Category Archives: Christmas

Day 21. Welcome to Winter. R10 on its way!

22 December 2025

Good Morning Everyone!

[I am sending this out at 2200 Sunday evening in case things get hectic Monday morning – have a great day everyone].

Yesterday was the Winter Solstice. From now on, we will have a tiny bit more daylight, which is always welcome. Sunday was bright and sunny, and there is nothing better to energise a weary body after days of snow and grey than bright light. The Girls certainly enjoyed having those beautiful rays of warmth fill the conservatory.

For the past several weeks or months, I have encouraged each of you to slow down – to savour the moment at hand without worrying about what happened a week ago, what will occur in a month, or if your holiday dinner is perfect, or your house looks like the best cleaning service has detailed it. You would be too worn out to enjoy any of the fun if you did that. Instead, relax. Make the days simple so that you can enjoy them.

I found a blog post about ‘How Not to Feel Lost in a Parisian Cafe’, and I want to share it with you, not that you are going to Paris soon (or maybe you are), but because it speaks to sheer relaxation. Take a quiet moment with a cuppa and enjoy it. Practice relaxing. It is one thing that North Americans are not good at! Endless lists, too much goal orientation and achievement having priority over simple living.

https://open.substack.com/pub/frenchglimpses/p/how-not-to-feel-lost-in-a-parisian?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

This led to a link about the joys of doing nothing in retirement. In this article in The Wall Street Journal, there is this quote: “Earlier this summer, I read ‘This Is Happiness,’ by Niall Williams, about a fictional Irish community in the mid-20th century where rain is a constant presence in the lives of the town’s poor residents, until it isn’t. “You don’t see rain stop, but you sense it,” he writes at one point. “You hear the quietness you thought was silence get quieter still, and you raise your head so your eyes can make sense of what your ears have already told you, which at first is only: something has changed. The quote describes more eloquently than my words how I felt that morning at the cabin when something for me had changed. It was the realization that in experiencing the peace that doing nothing brings, I could acknowledge quietly to myself, “This is happiness.”

Here is the link to the entire article (I don’t have a subscription and I was able to open it; I hope that you can): https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/retirement-rest-do-nothing-benefits-90d52ff4?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Nellie arrived. The pups have been in and out, and then a rest, and then in and out again. Nellie loves the deep snow in the garden – she is a big girl. Toby likes to go out but not stay out as long. It has been great fun watching them play.

We had a proper ‘tea’ and christened a new teapot. This year we managed to break two teapots – the daily glass one and a much-loved temmoku one made by my friend Gunda Stewart years ago. There are ‘art’ teapots in my cupboards made by people across Canada, but I don’t use them. So…dear Anne brought us a replacement glass one, and I went over the top and purchased a rather glitzy version for special occasions. It is entirely unlike me; I am a much more rustic, handmade person. I like the story behind this design. It is based on the ceiling of the Library in the Fairmont Hotel in Toronto. This is where the ladies had to wait and have tea while the men checked them into the hotel.

I met a wonderful woman years ago in Yangon. Besides the fact that we both looked up and noticed that we were each reading Burmese Days, we were also sequestered inside our hotel for a few days during bombings in the City. Victoria introduced me to Coronation Chicken, and that is what we had today, along with egg mayo, sausage rolls, vegetable samosas, cranberry, orange, and mince tarts, shortbread cookies shaped like Scotty dogs, Fortnum’s Christmas cake, and chocolates. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the solstice! (I meant to take photos and forgot in the flurry of Nellie’s arrival!)

I wondered if Nellie was going to get stuck. She didn’t. She jumped and rolled.

A really tired Toby. He went to sleep before he even got in his bed.

Next to Toby, Nellie is in her big dog bed.

All is right in ‘dog’ world.

SK Hideaways Videos, week of 14 December 2025

Sauces Canyon Eagles:  Jak and Audacity Chortle in the Dawn ~ An 11-Year Love Story (2025 Dec 19)
As Jak and Audacity greet the day with nature’s most perfect music ~ chortles ~ we share a little history of this 11-year love story. 
Video: https://youtu.be/jCVVKQNIbfw
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnTsOesC6hE

West End Eagles

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

Haku Issues Mating Invitation ~ Akecheta’s Not in the Mood (2025 Dec 20)
As Akecheta and Haku enjoyed their often frequented ocean view, Haku started feeling a little frisky. She let out some beautiful chortles and lowered her head, making it clear she was inviting Akecheta to mate. This time, Akecheta was focused elsewhere and did not respond. These two are spending a lot of time together on camera, so we could guess they’re doing so off camera as well. We have seen at least 2 mating attempts before this event, so may also guess that such attempts are being made behind closed tors. We are feeling optimistic about a fruitful nesting season for these two. 
Video: https://youtu.be/zhov66JVXDI

