Meets and Nibbles First Egg (2025 Sep 30)
In his first inspection of his and Diamond’s first egg, Gimbir did a good amount of nibbling of the shell during each of his 3-4 inspections. There was no obvious harm done, but Gimbir clearly needs a little daddy training, which is no surprise given his young age. He has performed well in all his other lessons, so we have high hopes for his paternal capabilities.
Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW
Channel Island Eagles, California
West End Bald Eagles🦅Akecheta and Haku Sit Not Quite Side-by-Side on Tor (2025 Oct 2)
After Akecheta’s first visit a week earlier, it was unclear whether he was still in the area. Today’s visit left no doubt when he was positively ID’d sitting near Haku on the middle tor. While not behaving like good friends, Akecheta and Haku did seem comfortable in each other’s company. Only time will tell where this fascinating story goes from here.
Two Harbors Eagles🦅Cholyn & Chase Greet Day in Song🎶22 Years Wedded Bliss (2025 Sep 30)
Cholyn and Chase came together to watch the sunrise and greet the day with their melodious chortles. We never tire of watching this couple’s glorious splendor.
Dad Tries to Feed 5- and 2-Day Old Chicks Whole Prey (2025 Oct 5, 8:22:50)
When Dad M24 arrived with yet another meal for his family, Mum F24 was out. So he did what any super responsible dad would do ~ he tried to feed his chicks. Trouble is, the prey was bigger than the chicks. F24 returned and straightened him out, surely knowing he meant well. (2025 Oct 5, 8:22:50)
Chick #3 Peeks Out at Dusk ~ Makes Grand Appearance in Daylight (2025 Oct 2-3)
Chick #3 peeked out of its shell 2 days after its siblings, hatching in a fashionably late manner. Here we see its arrival at dusk and then its grand appearance the next morning.
Chick #2 Hatches ~ #1 Rolls Out of Nest with Excitement (1 Oct 2025)
Chick #2 snuck out in the dark of night, but dawn provided a grand entrance for the wee one. Chick #1 was so excited they rolled right out of the nest box. Mum F24 eventually rolled them back in. Another celebratory day for the Collins Street falcon family.
Mum F24 and Dad M24 Welcome 1st Chick! (2025 Sep 30)
Mum F24 was on incubation duty when chick #1 appeared from under her. Dad arrived 90 minutes later, seeming slightly perplexed about what to do now that one of his beloved eggs had become a squirming chick. After a bit of revelry, Mum and Dad got back to incubating #2 and #3.
“Forgot to send you this – it’s only about ten seconds but it is a fabulous illustration of (a) how these birds work as a team and (b) how incredible peregrine falcons really are – you must put it into the blog (I’m certain readers would be as impressed by it as I was): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B8xQJaPB4tw.
Meanwhile, that pigeon Dad brought to the Collins Street ledge early this morning was humongous. Mum was already feeding the littles yesterday’s gigantic pigeon, which she had stashed in the pantry, so Dad dragged his new offering into the gutter and subsequently took it off, presumably to the pantry, which is on a floor (or the roof) above the scrape. Rain is forecast for this afternoon, which will bring Mum’s garage door technique into its own, as none of these chicks is yet able to thermoregulate (they have only natal down at this stage) I have zero concerns in that regard, as Mum is just magnificent at using her wings to shelter her chicks. The best I have ever seen in fact. I love this couple. Could you guess?
At 10.38, Dad brings in yet another pigeon (not as large as the last but definitely a decent piece of prey). This Dad is taking his new parental responsibilities extremely seriously. I don’t think these chicks are going to go hungry at this scrape. Ever. Good on you little Dad. What a partner he’s been for Mum this season.
At WBSE, SE35 is picking at leftovers while SE36 stretches its wings by practising this flapping business their parents seem to utilise to great effect. It’s being very energetic! Go SE36! Oh these two are growing up SO fast. The thought of losing them to their annual battle with the currawongs is worrying me more with every passing day. Lady and Dad have done their usual magnificent job of raising two gorgeous, healthy eaglets, only to have to abandon them to their fate and cross their talons, as it were. And yet they try again each season. I do wish we could get a GPS tracker on these fledglings to see whether any do disperse to an area where they can survive and hopefully breed. As it is, we can only guess (and hope).
