Cornell Red Tail Hawks – Page 2

Diamond lays her first egg with Gimbal…late Sunday instead of Monday in Bird World

28 September 2025

Hello Everyone,

The big news at the moment is that Diamond has laid her first egg with new mate, Gimbir, at the Charles Sturt Falcon Cam scrape in Orange, Australia. Are you teared up? I sure am! Many questioned Gimbir’s youth and his ability. Well, they can stop wondering now!

09:02:16 was the time.

The most recent videos from SK Hideaways including Diamond and her precious egg!!!!!!

DIAMOND LAYS FIRST EGG OF 2025 After Early A.M. Mating x3 (2025 Sep 29)

After dear Xavier’s disappearance on 27 August and Gimbir’s arrival soon thereafter, the breeding season was in question. No one knew if Diamond would remain fertile or whether the mating occurrences between she and Gimbir would be successful. Today’s egg laying answered some questions.

Video: https://youtu.be/7GizyOC-VSI

Much gratitude to Cilla Kinross, director of the FalconCam Project, and Charles Sturt University NSW

CHANNEL ISLAND EAGLES

Two Harbors Eagles, Catalina Island California ~ Cholyn & Chase (21 Sep 2025)

Cholyn and Chase enjoyed each other’s company on their cactus perch, chatting, stretching, and peacefully watching the world go by. I celebrate these 27-year-olds and their 22 years of mated bliss every time I’m lucky enough to see them

Video: https://youtu.be/habH8sTSseo

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

🦅💖🦅 AKECHETA RETURNS 🦅💖🦅 (24 Sep 2025)

What a wonderful sight to see! Akecheta arrived to greet the morning. This West End story remains fascinating and compelling.

Video: https://youtu.be/DgFXKDnDrp0

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies, explore.org

West End ~ Catalina Island, CA

May be too soon to say for sure, but it seems that Akecheta’s return may have been a one-day event.

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FALCONCAM PROJECT ~ ORANGE NSW AUSTRALIA

A Morning Filled with Bonding and Mating (23 Sep 2025)

Diamond and Gimbir pair-bonded twice and mated thrice all before 11 a.m. Only time will tell if the activities of this new couple have the desired effect, but it’s evident that young Gimbir’s reproductive instinct is fully functional.

Video: https://youtu.be/yAmNZrzSwz4

Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW (http://www.csu.edu.au/special/falconcam/)

FalconCam Project, Orange NSW ~ Diamond & Gimbir (25 Sep 2025)

Gimbir incorporated the leftovers of a silver gull into a long bonding session with Diamond. It seemed a little rude until Diamond ultimately joined in the nibbling. A strange and entertaining episode!

Video: https://youtu.be/B914LS9XHiA

Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW

Box Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2RtoIMNzA

Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adCIawe2WWI

Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj1Y6ydRl1c

Tower Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFAsJvGPd00

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BIG BEAR HAPPENINGS

Jackie & Shadow Chortle Night Away on Favorite Perches ~ Habitat Critters Photo Bomb (2025 Sep 26)

Glorious sounds of Jackie & Shadow filled Big Bear Valley as they chortled throughout the night. They settled on their Roost Tree overnight and convened at the Lookout Snag at dawn. All through the night, habitat critters, Fiona, the Bernardino flying squirrel, and her friend, a wee tiny mouse, visited the nest looking for snacks. A lovely Cooper’s Hawk graced the Cactus Snag to close the morning’s activities.

Video: https://youtu.be/ARdTGn7QFfM

Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley

Shadow Returns to Nest (23 September 2025)

Shadow returned to the nest after a record-setting 82 days. He and Jackie must really be enjoying their summer vacation. Shadow took in the mess of sticks left by Sunny, Gizmo, and all the visitors to the nest since the family departed, vowing to return with Jackie after vacation to tidy the place up. The ravens greeted him with an aerobatic display, much to his chagrin. He conveyed the whole story to Jackie when they met up on their roost tree for the night.

Video: https://youtu.be/BIxkSvt4iBY

Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley, CA

Jackie & Shadow Return to Nest ~ Reminisce About Sunny & Gizmo (2025 Sep 26)

After 3 months, Jackie and Shadow returned to the nest, taking in their habitat for over 2 hours. I like to think they were reminiscing about the special spring they shared raising Sunny and Gizmo. I’ve interwoven lots of those memories here.

Video: https://youtu.be/M-vDe1_DUi8

Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley, CA

ℹResident Bald Eagle male: Shadow (unbanded) since May 2018. Estimated hatch year: 2014

ℹResident Bald Eagle female: Jackie (unbanded) since September 2016. Estimated hatch year: 2012

Sunny is 207 days old, Gizmo is 203 days old (as of 27 Sept).

🔗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

🔠Eagle Glossary + Acronyms +Useful Links: https://bit.ly/2Ln0GAN

📖Big Bear Eagle History: https://www.friendsofbigbearvalley.org/eagle-history/

On Monday, the 22nd of September, our family said goodbye to our oldest grandson, Zak, who died in a tragic accident on the 15th. He was soon to be twenty-nine years old. His father was our son who was killed in a car accident twenty-six years ago. Zak was enormously funny and very kind; we are so grateful that we got to see him a year ago. A new tree has been added to the garden.

Needless to say, this has not been the most productive time, although distractions were welcome, and the return of Akecheta gave me hope for all manner of things.

We spent Sunday restoring our spirits in the woods of the Birds Hill Park. Toby was so good. We were shocked that he did not even bark when the chickadees came to take their Black oil seed.

Oh, lots of news in Bird World.

We saw him injured and cried. He was photographed several months later near Ojai, California on the mainland and now Akecheta has returned to the West End where he raised eaglets with Thunder. Thunder suddenly left her eggs (Makaio’s) and I still wonder if she didn’t see Akecheta and follow him. We wait to see if she shows up and if they are in camera range.

Akecheta has not been seen since the 25th at the West End. That was Thursday.

On May 18, Akecheta was photographed near Lake Casitas, California on the mainland.

Here is the chronology of the drama from Jann Gallivan around the nest of Thunder and Akecheta:

Cornell Bird Lab has posted the results of the necroscopy on Big Red and Arthur’s O1. She died of West Nile Virus.

The progress of the Royal Cam chick on her race to get to the waters off of Chile and Peru. Thanks, Holly Parsons.

Heavy rain is hitting Gabby and Beau’s nest south of Jacksonville, Florida.

On Tuesday, Charlie was still at Charlo Montana while Dad was last seen at the Boulder County Fair Grounds Saturday morning the 20th. It appears that both have started migration now.

Rosie appears to have started her migration late this week from the SF Golden Gate Audubon Osprey nest.

What happens when glaciers recede? The Guardian tells us.

‘Like walking through time’: as glaciers retreat, new worlds are being created in their wakehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/13/switzerland-alps-fiesch-aletsch-glaciers-retreat-ecosystems-mountains-culture-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

Fall is a wonderful time of year to see many wildlife species as the leaves give way and the birds and animals linger feeding before winter. USFWS got some great images of the migrants.

I dream of seeing this number of Pink-footed Geese! Just look at those at the Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve in Scotland. Oh, I am dreaming.

Sightings of youngsters is always welcome. Those at Threave Ospreys are excited.

Newmann has a visitor at Great Spirit Bluff and Ashley Wilson caught 33/U!

Did this Norwegian osprey go off course, winding up in the UK? Thanks, Mary Cheadle.

It is simply beautiful fall weather on the Canadian prairies, and we have managed to squeeze in some time to go to the nature centre for a much-needed walk during the week. I particularly wanted to see some geese, and was not disappointed.

I am very concerned about the hurricanes in the Atlantic and their impact on the Bald Eagle nests in the NE of Florida like that of Gabby and Beau. Extreme Weather Chaser posted these images.

Keep an eye on the nests as these systems move through. For those of you living in the region of the storms, please stay safe!

Please let your voice be heard on the use of rodenticides in the UK! We know that they do not just kill rodents, and we also know that eagles, owls, hawks, harriers, and all manner of our feathered friends catch the rodents that have consumed these horrible toxins and die. Let the raptors eat the rodents! Raptor Persecution UK gives the details.

New consultation on Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs): your opportunity to tell t Download

‘A’ comments from Australia – (I can’t wait to see what they will say about Diamond’s egg):

“Yes, the spring equinox has ushered in some gorgeous weather – sunny and not at all hot (15C today but it’s been up to 22C in recent days). The trees are blossoming, the bulbs are flowering and everything is energised. The birds are flirting and nest-building. Melobourne is not yet subtropical.

Mr and Mrs Crow are huge birds with huge appetites.They like to grab chicken carcasses and fly it to a flat rooftop over my back fence (a three-storey block of units), where they eat at their leisure. There must be a lot of regurgitated bones and the like on that rooftop!

Mr and Mrs Magpie definitely have a nest but do they have eggs yet? I suspect they might, as I have been seeing them both but not together. And Mr Magpie has been removing food from the garden, which is unusual. I suspect he is taking it to Mrs Magpie on their nest. It’s nearly the end of September, and the falcons have had three eggs for a couple of weeks now, so I’d be surprised if that were not the situation with the magpies. Interestingly, by summertime, the magpies are sometimes accompanied by a fledgling from the previous year as well as the one from the current year. I have no idea whether the gender of the fledgling has any impact on whether this occurs but it’s interesting to see the family group – mum, dad, and a couple of kids. (I usually see only one fledgling per season – I really should do some reading on magpie breeding because I don’t even know why there’s only one fledgling per season (siblicide/food shortage or only one fertile egg).

Those sea eaglets in Sydney are so gorgeous as their juvenile plumage comes in. I hate watching them nearing fledge however, based on previous years. I wish I could think of ways to give them a better chance of surviving after fledge – the annual rescue with mixed success and the loss of contact with no way of knowing whether they even survive. It’s an awful end to a season of watching them daily and counting their bites and growing to know and love each one of them. I think it’s the seeming inevitability that makes it so hard.

At Collins Street, the parents are so patient, sitting on those eggs day and night, rain or shine. Dad has this endearing habit of chatting to the eggs in a tiny, squeaky little voice. It’s adorable. And you are SO right about male falcons. They are the cutest things. Gimbir has learned to deliver the fruits of his hunts (he is a very good hunter) to Diamond – now, all he has to work out are her preferences, though she has very kindly accepted and actually partaken3 of a starling gift, no doubt trying to encourage him. Such an odd couple, with Gimbir so young and tiny and Diamond a matriarch old enough to be his great-grandmother and at least twice his size. But if we had to lose Xavier (and he is dreadfully missed) I am glad that Diamond has found a new mate.

At Port Lincoln, the incubation continues, with mum doing most of the egg sitting and dad getting in egg time whenever he can (and sometimes being tardy about leaving again – mum has had to apply the foot more than once). Three eggs laid over the course of a week does concern me. I’m sorry to repeat myself but I do wish they had stuck to two. I suppose three eggs at Port Lincoln has far too many memories of Zoe for my liking. Still, the Fish Fairy has arrived since (and perhaps because of) the Zoe season. I keep wondering what that taught us about spoiled first hatches and their survival skills. Zoe certainly seemed to lack them!

The information about the breeding habits of the albatross was interesting. The updates on some of the birds from previous years were fabulous. I am glad YRK has a new mate, although we always grieve for those who are missing. We must advocate for an end to the eating of tuna!

Of course we check everything for safety before offering it to the birds because they will eat all sorts of leftovers, raw and cooked, so obviously, I don’t want to do anything dangerous through ignorance. In that manner, I discovered that avocado is deadly for birds – it damages their liver. The magpies in particular love a walnut as a special treat – that’s safe for them.

It is so good to see Gabby and Beau together. And the return of Akecheta is wonderful news. Do we think he has perhaps been recovering from an injury? What else would have kept him away, I wonder. “

The Ventana Wildlife Society has a monthly chat. If you missed the one in September, the link is here. There are other links to the different cameras for watching the condors.

Missed It? Watch September’s Chat Download

We still have ospreys in Nova Scotia, Canada. At other sites, winter occupants have arrived, including Colin the Cormorant at the Rutland Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya and Fred the Heron, captured on the nest by Barb and Bob Larsen at Boulder County.

Thank you so much for being with us today. We look forward to having you with us next Monday, when we will be sharing several book suggestions! In the meantime, please take care. Put your devices away and go outside to restore your spirit.

I want to thank our notable contributor, ‘SK Hideaways’ for their videos highlighting the nests we are following, ‘A’ for their Australian commentary, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos and the authors of posts such as Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all others, often too many to name but whom I have tried to cite in bold. I am very grateful to you and to the newspapers and journals that still cover environmental issues as they relate to our precious feathered friends. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

Wow! Everyone loves Gabby and Beau…Friday in Bird World

5 September 2025

Good Morning Everyone!

It has been rainy and grey for most of Wednesday and all day Thursday. I am so tired of rain. Please let the sun and warm weather return for a bit!

Toby spent the afternoon with his friend Nellie while I took Don to a doctor’s appointment. Toby and Nellie are besties.

Don has Hemachromatosis, and we have been working hard to get those Iron levels in his body down, along with ‘phlebotomies’—such a funny name. Well, we went from the high 160s to 13 Iron. He doesn’t even have to have any blood taken out until 2026. We are pleased, and his doctor is a ‘sweetie’. She lives in our neighbourhood and also feeds all the wildlife, including four baby raccoons. She kissed Toby’s picture on my phone, and she has eight rescue cats while driving a Mojito Lime coloured Jeep. I adore her!

The overwhelming response to Gabby’s arrival filled my inbox – it lit up with over 300 emails. Has it been such a sad year for the ospreys that the safe arrival of this iconic Bald Eagle has given us hope? She is gorgeous, looks fit, and Beau was undoubtedly happy to see her!!!!!!!

I will keep you informed as this has always been one of my favourite nests.

SK Hideaways video offerings on some of our favourite nests!

While Jackie & Shadow are Away, the Critters Do Play ~ 24-Hours in Their Habitat (2-3 Sept 2025)

It’s a veritable menagerie in Jackie and Shadow’s paradise habitat. Over a 24-hour period here are just a few of the critters we saw:

~ Band-tailed Pigeons

~ Lodgepole Chipmunk

~ Mountain Chickadee

~ San Bernardino Squirrels Fiona & Fast Freddie

~ Cooper’s Hawk

~ Common Raven

~ Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

~ Stellar’s Jay

Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley

Diamond and Gimbir ~ 3 Bonding Sessions + 2 (Sort of) Mating Attempts (4 Sept 2025)

Diamond’s new suitor, Gimbir, has been very keen to impress and getting very familiar with the nest box over the past 3 days. This morning, they bonded three times before 6:00 a.m. and even shared a beaky kiss. They then met on the tower for one decent mating attempt and one miss. It’s fascinating to watch this new relationship unfold, while we humans still struggle with the loss of Xavier. We do believe that falcons have emotions, but they are certainly nothing like the human variety, which bodes well for their survivability.

Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW

Revolving Changeovers with Dad’s Lullaby and Mum’s Melbourne Shuffle (2 Sep 2025, 5:15-9:16 a.m.)

Dad arrived early for the first changeover. The next four came in relatively quick succession. Dad sang his chirping lullabies and Mum did her magnificent Melbourne Shuffle atop the eggs. These chicks will know who’s who when they hatch.

Courtesy 367 Collins St. Falcon Cam

South Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oibsohQ14cY

North Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNKk0ivuWe4

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 4th September 2025
Not much activity today, a few songbirds visited and an RAF Atlas transporter was seen on both nest cams but the most interesting event today is a post from George with some season wrap up statistics. The Osprey cam page is the most visited of the entire Woodland Trust website – of course! – with over 100,000 visitors clocking up 1,000,000 web sessions, and along with the Friends of Loch Arkaig and Morag Hughes’ big swim, has generated £25,000 in donations. Let’s give ourselves a pat on the back, and big thanks to George for moderating this forum which along with the nest cams is the best entertainment around. Thanks to Postcode Lottery for sponsoring the cams. Link to George’s post:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=27858631
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.03.53 (

05.41.38); Nest Two 20.57.38 (05.50.52)
Today’s videos: noneBonus retail opportunity –

Woodland Trust tree calendar 2026 includes a stunning photo of Loch Arkaig:05.26.28

https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/woodland-trust-tree-calendar-2026Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/f9xGkReEs2o N1 Three fish one after another for Lachlan 2017 (thanks Scylla)
https://youtu.be/TjCNVR0D0dA N1 Rannoch gets a fresh flapping flounder 2019 (thanks Scylla)https://youtu.be/ghdrU4ka5_U N1 Good grief – more fish! Number five arrives 2020
https://youtu.be/K03sHXEtezg N2 Ouch! Louis gets his leg pulled 2022
https://youtu.be/XusFfpEKwHA N2 Sarafina leaves as the Hoodies move in 2022
https://youtu.be/3sGLsMZX-Yk N2 Fish number four causes a bit of a fankle 2022

https://youtu.be/tQhK-KB1690 N2 Little bird looks tiny on Dorcha’s perch 2023

‘A’ brings us the latest commentary on the Australian nests- and I do love this personal take on nests in the country where she lives:

“Breakfast was early at WBSE this morning, with Lady feeding some leftover fish to the littles before 6am. Little SE36 woke up in the prime position so was offered the first couple of bites and was brave enough to take them, despite the looming of SE35 from behind. It decided not to push things, however, and allowed its larger sibling to eat then, until it had taken the edge off its early morning appetite. Both are getting enough to eat and are looking good. Preening is the order of the day today, with both obviously feeling very itchy as they learn about feathers. They are just too adorable for words. And so sweet.

Meanwhile, in the course of comparing last season to this, I notice that this year’s chicks are being called by the same numbers as last year’s (SE35 and SE36). Is this an oversight? I am confused (though it is worth noting that this is an almost constant state and it is particularly easy to confuse me, so that’s not exactly a measure of anything whatsoever). Why are this year’s chicks not SE37 and SE38? Surely they should be.

We will probably not see SSTrig chick fledge and her absence from the hilltop will be our only hint that she is no longer on the headland. The rangers do a daily sweep of the area and the nests in an attempt to pinpoint the departures, but they cannot be sure whether an individual chick has left the building or whether it is just exploring potential take-off points (as SSTrig has been doing of late). They do a regular head count and estimates are based on that (and of course on the rescue of birds who ditch in the bay and have to be given a second attempt at fledging). What a wonderful thing it is to know that these rangers devote their lives to helping these exquisite birds and that they are being given every bit of help they can possibly need. Supplementary feedings, hydration, sprinkler systems in the heat of January and February, weekly weighings to monitor their weight gain and vet checks where needed, not to mention the incubators that allow these eggs to hatch in a perfect environment, untouched by flies or other pests. It truly is a beautiful thing, and the closest thing to a worry-free live stream you’re ever likely to find. The fact that these birds are the stuff of seafaring legends and can live (and breed) into the seventies (thinking of Wisdom of course, although she is a Laysan albatross rather than a royal northern albatross, but the distinction is largely irrelevant from the perspective of adoring the albatross) is just awe-inspiring before you even consider their amazing endurance and their incredible inbuilt GPS allowing them to negotiate journeys covering thousands of kms with such precision that they return to within 50 metres of their natal nest. Just beyond belief. No wonder they are perhaps the most fascinating of birds. Certainly they are one of the most loveable, with their gentle nature, their grace and their beauty. Their dedication to raising their one chick per season is awe-inspiring, sitting for days and days, even weeks, as they await the return of a mate to take over incubation. But there is no need to go on. You know exactly why I adore the albatross so much. Such a very special bird.

SSTrig chick is either becoming better acquainted with the camera or attempting to eat it. Whatever she is doing, she is making a racket and is in such exxtreme close-up that it is difficult to tell which bit of her we are seeing. She really has been a very adventurous albie, building herself a new nest and constructing several play nests during her months on the headland. Obviously, curiosity is a big feature of this chick – she has been fascinating to watch as she has explored her surroundings. She has even reconoitred some of the take-offs her parents use when they leave after feedings, as if she is planning her departure and plotting her path to the skies. Seriously. Why else would she be exploring those particular pathways down the headland? Whether it’s intelligence or some inner GPS, these birds circumnavigate the globe, and the fact that they return to within 50 metres of the nest in which they hatched after a journey of several thousand kms is absolutely mind-blowing. This little one’s big day is rapidly approaching. In fact, she could leave pretty much at any point now. September has arrived and with it two important things: football finals and the first flight of the Taiaroa Head albatross chicks. Both are events filled with equal parts joy and fear. Anticipation and trepidation. Godspeed, gorgeous birds. Return safely.

Just an update on Taiaroa Head. The beginning of the end has arrived, with the most recent sweep of the nests revealing that when the winds came up on Monday (1 September), we saw the departure of the first of this year’s chicks. She was 223 days old. Usefully, she happens to be one of the chicks to be given GPS tags this season, so we can track her progress as she heads towards South America. It appears obvious that SS Trig’s parents are aware that their offspring is on the verge of her own great journey, coming in very frequently over the past week or so to feed her. She has had two feedings today (4 September) and was also fed twice yesterday I believe. There are obviously a couple of other chicks on the headland who are readying themselves for departure, with rangers finding three boluses so far, two of which contained plastic. SS Trig chick has been practising her hovering and getting some good air under her wings, but she has been lighter than average pretty much throughout her life so far, and I hope she is strong enough for her big adventure. It seems strange that they empty their stomachs before leaving when their next meal will also have to be their first catch. Yes, I know they are trying to remove any excess weight, but if they are using wind currents rather than wing flapping for most of their flight, then surely having the caloric buffer would be the wiser choice. It just goes to show how little we humans know, eh?