Akecheta Attempts Mating After Haku Casts Massive Pellet (2025 Dec 17)
After spending the night together on the night perch, Haku woke before Akecheta and cleared her gizzard by casting a rather large pellet. So large, in fact, that when it hit the ground, it woke Akecheta. Unperturbed, he went right back to sleep before waking later to attempt the first mating we’ve seen on camera. While unsuccessful, it bodes well for these two pursuing nesting and mating behaviors for the season ahead. Akecheta later did some nestorations before setting off to the middle tor, posing beautifully for the camera. (2025 Dec 17)
Video: https://youtu.be/YWxv9J9LbMM

FOBBV Eagles: Two Juvie Eagles Visit Nest Tree ~ Jackie & Shadow Let Them Be (2025 Dec 15)
Two first year juvenile eagles (2025 hatch year) visited the nest tree. The first flew to the very top while Jackie and Shadow were finishing their day’s nestorations. While their hackles were raised and they were very vocal, Jackie and Shadow did not physically approach the visitor. The second juvie arrived at the nest tree after Jackie and Shadow had retired to their Roost Tree. Who might they be? #CouldBeSunnyOrGizmo
Video: https://youtu.be/F6R4BuHTTOc
Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley, CA

FalconCam Project
Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW
Box Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2RtoIMNzA
Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuZaWzhXSAI
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KCFRoO6URs
Tower Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQxrTGgNu4M

GIRRI FLEDGES at 43 Days Old (2025 Dec 18)
Girri woke early on her fledge day, full of energy and raring to go. After some vigorous wingercises and a full frontal attack of the camera, Girri took a wee rest and did a bit of yoga before taking flight. The fledge was perfect, as she flew across the flatlands to a perch tree. Cilla Ross captured video of her perched safely to everyone’s delight. Wishing Girri well in this exciting new phase of her young life.
Video: https://youtu.be/96yPLdvaixU

Viewer Discretion: Diamond’s Prey  Unzipping Lesson ~ Girri Chases Gimbir (2025 Dec 15)
Diamond brought another galah (aka pink and grey cockatoo) to the nest for Girri. She watched as her chick tried to consume the galah, but Girri does not yet possess the skills to prep prey. After letting Girri struggle a while, Diamond demonstrated how to prepare and ultimately consume prey. While SK Hideaways doesn’t normally publish graphic displays of raptors eating, we felt Diamond’s master class was interesting and educational. This is something raptor lovers may want to understand about these birds of prey. But we understand if you’d rather skip this lesson. When Gimbir came for the second seating, Girri chased him around the nest. Then Diamond fed him a few bites, but decided better of it. Best he remember that he’s a mate/parent and not a chick.
Video: https://youtu.be/rgCWPyT11No

There is nothing cuter than a couple of bobbleheads – .

Dade County R9.

SW Florida E26.

Two very much loved eaglets. R10 appears to be on its way.

I am unclear as to the status of E27’s egg. A single healthy eaglet fledging strong would be fine for me for each nest.

It looks like a juvenile eagle on the Berry College Bald Eagle nest in Georgia.

For those following the ups and downs of Lumi, the young lynx that found itself in the care of our local wildlife rehabilitation clinic, Wildlife Haven, is improving all the time. A video was posted on Instagram of Lumi going through the morning zoomies. She certainly looks like she is getting stronger each day!

We have eggs with Louis II and Anna II at Kisatchie National Forest’s E1 Bald Eagle nest. Now there is a bonded pair at the E3 nest. Tonya suggests that we are now on egg watch for them. Nice. https://youtu.be/NkSdsMy2WAo?

Gimbir in the Charles Sturt University Falcon scrape overlooking the wooded area below where Cilla saw Girri yesterday. I wonder if Gimbir can encourage Girri to try and make her way up that steep flight to get to the scrape where she hatched?

At Port Lincoln, let’s see what Giliath and Ervie have been up to – Giliath has been to Lincoln National Park, Boston Point, and Boston Island (very similar to Ervie).

Ervie’s tracker – both lads come back to the wharf at Port Lincoln to roost at night.

I don’t know about you but I am always relieved to see our dear Ervie doing so well.

I read Mark Avery’s Blog every month and he always reports on Bird Flu in the UK. Having seen the deaths of hundreds of Canada geese near to where I live, I continue to be interested in how HPAI is still impacting wildlife.