At Orange, the ultimate cougar peregrine (Diamond) is incubating her two eggs. Gimbir has done some incubating this morning – he is learning by the day. Here is the summary of the falcons’ activities so far this morning (the time stamps refer to the box cam rather than the nest cam or the tower cam): 3 Oct BONDING 4.47.57, 05.29.55, 05.53.51 (Incubation G 5.05.19, 06:26:19, 7.19.40, 8.30.49)
I think Diamond will whip him into shape very quickly – it’s fascinating to see what instinct drives him to do. He seems to have a very good idea of what he needs to do with these strange things in his scrape but he understands their importance and may even be getting some idea of what’s inside them. But of course we can’t know that. Suffice it to say that Diamond is acting as a strict teacher and Gimbir seems to be an eager student and a quick learner. He is very sweet (like all male peregrines). It will be a real treat to watch him come into his own as a father in front of our eyes. By his second incubating effort of the day (at 06:26:19) he seems to have worked it all out. He knows that if he comes into the scrape and finds the eggs unattended, it is his job to keep them warm and safe. He has also perfected his enfluffling technique and does it perfectly. I am SO proud of our very precocious little man. It’s hard to believe that a year ago,.he was just leaving his own natal nest. And as I said the other day, he has taken on a real challenge in Madame Diamond! (I have to say – and this is NOT for the blog – that he reminds me of my husband when we first met. I was 37 and he had just turned 20 (literally the week before we met). I am a somewhat formidable female but he had no fear of taking that on. Enough said. We had a wonderful ten years. “
From the videos and ‘A’s’ commentary, you can see that all is going well in the Australian nests currently as I wait – rather impatiently – for the hatches at Port Lincoln!!!!!!!
There are still ospreys in the UK who have not left on their migration. This Tweed Valley fledgling is one of them! Thanks, Mary Cheadle!
Want to learn more about White-tail Eagles? You cannot go wrong by listening to this podcast by Dr Tim Mackrill sponsored by the Osprey Leadership Foundation.
At the West End nest (IWS/Explore), Haku has been having trouble with a juvenile coming to the nest! Nestflix Memories caught the battle for the fish on video: https://youtu.be/9rUwR30TjyI?
Do you know what Gabby and Beau are up to at the NE Florida nest? Wings of Whimsy checks up on what has happened during the last week. https://youtu.be/1eSGYv-KPrc?
Time to vote for the Australian Bird of the Year! Remember,New Zealand recently voted the Peregrine Falcon asits Bird of the Year. Maybe we can do this for Australia, too! The Guardian gives us more information.
The image below is the poster and here is the link that will tell you how to vote:
“It wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I realised birds could have a powerful significance even for people who weren’t bird-nerds like me….One day I got a lift with a friend who was really struggling. As she sped through inner city streets sobbing uncontrollably, things started resembling that scene from Vanilla Sky when Cameron Diaz drives Tom Cruise off a bridge. I persuaded her to pull over, and we parked beneath some trees. As I sat, clueless about how to ease her distress, a white-plumed honeyeater flitted down and started hopping around in front of us, searching for insects.
Watching that sweet little bird go about its business was the circuit-breaker we needed. Completely indifferent to our troubles, it connected us to something bigger, putting our issues into perspective and brought a magic sense of wonder at simply being alive. I’m not so woo-woo as to claim that the appearance of a single bird was an instant cure-all, but its presence brought a moment of peace and grace to what had been distraught hopelessness.
Recent studies have shown that this experience is not unique. Playing birdsong in hospital has been shown to reduce levels of both reported pain and anxiety in patients as well as reducing the average time spent before discharge from the ward. A 2020 European study showed that having 14 extra bird species in your neighbourhood raised general happiness levels equivalent to the same boost people would get if they started earning $150 a week more.”