And a reminder that it was on 3 September 2022 that Royal Cam chick Lillibet fledged, the first of that season’s chicks to do so. I cried and cried that day. I still believe it was a fludge – the winds associated with that storm were so strong, and she had been practising her hovering and slipped on the ultra-slippery headland and up she went. And headed off into the storm. I was watching it live at the time, and could hardly believe my eyes. She lost her footing, ended up in the air and decided to keep going. At least that’s what I saw. Little Lillibet. Named after the Queen, a great lady who will be tremendously missed.

As I type, the open tab from Orange is suddenly a burst of e-chups as a bonding session begins between Gimbir and Diamond. Gimbir is becoming more confident around her, though making sure his exit from the box is secured at all times. This is a lengthy bonding session. Both birds have gigantic crops – Gimbir’s is particularly huge. He certainly is a good hunter but so far has not been observed sharing his bounty. Certainly, they are very interested in each other, and their bonding sessions are frequent (at least a dozen a day). This one is continuing, having lasted several minutes already. I am so glad Diamond is not alone. ”

And more from A: “I’m sure you’re aware that we have the first egg at Port Lincoln. Dad is proving a good provider and brought in a niced celebratory fish for mum. He also took over incubating while she ate her fish.

He’s also brought in some nesting material, which she approved of and has incorporated into the nest structure. These two seem to chat a lot and appear to have a very convivial relationship. I’m never certain that the birds we are seeing are the same two as last year – I can never tell, despite the fact that the pattern on their heads is apparently as distinctive as a fingerprint so some of the viewers have surely done a computer comparison of photos from last year’s stream with those from this year. But certainly, the behaviours of the birds (both individually and in their interactions with each other) appear different year to year, and certainly this year’s pair seem much more relaxed and much more closely bonded than last year’s. So make of that what you will.

At WBSE, little SE36 (or is it SE38 and if not, why not) is so much smaller than its sibling. It simply has to be a male with a big sister, surely, given their identical sizes 24 hours after the second hatch. And again, I wonder what research has been done on the relationship between gender and hatch order, because it certainly seems as though the first hatches are more often female and the second hatches male. There could be many very good reasons for this in terms of species survival, and I could definitely speculate along those lines. But it could be purely illusory – we are more aware of those nests because we become attached to the smaller male eaglet and therefore we tend to remember the female first hatches with little brothers. I would like to know though. I’m sure work has been done on it.

Spring has sprung here in Melbourne – the sun is out and the trees are beginning to blossom, while the birds are flirting and nest building – a lovely time of the year and my personal favourite.”

Do you live near St. Louis? Why not travel to the World Bird Sanctuary for International Vulture Awareness Day this weekend?

Visit WBS this Saturday Sept 6 2025 for International Vulture Awareness Day Download

What are vultures and why are they important?

For the kid in all of us: https://youtu.be/P0si5myKEfA?

Why are vultures important? https://youtu.be/kwZKP3idR70?

And a longer one from Audubon – Vultures, the Unloved Bird: https://youtu.be/Tmzla2KarFk?

Look at this amazing King Vulture!

“King Vulture” by Me in ME is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Another beauty you might know: the Maltese White Backed Vulture

“In search of the Maltese Falcon #13 – White Backed Vulture, Malta Falconry Centre” by foxypar4 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

There is an army of women in India protecting the General Adjutant. They are known as the Hargila Army. The Hargila Army is an all-women grassroots conservation movement in Assam, India, founded by Dr. Purnima Devi Barman to save the threatened Greater Adjutant Stork (Hargila). This group of thousands of women educates their communities, installs protective nets for nests, and plants trees to restore the storks’ habitat. Through weaving stork designs into traditional clothing and other cultural activities, they have successfully changed the negative perception of the bird, increased local pride, empowered women, and even helped move the stork from endangered to “near threatened” status.

Community Engagement:The army, named after the stork, consists of thousands of women who go village to village to raise awareness and educate others about the storks.
Habitat Protection:They plant trees to create better nesting sites and install nets to protect chicks from falling from their nests.
Rescue Efforts:Members also care for injured chicks at wildlife centers and work to free rescued birds back into their natural habitats.
Cultural Integration:The women weave the Greater Adjutant into their traditional clothing and create folk songs and celebrations featuring the bird, transforming it from a disliked bird to a symbol of pride and a source of income.
Pioneering Conservation:Dr. Purnima Devi Barman’s community-led approach, which incorporates traditional practices and empowers local women, has been crucial to the program’s success.

Impact of the Hargila Army

Population Growth:Thanks to the efforts of the Hargila Army, the population of Greater Adjutant Storks in Assam has significantly increased.
Status Improvement:The bird’s population growth has led to its reassessment by the IUCN from “endangered” to “near threatened”.
Women’s Empowerment:The movement has provided thousands of women with a new identity, a sense of pride, and an opportunity for economic empowerment through weaving and garment sales.
Global Recognition:The conservation model has been shared and is being replicated in other regions, including Cambodia.

Protection for the General Adjutant (Greater Adjutant) involves community-led conservation efforts, including nesting site support, raising awareness, and cultural integration, especially in areas like Assam, India, where local groups like the Hargila Army have significantly increased nest numbers.The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List with a recovery trend but remains dependent on continued efforts to prevent population decline.

Key Conservation Measures

Community Engagement:Local communities, particularly women in Assam, have become active participants in conservation through initiatives like the Hargila Army, which involves cultural programming, educational programs, and local pride in the birds.
Nest Protection:Conservationists have implemented strategies to protect young birds, including placing nets below nests to prevent injuries from falls and raising fallen chicks for several months before their release.
Habitat Improvement:Conservation efforts focus on protecting the nesting trees and surrounding habitat, a key factor in the species’ recovery.
Cultural Integration:The importance of the Greater Adjutant has been integrated into local culture through songs, art, and even prayers, shifting public perception from seeing the birds as pests to valued residents.

Challenges and Current Status

IUCN Status:The Greater Adjutant’s conservation status has improved from Endangered to Near Threatened due to dedicated conservation work, though it remains a species dependent on ongoing support.
Population Size:The global population of mature Greater Adjutants is still moderately small (around 1,360-1,510 individuals), making it vulnerable to declines if conservation efforts weaken.

Examples of Success

In Kamrup district, Assam, the number of Greater Adjutant nests has grown from 27 to over 210 in just thirteen years, a significant increase attributed to the community’s involvement.
A scholarship program for children whose families host nests has been established, and a Hargila Learning Centre and museum have been created, further empowering local communities to protect the birds.

My friend Michael St. John cannot stop seeing birds in the wrong place. Today, he was off to try and spot some raptors, including the elusive Blue KW0, a UK osprey that wound up in Barbados two years ago. Michael saw him first and caused an international discussion! Today, he spotted a Eurasian Spoonbill casually standing in the water. Michael is very humble. His e-bird list is long and he has only been watching birds for a few years. I think he is inspirational to all of us to get out and look! Congratulations, Michael, on this and the Hen Harrier sighting a few weeks ago! You deserve a medal. And now confirmed, it is the first sighting of a Hen Harrier in the Americas! Michael got this note confirming:

From: Andrew Dobson <andrewdobs@gmail.com>

Subject: Re: First Hen Harrier for Barbados?

Date: 5 September 2025 at 2:38:11 AM GMT-4

To: Michael St John <mstjohn@glacialpure.com>

Dear Michael

Not just for Barbados, but for the Americas! This is amazing news. I know Richard Porter very well and I have met Mark Avery. I wouldn’t argue with any of the raptor experts, especially Richard and Dick Fosman. I think you should amend your eBird record.

I’ll amend my seasonal report to NAB immediately. Are you able to send me your best photos? It might even knock the Pallid Harrier off the front page. About time you had a Northern Harrier to complete the set!

Best wishes

Andrew

‘The Girls’ are doing very well! Toby loves them and has learned to play gently with Missey. Hugo Yugo and Toby are real circus performers leaping, running, tumbling, and playing hide and seek. Hope sits and watches. Calico can be pretty cranky and she will push Toby back. I was told Calicos are different. These two are but I adore them. As of today, Baby Hope has been with us for two years. It was two years ago that she came to the feral feeder and we were able to trap her almost immediately. If you have forgotten the story of Calico and Hope or are new to my blog, here is their story:

The Story of Calico and Hope Download

In an effort to make more ‘higher’ spaces for The Girls, instead of rushing off to buy another cat tree, we moved this old Asian dresser to the garden window when we moved the large cat tree for Hope to the sitting room. Each of the cats has decided it is pretty nice on that quilt. This time it was Hugo Yugo’s turn.

Missey wanted to be on that soft quilt but Hugo Yugo wasn’t prepared to move. She has just jumped on the island and is in a bit of a snit.

Baby Hope is feeling so much better.

Calico took over the top of the little cat tree and isn’t moving either. Calico is very sweet. I cannot imagine not having her and her only surviving baby in our lives. It has been just over two years since Calico decided to step into that cat carrier and join our menagerie.

The deer near my friend on the way to drop off Toby.

I am enclosing this posting from Wildlife Haven today, not for your to donate, but for you to see one of the rare animals they are caring for – a baby lynx. This is my local rescue and they do amazing work – remember the turtle with the soft shell and the invention of the device by Dr Tess to raise the shell off the back and get it hard again. That turtle was released after a year of care. If you live in Manitoba, Wildlife Haven has its Open House on September 20 and 21 this year. Go to their website to purchase tickets. You will have the opportunity to meet all the ambassadors and see the surgeries, the new flight wing, and more. It will be $10 well spent as it goes directly to the care of the wildlife they rescue.

Rare Baby Lynx Rescue Download

Toby is attaching the latest post from the blog, Walking with Daddy. Beautiful images of a Sparrowhawk encountering a Magpie. Enjoy!

A sparrowhawk on Shoreham Beach Download

Just some notes. Idris is still feeding Brianne at the Dyfi Osprey Platform breaking all manner of records.

At Rutland, 8, Maya, and Blue 33 are still home. 9K5 is still on the Gilestone nest in the Usk Valley in Wales along with dad. Ron is back at the Dade County nest and has been for a few days. Nova Scotia Ospreys are still home. O2 was spotted on the Cornell Campus along with Big Red. – Will catch up with all of them on Monday.

We can make a difference. Wild Justice is happy to announce that an adventure playground is illegal in Wales.

Wild Justice Good news Download

Thank you so much for being with us today. We will check on our favourite raptors again on Monday! Take care. Enjoy the weekend – get out and look for birds migrating through your area and remember to ask people to turn off their lights and if you can pursuade the powers in your community who control lighting, tell them why it is important for migrating birds to have the skies dark. Plus it saves money with high energy costs. We will look forward to having you with us!

I want to thank our notable contributors, ‘A, Geemeff, and SK Hideaways’, Michael St John for sharing his birding adventures, the owners of the streaming cams whose information and images we used, the individuals who take the time to create videos ande post them on YouTube, and the administrators of FB groups such as Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all others, often too many to name. I am very grateful to you and to the newspapers that still cover environmental issues as well as the rescues such as Wildlife Haven who give our friends a second chance. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

Monday in Bird World

25 August 2025

Good Morning Everyone!

We hope the last week has been kind to each of you. Thank you so much for your best wishes for my little mini-break! And for sending me news. I love that you keep me informed about your favourite nests! It is the end of August and the UK ospreys are making their way south except for some adults left with starving fledglings demanding fish after fish. The dads and some mums are still delivering. What dedication!

We have watched the weather and worried as many wildlife sanctuaries, such as the one for turtles, got washed into the sea with all of their nests destroyed by Hurricane Erin. I wondered about the ospreys and other wildlife in those areas – and it is just the beginning of the season. We must remind ourselves that worrying does not help anything, but action does. If weather impacts wildlife in your area, find out what you can do to help!

We had our mini-break to Hecla Island. Many of you will recall that this tiny provincial park located on the other side of Grassy Narrows is the one place that calms my mind. I love nothing more than walking along the shore, listening to the waves pound against the rocks, and watching all the waterfowl with the Bald Eagles flying overhead. This short time did not disappoint. The minute we got to the southern shore (the northern part of the island is full of cottages with way too many people), where the original Icelandic settlers fished and built their homes, a Bald Eagle flew overhead. She landed in a tree about 10 metres from where we had parked. There was a single American White Pelican near the fishing dock with numerous ducks bobbing around. The swans were near the causeway, and we immediately spotted the lone Bald Eagle that sits atop the same tree when the water is calm, while the cormorants dry their wings on the old pier. To me, the isolation and lack of people on that southern shore is idyllic.

For years, I have longed for one of the houses to go on sale, and this time, there were three! All looked out over the water, and each had enough land to make certain there were no neighbours overlooking us. Any of the offerings, but I did have my favourite, would make a perfect home for us as well as a writer’s retreat for visitors. Toby and I would not have to go far to listen to the roar of the waves on a stormy day. It is a dream that I have and will struggle with. My heart says ‘go for it’ and my head tells me that it is the most non-sensical thing I could ever imagine doing at this point in my life. There are only about a dozen families that live in the village. Few of the owners of the cottages in the northern area travel to the island during the winter despite the roads being cleared by the province as the few children living there need to go to school. The closest very small town, Riverton, is an hour away. I think you understand the issues. There are no young people. These are brought in for the summer and given accommodation and meals by the various businesses along with other perks – so I will visit and walk along the shore from time to time imaginging. It has taken me awhile to get my support system in place and well, who would look after the garden animals and birds? Mind you, Toby thinks he is the ‘protector of the realm’ and the Blue Jays dive bomb him when he goes out and tries to get them to leave!

The Girls did very well. They are spoiled for love and cuddles when Anne looks after them. Toby is an excellent traveller. He really enjoyed the long walks. There were no wasps, and the sunsets were to die for! We will head back next year – I don’t think we will make it again this year, but one never knows.

We spent Sunday doing a chore that has been the monkey on my shoulder. My bestie gave me a way that she deals with things. Ask yourself: “What do I need now?” At 0400 Sunday morning, when Toby needed to go outside and I sat and all sorts of silly things swirling through my head – I asked myself what it is that I really need now. The answer was: to fix the back gate so Toby could not get out the bottom where Brock had dug through and to secure the entire perimeter of the property along with stacking the truckload of wood for the woodburner, to bag all the cut vines, and put anything else in the pile to be picked up and taken for disposal. Why did I think this was going to be so daunting? Allowing myself to worry about Toby every time he ran through the ‘dark corridor’. He is safe. I have no reason to worry anymore, and everything was cleared up thanks to Don and Toby’s help in less than 4 hours. Crazy! Wonder what it will be tomorrow? It is undoubtedly a good way to zero in on what is an absolute priority for creating peace.

So, let’s get down to what is happening in Bird World. I always look forward to the reports of the Seattle ospreys because it is such a positive nest in the US. Not on a streaming cam but with the amazing images that ‘PS’ takes, who needs a streaming cam!

An update from ‘PS’ on the Seattle Osprey – I continue to visit most every other day, and the story has been fairly consistent: the fledglings are on or very nearby the nest when I arrive, they spend most of the time calling incessantly for food, and Dad continues to do his best to deliver fish after fish to the nest. Many visits will see multiple fish deliveries and scrums as both young try to box each other out from the fish. Today I saw Dad coming in with a fish but he did not come to the nest, instead veering off to some other location, only showing up 20 minutes later with half the salmon – I hope he enjoyed his lunch, hard earned as it is after almost a month of being a single parent! I know the days of the Osprey here are drawing to a close for this season, so I continue to just enjoy their company and marvel at their ongoing journey. Along with Dad, I eagerly await signs of the fledglings fishing on their own! Pictures all updated here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/193514804@N08/BkZ9wUYk4M, and a few attached.

Those Dads must have invisible steel boots or something. The fledglings can be rather fierce when a fish hits the nest!

SK Hideaways sends us her weekend videos! Each contains good news – as they say, ‘It is good news for a change!” That is what we want.

Here are this weekend’s videos. All good news for a change!

SE35 & SE36 Enjoy Sunshine, Full Crops, and Each Other 2025 Aug 23

After a soggy few days, the sun shone and the chicks seemed much more content. This was largely due to an increase in feedings, which were, for the most part, peaceful. Here we see SE35 and SE36 interacting between meals ~ cuddling, showing curiosity, and checking each other out.

SE35 is 8 days old; SE36 is 7 days old

Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park

SNEAK PREVIEW! First Egg of 2025 2025 Aug 24

367 Collins St. Falcons, pair for 2025 not yet confirmed

A pre-screening of the south-facing camera gave us the opportunity to see mum (possibly F24) and her first egg of the 2025 season. Complete coverage will likely be available after she lays her second egg.

Courtesy 367 Collins St. Falcon Cam

Sun Rises on Haku & MV’s Shenanigans

West End Eagles ~ Catalina Island, CA, home of Haku & MV (24 August 2025)

After two days away, Haku returned and she and MV roosted together overnight. Arriving to the nest before dawn, they began their flirtations, beaking and nipping. Sunrise bathed the couple in beautiful orange light as their shenanigans continued. Haku brought 2 sticks before MV, first, and then she departed for their morning activities.

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org

Dad Brings Breakfast ~ Mum Wants It In the Dining Room

Dad delivered breakfast and a full-cropped mum flew off to an adjacent ledge, beckoning him to bring the food gift over. After having a think, dad did, indeed, take the gift to the alternate location. He then returned to look after the egg, giving mum a little longer to relax. After she returned, he came back shortly after to give her another break.

He sounds like M24 to me, but awaiting Victor’s confirmation.

Courtesy 367 Collins St. Falcon Cam

It will not be long until Geemeff prepares her last summary of the Loch Arkaig nest as the season is truly winding to a close. Everyone is gone. Louis and Dorcha raised two beautiful and spunky fledglings to the delight of all of us. I worried that Louis would not return from migration as he appeared ill at the end of the 2024 season. Let us all hope that he returns safely in 2026 – along with Dorcha and everyone else in the nests around the loch.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 24th August 2025
No action on the nests apart from some passing passerines dropping in to Nest two for a few moments, followed later by a pair of Hoodies. The songbirds might have found the odd insect but there’s nothing for the crows as the last fish was delivered on the 21st and Darah took it away to eat in our final sighting of both him and Louis. So Season Nine is a wrap, and we need to entertain ourselves until next Spring when the Ospreys return and Season Ten begins.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.45.12 (05.09.21); Nest Two 21.45.03 (05.29.09)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/CRk6kJgh5ZA N2 A few passing passerines drop in briefly 11.07.30

https://youtu.be/rDVfYTYRAbQ N2 The Ospreys have left, and it’s just Hoodies on the nest 14.23.37

Bonus early bird retail opportunity – Woodland Trust Christmas cards are on sale:

https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/search?q=christmas
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/VvGqTSgSxyA N1 Lots of little bird action on the nest (2019)
https://youtu.be/JakqjqeE_s0 N1 While the big birds are away, little ones play (2020)
https://youtu.be/9UT98bV0-I0 N1 Migrated? Not yet! Louis brings a fish and Vera’s still here (2020)
https://youtu.be/dY8R3Lbd4sg N2 Lovely to see the sisters sharing a peaceful breakfast (2022)
https://youtu.be/Qw_cT02Erk4 N2 Poor Louis is rounded on by Sarafina (2022)
https://youtu.be/72zu6_K4oXY N2 A flurry of feathers as several little songbirds visit (2022)
https://youtu.be/lYfeOl0_oJE N2 Willow drops in for a quick visit (2022)https://youtu.be/8kBEq0lUOac N2 Three fish in under 22 minutes (06.00.34; 06.08.22; 06.22.04) 2023
https://youtu.be/vkusuZVcYPU N2 Hoodies hoover up all the fish 2023
https://youtu.be/-QRtjvZ5UyQ N2 Louis brings a huge live trout 2023
https://youtu.be/qoaMma5b9H8 N2 Up close with the Hoodies – too close for Ludo’s comfort 2023
https://youtu.be/1U65cIBGD34 N2 Louis brings his final fish before departing for this year 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/ObH3LWZUEdY N2 Farewell Louis! Confirmed last sighting for 2023 (slo-mo zoom)
https://youtu.be/7H8w3syAD-g N2 Ludo leaves with his fish as the Hoodies move in 2023https://youtu.be/G0P_EDGq-Rk N1 Pair of Great Tits visit briefly 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 22nd August 2025
No Darach and no Louis today, just a handful of little songbirds visited the nests. If Darach has left, we wish him and all migrating Ospreys fair winds and plenty of fish. An Osprey was heard faintly in the distance which sounded like Louis, audio boosted video in the today’s videos section so you can judge for yourself. George will start preparing the official season highlights video soon, you are encouraged to give your favourite clips a like on YouTube, and they might make it into the finished video. The weather was settled today and continues unchanged overnight and tomorrow, with gentle breezes making good weather for flying or practising fishing. Some forum members are saying their goodbyes, but last year Garry LV0 surprised us with an appearance several days after we thought he’d left already. So we may be lucky and have a final visit or two, but as always with the Ospreys, it’s wait and see.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.40.30 (05.23.49); Nest Two 21.33.26 (05.27.13)

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/Ooiltm0MHQ4 N2 Osprey calls heard faintly in the distance, no one seen – Louis? 12.34.37 (audio boosted)Bonus retail therapy – if you’re already missing the family, this jigsaw puzzle might help while away time until spring:

https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/woodland-trust-loch-arkaig-osprey-jigsaw
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/pjJCAzssSZ8 N1 Rannoch flies with a fish in each foot 2019
https://youtu.be/yrCaFoWeZ9M  N1 Rain & beetles: preview of the nest in winter 2019
https://youtu.be/zVGCWpTEZkk  N1 Captain’s late and Vera gets the breakfast 2020
https://youtu.be/tFI69QwILNk N1 Sole survivor of a Danse Macabre 2020 (Classic Ospreys – Saint-Saëns)
https://youtu.be/PL53jPyMZtI N1 Confirmed: the very last sighting of Aila 2020
https://youtu.be/g-DN2wadCO0  N2 Louis brings a dawn fish to an empty nest 2022
https://youtu.be/_FTVaOnu2tw  N2 Willow arrives seconds before Louis to get fish three 2022
https://youtu.be/d3AkSNqL65Q  N2 Sarafina crash lands on Louis 2022https://youtu.be/SwxmM4Ng7bM N2 Ludo gets his tail tweaked by a hoodie! 2023
https://youtu.be/vfq_UdQynDQ N2 Corvid conference: three Jays and a Hoodie 2023

https://youtu.be/H_ddzxroEpkN1 Garry LV0 turns up after a 4-day absence! 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 23rd August 2025
Nothing to report, no sightings, not even distant Osprey calls as were heard yesterday. The season appears to be over. There is still a faint hope of a quick visit or maybe even a more northerly Osprey popping in on their way south, but it looks like our family have moved on. Final fish totals are 437 for Louis, 2 for Dorcha, and 141 for Garry. George will close this comments page soon, and post the official Woodland Trust season highlights video on this page in place of the livestreams. Sometime next March, George will reopen this page and we’ll all return to watch and wait for Louis & Dorcha, Garry & Aurora, and Affric & Prince to return. During the off-season, there are two main places to congregate – Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys on Facebook (membership required) and Adam’s family site on which he kindly makes a dedicated page available for us – Walking With Daddy / Osprey (uses Hyvor, no membership required). The nest cams can be seen throughout the year on YouTube, as long as the solar panels receive sufficient light, they might go off from time to time during prolonged bad weather. To be notified when the comments reopen, become a member, sign up to Woodland Trust notifications, or just keep checking this page in March.