This was the report in Mark Avery’s most recent blog:

“Bird flu: Defra’s most recent update seems to cover the period up to 30 November and has a lot of positive records, especially of wildfowl, and adds Woodcock to the 2025 list of affected species bringing the total to 53: 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, Woodcock, 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. “

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care! Have a great beginning to the week. See you on Tuesday!

Thank you to SK Hideaways for those great videos and to the owners of the streaming cams who give us a look into the lives of our eagles. I also want to thank those who take the time to post reports and images on FB so that we know what is going on with our beloved raptors. Thank you to Mark Avery for his blog where I used his bird flu report today as well as to the authors of the articles in Substack and WSJ.

Day 20. Welcome to Winter

21 December 2025

Happy Winter Solstice!

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.

You may want to join in today.

10 simple and beautiful ways to celebrate Winter SolsticeDownload

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).

Girri out and about

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!

Day 5 Welcome to Winter…Girri is a BIG girl!

6 December 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

I am so happy that Toby and Hugo Yugo’s little kissing/licking fest touched your hearts. It is really easy to see why they bring such joy to our lives! SP wrote, “Mary Ann, you are my Santa!  The Toby-HY love fest… I’ve only watched it three times… so far. xoxo”

Brock reminded me today that it is ‘essential’ to find a way to have water for the outdoor animals that we feed. This is easy if you live in an area where it never gets below freezing. Here, it can be problematic. You MUST be careful so as not to cause the little birds to freeze their feet and feathers. Because of these issues, I am reluctant to use a heater in the bird baths if there is any chance their little feet will stick and be pulled off! Luckily for Brock, there are two dishes in his heated feeding station – one for wet food and the other for water. He had several long drinks today!

The small sparrows and Starlings were busy eating snow. They don’t get as much as they would if there were a bird bath for them, but they do get some hydration, which is really important if you are feeding them.

Two articles with some different points of view.

Should You Provide Birds Water in Winter?Download
Offer Water to Wildlife in WinterDownload

I hope you did not worry about Gabby being away from her nest and leaving Beau to incubate for approximately 24 hours. This is ‘Gabby’s Way’. Every year, she takes a break before the eggs hatch. The first time I saw this panic set in, I thought she had died, leaving Samson to care for their family, but no. Gabby was having a ‘spa time’ – I liked to call it. Gabby is now home, and Beau was so happy to get off those eggs, he flew off the nest when he caught her flying in!

Beautiful Gabby back in the nest.

I decided to take a sheet out of Gabby’s playbook today while Anne was caring for Don, Toby, and The Girls.

You probably know someone who was or is a caregiver to another individual – their partner, a parent, another family member, or a friend. It is stressful. There is no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Caregivers are often ‘tired beyond belief’ and rarely take time for themselves. You might know someone who cared for another person and actually died before them. It happens more often than you might think. As Don’s illness progresses, I am trying hard to make sure that my life is a bit more balanced. So, going back to Gabby…I gave myself a ‘treat’ today. I spent the afternoon at the Dior counter today getting a ‘refresh’ from a wonderful woman who has worked for this French cosmetics company for 35 years. It was fun – and a reminder that each of us needs to create time to relax and laugh!

Moving back to our birds. As you know, Heidi and I have been monitoring osprey nests for mortality numbers and causes. Heidi sent this to me today and I thought that you might be interested, too.

“This was the presentation held yesterday on Virginia Eastern Shore by Dr. Watts and Ben Wurst.  The presentation itself is only about 67 minutes long, and is very informative.https://youtu.be/bR8byYABd8s?s

A lot of takeaways.  VV’s nests all had abandoned eggs.  But, Watts’ data indicated the majority of nest failures were from brood reduction due to a lack of menhaden.  Most of the eggs hatched, but most chicks didn’t survive.  Interesting.”

Overfishing has led to the death of 60,000 penguins! The Guardian gives us the details. “More sustainable fisheries management could improve the penguins’ chances of survival. Conservationists are taking action on the ground, by building artificial nests to shelter chicks, managing predators and hand-rearing adults and chicks who need rescuing. Commercial purse-seine fishing, which involves encircling a school of fish with a large net and then trapping them by closing the bottom, has been banned around the six largest penguin-breeding colonies in South Africa.

It is hoped this will “increase access to prey for penguins at critical parts of their life cycle”, said the study co-author Dr Azwianewi Makhado, from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in South Africa.”

60,000 African penguins starved to death after sardine numbers collapsed – studyhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/05/african-penguins-starve-to-death-south-africa-sardine-population-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

“African Penguins” by BasL is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

I don’t know about you, but my calendar is counting down to the arrival of the ospreys in the UK! Of course, there is a big gold star at the beginning of April to remind me to be on the lookout for Iris’s return to Missoula, Montana.