I know that these articles and the importance of birds to our lives is ‘preaching to the choir’ as all os us understand fully the mystical quality that they have over our lives. Each week I get one or two letters from people, mostly strangers, who stop and send me a note telling me how much the birds on the streaming cams have done for their lives. Many have terminal illnesses and their love for the bird families has helped them through great trauma.
Today, I often advise people not to listen to the news, but to go outside instead. Alternatively, consider getting a small bird feeder and placing it so you can watch it from a window. Put out a bird bath and cheer along all the fun the birds have when they are bathing! I promise that even the most dismal moments — and I am certainly no stranger to those – will melt away.
Calico has a couple of book recommendations – not for the fun of reading aloud to four cats and a dog, but rather for those who might feel like they have lost control of their lives. It reminds us not to be so ‘goal-oriented’, making endless lists so that we are productive and feel good about ourselves. She speaks of restorative time – very important! Not just relaxing but restoring. Finding Focus has, on every other page, advice about putting your devices away and finding time to be outside. There is another chapter on eating well. In the past year, I have witnessed friends whose lives have been shattered by sudden deaths in their family and how that has impacted them. To be mentally alert, you must feed your body well. Not with cookies and processed cakes but whole foods. Every since Don was diagnosed with dementia, probably even before, we have practiced eating the ‘rainbow’ – making sure that our plate had all the colours as best we could. Now it is a game to ensure that we have that and are not eating food that has come from a factory. Dear Toby even eats eggs from hens that run free on a farm. We see them living life to the full every week when we pick up our eggs and vegetables. I want each of you to take care of yourself. Life is extremely stressful for many right now.
I mentioned not watching the news. We turned off the television component years ago and now only have a couple of streaming channels so that we can watch several British series. I do not miss not reading the news or listening to commentary that may or may not be informed. We try to focus on the local and take care and make better, if we can, the lives around us. It really does good for your mental health.
The other book is The Almanac. A Seasonal Guide to 2026 is a real gem for those living in the UK. It is a fantastic almanack focusing on the natural world month by month, featuring planting guides, moon cycles, and a genuine focus on the woods and trees. Beautifully presented along with folklore and even recipes!
Raptor Persecution UK researches the killing and disappearance of raptors in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Calico also wants to send you some images from the garden from the last few days when it was 27 °C. There are many more, but I am just learning about this camera and finally found a setting that works for me.
The coral Hibiscus continues to bloom.
One of Dyson’s kits from this past summer.
The European Starlings returned and really have been enjoying a great bath.
Baby Hope is feeling much better after her injury. She is watching one of the Crows cawing on the fence outside the conservatory.
Thank you so much for being with us today. This is going to be a busy week for me, as we had heavy rain for several days during the past week, and there is still much to do to ready the garden for winter. Although we experienced temperatures reaching 28 °C last week, the weather has become considerably cooler. It is now time for warmer coats and toques when we watch Toby – we learned that this evening! Soon, we will be pulling out the winter boots. My point is that all the nests are doing very well. We anxiously await the first hatch with some trepidation at Port Lincoln – we worry every year whether there will be enough fish to sustain the chicks until they fledge. I will post again on Monday, the 13th, our Canadian Thanksgiving, unless we have a hatch or something really significant happens in Bird World. Please take care of yourself. Go outside and enjoy the wonders that fall has to offer – the crunch of leaves beneath your feet and that distinctive autumn ‘aroma’.
Thank you to the individuals and owners of streaming cams and individuals posting for various FB groups listed in Bold. You keep us informed. A particular shout-out to SK Hideaways for their videos and to ‘A’ today for her keen observations on the Australian nests. The Guardian continues to publish great articles on wildlife and the environment, and Raptor Persecution UK keeps reminding us how unsafe it is for raptors in the UK and why. We are grateful.
CJ7 with her first egg of the seasonWe are excited to announce that at 12:56 this afternoon, in rather drizzly conditions, CJ7 laid her first egg at the 