Useful links:

Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/829595230542720

Walking With Daddy / Osprey:

https://walkingwithdaddy.com/osprey

Nest One livestream:

Nest Two livestream:

Woodland Trust Osprey cam 2025 video clips:

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.42.24 (05.08.26) Nest Two 21.34.11 (05.23.50) Today’s videos: none!
Bonus action – vote for your favourite contender for Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year (closes 19 September):

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/tree-of-the-year

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/WJEkMbcEdjc N1 Captain and Vera chatter to each other in rare harmony 2020

https://youtu.be/fK6OcJnAN_U N1 Confirmed: final sighting of Captain 2020

https://youtu.be/Pd-g9MEghug N1 So many fish, Vera ignores the fresh Silver Tourist 2020

https://youtu.be/W_tbe-gCkHs N2 Big bird, little bird, and a rainbow 2022

https://youtu.be/OLTCUuSdxqw N2 Harassing Hoodies get Sarafina’s fish 2022

https://youtu.be/wR3q19ooSvI N2 Willow’s turn to get a fish 2022

https://youtu.be/5k5OPMIcPMU N2 Tree Creeper creeps around 2023

https://youtu.be/YCBrtvH0N-E N2 Finally! First fish only arrives at suppertime 2023

https://youtu.be/zSj0-mjMtME N2 Ludo departs leaving fish2 behind 2023

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 21st August 2025Darach turned up this morning looking like he was limping again, but just like yesterday, whatever bothered him had cleared up by his next appearance. That was at lunchtime, to collect a large lively trout from Louis. In his eagerness to get the fish, he grabbed Louis’ leg and held on for a while before Louis was able to free himself. Perhaps it’s Louis who ought to be showing up with a limp! That fish took the nest total to four hundred and thirty nine, and at this time of year, begs the question how much longer will these last two remaining family members keep coming to the nest? No other action on Nest Two and none on Nest One apart from brief visits by some little songbirds, but George would like us nest cam watchers to take action and select our favourite video clips for inclusion in the official season highlights video, link to the details in the bonus section. The weather was settled, it’ll be

partly cloudy with light winds and a low of 9°C overnight, changing to sunny intervals and light winds with a high of 17°C tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.54.06 (05.04.11); Nest Two 21.59.45 (05.20.27)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/GFsZgfcyehI N2 Darach visits the nest but appears to be limping again 07.01.37https://youtu.be/uNZ7ySfg9VM N2 Darach gets a large lively fish from Louis – how many more? 12.34.48
Bonus action – select your favourite Woodland Trust video clips in preparation for the season summary, full details:https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=27522933

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/EFESyoIZBbs N1 Captain gets to the first fish before Vera 2020

https://youtu.be/chOE0W5yflU N1 Windy weather causes problems for Vera 2020

https://youtu.be/SjvNYi9ORUQ N1 Is Captain afraid to land because Vera’s there? 2020

https://youtu.be/isl01eB4yfI N2 Louis gets dragged across the nest 2022 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/Fyd3AAcVbP8 N2 Repeat intruder is finally identified – hello LV0! 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/5mnbQkI40Uc N2 Female sparrowhawk perches on Dorcha’s perch 2022 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/mwNXC6vdg3I N2 Milestone moment as Sarafina flies with fish for the first time 2022

https://youtu.be/n9IRTcR7Ov0 N2 No one’s there so Louis takes the fish away again 2023

https://youtu.be/roqXRkZyM3o N2 Aerial manoeuvres before Ludo and Louis land 2023

https://youtu.be/hbnViikSk-A N2 Who’s that bellowing boy? It’s Ludo with a fish! 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/f6JoGKn_g48 N2 Ludo departs without a fish supper 2023https://youtu.be/08N3dt1mD6k N1 A Warbler & Coal Tits visit 2024

Mary Cheadle is the force behind the fundraising for the Loch Arkaig nest and she posted this – it is beautiful and I hope no one minds my sharing it with you!

And fly they did. Don’t we wish we could spread our arms and hover, eventually flying to see our world from their perspective?

As we wind down the osprey season in the northern hemisphere, things are picking up in Australia and ‘A‘ is happy to supply us with their latest commentary on the nests we watch – Port Lincoln Ospreys, Olympic Park White Bellied Sea Eagles, Orange Peregrine Falcons, and the CBD (Central Business District) Falcons in Melbourne.

“August 22: Lady was awake very early and went to the old leatherjacket – urging Dad off. She was very wet, he was noticeably drier. A short feed, only SE35, then back brooding until Dad returned with a big whiting, which she claimed, eating the head. She didn’t feed the chicks then, although they were ready and cheeping. Rain started again. Dad brought a pigeon carcass at 8:19, claimed again by Lady – she fed again, SE35 doing very well, no aggression, but SE36 managed only a bite before the rain started again. Dad gave Lady a break just after 9am, feeding SE35 very well, then SE36 a few bites, before brooding them carefully. He fed them again later in the day, SE35 doing very well and SE36 feeding after as well. He then brooded again with Lady taking a good break. Late in the afternoon, he bought a nice beam. Lady managed a late feeding at the end of the day, with SE36 doing quite well after SE35 had finished. Some sibling rivalry during the day, but SE36 did eat. Dad fed them three times and had a couple of long sessions brooding. Then last thing, he brought another fish and fed Lady as she covered the chicks.

As the report indicates, Dad is doing very well at providing food, especially in all this rain. Lady is amazing as she dutifully broods the chicks through the night, her wings spread wide to give the chicks plenty of room and lots of protection from the elements. She is truly an amazing mum. Dad is relieving her as well as doing his hunting duties, and when he finished the day by feeding her, it was just too adorable. He understands that the babies, still without their thermal down at just a week old, are way too young to cope with being allowed to get soaking wet while Lady takes the time to eat.

I remain worried about SE36 because it really is getting just enough to eat – I have not seen its little crop really full even once so far in its short life, and this concerns me. There is not much margin for error here, and with all the rain, Dad really is doing a magnificent job of keeping plenty of food on the nest. If this changes, SE36 might be in trouble. I’m hoping the weather will clear and that SE36 gets the chance to eat until it is full at every meal. I try to remind myself that some version of this plays out every season and there is no siblicide on Dad and Lady’s nest, but it’s always hard to watch a younger sibling being shut out of feedings.

Meanwhile, we are slowly getting closer to egg watch at Port Lincoln and at Orange (Diamond and Xavier are mating too often at the moment to venture far from the tower, with lots of bonding and many food gifts – today, Diamond rejected two starlings before eventually accepting one).

I have not yet heard any news of the Collins Street scrape. The weekly ABC radio bird program last week discussed garden birds with no mention of the falcons. I try to catch it each week because it always gives us some news of the falcons when there is news to give! So I’m hoping to hear something, though I don’t expect that to happen for at least another four or five weeks, perhaps even longer. “

As many worry about 36, I am brought back five years when dear little 26 hatched, injured its leg and was loved, cared for, and taught much about life by its elder sibling 25. How bittersweet that season was.

Big Red and Arthur’s O2 remains on the Cornell Campus in Ithaca, New York to the delight of each of us. Thanks to Suzanne Arnold Horning for keeping us informed – so grateful.

Ashley Wilson posted a great capture of Newmann and Elaine at Great Spirit Bluff.

New Guy is looking for Iris – Susan D caught him in the glow of the sun at the nest, wondering where his girl is. Let’s keep our eyes on that streaming cam to see if she has left the territory. They have surely built a beautiful nest to return to in early April 2026. If she has departed, send Iris your best positive wishes to return.

At Charlo, Montana, C20 was at the nest and got the fish from Dad, Charlie. There has been no sighting of C19 on Sunday. Lola was last seen on August 20 and it is presumed she has begun her migration.

Brianne gets a fish dinner from Dad Idris at the Dyfi Osprey Platform in Wales.

5R3 gets a fish delivery from Blue 022 at the Birds of Poole Harbour Osprey platform. How grand! This nest fledged four chicks for the second season in a row.

The cleaners might have arrived at the Usk Valley osprey platform in Wales but we still have an osprey on the nest with fish, coming and going. I believe this to be the ringed intruder as I cannot read the Darvic ring that well to see if it is 9K5 (only one egg hatched out of three) and thid baby truly became a celebrity.

The Usk Valley nest is the first to have ospreys fledge in over 250 years in that area. Here is there enjoyable newsletter. Have a read!

9K5 AT 11 WEEKS — Usk Valley Ospreys Download

At Rutland Water Manton Bay Osprey Nest, Maya is still there helping to bring fish to her four fledglings! Blue 33 is still delivering, too. All is good.

An osprey with a BTO ring but no Darvic has been sighted in the UK, and everyone believes that it is Blue NCO from Loch of the Lowes. If so, she is on her way south for migration, and we wish all the best in finding a new mate and raising a family next year.

Nesting Bird Life and More has this delivery on video: https://youtu.be/TbsVy01e_1k?

I did not see any ospreys at the Coeur de’Alene, Idaho osprey platforms.

Cornell Bird Lab checked in on Iris close up a week ago, as migration approaches. I could stare at her image for hours. What a treasure she is. We were all saddened by Finnegan not returning from his migration, but I am glad that Iris found another male who is also attentive to her needs, who brings her fish and helps her with the nest. https://youtu.be/qPRo82TafGI?

There is some concern for Mo at Dunrovin Ranch. She did manage to eat a fish that Dad, Swoop, brought in. Fingers crossed!

Speaking of migration, I will now be including the count from Hawk Mountain as migration progresses through October. I am also hoping that Heidi will send us her reports as she goes migration counting in the NE USA.

Sandi gives a video overview of the 2025 season at Big Bear with Jackie, Shadow, Sunny, and Gizmo! https://youtu.be/CLEi_1rLlx8?

B’ alerts us to the arrival of a juvenile Bald Eagle at the Ojai Raptor Centre. They write, “I know you are away on break now, but when you return I thought you would be interested in this forwarded story of a bald eagle juvie in rehab at Ojai Raptor Center, the folks who took such good care of Cruz and Andor’s Victor from Fraser Point a few years ago, helping him recover from zinc poisoning and eventually releasing him to the wild. This bird, identified as patient 25-676, was found in the Owens Valley (just east of the Sierra), grounded and struggling. She was captured and taken to a local care facility (Wildcare Eastern Sierra) and then sent to Ojai for more intensive care. They found her possibly suffering from rodenticide poisoning or poisoning from other toxins (lead?). It sure makes me think of all the risks and hazards facing Sunny and Gizmo, Bodie, TE3, Phoenix, and all our other juvie friends as they make their way in their hard first year in the wild.

25-676 seems to be making encouraging progress but has a ways to go before (hopefully) a possible release down the road.”

People write to me for recommendations on where to donate and the Ojai Raptor Centre is certainly one of those.

Knepp Farm Re-wilding News:

Knepp news new podcast on ragwort author suppers and garden abundance at Wilding Kitchen Download

Raptor Persecution UK sends their latest news about a conference in the UK – might you want to attend? Read on!

Conference: A Wilder Future for the Uplands – Raptor Persecution UK Download

The American Bird Conservancy Bird of the Week is the Hawaiian Honey Creeper. How much do you know about this adorable little songbird?

ʻAlawī (Hawaiʻi Creeper) – American Bird Conservancy Download

We need to be concerned about our planet!

Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary’s joint adventure to the Arctic that you’ve never heard about Download

How does light pollution impact birds?

Light pollution causes urban birds to stay awake longer each day, study findshttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/21/light-pollution-causes-urban-birds-to-stay-awake-longer-each-day-study-finds?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care and have a wonderful week. We look forward to having you with us again on Friday! And, please, if you know of any raptor news, pass it along to me so I can include it!

I want to thank our notable contributors, ‘A, Geemeff, PB, PS and SK Hideaways’, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos ande post them on YouTube, and the administrators of FB groups such as Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all others, often too many to name. I am very grateful to you and to the newspapers that still cover environmental issues as they relate to our precious feathered friends and to the rehabilitation centres like Ojai Raptor that care enough to try hard to send their patients back into the wild. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

Big Red and Arthur’s O1 passes…Friday in Bird World

8 August 2025

Good Morning,

Morning Update: Big Red and Arthur’s first hatch, O1, passed last evening after being seen to be lethargic and taken to the wildlife care centre. Oh, how sad. Send positive wishes that O2 stays healthy!

Thank you for all the positive energy that you sent to Hugo Yugo. I can report that she is doing so well. She is eating on her own, and yes, she wants to play with Toby, but Toby needs to learn to be a little more gentle. Still, check out the second photo. I am so proud of Toby and how well he is doing! The Girls, as all of you know, are so important to me. I never knew a little puppy with curly ears would grab my heart and not let go of it. So, it is the five of them – everyone is included, so this is going to work. You better believe it.

The feeders were full of songbirds – warblers – and some very special sparrows – flying through from the north on their way to their winter homes. There are geese all over the golf courses, and it feels like it is at least a fortnight early for this great migration. Watch for the summaries from the nests in the UK. Those females will be on the move soon if they aren’t already!

Dog training. It’s not about training the dog. It is about getting control of ‘your’ life. I will continue to say this while Toby and I work through his issues with ‘chasing’ cats because maybe there is one of you that needs to hear that – I sure did. My life had taken over me – now I am taking control of it. Did you see that old movie Fried Green Tomatoes? There was a point where the Kathy Bates character broke – and she described the new her as ‘Towanda’. Well, welcome to Towanda Land!!!!!! Toby needs to be ‘nice and gentle to the cats’. Treats work. Tethering for calming also works. (I do not crate). Gosh, I learned so much! The day is managed so that I don’t lose my mind. So instead of having a hungry dog, four starving cats, Blue Jays and Crows screaming at me, Brock staring in the door, and a husband who wants his breakfast and coffee, the scrambled eggs for Toby are made the night before. Brock’s tin is in his dish, ready to be opened. Today, Don fixed his breakfast while I fed The Girls. I carried my coffee outside while Toby did his ‘business’ and I fed the birds. That was when I saw the Yellow Warblers. It was idyllic. It is only day 3, but quite honestly, my home is calm and so am I. How did I not know this? Well, because you get so busy taking care of everyone else that you forget to take care of yourself. You should always put your oxygen mask on first. I tell you that. I left mine in the cupboard. It is now on and turned on full!

So step back if you feel that things are not working and say it. It is OK. Because with all that peace and quiet you are going to create, you can spend more time thinking and helping birds.

So what are these birds doing?

Osprey chicks have fledged, and they are screaming for fish. Everyone is preparing for migration. Males are fattening up their fledglings so they are fit to make the very long journey south. In some instances, the females are also pitching in and helping. For example, Maya brought in three fish on Wednesday, and that was before evening! Blue 33 has been hauling in Roach. These chicks will have the best possible chance of survival any nest could have.

They are fish calling, flying on and off the nest, up at Llyn Clywedog.

CJ7 and Blue 022 have been busy feeding their four at Birds of Poole Harbour, too. These kids are really healthy!

Llyn Brenig gives us its season summary.

A tale of growing and ringing at the Brenig Osprey Project _ North Wales Wildlife Trust Download

White YW is really having to be busy at Foulshaw Moss with those three wanting fish all day long.

On the Cornell Campus, Big Red and Arthur’s first hatch, O1, has been taken into care. The red-tail hawk fledgling was noticed displaying ‘illness’ behaviours. Let us all send good positive energy in the hope that O1 overcomes whatever has caused her/him to be unwell.

Red-tailed Hawk Fledgling _O1_ Admitted To Wildlife Hospital After Apparent Illness _ Cornell Lab Bird Cams Download

This is the link to find the latest news. Scroll to the bottom, please? https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/red-tailed-hawks/

Suzanne Arnold Horning and Woody keep track of Big Red, Arthur, and their family, and they caught 02 in a tree on Wednesday evening. What a beautiful fledgling! O2 hangs out with Arthur around the campus but is finding her/his way around the family territory. The fledglings typically disperse in August. Gosh, I wish they were banded and had a sat pack. It would be wonderful to know what happens to Big Red’s babies once they leave Ithaca. Or do they leave Ithaca? We don’t know. Mum stays for the winter! So does Dad. It is a prey-rich territory that they rule even in the cold of winter.

Pam Breci is keeping an eye on Swoop, who is busy at Dunrovin, too. – Every osprey male should be fishing and fishing, getting those osplets fattened up!

So what is happening at Loch Arkaig? And read on and find out if Dorcha is really still in Scotland!

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 7th August 2025Not many fish today, just two from Louis, taking the nest total to three hundred and ninety six, and none from Garry LV0, leaving his tally unchanged at one hundred and forty. Affric 152 spent a fair bit of time on Nest One with Garry but got no fish – is she getting fish from her own mate Prince, last seen a month ago near the Bunarkaig nest where they’ve made their home, or is she fishing for herself? With Aurora 536 not seen since 28th July and presumed on migration, it will be an interesting situation if all four return next year. As Dorcha hadn’t been seen for a few days, it was speculated she might have started her migration, leaving before Storm Floris hit, but she turned up this morning paying a visit to Nest Two. Both chicks were on the nest, hungry after a lean fish day yesterday, she didn’t have any fish so left quickly before they could mob her. Her visit was so fast it led to some confusion around ID but closer inspection in slow motion showed her unique underwing spot pattern, almost as good as a Darvic ring, and that together with the behaviour of the chicks – seeking fish rather than attacking in alarm – confirmed it was indeed Dorcha. Darach 7P0 got both fish today, he shared the first with Breac 7P7, but surprisingly left half of the second fish uneaten on the nest when he left for the night. Unlike his brother, he hasn’t yet achieved the essential survival milestone of flying with fish which might explain why he left it behind when he departed as darkness started falling. The Hoodies were all over the nest this morning, if neither chick claims the fish early tomorrow, their persistence will pay off with a nice free meal. After heavy rain last night, the weather today was mainly dry with some sunny intervals but both nests had rain tonight after night cam switched over, and the forecast is for light showers throughout the night with a low of 12

°C, getting heavier tomorrow with a high of 16°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.25.33 (04.40.56); Nest Two 22.14.28 (05.00.21)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/waxcTXc9K4o N2 A Hoodie leaves when both chicks arrive but soon returns 05.59.21

https://youtu.be/rXYnFSJKSQc N2 Is that Dorcha paying a quick visit? Yes it is! 12.39.26 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/n-fnYvhFlH4 N2 Louis brings a big trout and Darach’s waiting for it 13.28.37https://youtu.be/HIFmr33i-Ig N1 Garry LV0 follows Affric 152 to the nest but brings no fish 14.21.15

https://youtu.be/8cIFbCA4EmQ N2 Why does Darach depart leaving half-eaten fish two behind? 21.42.59

Bonus read – a free ebook by W. H. Majoros Season with the Osprey:

Click to access ASeasonWithTheOsprey.pdf

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/hQXYIA9xPrM N1 Aila brings a large flat fish 2020

https://youtu.be/OyMVk0LlCzE N1 Louis brings a fish and gets pecked by Vera 2020

https://youtu.be/_5B50icDzn0 N1 Doddie flies off with both fish leaving none for Vera 2020

https://youtu.be/bMn6zaT7MHs N1 Captain gets the fish, Vera loses out again 2020

https://youtu.be/b5WlBmzYbrw N1 Aila’s still babying her grown-up offspring 2020

https://youtu.be/nIuBy5ocEko N1 Three little songbirds on unoccupied Nest One 2022

https://youtu.be/nVVUNWwdB-U N2 A clump of moss, a crow and Sarafina: mum steps in 2022

https://youtu.be/wiN0fI9KNiU N2 Hooded Crow attracted by fish does a flypast of the three females 2022

https://youtu.be/JJQmPvbzZ64 N1 Garry brings moss and a Jay visits 2023

https://youtu.be/SY2pbxLF5ko N2 Persistent Hoodie invades as soon as Ludo leaves 2023

https://youtu.be/4rHpMbzNnc0 N1 Affric & Garry spend time together but no fish 2023

https://youtu.be/E_31iJySQMM N2 Dorcha grabs the live flatfish as soon as Louis brings it 2023

No videos on this day in 2024 – not so much as a songbird visited either nest!