Lots of couples are incubating. Eagles and Albatross.

You can watch the Royal Albatross Royal Cam Pair, BOK and WYL, in New Zealand. If you are not aware, the letters relate to the coloured identification bands on their legs. BOK (female) is Blue-Orange-Black with ‘K’ being for Black. WYL (male) is White-Yellow-Lime.

Today, the couple were reunited as they switched incubation duties. The note under the video reads: “WYL returns to the Plateau nest site to give his mate BOK a well-earned break from incubation. Watch him enter from the left of the frame to greet her, and after a brief reunion, BOK lifts off and hands over nest duties. Following a few vocal exchanges with the neighbors, she heads back out to sea. Join us live as we follow their journey through the 2025–26 breeding season! RoyalCam was set up in January 2016 by the Department of Conservation and the Cornell Lab has been collaborating with DOC since 2019 to bring the cam to life. To learn more while watching, view the cam at https://www.doc.govt.nz/royalcam“

At Port Lincoln, Dad was on the barge during the early morning hours having a nap. The camera panned to the old barge but no ospreys were visible.

Girri is such a character. She has even been incubating the remaining egg in the scrape on and off!

Just look at those juvenile feathers coming in!

Girri is a BIG girl.

There has been no news of any peregrine falcons from the CBD of Melbourne coming into care. This is great news!

Liberty and Guardian have been at the Redding Eagles nest.

More eagle news on Monday!

Signing off with Hawk Mountain’s migratory count for the week of 3 December. Osprey count way down. Bald Eagles up. Sharp-shinned Hawks down along with many others. My goodness…but a growth in Broad-winged haws.

It isn’t just at Hawk Mountain that some species numbers are beginning to plummet. In the UK, recognizing this horrific act, people are opting to name streets after our amazing birds in order that they not be forgotten.

Streets named after birds in Britain on rise as species’ populations plummethttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/05/street-names-birds-britain-rise-populations-plummet?CMP=share_btn_url

I don’t need to tell you that Toby and The Girls make my life worth living.

After a day of frolicking in the snow, there is nothing nicer than napping on a toy duck.

Thank you so much for being with us today. We hope to have you with us again tomorrow!

Thank you to Heidi for sending us the link to that presentation on the Ospreys with Dr Watts and to SP for allowing me to quote them. I am also grateful to the owners of the streaming cams – Charles Sturt University, Port Lincoln Osprey, American Eagle Foundation, and NZ Dept of Conservation/Cornell Bird Lab – where I took my screen captures today and to the authors of the articles on providing water for wildlife in winter, The Guardian for covering the death of the African Penguins or OpenVerse for the image of the African Penguins.

Day 2 Welcome to Winter

3 Decemb4rt 2025

Good Morning!

I am so happy that you enjoyed Toby and his photograph with Santa. It seemed the most appropriate image to help us settle into the December holiday season.

We woke up to -19 °C with some more snow. Snow will continue, on and off, for the end of the week. Our young man who clears it will come in the wee hours of Friday morning so that everything is clear for Anne’s arrival that afternoon. It is hard to get moving when it is so cold. Toby scooted outside to do his ‘business’ and quickly got back in until it was time to feed the birds. The sun was up by then, and despite the frigid temperatures, it felt warmer.

I had a very good laugh. A few of you wondered if there was any hope in getting ‘The Girls’ dressed up for Santa – I don’t think so. Cats, as you know, are very different than dogs. Toby loves getting dressed up and his basket of sweaters, coats, hats, and boots tells it all. ‘The Girls’ prefer their toys, reading time, and treats!!!!

Baby Hope says you ‘wouldn’t get her caught dead in an outfit!’

Toby and Hugo Yugo could not be upstaged by Baby Hope so they want to put another smile on your face – playtime last night. The interchanges between these two best friends goes on all day long. Hugo Yugo and Toby sleep together, play together, and eat together!

We can’t promise to send you a greeting every morning from now until the new year but we are going to try! Our main blog will continue on Mondays until there are some baby eaglets in those nests that we follow.

News from South Australia is getting exciting. I have always hoped that Ervie would take over the barge nest. It seems that Ervie’s older brother, Calypso, has been visiting the barge along with two other ospreys. Which one will delight us in the future – Ervie or Calypso? The other good news is that Big Red and Arthur continue to be spotted on the Cornell campus while our eagles are busy incubating.

Have a wonderful day, everyone! The Girls and Toby send each of you a virtual hug to start your day.

Friday in Bird World

6 December 2024

Hello Everyone,

Top News: SE33 has been released to live in the wild.

News of both Ervie and Giliath! Thank you Fran Solly!