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 6th August 2025
After overnight rain, the weather was more settled today but the chicks were as combative as yesterday and did their best to get hold of the three fish Louis brought. Breac 7P7 got the first and Darach 7P0 the third and a big fight ensued for the second. Breac won the battle but not before falling off the nest first, and in the confusion

Darach lunged at Louis. Still, Louis is an old hand at this, these two are his fourteenth and fifteenth chicks (counting only those who survived to be ringed) and he’s suffered worse attacks from ravenous chicks over the years. His tally rises to three hundred and ninety two (nest total 394) and fish counters are lining up to be the one to record the magic four hundred mark. Dorcha hasn’t been seen since Sunday morning and it’s speculated she may have gone south, like Aurora 536 (last seen 28th July), and Affric 152 has been taking advantage of Aurora’s absence to scrounge free fish from Garry LV0. However she was unlucky today as he brought no fish and attempted mating instead – Garry’s fish tally remains at one hundred and forty. More rain is expected tonight with a gentle breeze and a low of 13

°C, changing to light showers, a moderate breeze and sunny intervals with a high of 16°C tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.14.56 (04.44.08); Nest Two 22.04.43 (04.51.13)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/Nsbd2wF7mAo N2 Breac arrives just after Louis to get the first fish before Darach 10.04.13

https://youtu.be/VZ_5tmIihnU N1 Affric visits the nest but Garry’s not there and she departs 14.38.20https://youtu.be/hSlHeTBSUz4 N2 Fish number two causes a fight, Breac wins (slo-mo repeat) https://youtu.be/GZVF2KkaMOI N1 Affric 152 hopes for fish but Garry attempts mating instead 20.14.42 https://youtu.be/rmp6b-lgHi0 N2 When Louis brings the third fish, Darach pecks him! 21.34.17
Bonus watch – Woodland Trust clip of Darach v Storm Floris goes viral:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/24466187986339821

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/quq4dMy7OzY N1 Butter fingers! Mallie drops her fish 2019

https://youtu.be/ajka-bL_n_0 N1 Size matters! Tiny songbird visits Vera 2020

https://youtu.be/oQYlVSvMSe4 N1 Aila brings a fish and stays for dinner 2020

https://youtu.be/FNRVFoNuZz0 N2 Crow steals a bit of Willow’s breakfast 2022

https://youtu.be/kZ4clzNC3kU N2 Osprey flyover and a fish-stealing crow 2022 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/xcwsmz86WzE N1 Unringed visitor to Nest One 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/hOGYbsvwPWs N2 Louis brings a flatfish, Willow gets it 2022

https://youtu.be/xAWm_H5HSqo N2 Good mum Dorcha allows Sarafina to have fish number five 2022

https://youtu.be/nSRB5bTgSv0 N2 Ludo is startled off the nest by Dorcha who then steals his fish 2023

https://youtu.be/D7mXIuEFLpg N1 Affric 152 waits in vain for fish 2023

https://youtu.be/YlWzoD5SCNg N2 Louis saves his fish from a marauding Hoodie 2023

https://youtu.be/Bzc7A866Xlw N2 Ludo LY7 gets some leftover fish from dad 2023

https://youtu.be/jMtQ4kDsEIE N1 Garry LV0 follows Affric 152 before a third Osprey makes them flee 2024

https://youtu.be/FzFbWLsw1xI N1 Various little birds on, over or near the nest 2024

‘PS’ is keeping an eye on the osprey family in Seattle for us.

The Seattle Ospreys are continuing to do well! With both chicks fully fledged they are often though not always at the nest, often flying or perched nearby, and often calling for food. I’ve seen a couple fish deliveries from dad, as well as many practice flights involving dips into the water, sometimes over and over, presumably to get a feel for getting wet and taking off…not full on dive bombs like they will someday, more like controlled water landings and takeoffs. Fun to watch these two learn the ropes! It is strange to sometimes see the nest empty! But also a wonderfully necessary sign of a largely successful season! I will miss them as well as Harry and Sally when they depart in the next few weeks. Until then I will continue to check in…

https://www.flickr.com/gp/193514804@N08/K00Bx492p4

I really love the images that ‘PS’ takes of this osprey family. They are so good. Please check out their Flickr account and see the entire story of the Seattle Ospreys.

‘J’ reminds us that if you live near Wildlife Haven in Manitoba, there is the annual Open House. You can meet the ambassadors, see the surgeries, and flight training enclosures, and find out how you can help.

Lots of news from Raptor Persecution UK. The Yorkshire Dales are not a safe place for raptors.

Illegal persecution of birds of prey is again a major public concern in Yorkshire Dales National Par Download

Missing Pine Martens are a concern in Cumbria – the Lake District!

Disappearance of two tracked Pine Martens being treated as ‘suspicious’ – Cumbria Police appeals for Download

News from the second nest in Poole Harbour (not the nest of CJ7 and Blue 022):

Heidi has some nest news from the US and Canada for us!

We better check on T3, the eagle fledgling, raised by the single mum in Wisconsin. https://youtu.be/USYBUpiRtQY?

SK Hideaways caught a sub-adult trying to land on Lady and Dad’s nest in the Olympic Park in Sydney! https://youtu.be/BNcT5G0uaB0?

In New Zealand, the Royal Cam chick is growing and stretching its wings as it is preparing to fledge within the next 5-6 weeks. https://youtu.be/Q-ToBQWzxuo?

At the American Eagle Foundation’s nest in NE Florida, the cam is on as we await the arrival of Gabby and Beau.

News from the American Bird Conservancy. How does politics impact our feathered friends?

If you can get to Poole Harbour there are still some activities left!

Let us not forget about Xavier and Diamond! Gosh, golly. Eggs by the end of the month!

Link to their camera: https://www.youtube.com/live/yv2RtoIMNzA?si=FtHXOvfCdckdk7FI

The Girls wanted you to have some pictures of our garden. Junior, the male Blue Jay, is moulting. We have a new baby House Sparrow at the feeder. There are hydrangeas – these are different as they are in a candle shape, which are toxic to animals, so I have put a fence around them so Toby cannot get to them (thanks, AK’s Mum), and a beautiful coral Hibiscus. Enjoy! I have sold all of my professional camera equipment and am learning to use the much lighter P1100, which is marvellous at only 3 lbs. I used to hold over 12 lbs. It is like a miracle. The images are getting better.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Remember to put out water for the birds and, if you are able, some food as they migrate through to their winter homes. It will help them as their habitat is being lost daily, as long as areas which would provide natural food for them.
We look forward to having you with us on Monday! Enjoy the weekend.

I want to thank our notable contributors, ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, PB, PS’, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos, including SK Hideaways, and the authors of posts such as Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all others, often too many to name. I am very grateful to you and to the newspapers and organizations that still cover environmental issues as they relate to our precious feathered friends. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

Friday in Bird World

25 July 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

I can tell you that Pelican Lake is beautiful and that it is actually home to so many American White Pelicans. I can also tell you that Lewy Body Dementia is a challenging disease for both the person who bears the burden of it and for those trying to enrich their lives. We were at Pelican Lake precisely two hours before Don ‘lost me’. I will not bore you with the details of someone spiralling downwards, but suffice it to say I was happy to be able to administer his medication, repack the car (thank goodness we hadn’t really unpacked), and get him and Toby in the car and back home. No more holidays. I was beginning to wonder if the days of travelling were over several months ago. We will take our trips within the confines of the city, so that if something goes sideways, home is close at hand. I already have a list of parks that we haven’t yet visited – just imagine all the things we might have been missing!

Toby and I spent Thursday doing some projects. He now has a fully enclosed back garden where he can roam freely. We also played with a new camera. ‘AK’ knew that I was fed up with carrying heavy, long lenses and big medium-format cameras. That is the reason you have seen so few images of birds this year. The weight is phenomenal. The total weight of what I used was more than 12 lbs. So ‘AK’ recommended that I check out the P1000 with its fixed 3000mm zoom lens. I was only able to get the P1100, and at three pounds with a 3000 mm zoom and a ‘bird’ setting, Toby and I had a lot of fun testing it out on the birds at the feeder. The images are not great. This is my first hour using this camera, but I can tell you it feels like a winner in terms of what I need for my life at this moment. It sure was fun, even with squiggly Toby on my lap.

Notice the texture. This camera is not supposed to do well in low light – well, that squirrel is deep in the lilacs and it was dark with light just filtering in from the West!

And for anyone wondering, this is not just any squirrel. This is Dyson. Look at her large arms and long fingers. She is our matriarch.

Junior is moulting, so no crest. Those feathers, the layers and layers, are quite amazing. (I am roughly 16 metres from the bird feeder).`

Tiny little female house sparrow.`

Three baby crows with their velvet heads.

My sidekick, Toby. He is enjoying the freedom of the garden but also likes to lounge in the chair and always comes when I call. Kitties aren’t allowed outside in Winnipeg.

My first hydrangea bush! I have a friend who mailed me dried hydrangea blooms one year. They made it all the way from British Columbia! Now I have my own.

Please do not believe everything you read on a chat. In fact, it is almost the last place to find accurate information sometimes. The PSEG Oyster Bay osplet with the injured leg did NOT fledge, it was rescued and taken into rehab.

Here is Heidi’s Osprey report for the US:

Raptor Persecution UK confirms that there are some 143 Hen Harriers illegally killed or missing since 2018.

143 Hen Harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed in UK since 2018, most of them on or close Download

Other Hen Harrier chicks fledge but with the help of the RSPB after their parents go missing.

Hen Harrier chicks fledge with RSPB support after suspicious loss of parent birds – Raptor Persecuti Download

Balgavies Loch: Partial Nest collapse this week. 4L1 and 4L2 were both in the nest together on Thursday! How wonderful. Flying strong.

Lyn Brenig: Older sister, 7M4 fledged at 52 days. We are waiting for little brother, 7M5, who is 50 days old today.

Wensley: No camera, but three magnificent chicks in the nest.

Kielder Forest: Blue 3B5 Irthing took her first flight on Thursday the 24th. More news from Kielder here:

3B5_Irthing leaves her nest _ Kielder Ospreys Download

Birds of Poole Harbour news:

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 24th July 2025
Today was all about fish – arriving, departing, returning, reappearing and causing confusion among the nest cam watchers until sharp eyes sorted out the details. Dorcha did not supply any new fish, all six deliveries to Nest Two were made by Louis, and his tally now rises to three hundred and forty four.

Dorcha found and ate the fish lost last night in the nest furnishings and today’s fresh fish were shared out between her and the two chicks, with Breac 7P7 getting the lion’s share. Darach 7P0 made sure he hung onto his share causing Breac to fall over the edge and hang upside down in an OMG moment. However Breac managed to untangle himself and fly away, returning unharmed to a chorus of relief on the forum, and later he achieved the milestone of flying with fish for the first time, another event noted by sharp eyed watchers. Steve Q crunched the numbers and posted last week’s fish stats, link in the bonus section, and although the fish counters noted Garry LV0’s one delivery to Aurora 536 today, taking his tally to one hundred and thirty five, it’s hoped that we will need Steve to include Nest One fish stats in future reports if Garry and Aurora produce the longed for chicks on that nest next year. The weather was settled but is expected to turn damp overnight and through tomorrow with light rain and light winds, a low of 13°C tonight and a high of 18°C tomorrow.Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.15.40 (03.51.48); Nest Two 23.00.46 (04.15.30)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/qry_vU46fGw N2 Breac fights and gets the first fish: Dorcha & Darach lose out 05.53.51

https://youtu.be/08tLoYhbP7c N2 Oh no! Breac hangs upside down off the nest! 07.33.20

https://youtu.be/C4fGv8x0HUE N2 Dorcha spots the fish lost by Breac last night and grabs it 09.33.59

https://youtu.be/JkPf_AOvnmU N2 Louis brings a third fish: it’s Dorcha turn and she grabs it fast 12.40.55

https://youtu.be/SBNbIl0Tp-I N2 Another milestone achieved – Breac flies with fish 13.23.55

https://youtu.be/3R4FM0hTYYg N1 Garry brings a flatfish for Aurora 13.47.06https://youtu.be/yDZ8oYDskiA N2 Dorcha’s waiting when fish four arrives: she lets Darach have it 14.14.28

https://youtu.be/psTRt9-NuAQ N2 Good mum Dorcha allows Breac to take fish number five 16.51.36

https://youtu.be/Jeo0-VlMQGg N2 Dorcha holds onto fish number six but feeds Breac 22.06.48
Bonus shopping opportunity – Woodland Trust shop summer sale now on:

https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/sale

Bonus nutrition info – the fish stats for Week 16, expertly compiled as always by Steve Quinn:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=26854776

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/5B4tYF5XWeI N1 FLEDGE Vera finds her wings 2020

https://youtu.be/IEpTHTQ83MU N1 FLEDGE Captain takes off <three hours after Vera 2020

https://youtu.be/CsH62EjSANk N1 Vera returns from her maiden flight 2020

https://youtu.be/_x8G4wApzFY N1 Captain returns safely but not very gracefully 2020

https://youtu.be/SEOkidLKvJc N1 Fledge compilation video: The Four Ospreys (Classic Ospreys – Vivaldi 2020)

https://youtu.be/nV0kAGoM-y0 N2 Dorcha and Sarafina just watch as Willow grabs the first fish 2022

https://youtu.be/iGA54OTD6BQ N2 Hop and a skip but no jump – Willow decides to wait 2022

https://youtu.be/wsjKHvZAXpo N2 Chicks bemused by a flapping flatfish 2022

https://youtu.be/lOKNG5FLCv0 N1 RAF jet causes Affric & Garry to flee 2023

https://youtu.be/WNOA0O4wA6Q N2 Another milestone for Ludo, dealing with a live fish 2023

https://youtu.be/5z5M0SPFXu4 N1 Garry arrives with a stick 2024

https://youtu.be/mZHjWrUX0kQ N1 Various little birds flit around 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 23rd July 2025
Another slow day with not much action apart from the chicks Darach 7P0 and Breac 7P7 trying to get as much fish as possible when Louis made deliveries to the nest, and fighting anyone who got in their way. Louis brought four fish to the nest today, one of which Breac managed to lose in the muddle of sticks on the right hand side, with luck it will be found and consumed tomorrow. Louis’ tally now stands at three hundred and thirty eight, while Garry LV0’s rises to one hundred and thirty four following his single delivery to Aurora 536. The weather was settled today and set to continue with a forecast of light clouds and light winds overnight and tomorrow, with a temperature spread of 13 – 21°C, and the prospect of sunny intervals tomorrow afternoon.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.49.56 (04.09.34); Nest Two 23.04.31 (04.20.45)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/wPUO11fOGlA N2 Breac can only watch as Darach consumes fish number one 05.59.16https://youtu.be/s_fU3fE5EsE N2 Darach gets fish number two and attacks Dorcha to keep it 11.05.01

https://youtu.be/tIuWuRFD4zk N1 Aurora seizes the fish from Garry LV0 and flies off with it 14.15.40https://youtu.be/jAj48B05YfU N2 Louis brings a third fish but Breac manages to lose it 21.08.08https://youtu.be/tgnHuJFSmpg N2 Breac gets the fourth fish and doesn’t lose it this time! 21.59.21
Bonus read – Painting of Scotland’s oldest wild Scots pine puts the plight of unique pinewoods in the spotlight:https://pressat.co.uk/releases/painting-of-scotlands-oldest-wild-scots-pine-puts-plight-of-unique-pinewoods-in-spotlight-2436dbdb42c832c92f5ae3f248615373/Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/ZqWuqafl36c N1 Captain helicopters! 2020
https://youtu.be/cSDip8llxAY N1 Doddie has a tug of fish with Vera 2020
https://youtu.be/a3UUPQUtnkg N1 Low flying RAF plane causes Aila to flee 2020 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/9K11f2xd0Ww N1 Vera does a helicopter completely off the screen 2020
https://youtu.be/zFcnK8aIKqk N1 Aila brings a nuisance stick and stands on Captain! 2020
https://youtu.be/9_avX1YHofU N2 All three females want fish number four 2022
https://youtu.be/olWHydNGMV4 N2 Results are in: meet Willow and Sarafina! 2022https://youtu.be/5B_o4EM_oyE N2 Dorcha is harassed by invading Hoodies 2023
https://youtu.be/mtWqo9g5K6A N2 Ludo helicopters with moss 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/CEDLQcHPA1Y N1 Garry arrives with a fish for Affric 2023
https://youtu.be/WcKyGvhpqI4 N2 Hangry Ludo grabs Louis’ leg wanting fish 2023
https://youtu.be/yw2IAFZ5Iro N1 Dorcha pays another visit to Nest One 2024
https://youtu.be/Z8amhCfcwhQ N2 Dorcha returns to her own nest 2024

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

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 22nd July 2025
It was a slow fish day today, Aurora 536 was disappointed when Garry arrived bearing nesting materials but no fish, so his tally remains at one hundred and thirty three, and Louis delivered three fish, raising his tally to three hundred and thirty four. Breac 7P7 is extremely dominant and got the first two fish, his older brother Darach 7P0 had to wait until he’d had enough before getting his own chance to eat. Louis brought the final fish after dark, giving Dorcha the opportunity to eat in peace before she returned the fish to the nest and handed it over to one of the chicks – Breac, of course. Nest cam watchers would like Darach to become more competitive. It rained through the night but the weather was reasonably settled during the day, however it’ll be damp again tonight as the overnight forecast is for drizzle and light winds with a low of 13

°C, improving tomorrow with light cloud, light winds and a few sunny spells with a high of 19°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.08.25 (04.09.55); Nest Two 22.59.28 (04.24.20)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/zOdvFUukCXE N2 Dorcha gets the first fish from Louis then lets Breac have it 08.53.55https://youtu.be/LrxqVtV3uPY N2 Darach wants fish two but Breac’s not letting go 11.31.32

https://youtu.be/b7dWNaTq2gk N2

Dorcha arrives on the nest and gets fish three from Louis 22.15.40
Bonus watch –

N2 Long lens video of Aspen LW3 & Alder LW4 seen near the nest 2021 (thanks LizB)

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/C9r2h07HYeM N1 Carnival of the Ospreys 2020 (Classic Ospreys: Saint-Saëns)

https://youtu.be/u-2jWDOe8dg N1 Vera is fascinated as Captain feathers his nest 2020

https://youtu.be/j6YDTQA5stk N1 Aila decides what’s needed is another stick 2020

https://youtu.be/B-JGsEAwA4I N2 Midnight callisthenics 2022

https://youtu.be/CoLyqB6O_iI N2 Nearly but not quite! LW5 prepares for lift-off 2022

https://youtu.be/h87JPZiw5no N2 Louis chases a Hoodie away, watched intently by the chicks 2022

https://youtu.be/4N64tTO4iJE N2 Ludo returns after his first night away 2023

https://youtu.be/nWjM3BF9wxw N1 & N2 Two beautiful pairs of Ospreys posing for the camera 2023

https://youtu.be/Rqz_dXEyC8w N2 Louis arrives to help Dorcha get rid of Hoodies 2023

https://youtu.be/NOUuCyUUt2M N1 Garry brings a second fish for Affric 2023

https://youtu.be/bDbqDZ8sN64 N2 Dorcha spends some time on her nest, no sign of Louis 2024

https://youtu.be/g0q-Tf1BJIc N2 Louis arrives with a stick and does some nest work 2024

https://youtu.be/SgnwBnDdY-g N1 Garry LV0 brings a fish but no one’s there 2024

https://youtu.be/z52q-f7fFmg N2 Spectacular sunset 21.30 to 22.30 (2.3 minute time lapse) 2024

Tweed Valley Ospreys/UK Osprey Information:

Rosie Shields brings us up to date on everything about the Border Ospreys season.

WHERE DID THE TIME GO Download

Dunrovin Ranch: Those four beautiful osplets are looking really good!

Charlo: Two surviving osplets are doing fantastic. They are getting some gorgeous juvenile feathers and growing as fast as Toby!

Boulder County: One chick would really like some fish! They both seem to have survived one of the worst nests for human debris I have ever seen!

Hellgate Canyon: Iris still has one of the most beautiful well maintained osprey nests I have ever seen.

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: Three surviving osplets are looking good.

More news from the UK: David Wick writes:

sSdoroptenh3aag7i9586l4m6139190i1lh87i0u9mlhaa044uglill9f4f7 ·

“Morning all, both chick’s have fledged at NWT Ranworth .That makes it first to breed and hatch and fledged in about 250 years”

Threave Garden:

Osprey House Environment Centre in Australia where the older sibling is not only being fed but helping feed!

UK Hobbys: https://youtu.be/V4xohmzR0Mo?

Ferris Akel found the Os today and the other evening, and Cornell released a video of Big Red feeding her babies a week ago. https://youtu.be/k-dHLxtlrOI?

Arthur.

One of the Os.

Robert Fuller gives us insight into Red Kite chicks. https://youtu.be/3FtIHHfp2i4?

Is it possible to resurrect a 600 year old extinct bird?

It’s 12ft tall, covered in feathers and has been extinct for 600 years – can the giant moa bird really be resurrected?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/11/de-extinction-extinct-giant-moa-bird-colossal-bioscience-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We will see you again on Monday!

I want to thank our notable contributors, ‘AK, Geemeff, Heidi’, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos, including SK Hideaways, and the authors of posts such as Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all others, often too many to name. I am very grateful to you and to the newspapers that still cover environmental issues as they relate to our precious feathered friends. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

Monday in Bird World

21 July 2025

Late breaking news that cannot be ignored:

I love storks – white, black or even rainbow coloured. Storks are wonderful and we are killing them along with other birds such as ospreys because of our general disregard for what plastic does to the world. “The chief culprit was baler twine, a plastic string used to secure hay bales: either the twine or its wrapping was responsible for almost all the entangled chicks. A few were caught up in domestic plastics such as bags or milk containers. The chicks died from strangulation, amputation and infected wounds.

“They roll and roll and they go around and it’s almost as if they tie the rope around their legs even harder as they move,” Franco says.

Acácio likes to talk about successful rescues, too. Once, she peered into a nest built on the stump of a cork oak tree to find two three-week-old siblings, their limbs coiled in spirals of blue baler twine.”

How many times has Dr Greene talked about the baling twine issues with ospreys in Montana? We need to find a solution for this plastic monster. It is more than sad.

Please read the article from The Guardian. It is enlightening.

Killer in the nest: how young storks are being strangled by plastichttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/14/discarded-plastic-baler-twine-killing-birds-white-storks-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

A situation is developing at Osprey House Environment Centre in Australia. The female is feeding last year’s fledgling and her two young osplets! ‘MB’ sends us the FB link:

https://www.facebook.com/OspreyHouseEnvironmentCentre?

Whew! Welcome to the beginning of the week! We hope that each of you had a wonderful weekend.

The Girls enjoy watching the dozens of new baby birds in the garden. They come up close to the conservatory windows and cause quite a stir! Cute little wrens today. The baby Crows still arrive wanting their peanuts, and you can hear the Blue Jays two blocks away if the feeder is empty. It is a joy! Toby has had several walks. We have met many new neighbours and their puppies. He is growing leaps and bounds. I cannot quite believe it. His halter had to be loosened today, and I swear he is 15 cm or 6 inches longer. My new bed seems much smaller, and he really snores. We had a wonderful barbecue celebrating my daughter’s birthday. Everyone was there. It was fantastic. Even the wildfire smoke and wasps could not dampen anyone’s spirits.

I am now a member of the Virginia Wildlife FB group. (Thank you so much for letting me join – I really want to learn about the situation of all wildlife in Virginia.) First thing I noticed – images of Bald Eagles chasing Ospreys to get their precious fish! Check it out on their FB group. Ospreys have trouble with all manner of feathered ‘friends’ trying to get their fish. Gulls, eagles, even other ospreys.

Heidi’s Osprey Nest Notes:

Seaside osprey cam has had issues with their live stream all season, and it has been frustrating for viewers and the chat moderator, Jewel. There was a fledge the morning of 7/20 that occurred when the livestream was down, and reports came in from ‘boots on the ground’, John and August. With a brief nest view later.

Thank you, Heidi.

Gorgeous photograph of the three fledglings from the Centreport Bald Eagle Nest on Long Island, New York.

A good news story about wildlife is always welcome, and I received one last week from one of our regular readers, ‘MP’. I have tried to attach the images, but alas, I gave up. I know that you can imagine a barbed wire fence with large barbs and how, if an animal jumped over the fence, they could easily become injured.

“Hi, Mary Ann. All these photos and writings are from Ron Dudley. He’s showing a good side of ranchers and Nature Conservancy working together for nature. thought this to be a positive side.I thought you’d like to know.~M

Some ranchers in the valley have installed pronghorn-friendly barbed wire fences that have no barbs on the bottom wire. This fence is one of them.

And pronghorn-friendly fences aren’t the only example of ranchers trying to protect wildlife in the valley. Much of the huge valley is Sage Grouse country. When in flight, grouse have a hard time seeing barbed wire, so they often crash into it. When a 6+ lb. Sage Grouse crashes into barbed wire at speed, the results are predictably disastrous.

So some ranchers have allowed organizations like the Nature Conservancy to install bright white fence flags on their fences. The flags are easy to see and research has shown that they significantly reduce grouse/fence mayhem. I took this photo on June 19th in one of the more remote areas of the valley.

Not long after this photo was taken, I talked to a local rancher (Justin) about the fence flags. Here’s what he said (paraphrased) – “As long they (the Nature Conservancy and organisations like them) are willing to pay for them, and install them, I’m certainly willing to allow them to do so.”

Foulshaw Moss and Cumbrian Wildlife Trust:

All three at Foulshaw Moss have now fledged. Congratulations White YW and Blue 35 for another fantastic and very successful year.

Dyfi Osprey Project: Idris is one of my all-time favourite male ospreys. He is known as ‘Daddy Long Legs’, but he is a great fisher. Now he has broken another record. Watch the video to find out what that is: https://youtu.be/Y_GEb2QQapM?

Dunrovin Ranch Osprey Platform:

Allin’s Cove West: “A day in the life of the single parent offspring. Sleep, stretch, wing flat, call for food, and when none arrives, sleep some more.”https://youtu.be/cQx9eX2G31w?

Goitzsche-Wildnis with J Castyner: “Being an only child seems to have only advantages. Zeus and Fjona have focused on taking care of the boy, protecting him and feeding him in the best possible way. We can see it in the video. Mother and son are (I think) on the camera pole screaming to claim the teak, but when the father arrives alone the young man goes down to collect the piece: a beautiful headless fish, a luxurious fillet. For the boy, the best.” (The two older siblings were predated by a Red Kite). Other report below on this nest.

Sauces Canyon: Betty Lou comes home. https://youtu.be/19Ah8LzbEfI?

Two Harbours: Date night with long-time bonded mates, Chase and Cholyn by SK Hideaways. https://youtu.be/4PCwSnUvu2k?

West End Nest: Haku is on and off the nest. Makaio has not been seen for some weeks. Many believe he has left for migration since this is off-season. We must wait. It looks like Haku is warming up to the new visiting male.

I receive many questions about Akecheta since he was photographed on the mainland near Ojai. To my knowledge, no other photographs with his blue wing tag have been taken. I am sure he is alright. Is Thunder with him? Well, we haven’t seen her around the nest, and I just think she left eggs so abruptly that it is possible.

Haku and MV (male visitor) are a nice looking couple.

Coeur de’Alene, Idaho: The three surviving osplets are doing well. Mum has not removed the body of the fourth baby yet.

Fru Rauer: The Norwegian Osprey Project and Translocation of Norwegian birds to Ireland.

Short explanation video. Click on CC for English. The ten are already in Ireland. https://youtu.be/o6mjGxTfAbs?

Ringing of Ospreys in Taipalsaari 2025: https://youtu.be/opE1IBwXeN0?

mie caught a fish delivery at the
Kallaveden sääksilive: https://youtu.be/K4pDiyKbUTg?

Ringing at the Janakkalan Nest in Finland: https://youtu.be/UFhpbkVDrwA?

J Castnyer catches a fish delivery at the Goitzsche Wildnis Osprey nest in Germany. That fledgling was in there quick – ‘Mine and Mine Alone’ is the message. https://youtu.be/C7sh8ngNEVo?

And they give us an update at Eschenbach: “Despite the problems in broadcasting the live broadcast from the Eschenbach nest, I have uploaded this short video to confirm that everything is going well: Herbert has delivered a fish, Hermine is repeating the teak between the children and, most importantly, both are now flying. Normality is a gift from heaven.” https://youtu.be/yp5U1QXB_LQ?

Rutland Manton Bay: Will Maya stay home, postponing the start to her migration to help feed all those babies? We wait to see.

Birds of Poole Harbour: Everyone wants fish. Caught three on the nest.

Big Bear Valley: Jack and Shadow ‘almost’ visit. SK Hideaways catches it. https://youtu.be/SjMY4TyS_Ws?

Trempeauleau, WI: Mum is home, but where is T3? Well, that fledgling is never far away. Mum comes in with a fish and you can hear the sqeeing and then T3 is there to grab her dinner.

SK Hideaways caught Mum bringing in one of her whoppers for her ‘baby’. https://youtu.be/rmu1eJKTMkY?

Talk about a loving and devoted mother. Mrs T sure is that and more. I get all weepy seeing the two of them together. It was such a challenging year for Mrs T raising this fledgling from hatch alone – and often, as I have said many times, without the help of Mr T, who was a hindrance stealing fish for his other nest with two youngsters from this one! But, nevermind, Mrs T did the unthinkable. She is amazing.

SK Hideaways also catches up with the Southern UK Hobby Falcon nest in the UK: https://youtu.be/7S9hwxdwaQ0?

Oh, my goodness, they are sooooo cute.

Tatarsan White-tail Eagles, RU: Fledgling visits nest, hoping for food.

Latvian Golden Eagles: Food delivery from Grislis. Spilve feeds – and it was a long feeding. https://youtu.be/-_HhGdK-pi8?

Menhaden-Little Fish, Big Deal: The entire article and the information on how to write is in my late Monday, 14 July blog. There is a big meeting on May 7. Don’t sit on this. Could you write to the Virginia Legislators? Cute and Paste – send it to all of them, demanding proper biodiversity and an end to commercial fishing in the Chesapeake and along the coasts of the Atlantic. We don’t want any more osplets to die, along with many other species.

If you love osprey, don’t sit on this. Get busy. Set aside two hours – that is all it would take to compose a letter – and send it out to every Virginia politician, along with the journalist who wrote the article, The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, etc. This is not the time to be silent.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 20th July 2025

The two chicks practised their flying and landing skills today, popping on and off the nest especially when Louis was around delivering fish. Breac got most of the two fish delivered by Louis, but Darach was determined and attacked both Dorcha and Breac to get a share. Both chicks were mantling and squawking over the fish so it appears hyperphagia (compulsion to eat) is setting in as migration looms in the not too distant future. Louis’ tally rises to three hundred and twenty eight, and Garry’s one fish delivery takes his tally to one hundred and thirty one, although it was such a small piece of fish, Aurora might not consider it worth counting. After staying dry most of today, the rain started this evening and scattered showers will probably continue through tonight with cloudy skies, light winds, and a low of 15°C causing muggy conditions. There’s a weather warning in place for the Highlands tomorrow of heavy showers and scattered thunderstorms causing localised flooding, and a high of 21°C in the Inver Mallie area.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.26.53 ( 03.50.00E); Nest Two 23.19.12 (03.57.54)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/4l4BfjYbvU0 N1 Garry brings Aurora a tiny bit of fish but she takes it anyway 06.59.02

https://youtu.be/1XR3T6twJ-g N2 Dorcha takes fish one from Louis then allows Breac to take it 14.01.16

https://youtu.be/AcWKLikcyc8 N2 And repeat! Dorcha gets fish two from Louis then lets Breac get it 19.28.55

https://youtu.be/_Xh5vhdm9qI N2 Dorcha & Breac are attacked by Darach after he gets hold of fish two 20.29.10

Bonus watch – LizB’s long lens videos from a mile away of Darach and Breac just after Darach fledged yesterday:

Blast from the past, 19th July* in previous years:

https://youtu.be/BIHDRrpe6Qo N1 My turn daddy! Louis feeds Rannoch 2019

https://youtu.be/TwqqSshM42E N1 Doddie drops in to grab all the breakfast 2020

https://youtu.be/-xNiwmN-xQI N1 Doddie does an evening flypast of the nest 2020

https://youtu.be/EYDBamjYrf8 N1 Hey! who put that there? Prince makes an undignified departure 2021

https://youtu.be/304-lrclaZw N1 Third visit by the new pair Blue 152 & Prince YP 2021

https://youtu.be/xW2CIMG3IDM N2 Hooked on you – the chicks get hooked together! 2022

https://youtu.be/lmPZ_jmuEz0 N2 Dorcha reacts to an intruder Osprey seen on camera 2022

https://youtu.be/L1DG3H9gUUM N2 RAF flypast doesn’t stop Louis (2022)

https://youtu.be/k_2pVwLNAZU N2 Louis brings a fish and eats it himself 2023

https://youtu.be/Lq9DbF3I6J4 N2 LY7 does a massive double helicopter! 2023

https://youtu.be/9SyP31iXLbc N2 FLEDGE! Ludo LY7 is off into the world! 2023

https://youtu.be/xArpA43gG1Q N1 Affric 152 receives another fish from Garry 2023

https://youtu.be/6SBcqw1oX38 N1 A Wood Pigeon visits 2024

https://youtu.be/wp5mZUIOlQU N2 No fish and a failed mating attempt 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 19th July 2025
Today was a day for celebration – not only did Breac 7P7 return safely after not returning to the nest after his maiden flight yesterday, but Darach 7P0 also fledged, and returned in time to be fed by his mum Dorcha. His fledge wasn’t the nonchalant take off his brother made – Darach did some flapping, hopping, and squeaking before launching himself off the right edge of the nest and out of sight. However, his return was pretty good, he made a smooth landing looking confident as if he’d been flying for a while. So that’s both chicks achieving this milestone, and while some on the forum express sadness at no longer having them around all the time, this is the major step in their development, their parents have been working towards. Many watchers are celebrating by making a donation towards the upkeep of their home in Arkaig Forest – there are many ways to donate, the easiest one is to use the yellow button on this page above ‘What’s been happening on the nest today?’ All donations of whatever size are gratefully received and will be put to good use. In other news, Louis delivered four fish to the nest today, one of which Breac tried to eat starting from the tail! But soon realised his mistake, flipped it around neatly, and started tearing into the head as Dorcha has shown them. Louis’ tally now stands at three hundred and twenty six, while Garry’s rises by one to one hundred and thirty following his delivery to Aurora today. The promised rain materialised and the chicks were just a damp huddle, the forecast calls for more rain overnight continuing tomorrow with thundery showers, with a low of 16°C tonight and a high of 21°C tomorrow.Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.43.27 (03.31.43); Nest Two 23.55.24 (04.00.52)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/lm8l1KbeW_w N2 Darach & Dorcha ignore Louis’ fresh fish preferring the old one 04.56.26https://youtu.be/B56rYKu0NdQ N2 That’s no way to treat your mum! Darach pecks Dorcha 07.13.28 https://youtu.be/B89bbPQVaPk He’s back! Breac returns from his maiden flight N2 09.05.27 https://youtu.be/OdCbe-kLjjA N2 Both helicopter together, Breac takes off for flight two 10.38.00

https://youtu.be/2ks2GzdtlO8 N2 FLEDGE! Darach has done it! also found his wings 13.02.38 (zoom)https://youtu.be/hnm7TNtng34 N2 Dorcha allows Breac to have the second fish 15.45.52 https://youtu.be/i-scN7LGgIY N1 Aurora grabs the fish and goes, Garry stays and tidies up 17.26.48

https://youtu.be/tQMpMSjGkpo N2 He’s back! Darach returns and sticks the landing 17.31.27https://youtu.be/OAkKQWbpQRU N2 Two wet chicks greet Louis arriving with fish number three 18.31.50 Bonus watch – another brilliant video from Steve Quinn of the nest seen from a kilometre away:

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/bzD0ewEZPy0 N1 FLEDGE!! Mallie takes her first flight! 2019

https://youtu.be/nyUAdw2pU64 N1 I’m home mum! Mallie lands gracefully after her maiden flight 2019

https://youtu.be/NZL4TzrXZJ4 N1 A different perspective: the family in split-screen, 2020 (thanks LizB)

https://youtu.be/Dn8RbvlOV_s N1 Vera lands on Captain 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/S9BxyRx0wUA N2 Night moves: LW5 prepares for liftoff 2022

https://youtu.be/EcWKtfYf9OU N2 Have fish will travel: Fish number two arrives, departs and returns 2022

https://youtu.be/Mz4fJSZ_LUQ N2 Dorcha and LW6 fight over a fish 2022

https://youtu.be/T8wtZ_Zrq_E N2 Ludo’s second flight 2023

https://youtu.be/kYV3QZ-BIa8 N2 Ludo’s eventful third flight – gets divebombed and crash lands 2023

https://youtu.be/ZtKWJC9nqiU N1 Affric eventually gets a fish from Garry 2023

https://youtu.be/VmlZ8LP5KjU N2 Ludo makes a perfect landing this time 2023

https://youtu.be/HQpwZ0KNtUU N2 Ludo gets tired of waiting and self-feeds 2023

https://youtu.be/n5V3RcoCZJI N1 Garry arrives with a third fish for Affric 2023

https://youtu.be/yx5Yoxe0feY N2 Not tonight! Dorcha’s not accepting of Louis’ attentions 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/Vkh1bYP9V_U N1 Sweet little singer visits 2024

https://youtu.be/U2bBn4PpMoM N1 Garry LV0 brings a stick and does nest prep 2024

https://youtu.be/jN1-tY56wnA N1 A pair of little birds pay an early evening visit 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 18th July 2025

Today’s main story is Breac 7P7’s fledge. After doing a proper high helicopter off the screen in the morning, around lunchtime he casually had a quick preen, then without any fuss, spread his wings and launched himself out into the world. Older brother Darach 7P0 looked slightly bewildered but mum Dorcha flew off her perch to deal with the interloper, mistaking him for one of the intruders who’ve kept her and Louis busy today. He didn’t return to the nest, but thanks to LizB and her trusty scope, he’s been sighted perching on a tree behind the nest. Link in the bonus section to those trees via the drone flyover video. Despite intruder alarms, Louis delivered four fish to the nest, taking his tally to three hundred and twenty two. Nest One cam was up and running again this morning, allowing us to see Garry LV0 and Aurora 536 on the nest. He didn’t bring her any fish but they did have a successful mating, and when Affric 152 intruded and landed on the nest, they flew off together in the same direction showing their strong bond which bodes well for next year. His tally remains at one hundred and twenty nine. The weather was settled today, the thundery showers didn’t materialise but are forecast to show up tomorrow with a high of 22°C, but overnight it’s expected to be dry and partly cloudy with light winds, and a low of 14°C.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.41.29 (03.51.51E); Nest Two (04.08.30)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/FAR3H2mrmRY N2 Darach wins the tug of war for fish one 06.59.30

https://youtu.be/jiKLX7mriNA N1 Garry and Aurora are scared off by Affric 11.02.30

https://youtu.be/Dehz9bEl9po N2 Breac gets high! Proper off-the-screen helicopter 09.40.27

https://youtu.be/Y3McAjshYKw N2 FLEDGE! Breac 7P7 has found his wings and flown! 13.23.30

https://youtu.be/G_madcp0b3c N2 Louis brings a second fish but only one chick is there 14.51.40

https://youtu.be/632J3R7_bUk N2 Darach is alone on the nest and gets fish three to himself 16.59.16

https://youtu.be/JIAeVM0yzpY N2 Darach does a good job of tackling a whole fish, 4th today 21.56.24

Bonus watch – LizB has spotted Breac 7P7 perched behind the nest, in the trees seen in this drone flyover video:

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/hVAZXaUtY_M N1 Did Aila pop out for a quick pint? Looks tipsy on landing! 2019

https://youtu.be/25QSyNV93w8 N1 Sibling rivalry – Rannoch gets a beating 2019

https://youtu.be/fZq4NVQVZGk N1 FLEDGE! Doddie finds his wings 2020 (Classic Ospreys: Chopin 2020)

https://youtu.be/FXbWOQ9_eII N1 Vera and Captain bow to Doddie 2020

https://youtu.be/jzeN92U37KU N2 Dorcha makes off with fish number two, chicks not happy 2022

https://youtu.be/QLDYCp-9mQE N2 Dorcha makes room for LW5 to wingercise 2022

https://youtu.be/gGXO_xyQDws N1&2 RAF do another flypast – three jets this time 2023

https://youtu.be/vxdVywfJT3U N1 Garry finally brings a fish for Affric 2023

https://youtu.be/mmcV4tRItZk N2 LY7 gets high! Proper helicopter! 2023

https://youtu.be/qaojgIgK74A WTScotsocial tweet and footage of 1JR tucking into his fish dinner in Spain 2024

https://youtu.be/wa59vTuwYJc N2 No fish, just a failed mating attempt 2024

https://youtu.be/pxWsh7-M96g N2 Is this a juvenile Tawny Owl calling nearby? 2024

From the Ventana Wildlife Society. I am starting with a quote from the newsletter. The work that these remarkable individuals do should get the highest praise. There are few of them and they really live their lives caring for these amazing creatures.