Thursday was another cold blustery day on the Canadian Prairies. We decided to visit the new display at our biosphere, The Leaf. Spending the day inside a tropical environment was just what we needed. It was so much fun. This year they have a display of trees featuring some birds that live in Manitoba during part of the year and migrate to the tropics for the winter. There were others like ostriches that we just love but only see at the zoo. It was lovely! We were so jovial that when we ordered our hot chocolate, the young man preparing it decided we needed sprinkles because we appeared to love life so much. He is spot on. The sprinkles and the whipped cream just made it ever more special.

The attendant said to us to stay til it started getting just a little dark as the lights glimmer more. Great advice. We hope you enjoy our afternoon as we are so happy to share it with you!

The Blue Jay Tree!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah. Isn’t it beautiful? You must look closely for the little birds.

The Pheasant Tree was one of the most popular.

The tree dedicated to all owls, but in particular, the Barred Owl, which lives in Manitoba and is so threatened due to habitat destruction.

The owls were made out of natural materials. They were so fascinating.

The Peacock Tree.

Cardinals.

The Dove or Tree of Peace Tree.

Little birds popped up everywhere.

We have not seen Brock since Monday when the temperatures dipped to -15 C. Everything and anything that happen to an outdoor cat went through my mind. To our delight, he was waiting for us when we got home from The Leaf. He ate two large tins of wet food before taking a breath. Did he get locked in somewhere?

There is news coming in from Bird World.

Nox, Annie and Archie’s 4th hatch of the 2024 season died of pneumonia. Breaks our hearts. Nox was the love of everyone’s life! Soar high, little one.

Nox the falcon died of pneumonia, says UC Davis veterinary pathology report – Berkeley NewsDownload

In South Australia, Fran, Bazz, and Janet got quite the shock. A storm triggered the camera at Turnby Island to start working again. Well, and what they saw was a big healthy chick of Marrum and Partney.

That chick is big. Maybe another girl??. If all goes well, Ian Falkenberg will ring and put a satellite tracker on this fabulous osplet on the 14th of December. Partney and Marrum, congratulations.

In New Zealand, GLG shows off the Royal Cam egg – for a split second. Don’t look away. https://youtu.be/D7TcU0SP_8M?

At Port Lincoln, Mum brought in 1 fish with the fairies supplying 4 on Thursday. So far, everyone is waiting to see about fish on Friday!

It is 12:35, Mum, Wilko, and Kasse are still waiting for some fish.

Dad is catching fish from the barge just like Mum now at Port Lincoln. Wonderful. But the count was 1 for Mum and 4 for the fairy to the nest on Friday.

At the time of my writing there are no additional Bald Eagle eggs.

Life is more than challenging for the albatross, whatever the species.

Want to guess when the first egg of M15 and F23 will pip? Here is the information.

‘A’ loves Beau and sent a note: “You know of course what a huge fan of Beau I have been since he first came into Gabby’s life. I loved the way he was gentle with her and didn’t hassle her before she was ready and just generally seemed to want to comfort her and be her friend in that first season. Last year, the mating attempts were clumsy and unsuccessful but still she did not substitute Beau for a more virile partner. 

This season they do seem to be fairly strongly bonded, and this video just made me smile.

It really did seem that she was a little shaken up by the GHO assault – certainly, that quiet whining she kept on with for some time afterwards suggested that she wasn’t happy – anthropomorphising, it definitely felt to me as though she was asking for reassurance. And Beau was such a sweetie, with some gentle beakies, and then putting that branch over her as if protecting her and camouflaging her from another GHO strike. She did seem reassured by his actions, which quietened her whimpering. It really was adorable, the way he appeared to try and care for her and make her feel safe.” 

Fledgling at Osprey House Environment Centre in Australia is home and begging for fish!

Beautiful Rose. https://youtu.be/2kHZ4hzP-BY?

Handsome M15 takes a break to have a bath. It won’t be long until he is a Dad again! https://youtu.be/1DG-FdjIxAo?

The eagles at John Bunker Sands Wetlands are busy!

The Girls had a small squeezy treat to celebrate the anniversary of Hugo Yugo’s arrival in our home last year.

The other sisters seem to know that Hugo Yugo is not well. Baby Hope took time this evening to cuddle and wash her.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A’, Judy Harrington, Fran Solly, The Leaf, Cal Falcons, UC Berkeley News, Friends of Osprey Sth Aus, Cornell Bird Lab, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Hob Osterlund, Nancy Babineau, Lady Hawk, Osprey House Environment Centre, Heidi McGrue, SK Hideaways, Dixie Rottler and Bald Eagles 101, The Girls