“If you watched our wildlife documentary, Condor Canyon, you got to know Amigo (204) and his long-time mate, Kodama (646). Often the first condors seen by blossoming birders in Big Sur, CA, Amigo and Kodama were fixtures in their territory at Sea Lion Cove. They raised three biological chicks together playing a key role in the recovery of the species.

On December 13, 2024, Amigo was found deceased on the cliffs of his coastal territory. It is known that condors can live more than 5 decades, however, at the time of his death, Amigo was just 25 years old. Necropsy results confirmed his cause of death was lead poisoning. The lead bullet recovered from his digestive tract was consistent with a .22 caliber. While this caliber is legal in California, lead-based ammunition has been banned for hunting wildlife since 2019 due to its devastating effects on condors and other wildlife. Lead poisoning accounts for half of all known causes of death in condors and unfortunately for Amigo, his life was cut short.

However, this isn’t about blame, but rather, about solutions. Hunters and ranchers across California are following the law and doing their part to protect wildlife. Many responsible land stewards want to make the switch but still face limited availability of reliable non-lead options for smaller calibers like .22, which is America’s most popular rifle. Expanding access and awareness is key to protecting condors and supporting people whose livelihoods depend on working and living off the land.

Let’s honor Amigo’s legacy by advancing practical tools and partnerships that benefit both people and wildlife. If you or anyone you know hunts or has a ranch in central California, please pass along information about our Free Non-lead Ammunition Program. Click or tap the button below to get started.” That button is in the newsletter. If it doesn’t work, go to their website.

Lead toxicity impacts more than just condors. Many of the Bald Eagles taken into care have enormous amounts of lead, so don’t just do this for the condors, do it for all raptors. Call for a lead-free world in terms of ammunition (both recreational and military) as well as in fishing gear, etc. It is do dangerous!

The Full Crop Download

I have received news from ‘TU’ that the mother stork hit by the car in the Czech Republic has died. Thankfully, her storklets are doing very well. Had their rescue taken any longer, it might have been a different story.

‘TU’ and I also discussed Bonus the much beloved Black Storklet that was orphaned, raised for a bit in a clinic with Urmas and Dr Madis, and then fostered by Karl II and Kaia. We all loved Bonus and followed ‘his’ journeys and then his satellite transmitter went dead and our hearts sank. Well, Bonus might not have a transmitter but SHE is very much alive and has been seen and photographed at many nests. Urmas also agrees that Bonus is a female. Yippee. I hope that Bonus finds a safe nest – many more are needed along with artificial ponds full of frogs and little fish – but that she lives long, raises many storklets, and carries on the DNA of her parents, Jan and Janika.

Grandaughter Elysha highly recommends David Attenborough’s Ocean. It is a documentary that raises the issue of overfishing in the ocean and sheds light on our beloved albatross. Please check out the official trailer and then find the documentary on your streaming channel: https://youtu.be/O7V8OuS2BMY?

A new FB group that also looks at Kakapo.

The Cornell Red Tail Hawks, Big Red, and Arthur’s Os are still enjoying their time around the Cornell Campus and having Mum and Dad provide them with meals!~

Thank you so very much for being with us. We are taking a brief retreat-type holiday this week. The forecast, however, is for rain both where we live and at our destination. It is easier to be home to care for Don and Toby, but we are going with open minds and eyes, knowing that home is only 2 hours and 20 minutes away! My Friday blog may be short.

Brock is waiting for food. Then the wasps came and he left. Thankfully, he returned and ate his entire meal. I felt relieved, as he doesn’t look so good these days.

I want to thank our notable contributors, ‘Geemeff, Heidi, PB, PS, TU’, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos, including SK Hideaways, and the authors of posts such as Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all those at Menhaden-Little Fish, Big Deal FB. I am very grateful to you and all the others and to the newspapers that still cover environmental issues as they relate to our precious feathered friends. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

Friday in Bird World

18 July 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

We hope that the week was kinder to you than it was to the little osplets on the nests. Gosh, I hate to be a bearer of bad news. This year has really ‘gotten’ to me and Heidi. She said something very important on Tuesday and I hope she does not mind my repeating it since it was public. Heidi wrote, “I love them, and I want to be there for them… because it is happening to them whether we watch or not. If they can endure the pain, then so can I.” Precisely how I feel and I know from many of you who have written to me in the middle of the night that you sit up and virutally hold their little talons as they pass. Thank you for being there for them.

The plight is getting news coverage – keep up the pressure! Thanks, Heidi.

Menhaden Scarcity Leads to Bleak Outlook for Ospreys – The SandPaper Download

The book decluttering was quite the event. The final books went to the fire station thanks to my neighbour for their book drive. They were shocked to get thousands of almost new books! A great place for them. A win-win. The picnic table is assembled. The new beds are lovely and now, the last task is to pick a paint colour for the living room. It is the only room that I am going to refresh. Sometimes these things can become overwhelming so the goal is to stop before that becomes a reality.

In a week, we are going on a short holiday. Toby is going and The Girls are staying with Anne. On our return, Toby will begin his training. The trainer will come to our home. Looking forward.

There has been some sadness in the garden. We discovered that we had two baby Blue Jays. This evening when we took Toby on his walk, he wanted to go a different direction than normal. There in the back lane was one of the Baby Blue Jays. It had either hit one of the utility lines or landed on one and fell to its death. We scooped it up and brought it home burying it under the lime green hydrangea – a place where the little ones often flew. So sad. The adults work so hard to raise their young and in the end, so few survive those first months. There is also other sadness coming. For two nights Brock has not wanted to eat. He rests on the chairs on the deck and then goes back to the woodbox. Despite supplements, lots of good quality hard and wet food, dewormer, Brock is getting thinner and thinner. He does not run away from me but only allows me so close. I told him tonight how much his presence has meant to me and that I only wish he had trusted me enough to let me help him. He will be buried in the garden when he passes under the very large Crab Apple tree. I hope this time is not soon, but it feels as if it is. Send Brock your good wishes. All of this coloured what was to be a fun birthday party for Missey. So we will postpone that for a couple of days. The height of the party will be a small container of KFC. Missey loves KFC!!!!!!

‘PS’ report from Seattle Friday morning: “The two chicks continue to seem to do quite well, with multiple feedings witnessed, lots of flapping and hopping up and down on one leg, and some eating (though also a lot of still being fed by mom). I imagine, if all goes well, they will be fledging within the next 7-10 days? Can’t wait!

Managed a lucky capture of mom coming back to the nest with a Starry Flounder one day, too. Rest of the photos here (https://www.flickr.com/gp/193514804@N08/00d128UF4o). “

Mum has turned out to be a great fisher! It is so nice to see a nest doing well. They did lose one chick but these two are really flapping and getting strong. Thanks, ‘PS’

Some osprey nests have been neglected. As I race to try and decipher all my notes and get the data into the forms, it is time to start at the top and check to see what is happening. Before I do that, my inbox is full of great individuals wanting to help stop the commercial fishing that is taking all the Menhaden. Here is a new posting from Ben Wurtz and his team at Conserve Wildlife NJ.

First, pick a story to make the decline of ospreys ‘real’. Ask these lawmakers if they want to be the ones to go down in history as the killers of the Chesapeake and the cause of osprey genocide? Here is the individual listings of everyone in the Virginia House of Delegates and their e-mail addresses. Write to them. Make it clear what is at stake. Make it personal. Then sit down and write the radio, local television, local newspapers, anyone who will listen. We are gaining traction in our fight to get a moratorium. I want that and a clear 10 mile limit with no use of helicopters or spotter planes!

Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings Download

Heidi’s Osprey Report:

Allin’s Cove East: The trio are approximately six and a half weeks old. They will be thinking of fledging very soon.

Allin’s Cove West: One chick on the nest. It looks good.

City of Independence: The fishing seems to have slacked off a bit. River and Laurel have two osplets and there is a Bald Eagle nest right across the river! No doubt the eagles try and grab some of that fish that River catches for his family.

Charlo Montana: Mum and both osplets got lots of fish on Thursday evening. Delighted.

Dyfi: All fledglings are on the nest and accounted for Tuesday evening.

Dunrovin:

Latest Dunrovin Ranch newsletter:

Heat Masks and High Drama in the Nest Download

Thursday evening at Dunrovin. Little 4 figured out, after several attempts, how to get up and get some of that fish! Thank goodness.

Alyth SS: Flora is an incredible Mum. They lost one this year but two will fledge.

Birds of Poole Harbour: CJ7 and Blue 022 make beautiful babies. Blue has stepped up his fishing and everyone is full to the brim before light’s out.

Glaslyn: Elen continues to keep a careful watch over her nest, which appears she will share with Teifi if both safely return from migration nest season.

Foulshaw Moss 1: Home to White YW and Blue 35.

Steelscape: Two osplets were ringed on Wednesday the 16th!

Yorkshire Dales Castle Bolton Estate: Ringing of three osplets!

San Jose City Hall Falcons thanks to SK Hideaways! https://youtu.be/gWiPEYENiFk?

Cornell Red-tail Hawks and Ferris Akel: Ferris managed to catch up with the Os.

One or more of the Os have been sleeping in the natal nest on the Fernow Tower recently,

Bald Eagles on the mend at Hoo’s Woods:

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 17th July 2025

Nest One cam went down shortly after day cam switched over and is still down – technical issues mean it might be down for a while. Fortunately Nest Two cam is unaffected, as all eyes are on the nest awaiting the fledge of the two chicks, which didn’t happen today but is imminent. There were several intruder alerts causing Dorcha to alarm call but no intruders were seen. The chicks spent a great deal of time hopping, flapping, and getting quite high liftoff, and also spent a bit of time peering over the edge and triangulating, the process of determining distance or location which takes the form of rapid head bobbing by the chicks. Louis delivered four fish to the nest taking his tally to three hundred and eighteen. Due to the cam outage we have no idea if any fish were delivered to Nest One today, therefore Garry’s tally remains at one hundred and nine, however off-nest reports from LizB suggest both Nest One residents, Garry and Aurora, were in the area. The rain materialised later than forecast and is expected to last through the night with thundery showers, light winds, and a low of 16°C, and continue tomorrow with thundery showers, gentle breezes, a high of 21°C and a few sunny intervals.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One cam still down since 03.48.19 (03.05.51); Nest Two 22.57.45 (03.51.26)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/WS8ORUqI5A4 N2 The chicks have a tug-of-war over fish number one: Breac wins 05.01.58

https://youtu.be/JT-ncpD1424 N2 Dorcha’s absent when fish two arrives so Breac takes it 07.28.22

https://youtu.be/pBRkRI0jyBk N2 Breac helicopters and hovers getting ready for fledging 09.51.51

https://youtu.be/54NqajNZADI N2 Dorcha returns in time to get fish three from Louis 14.05.26

https://youtu.be/rc1Ez7Lsdg0 N2 No one wants fish four so Louis drops and goes 16.45.39

Bonus video – Woodland Trust’s restoration work at Loch Arkaig Pine Forest featuring gentle giant Tarzan:

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/ck2Pg7Q5eLY N1 You little plucker! Aila has her feathers plucked out 2019

https://youtu.be/lgknSbXblXc N1 Louis brings a protesting pike 2020

https://youtu.be/iDqoJdLmn_k N1 Doddie gets high – helicoptering! 2020

https://youtu.be/h-Cl2LeaLKE N2 Early morning wingercising: getting ready for lift off 2022

https://youtu.be/JVDiG_6Oyuo N2 Dorcha is attacked by her chick 2022

https://youtu.be/g0lqwAW8cgo N2 Pesky persistent Hoodie 2022

https://youtu.be/KZglDL7mQK0 N2 Three females and a colourful sunset 2022

https://youtu.be/azPfrKSwNcA N2 Loud gunshot near the nest – Dorcha flees instantly 2023

https://youtu.be/vwRQv_1sNL0 N1 Affric follows Garry to the nest but he has no fish 2023

https://youtu.be/CwKUyPR_ync N1 & N2 Noisy RAF jets disturb the females on both nests 2023

https://youtu.be/AogYtfshRZU N2 Dorcha’s unwieldy stick nearly knocks the chick off! 2023

https://youtu.be/4wpfSlXahCc N2 Louis & Dorcha meet on the nest but there’s no fish 2024

https://youtu.be/-M7049KwfMA N1 Who does a distant flash flypast? 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 16th July 2025
The weather was settled today and it looked a good day for first flights, but neither chick fledged. Perhaps the intruder alerts in the morning put them off as they spent a lot of time pancaked and didn’t make any helicopter attempts today. They did however do plenty of wingercising and bunny hops, including an amusing incident when Breac 7P7 did a flap and a hop from one side of the nest to the other and landed on Darach 7P0’s back in a flurry of wings then immediately hopped backwards again. Right before that they’d been perfectly in sync, both standing at the front of the nest turning in unison to watch something off-cam then checking out the view over the edge. Steve Quinn was also checking out the view from his vantage point a kilometre away and took some stunning long lens footage of the nest and its residents, link to his video in the bonus section. It was also a good day for fishing – Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora 536, and further strengthened their bond with what looked like a successful mating attempt. His tally now stands at one hundred and twenty nine fish. Louis brought five fish to the nest, taking his tally to three hundred and fourteen, but Dorcha didn’t get all of them as the chicks especially Breac are asserting themselves and taking fish directly from Louis as he lands. Tonight’s forecast is dry overnight with a clear sky, light winds and a low of 13

°C but it’ll change tomorrow to heavy rain, a gentle breeze and a high of 23°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.43.23 (02.56.41); Nest Two 23.39.24 (03.28.04)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/VtMiUVtqDmc N2 Early breakfast arrives 04.07.14https://youtu.be/8Ca-PVst_OM N2 Darach takes the second fish from Louis 06.02.56https://youtu.be/8bUM0B9iWBg N1 Aurora calls for fish but Garry mates with her instead 06.53.40

https://youtu.be/7DW28KMMB80 N1 Garry responds to Aurora’s calls with a fish 14.09.44

https://youtu.be/4rn3HjvGPRMN2 The chicks take fish three from Louis and tussle over it 14.14.14

https://youtu.be/qKdynluAV9k N1 Aurora squeaks her excitement at getting a second fish 18.37.47

https://youtu.be/YFu-Ctayry4 N2 In and out of sync: the chicks together on the nest 19.20.57https://youtu.be/gaUsRO5PJFo N2 Against a colourful sunset, Louis delivers a fourth fish 21.47.05

https://youtu.be/3UCjzdxVnEc N2 Late night fish supper, fish five, arrives 22.43.22
Bonus watch – Steve Quinn’s amazing long lens video of the nest from a kilometre away:

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/4Ab9eT-jFjE N1 Louis finally turns up with fish, gets mobbed by hangry chicks 2020

https://youtu.be/dED37P7d8HQ N1 Synchronised stretching 2020

https://youtu.be/VOjowNQ9fqE N2 Stretching & squirting: what the chicks get up to home alone at night 2022

https://youtu.be/3BVXtY_Bzx0 N2 Louis flies with fish 2022 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/BF_0tp4x8j8 N2 Hi def version of Dorcha’s injury 2022 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/h817CRnJtF0 N2 That’s no way to treat your mum! 2022

https://youtu.be/CSswPOm8JvE N2 LY7 nibbles the rotten egg 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/yn79acfwWD0 N2 The infertile egg is finally crushed by LY7! 2023

https://youtu.be/8SQiPHQE5tw N1 Affric and Garry check out an intruder threat 2023

https://youtu.be/bcctn-mHR5s Comedy moment: the wind blows Louis away during a mating attempt 2024

https://youtu.be/tmvFGPHenBo How does Louis manage to fly with a 10 foot pole? 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 15th July 2025
Intruder alerts and mini-helicopters were the order of the day but not much in the way of fish. Louis delivered only two fish today, a breakfast fish at 5am and a late night supper around 10.45 pm, taking his tally to three hundred and nine. However, an intruder Osprey was in the area causing multiple alarms and came close enough to be caught on camera on one occasion, which would have occupied Louis’ attention, and the second fish was a big lively trout, good for several dinners worth. The chicks’ energy levels are high enough for them to be preparing for fledging by flapping energetically, lifting off, and doing little hovers throughout the day when they weren’t pancaking because of the intruder alarms. Over on Nest One, Aurora 536 had a long wait before Garry LV0 finally brought her a fish at 8.15pm – was she the intruder at Nest Two, looking for free fish? The timings would work but the intruder wasn’t seen clearly – and his tally now stands at one hundred and twenty seven. The weather was mainly settled and set to continue with light clouds, light winds and a low of 12

°C overnight changing to sunny intervals and light winds with a high of 23°C tomorrow. Perfect for fledging? We shall have to wait and see!Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.07.30 (03.17.10); Nest Two 00.33.44 (03.34.57)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/AARQYgzR5Vo N2 Breakfast arrives and again Breac gets the fish first 05.31.11

https://youtu.be/pU9KyEAD0bQ N2 Intruder Osprey seen on nest cam – both adults defend 09.09.23

https://youtu.be/77_DfKJgquw N2 Lift off! The chicks get ready to fledge 11.51.14

https://youtu.be/jGPJxnvnJFw N1 Finally! Aurora’s first fish arrives at suppertime 20.14.53

https://youtu.be/bn1_moU9mZ8n N2 Late night lively fish supper arrives, fish number two 22.46.14Bonus watch – with fledging imminent, here’s what our chicks will see when they find their wings:

https://youtu.be/wiSNcrl7_mM and https://youtu.be/JALrf51Ljfk

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/Y6uqbk9cB5I N1 Aila sees off an Intruder Osprey landing on the nest 2019

https://youtu.be/d1TPzhnNURo N1 Aila lands on a chick and gets nipped 2020

https://youtu.be/iFO12gpfwOs N1 Daylight sonata: Doddie in slow motion 2020 (Classic Ospreys – Beethoven)

https://youtu.be/2qGCifFHKS0 N1 Vera dances, Doddie joins in, Captain just watches 2020

https://youtu.be/9sIzFlMDITo N2 Lovely wingercising by both chicks 2022

https://youtu.be/FfxiO3U1nu4 N2 Ready – aim – sorry mum.. 2023 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/LXNdASNtViU N1 Affric departs Nest One after no response to her calls 2023

https://youtu.be/AM_F3zl7x9I N2 LY7 wingercises facing the nest cam 2023 (slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/rmFJdA2wDCc N1 Juvenile Buzzard (Buteo buteo) visits 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/5Y9kwM70tXI N2 Two fish in two days! Louis brings an early breakfast 2024

https://youtu.be/qJEOIijj5Hc Valencia: the chicks are preening, plus tweets & FB posts 13-15th July 2024

https://youtu.be/h9oCsNTe8zE N2 Louis returns and this time gives Dorcha the fish 2024

Moraine State Park: First fledge Wednesday morning.

Tweed Valley:

Cornell Red-tail Hawks with N Sirohi:

Fish for all – just not industry. The petition on Change.org has gathered all the required signatures. Letters are going out to members of the Virginia Legislature. Keep sending them. I am reminding them that they could go down in history as the individuals who killed the Chesapeake Bay. Shame.

‘A’ brings us up to date with what is happening in Australia: “I have two major concerns about WBSE this year. First, the gap between the laying of the two eggs is huge – nearly 80 hours (17:50 on 4 July to 01:15 on 8 July) – although delayed incubation was practised until the second egg was laid. Already, I’m hoping that first hatch will be a male. Second, there have been a number of days when no prey has been brought to the nest at all and I am wondering why. Of course it’s not a major concern at the moment but when there are two fast-growing eaglets in that nest, it will matter a lot more than it currently does. Also, Lady and Dad are not the only white-bellied sea eagles on the block, with another adult eagle being spotted on the river a few days ago. That is wonderful of course but it also makes me a trifle nervous, for obvious reasons.

Dad has been doing his share of the incubating, with the pair splitting the nest-sitting duties fairly evenly on many days, though Lady always takes the night shifts. Dad has been sleeping close by and is very attentive. I love how keen the dads are for egg time (and later on, for chick time). These sea eagles really are exquisite birds. I love the delicacy of their heads.

At Orange, there is much bonding and mating occurring. Diamond and Xavier are adorable, and both are looking particularly healthy and well fed.

Eggs are still six weeks away at Port Lincoln and we have heard nothing about Collins Street so far this season.”

Many of you will recall that we had hoped to go and see Puffins this summer. It did not happen. Today an article appeared in The Guardian showing how climate change and the heating of our planet is impacting these precious little seabirds.

How this summer’s heatwaves are affecting breeding birdshttps://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jul/17/how-summer-heatwaves-affecting-breeding-birds?CMP=share_btn_url

The bird of the week!

Cochabamba Mountain Finch Rufous and Slate Download

Missey, Calico, Baby Hope, Hugo Yugo, Toby and all the garden family including Brock wish you a very happy weekend.

Including Baby Blue Jay (the adults are moulting and have lost their crests).

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care everyone. See you on Monday!

I want to thank our notable contributors, ‘Geemeff, Heidi, PS’, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos, including SK Hideaways, and the authors of posts and articles, including The Guardian, Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all those at Menhaden-Little Fish, Big Deal FB. I am very grateful. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

Monday in Bird World

7 July 2025

Hello Everyone,

Before Ervie. The morning starts with some great saddness at Rutland Water. 3R6 is one of this year’s fledglings.

Posted on Rutland Ospreys FaceBook 7 July 2025:

We thank you for all your kind messages this morning at this difficult time. We wanted to share the timeline of events as it occurred last night (6 July 2025). At 21.31 we see 3R6 take off from the nest and shortly afterwards there is a splash and we see both Maya and 3R8 look towards that direction. At 21.41, with both 3R5 and 3R8 on the nest, we then see Maya take off from the perch and do a fly around the nest. At this point we see 3R6 in the water, making his way towards the shore. The decision was made to not intervene last night due to the challenging conditions and not wanting to disturb the other Osprey, particularly 3R8 who has yet to fledge. We checked at first light and subsequently Tim Mackrill sadly found 3R6 deceased on the shoreline with a wound on its left side below the neck. We are trying to organise a post-mortem to see exactly what might have happened.

Fledge at Loch Doon.

I want to start with Ervie. What a character. He paid the WBSE a visit!

Port Lincoln wrote: “

That wasn’t Ervie’s only adventure. He went and landed on Bradley’s ‘nest’ the other day! Bradley sent him packing. Ervie you need a nest and a girlfriend.

rvieErvie was also sighted at Delamere!!!!!!! He sure is making the rounds.

We had a glorious Saturday. The temperatures dropped a tad. There were blue skies and a wonderful breeze. Several weeks ago, when we were out at Pineridge, we visited one of the Farmer’s Market stalls, Oak Knoll Farms. The flowers were lovely, the eggs delicious. So, around midnight Friday, I looked them up and discovered that I could order berries, eggs, herbs, lettuces, all manner of in-season vegetables, along with fresh flowers. So I did! Toby jumped in his carrier and along with Don away we went to pick everything up. The young woman was fixing the bouquet and then heading out to pick our gallon of strawberries, so we got to wander around the property. We met the hens who had laid the eggs. They have a movable house that is changed three to four times a day. There are goats and pigs, an orchard, a beautiful old red barn, and a large field of strawberries and Hyskap. It was magical.

I am quite sick of living in the city – it was so quiet walking around that acerage.

Now, back to the birds!

‘PS’ sends the report from Seattle: “A good, and very interesting/thrilling Sunday. For one, saw dad twice in the span of ~90 minutes, each time with a Coho salmon, which mom and both nestlings devoured quickly. Also, on the second visit, dad came home to an empty nest because mom had just taken flight to intercept another Osprey that had wandered a bit too close! They cartwheeled through the air fairly close by and I grabbed what photos I could (none are great – birds in flight are so hard! – but they give the sense of the chase well enough) over the span of a few minutes before the intruder turned tail. Mom was very tenacious and watching her defend her nesting space was quite moving. She then came back to the nest, gave an angry call or three (seemed like she was still pretty charged up, understandably so!), and started feeding everyone the fresh fish. Couple pics here, rest in the album (https://www.flickr.com/gp/193514804@N08/w4u512hZe5).

So good to see the family still doing well – the youngsters took turns flexing their wings here and there too. With some gusts of wind I bet they could feel some lift! “

Let’s start with a good thing – the first two osplets have hatched in East Anglia in centuries. Think about that. It could be the Virginia or Delaware coasts or Maryland or New Jersey — the first osprey couple to breed and raise chicks. Congratulations East Anglia! The Norfolk Wildlife Trust introduces these rock stars to us! The author of the article says, “We can confirm that an osprey pair has successfully hatched at least two chicks at NWT Ranworth Broad and Marshes, making the nature reserve the first known site in the region to make a home for breeding osprey in hundreds of years.”

First ospreys breed in East Anglia for centuries _ Norfolk Wildlife Trust Download

I’ve included one of the recent comments here at the beginning of our discussions about what’s happening in Bird World. The type of empathy and kindness shown by this other species to the Dewey Beach osprey is what humans should strive to emulate. The comment by micpark reads: “The osprey who died at Dewey Beach was not alone, a faithful sparrow was with her and at one point showed his guarding stance of wings out and chirping at a likely intruder. He stayed with the young osprey through the end, and even when mom returned. His family lives beneath the nest, but he didn’t have to stay on top with her, but he did.”

Isn’t that beautiful?

Concerns about fireworks amongst those empathetic with the other living souls we share our planet with could be heard around the world and yet, there were still places that insisted that Canada Day or the Fourth of July would not be the same without them. ‘B’ sent us some articles that cement the fact that fireworks are simply destructive to both wildlife and people. Please have a read. Educate yourself and if you live somewhere that insists on burning up money, then arm yourself with the facts and get a discussion going before the next event takes place. Who knows. You could be the person to stop this practice in your town or city.

You may well have already seen this, but just in case not, I wanted to make sure you saw that there was a brief article today on the NY Times website on “The effects of fireworks on animals and people”. It is good to see this issue getting visibility in such a prominent place.

Within that article there is a link to the abstract and bibliography of an extensive scientific article on “short and long term impacts of fireworks on the environment”.

https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/PC22040

Here is a link to the full text of this latter article:

https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/Fulltext/PC22040

Jackie and Shadow leaving their roost when the celebrations begin. https://youtu.be/YhUuytvPAZw?

The fledglings at San Jose City Hall were decidedly disturbed by illegal fireworks! https://youtu.be/0f7l5wJH7Es?

Not only falcons or eagles that were disturbed, my inbox was filled with notes from you telling me about your pets hiding under the beds or getting so anxious they ran around the house not being able to settle.

Speaking of fledglings, Betty Lou made a surprise visit to the nest at Sauces Canyon (I think it was Thursday).

Concern was growing on Friday when the fourth hatch at the Coeur d’Alene nest in Idaho was continually attacked. The neck was bleeding on the right side, and the little one had little to no fish for two days. The first hatch is a large female, and she is vicious. She reminds me of Zoe from Port Lincoln. Chick 3 also had a go at 4. If they were ever measured, I presume that chick 2 is a male or a rather intelligent female who stays out of the way. Then a small miracle happened. A fish came in, and little 4 got some fish and had a crop. But was it enough, and how damaged are its organs from not having any hydration for two days?

Before the feeding. I could not believe 4 had enough strength to stand up.

Older ones are preening later. They are huge. Little 4 in the back. I wonder if it will survive the night.

Mum knew there would be a late fish. It came, and it was a big one. Mum fed fast, and the feeding lasted a long time. Little four was there, but the big ones hovered over it and ate, shoving its body until it moved away. When they were full, there was still fish left, but four of them didn’t seem to get up there in a way that allowed them to get any food. This chick lacked the aggression of Tiny Tot Tumbles at Achieva, which had lived and proved to be a formidable female, protecting the nest when it was four months old with its dad, Jack. (Mum Diane had already left.)

Still feeding fast and still fish, but none for the little fourth hatch. It is understood that nests with four chicks struggle. Dunrovin is doing alright. A giant fish came in! And I do mean huge. All of the chicks that went down the crib rails were lucky to be rescued. These four will most likely live to fledge. Sadly, it doesn’t look like this Idaho baby will.

And then something happened. A big fish came in. The big ones are either full or still asleep (no rewind) and little four is right up there. It ate a good third of a large fish before being usurped by the bigger ones. Little four – maybe you will grow big enough and confident enough to win this battle.

It looks like 4 had some fish while we were away on Saturday. Not sure how much but looking a little perkier than yesterday.

I didn’t stare at the camera but baby 4 at Coeur de’Alene did get some fish, finally, after being attacked and losing feathers. It was #3 that did the attacking. Does that osplet worry that it will be next if it doesn’t get rid of #4?

It is around 2039 at the nest, and everyone appears to be anticipating the arrival of the last fish of the day. Four looks good – up close to Mum with its head up, not slumped in the corner. Let us hope that we have come out of a few bad days to civility here.

Cape Henlopen: It looked like a pretty good day for the two chicks.

Usk Valley: Only Bob gets ringed! This chick is the first to be ringed in the USK Valley in 250 years,

RINGING THE CHICK — Usk Valley Ospreys Download

Cumbria Wildlife Trust Nest 2: Team parenting skills on nest two!

It’s fairly unusual (but not unheard of) to see male ospreys feeding their chicks. Mum usually takes on that role, and dad does the fishing. In this case, dad Blue 476 is passing food over to mum Blue 717 to feed their remaining chick.

Here’s some more insight from our osprey volunteer, Jenny:

‘476 has done this a few times and 717 seems to accept his help. He started off tentatively when there were three chicks on the nest a while ago. It was fascinating to watch as he was uncertain as to what to do and seemed to be more comfortable feeding fish to mum, who then fed the chicks. They continued like this after this short clip until the fish was gone and little chick was well fed.’

It’s so interesting being able to compare the two #FoulshawOsprey families this year! Really hoping they both”

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigSunday 6th July 2025
The weather brightened up as promised this afternoon, and will remain dry overnight, partly cloudy with light winds and a low of 10

°C while tomorrow will have sunny intervals until early evening when full sunshine is forecast, with light breezes and a high of 17°C. Louis brought six fish to the nest today, taking his tally to two hundred and seventy. Most of those six fish were tiddler size, leading to fighting between the two chicks, but by evening everyone had fed well and settled down peaceably as darkness fell. There was also a bit of fish-related aggro over on Nest One – Aurora 536 was not happy when Garry LV0 arrived with twigs instead of fish and showed her annoyance by nipping him. He subsequently delivered two fish to her on the nest, whether as a consequence of the nip is unknown, and his tally rises to one hundred and twelve. The naming contest for the chicks closed at noon today and the outcome of the jury vote will be announced tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.41.26 (03.32.07); Nest Two 23.39.05 (03.45.32)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/TLoFjPHNwr4 N2 Breakfast arrives but it’s not very substantial 06.41.40

https://youtu.be/_dGg8oRAi00 N1 Aurora nips Garry when he arrives without fish 09.49.38

https://youtu.be/5Eh9bU7MLQ0 N1 Aurora’s long wait pays off as Garry brings a fish 14.33.04

https://youtu.be/SVcLcZO-MTg N2 Fish number two is so small the chicks fight each other 17.06.14

https://youtu.be/HpveXUQNg-E N2 Fish number three is big enough for everybody to share 17.40.31

https://youtu.be/7WU8lpATAbk N2 Fish number four is the third tiddler today, barely a mouthful each 18.12.49

https://youtu.be/U4xuBTHaYncN2 Chick 7P7 gets all of tiny fish five 20.03.01

https://youtu.be/xdElscDq9L8 N1 Garry brings a second fish for Aurora 21.34.58

https://youtu.be/d3_BfLEkRhQ N2 Louis delivers a sixth fish, a small – medium trout 21.40.34
Bonus watch – check out Woodland Trust’s official highlights of the season to date:

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/7KRmCdBb43o N1 Aila steals the tail from her chick JJ0 2019

https://youtu.be/IJbN78plGes N1 Aila brings an awkward stick and departs leaving the chicks to deal with it 2020

https://youtu.be/GPP6BnMS860 N1 Louis brings fish but everyone’s full 2020

https://youtu.be/DsSnlV5Rboo N1 Tiny tiddler fish number seven arrives looking surprised 2020

https://youtu.be/TN3x2Q7o6-0 N2 Louis is bemused Dorcha’s not there to get the fish 2022

https://youtu.be/2lrzmpxBxeY N2 Deep breath moment as the chick wingercises in strong wind 2023

https://youtu.be/vItPqUHe7oQ N1 Garry keeps trying his luck, more fish needed! 2023

https://youtu.be/CNrwPRe0qX4 N2 Louis brings a live mackerel 2023

https://youtu.be/fKAlAJUJQ0Y N2 Dyson & Henry arrive but there aren’t any scraps for them 2024

https://youtu.be/yCVDmwY87Ic N2 Dorcha pays a late evening visit and calls to no avail 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 5th July 2025

Another calm day where not much happened – the wet weather eased off this afternoon in a happy change to the forecast, giving the family a chance to dry out. But at the time of filing this report (23.45) mist is rolling in rapidly, about to envelop Nest Two and its occupants, and the rain has started again. The overnight forecast for Inver Mallie which covers the nest area shows light rain and light winds with a low of 12°C continuing until lunchtime tomorrow after which there should be sunny intervals with a high of 18°C. Louis brought three fish to the nest today, taking his tally to two hundred and sixty four, one of which was tiny and demolished in five minutes, with chick 7P7 downing the tail like an old hand. Aurora 536 received one fish from Garry today, and his tally rises to one hundred and twelve. The contest to name the chicks, males 7P0 and 7P7, closes at noon tomorrow so get your suggestions in if you haven’t already, details in the bonus section.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.38.51 (03.28.09); Nest Two 23.22.40 (03.42.36)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/NMSgZk6wQB0 N2 First fish – breakfast’s later than usual 06.08.52

https://youtu.be/IhFOsTWdiQ4 N1 Aurora grabs the fish, mantles, and departs 11.52.01

https://youtu.be/2R4kJqFGki4 N2 Titchy fish two is gone in 5 mins, 7P7 downs the tail 15.55.25

https://youtu.be/TShjk9aKvSA N2 The family’s very happy to see Louis with fish three 21.09.56

Bonus opportunity – name those chicks! Get your suggestions in by noon tomorrow (Sunday):

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=26302594

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/KmKrmLCYAdk N1 The chicks Bring Jollity doing flight prep quick time 2020 (Classic Ospreys – Holst)

https://youtu.be/2eRo86pV2Yg N1 Newsome Twosome return to Nest One 2021

https://youtu.be/bP4bq94pHFE N1 The Stranger Prince brings fish to Affric Blue152 2021

https://youtu.be/43ZWmA7jew4 N2 Fish number two arrives, departs, returns in under a minute! 2022

https://youtu.be/z2qG8vOwPeA N2 RAF Hercules flypast caught on nest cam 2022 (slo-mo, zoom)

https://youtu.be/k8RWeFXwVIQ N2 Chick 2 pecks Dorcha after a stick incident 2022

https://youtu.be/eZp5DKTAV5E N1 Garry brings furnishings and rearranges his nest 2023

https://youtu.be/Jt1e_FAyuxA N2 Chick has a really good go at self feeding 2023

https://youtu.be/IT-cvTyR6YU N1 Magical double rainbow with sparkles 2023

https://youtu.be/zakv38LnsXI N2 Dorcha’s not impressed: no fish and Louis tries mating 2024

https://youtu.be/KM9WDj8AjRk N1 Does Garry notice the two birds chasing each other? 2024

https://youtu.be/rX4DKIlw6dM N2 Louis brings a lunchtime fish for Dorcha 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 4th July 2025
The weather was every bit as wet today as forecasted – the family spent most of the day looking like soggy bundles of feathers. The chicks did stand from time to time and give their wings a good shake, but although she does her best, Dorcha is unable to cover them as they’re just too big. The forecast for tonight and tomorrow is more of the same – light rain and gentle breezes with an overnight low of 13°C and only rising by two degrees to a high of 15°C tomorrow. However, despite the rain Louis delivered four fish for his family, and the chicks have full crops to mitigate against the wet weather. Louis’ tally now stands at two hundred and sixty one, while Garry LV0’s remains at one hundred and eleven as much to Aurora’s disappointment, he turned up not with fish but with a small stick. Things were more positive and lively among the nest cam watching community as name suggestions for the newly ringed male chicks 7P0 and 7P7 keep flooding in. If you haven’t posted your suggestion yet, there’s plenty of time – you have until noon this Sunday 6th July.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.41.15 (03.38.51); Nest Two 23.19.14 (03.45.04)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/Lv97nbd21-8 N2 The drookit family are very pleased to see Louis with fish one 07.50.01

https://youtu.be/fPOukvb6ZE0 N2 Weather’s not improved when Louis brings fish number two 13.38.32

https://youtu.be/PZt6YucaOgg N2 Not much is seen of fish three as the camera lens is fogged up despite its magic coating 16.07.10

https://youtu.be/SuU0oMctnhY N1 Garry dashes Aurora’s hopes by bringing a stick not fish 19.03.02

https://youtu.be/7_HoD7ep-Gg N2 Louis brings a fourth fish and stays to do some nest tidying 20.17.07
Bonus watch – ringing photo compilation on Woodland Trust’s social media:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=755712413543585&rdid=7ppRa44GZYD4ohoI

Blast from the past,this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/JUBUmLPe35I N1 At 03.04.04 Louis brings a record early fish 2020

https://youtu.be/esStICLLZcU N1 Avian antics on the nest: nipping and tucking 2020

https://youtu.be/-Rs4bXxthc4 N1 Chick huddle prevents Aila getting to the fish 2020

https://youtu.be/d4ts6sBxnVw N1 Aila causes chaos with a stick until a chick helps out 2020

https://youtu.be/ZrutG-grqZM N1 Doddie nips Aila when she stands on him 2020

https://youtu.be/4moO8dO8Avc N1 As the light fades Louis delivers fish number six 2020

https://youtu.be/lmejeER58ik N2 After a cold wet night an early breakfast arrives 2022

https://youtu.be/tWKLeEeKIMA N1 Garry LV0 arrives with a headless fish 2023

https://youtu.be/UGq6LQrd_Lk N2 Dorcha reacts furiously to an intruder alert 2023

https://youtu.be/mc8TIefie18 N1 Affric turns up too late and misses out 2023

https://youtu.be/73KK4iKeVGQ N2 Very enthusiastic wingercising, mum gets smacked repeatedly 2023

https://youtu.be/TZR8lcMqDZs N1 Garry LV0 returns with moss and does some housework 2024

https://youtu.be/mUwYTyBdkxU N2 Louis arrives fishless and coy-mantles for Dorcha 2024

https://youtu.be/rLoGqpsGXGQ N2 Dyson and Henry pay a visit 2024

https://youtu.be/i69C0tAgKxI N2 Dorcha pays a late afternoon visit 2024

American Bird Conservancy’s Bird of the Week is the James Flamingo. How much do you know about this beautiful water bird?

James’s Flamingo – American Bird Conservancy Download

‘EJ’ sends us two smiles for the day:

A Teen Lifeguard Saw an Osprey Struggling in the Ocean. His Training Taught Him What to Do Next. – Garden & Gun
https://gardenandgun.com/articles/a-teen-lifeguard-saw-an-osprey-struggling-in-the-ocean-his-training-taught-him-what-to-do-next/

Video shows conductor stopping train, getting out and shooing young U.S. Steel eagle off the tracks – CBS Pittsburgh
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/bald-eagle-train-tracks-ocho-us-steel/

Newsletter 7 from Chichester catches up with their falcons.

Chichester Peregrine Newsletter Download

Next time you pick up something at a shop, think twice. If you tire of it quickly or it is of low quality, it could be spoiling African wetlands!

Fashion lays waste to wetlands Download

Norwegian osplets at Ostfort are ringed! You can watch. The ‘girls’ were ringed and will be on their way to Ireland as part of the translocation project. https://youtu.be/2jXgCsOnHds?

Fru Rauer, Norway: Those two chicks couldn’t be more beautiful.

“Ringing of ospreys at Rauer (norway) in 2025 under the auspices of the Osprey Project in Østfold. Project Leader – Rune Aae. In the nest and ring marking: Sondre Krokeide. (the sound is a recording from the same time the ringing was taking place) 2 individuals ringed at Mrs. Rauer’s nest. There are 2 more nests on the island, making a total of 5 chicks across 3 nests. DNA sampled from both chicks at Mrs. Rauer – gender results will be available in autumn/winter 2025. They have been given the names 12L (Frøy) and 13L (Runi). White ring with black lettering. DNA results are likely to come at the earliest in autumn. The metal ring is unique and has an address to the Stavanger Museum, while the color ring is attached to the metal ring with large symbols to facilitate reading the ring with binoculars. This will provide us with more information about our birds. All scientific ringing in Norway is organized by the Ringing Center at Museum Stavanger.”

Charlo Montana: All three had nice crops on Saturday.

Dyfi, Wales: Idris continues to catch a lot of fish until late in the evening. That nest is sure getting full! The little male is hovering!!!!!!!!!!!

Dunrovin Ranch: All four continue to stay on the nest after those two troublesome days. Little four is a real reptile!

Santiam SCSD: Two lovely ospreys are doing well.

Boulder County: Two beauties there, too, and they are also doing well.

Trempeauleau Eagle Nest: Dad comes in with a fish and fledgling T3 flies down to the nest to get it! Beautiful. https://youtu.be/vnRcAfmCUvQ?

Russell Lake Ospreys, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia: Oscar and Ethel have two of the cutest osplets.

Green Ledge Light Preservation Society: The osprey nest is relatively low on the breakers to the lighthouse. There was a big storm the other evening. I have written to find out if the osprey family is OK. There are two fully feathered chicks since the image below was taken on 11 April. They hatched on 2 June.

Muonion Osprey Platform, Finland: Two chicks and lots of fish coming to the nest.

Juurusvesi, Finland. At least six large fish were delivered on Sunday to Mum and the two osplets. One is heavily feathered and looks like a juvenile while the younger retains some of that ‘look’ of being the second hatch. Kala Saaskia is responsible for the images captured in the video below.

SK Hideaways not only caught the arrival of the first WBSE egg but also that incredible morning duet. Toby sat still and listened! https://youtu.be/wNcpLqDi5DM?

Thank you for being with us. Please take care. We hope to see you soon!

Thank you so much for being with us today. I want to thank our notable contributors, ‘EJ, Geemeff, PB, PS’, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos, including SK Hideaways, and the authors of posts and articles including Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information. I am very grateful. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

Monday in Bird World

30 June 2025

Hello Everyone!

First up. Port Lincoln Ospreys posted a lot of flight paths of the ospreys, but one will interest all of you – Ervie. I put in the details of what this most loved fledgling from the barge has been up to.

To give everyone a smile. This has been a generally good weekend in the garden. The European Starling parents are ready for their fledglings to leave the nest and garden area and go and find their way. This is perfect for Mr Crow and his two fledglings, who started coming to the garden Saturday evening. The baby Crows are as big as their parents. They are easy to spot as they will land on the craziest of things and they can’t quite balance themselves on the wires. They also walk all over the roof of the conservatory! The cats were absolutely fascinated with them.

Hugo Yugo almost popped her eyes out!

Baby Hope seemed a little frightened with the scratchy noise on the glass.

Calico was simply fascinated.

Missey was no where to be found.

I write this blog with a continuing heavy heart. Baby osplets are dying everywhere in the area that Omega, the Canadian corporation, is doing its industrial/commercial Menhaden fishing. We know only of those nests on the streaming cam unless you start to read Menhaden-Little Fish, Big Deal FB where many have answered my posts with information. No surviving osplets around the Virginia coast. None on St. George’s Island, Maryland. Ben Wurtz of Conserve Wildlife tells us that there is no use putting fish on the nests in NJ because when the chicks fledge, there is no fish to eat! Remarkably, even the adults are surviving, so I tell you, be happy if any of those nests fledge one chick. Please don’t be hard on the male who is working his little tail off to find fish that aren’t there.

The fault lies with politicians taking donations from Omega and a three-mile fishing limit. We need a ten-mile safe space. That might do it, although I would be much happier with a complete moratorium on the fishing of Menhaden. There are petitions to sign. I will put them at the end of the blog. Please sign them, write people, write the newspapers, the radio stations, The New York Times, 60 Minutes…whatever. There must be someone out there who has the agency to get this topic of extinction on the airwaves and get more people lobbying to protect the osprey.

One of our long-time readers, ‘EJ’, sent this to me to share with you today. There is little mention of the lack of Menhaden, never mind the direct cause.

Osprey population ‘near complete collapse’ on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, scientists report Download

Terrapins are dying along with the Striped Bass and Blue Crabs. The whales and dolphins have left the area.

More sadness. Trolls are trying to blame this on Bald Eagles! Seriously. Omega Corporation (I am embarrassed that it is a Canadian company) takes 112 million pounds of adult Menhaden and perhaps even more when they are scouring the shores of New Jersey and Delaware. Ospreys need adult Menhaden to survive. That is it. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Please don’t skip the image below of a dead osplet. Perhaps I have said this twice. You are watching the extinction of a species in this area. It can be stopped, but no politician in the area seems to have the will to do anything for wildlife. Are they so afraid of the next election and those great big donations?

Instead of stop watching these nests where the babies are dying – watch and learn and then get mad and do something. Sit down and write 20 letters – cute and paste is easy. Get the information on the overfishing in the area by a commercial company, the need for a 10 mile limit instead of 3, and write and write. Get everyone you know who cares about wildlife to write. Send it to the papers, the radio stations, those who care about the environment. Write Corey Booker in NJ. Maybe he will help!

Today, we lost the second hatch at Island Beach State Park, NJ. Notice it is NJ. It isn’t just the Chesapeake Bay. Omega is fishing off the shores of NJ and Delaware, but the ospreys are impacted in all the states in the region, including Maryland. Strangely, we are now having some issues with the third hatch at the Great Bay Osprey Platform in New Hampshire. it might not survive the weekend. We wait to see. Little Peabody died Monday morning.

It is the last day of June. Where did the days go? Tomorrow is Baby Hope’s second birthday. It’s also Canada Day, so we’ll be having a big party! I am not going ‘crazy’. The world doesn’t need to manufacture any more stuff and my ‘fur babies’ do not need a thing. Baby Hope loves those squeezy treats and what my friend, Geemeff, knows as Dreamies in the UK. She also has a new toy. Anne will be with us, so it will be grand. I might even get some vanilla ice cream and share it with everyone!

Good news coming in from our reader ‘PS’ who is keeping a close eye on the osprey family in Washington with its three chicks. Just look at them. They have outgrown the Reptile stage and are developing juvenile feathers. Each has a nice crop.

‘PS’ reports: “Quick update for today, June-28…a very good day! The family was finishing up a meal when I arrived, and all crops were very full, even the littlest one. Which was good enough, and a delight to see, but then dad showed up with another fish (looked like some kind of flounder or sole) 20 minutes later! Nestlings were mostly sleeping and couldn’t even be bothered to get up, except for the littlest one who figured why not, and continued to eat more. Mom ate a lot of this one too, then took a quick break down to the shoreline, walked around a bit, dunked her head in the water, then flew back. Dad was mostly taking a break on a nearby lightpost. Seems like the eating was very good today (bright, sunny, warm, calm winds). So good to see!”

If you haven’t checked out ‘PS’s’ Flickr diary of this family, please do:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/193514804@N08/3Y3f5314rM)

We also have a report from ‘PS’ for Monday morning: “Hope your weekend has been a good one – one update for you from today, June 29. Unfortunately it was a slow day from what I could see, at first – not only were the three nestlings not sporting bulging crops, but mom left the nest three times after I arrived, for up to ~12 minutes at a time, presumably to hunt on her own. No dad during this time. First two times she came back empty-taloned…then after she left a third time one of the parents returned, at last, with a fish! I thought it was odd, though, that this adult landed in the nest, looked a bit befuddled, left the fish, then decamped for the perch, without feeding the kids (in looking at my images later I realized that this was dad, but didn’t realize it at the time)…some ten minutes later, the other adult returned, this time with a pretty large southern Rock Sole (headless – fuel for the journey no doubt) which was immediately fed to the nestlings (this was mom, though at the time I was still somewhat confused as to who was who). Sadly, #3 was bullied out of the way by #2 (the size difference is enormous). I had to leave before the fish was finished, but hopefully everyone had enough and/or the parents were able to get more fish.

It was sunny today, but very windy, so perhaps challenging conditions…it was worrisome to see mom leaving so often, and coming back with nothing. Clearly she didn’t want to leave for so long, but felt she had to…”

While chicks have been lost on nest 2 at Foulshaw Moss in Cumbria, at nest 1, White YW and Blue 35 continue to raise their three chicks without issue! White YW brings in these huge fish, and Mum is excellent at getting the bites spread around despite having three ravenous beaks.

Notice the difference in plumage between the three chicks on the Washington nest and Foulshaw Moss 1. The most petite chick on the Foulshaw Moss nest still has ‘slight’ remnants of that big white wide stripe of its youth, while all the chicks at Washington are slightly younger and retain the white stripe on their back. Soon it will be covered with gorgeous, beautiful juvenile plumage!

At Rutland Manton Bay, the oldest chick is doing some amazing hovers. Landings on the nest are tricky with three large siblings! Watch for the first fledge of an osprey in the UK anytime!

Birds of Poole Harbour are celebrating the return of CJ7 and Blue 022’s of two-year-old Blur 5H3.

This year’s four will be ringed on Sunday morning the 29th so I will be able to report this today!

Here’s the video of the four pancaked and showing the Blue Darvic Ring 5R4 on the chick from Birds of Poole Harbour! https://youtu.be/eaxk967rTQI?

The cutoff for the weight for males usually is below 1600. Over is female, coupled, of course, with measurements to support that weight. In the end, though, only a DNA test can definitively provide the gender. (Sometimes the ringers are wrong.)

Here are the results:

Llyn Clywedog: Seren Blue 5F with her two gorgeous, big, healthy chicks. Unringed Dylan does a marvellous job of feeding his family. One year, he was tracked and timed by John Williams, revealing he flew 25 miles to chase an intruder away, returning with some lovely Brown Trout. (Trout was available at the nearby reservoir, but this fish did not come from there – he was watched closely.)

The Llyn Clywedog ospreys were ringed in 2025. Instagram reports that two chicks were safely ringed at the Llyn Clywedog nest as part of ongoing conservation efforts. The chicks were ringed with blue rings, and the specific numbers were not mentioned in the Instagram post.

Dyfi Osprey Project: Idris arrived with a fish on Saturday night around 2000. Look at the flurry. You can see some of the new bling on the chicks in the second image.

Loch Doon: Angel and Frankie’s two surviving osplets are now hovering!

Saaksilvie #4, Finland: Three healthy osplets, stretching and walking around the nest and one dirty camera lens!

Saaksilvie #2 LS: Three osplets finished their meal, and the fish left on the nest!

Couer de’Alene, Idaho: The four osplets are doing very well! No overfishing here that I am aware.

Smallwood: Look at these three beauties.

Boulder County: Family portrait.

Charlo, Montana: Someone is going to ‘yell’ at me and tell me I’m wrong, but right now, I have a little concern for the third hatch at this nest. The two larger earlier hatches are eating a lot of food, and the little one is in submission a lot. It is clever and finally sees an opportunity, getting on the opposite side of Mum to come away with a crop. That crop was not easy – it worked hard for it.

Dunrovin: Oh, that wee third hatch makes me ache. But, look, it is right up there – all three in a line being fed by Winnie. Dad Swoop up on the perch after flying in with the family fish meal.

Independence City: We can finally see that there are two beautiful chicks in this nest!

Heidi’s Osprey Report:

Great Bay: All the chicks survived the heat dome that lasted for a few days, but since the weather cooled, it seems that Dad just cannot deliver enough fish to the family. The chicks are 27, 26, and 23 days old on 6/30. The two older chicks have big appetites, and Little3 has not been able to eat much for a few days. Little3 may not make it. But, he has won the hearts of many people who are praying for him. Little3 is much loved.

Dewey Beach: Dad has not been seen since 6/26. Mom has been fishing for the osplet, in fact, she had already been fishing for several days prior to Dad’s disappearance. But, for some reason, fishing has been slow for a few days. Mom is catching fewer fish per day now, than when she was supplementing Dad’s fish deliveries. The osplet is 47 days old, and has been doing some flapping.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 29th June 2025
The weather was much more settled today and both males provided plenty of fish. Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora 536 taking his tally to one hundred and five, and Louis’ four fish deliveries saw his tally rise to two hundred and forty one. Chick2 is developing rapidly and not only downed a tail today, but also made off with a whole fish, taking it away from Dorcha who’d only just received it from Louis. But the chick wasn’t allowed to keep the prize for long, Dorcha reclaimed it and feeding commenced as usual. However chick1 also attempted to make off with a whole fish but Dorcha didn’t let go and the chick lost the tug of fish battle. The ringers are due in a few days time, a far cry from this time last year when a rescue mission was needed which saw the chicks getting their rings in Spain after joining a translocation programme, but this year everything is going well and both chicks are developing nicely. The overnight forecast for the Inver Mallie area which covers both nest is for light rain and light winds with a low of 17

°C, changing to heavy rain with a gentle breeze and a high of 18°C tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.57.10 (03.07.04); Nest Two 23.19.26 (03.34.20)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/S_0SrrYyZ64 N2 Another milestone achieved as chick2 grabs the whole fish from Dorcha 06.54.30

https://youtu.be/odnZYrgorqU N1 Elevenses arrives for Aurora, first fish of the day 11.08.24

https://youtu.be/84ZjnB_bAsU N2 Louis delivers lunch, second fish today 13.41.31

https://youtu.be/O1w_ato2-I0 N1 Early evening fish supper arrives for Aurora 18.23.52

https://youtu.be/p6uhCD-EqFA N2 Fish number three doesn’t last long and chick2 downs the tail 18.58.55

https://youtu.be/Z51plMTQem4 N2 Late night fish supper arrives, fourth fish today 22.29.52

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/6PfZNX338WY N1 Is the littlest Osplet attacking mum or just begging for food? 2019

https://youtu.be/VsVBpGjxCds N1 Aila’s pleased to see a fish but one chick prefers doing flight prep 2020

https://youtu.be/Hi01r-gxXb4 N1 Legendary Louis and the midnight fish – well, nearly 2020

https://youtu.be/jxFvhSbXcIQ N2 Drama as an intruder tries to land: Louis gives chase 2022

https://youtu.be/yIWqt92hZEI N2 Yet another intrusion by the stranger: Dorcha gives chase 2022

https://youtu.be/-nguqm1IS1c N1 Affric rejects Garry’s advances, stays until a stick falls 2023

https://youtu.be/PP5IneygLtA N2 Open – Squeak – Gulp – Repeat! Fish number two 2023

https://youtu.be/t4k0cpkaBv8 N1 Affric finally gets a fish from Garry 2023

https://youtu.be/CtkFrypee0Y N2 Four week old chick looks enormous exercising its new wings 2023

https://youtu.be/qX0KLkUsPr4 N2 On a very wet night mumbrella Dorcha makes the chick seem invisible 2023

https://youtu.be/eNupYkdkQ8w N2 The welcome reappearance of Louis, bringing fish number one 2024

https://youtu.be/Q6y-LYkhTFo N1 Garry LV0 is intruded upon – is it Prince? 2024

https://youtu.be/T1ef16z0eKs N2 Fish number two arrives, but only one chick gets to eat 2024

https://youtu.be/TiKtuGDYD4I N2 Submissive chick desperate for food eats grass 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 28th June 2024
After a stormy night leaving the family wet and bedraggled, the weather brightened up somewhat, although at the time of filing this report (midnight) the rain has started again and the wind’s picked up. Dorcha’s plumage is pearled with raindrops as she does her best to shield the chicks who none the less remain partly exposed to the weather. Today was a very low fish day, only two from Louis and none from Garry, so their tallies stand at two hundred and thirty seven and one hundred and three respectively. There were some intruder alerts, none too close to the nest, and with the choppy conditions of the loch Louis might be forgiven for only delivering two fish. However, it does bring back memories of this time last year when he stopped delivering fish and licensed raptor experts had to be called in to save the chicks from the twin threat of hyperthermia and starvation. Fortunately this year’s weather is much better than last year’s and tonight’s forecast is light cloud and a gentle breeze with a low of 11°C followed by sunny intervals and a high of 19°C tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.16.26 (03.23.11); Nest Two 23.18.10 (03.35.21)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/sLFUneYm7DAN2 The family’s glad to see breakfast arrive after a wild wet night 07.22.01https://youtu.be/19TjA7ShPk0 N2 Everybody’s hungry and ready when fish number two finally arrives 18.21.22https://youtu.be/XTmA9TtWnGkN2 Up up and away! Louis makes a wind-assisted exit 18.26.43https://youtu.be/DfdspR4jUqM N2 Is moving sticks on a windy day a good idea?18.42.48
Bonus map – keep cool during the hot weather and go down to the woods, the updated Woodland Trust map will guide you:https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/woodland-trust-woods/

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/hAJchYM7NIo N1 Aila ignores an intruder Osprey skydancing for her attention 2020

https://youtu.be/6T4blnBVQXA N1 Louis looms out of the mist with an early breakfish 2020

https://youtu.be/GvBAoPCLWDc N1 Louis brings a very large trout 2020

https://youtu.be/B2msIMScD6s N2 Lots of happy squeaking when fish arrives 2022

https://youtu.be/r0IOlFls9Og N2 Another intruder Osprey alert 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/wZ-KmF2cTNA N2 Dorcha strikes the wrong note 2022 (Classic Ospreys: Chopin)

https://youtu.be/OjdfAzv_aYI N1 Affric stays and calls for hours but Garry doesn’t return 2023

https://youtu.be/BQ-is6X0Gqs N2 Louis sorts Dorcha’s tricky stick 2023

https://youtu.be/tN0NyYd1Bk0 N2 Fish arrives but the chick’s home alone 2023

https://youtu.be/tcUkgVA5LFs N1 Short-Eared Owl pays a visit 2023 (slo-mo, zoom)

https://youtu.be/6maD-9zG5xk N1 Garry LV0 visits twice and brings nesting materials 2024 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/Fw08D6I83msN2 Hand feeding of the chicks by the licensed raptor expert 2024

https://youtu.be/9HYxpRU-hjY N2 Dorcha returns when the fish fairies leave after feeding the chicks 2024

https://youtu.be/c2oZrwNXbvI N2 Dorcha and the two chicks huddle together on a dreich night 2024
Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 27th June 2025

The weather was the main feature today, it rained almost continuously, with a few dry patches here and there, leaving the chicks frequently looking very wet and bedraggled, but Dorcha did her best to protect them although she’s no longer able to cover the big chicks fully. Louis kept the chicks and Dorcha fueled with three fish deliveries and his tally now rises to two hundred and thirty five. Despite the weather the chicks are developing nicely, and chick1 passed another milestone today by uttering alarm calls, to which Dorcha responded by flying off the nest to investigate. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought Aurora 536 a single fish, taking his tally to one hundred and three. The weather forecast calls for overnight rain and a gentle breeze with a low of 13

°C but looks to improve by mid morning with sunny intervals and a fresh breeze, with a high of 17°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.44.36 (03.15.18); Nest Two 23.17.34 (03.53.44)

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/5QGsGqpXlXM N2 Louis delivers the first fish and stays to do some feaking 07.59.09

https://youtu.be/U5A7TNhF3P0 N1

Aurora seizes the fish from Garry as soon as he lands 10.32.37

https://youtu.be/Y3eZ0kROhw0 N2 Chick 1 spots something and alarm calls 11.09.07

https://youtu.be/fMZxwQzGQ2g N2 The soaked chicks tuck into the second fish 15.15.33

https://youtu.be/vWGOfJ8L-hI N2 The still-soaked chicks stretch their wings before tucking into fish three 19.28.25

Bonus activity – Woodland Trust asks us to forage responsibly, here’s their guide to foraging and what’s in season

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2021/06/foraging-in-june

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/foraging/foraging-guidelines

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/K45u41D6zlI N1 Midnight chick fight 2020

https://youtu.be/lB9x_rg5mfk N1 Aila wears an Eiffel Tower hat – then throws it away 2020

https://youtu.be/ZpwTFmAeZss N1 Osplets feed themselves while Aila watches an intruder 2020

https://youtu.be/c-Np1yrrrlY N2 Intruder Osprey full sequence 2022 (audio boosted, slo-mo, zoom)

https://youtu.be/kTnD5iZwyT8 N2 Persistence pays off! Dorcha sorts a tricky stick 2022

https://youtu.be/5GXLNowB4_A N2 Bad-tempered bob2 has a go at mum 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/4Wv_FJSFrIw N2 Antics with logs when Louis arrives 2022

https://youtu.be/emLHtjnOSEo N1 Garry finally answers Affric’s calls but no fish 2023

https://youtu.be/NCX9qSkiBtc N2 Extra large late night fish supper arrives 2023

https://youtu.be/8wwUVY5L_P8 N2 Louis returns and claims some fish for himself 2023

https://youtu.be/BQMQTT_q0yg N2 Dorcha goes fishing and brings back an eel 2024 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/lJMENKfuHSI N2 OMG! Chicks nearly blown off the nest! 2024 (super slo-mo repeat)

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

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

Trempealeau Eagle Nest, Wisconsin: T3 has hatched but not fledged. Mum needs a gold medal. Her mate had two nests. He often took the fish she caught for her eaglet. She overcame the adversities. Just look at T3! Well done.

Buddy’s Mum has the video of T3 branching! https://youtu.be/-_iAbHAEyBs?

Denton Homes: They survived severe weather in their nest, which stayed in place. How lucky. So many worried! They have now fledged. Of course, the bad weather is still around. The camera has all these views, trying to keep up with those fledglings.

FOBBV:

San Jose City Hall: Chico keeps returning for food! No vacation yet for Monty and Hartley. SK Hideaways caught the last hatch, little Chico (everyone’s favourite) on the ledge with his distinctive red band. https://youtu.be/wi-93Aur43s?

Mlady Buky, Czechoslavkia: Bety and Bukachek’s two storklets have their bling! Aren’t they gorgeous?

Cornell Red-tail Hawks: The Os have fledged. The nest is empty and all the BOGs are getting great exercise chasing the fledglings around the Cornell campus trying to get a photo.

Nesting Bird Life and More video of Lesser Spotted Eaglet, Estonia: Mum feeds breakfast! https://youtu.be/XvS1kPgPwjM?

Golden Eagle, Latvia: Spilve has already delivered prey. Her baby is no longer a baby!

‘A’ sends us report for happenings down under: “The sea eagles at Olympic Park are mating constantly and sleeping in the nest tree. Lots of fish gifts are being brought to the nest for Lady. The nest itself could not be more prepared for eggs. They lined it perfectly last week. We are on tenterhooks awaiting the big day. Last year, their first egg was laid on 27 June so they’re running late. I’m expecting an egg this weekend.

The pair at Port Lincoln are so close, they even snuggle on the nest at night. I don’t recall this being the case last season so maybe it’s a different pair or maybe they are just more tightly bonded a year on. The first egg wasn’t laid at Port Lincoln until late August last year so there are still eight or nine weeks to go by that schedule. August 27 was the day the first egg was laid at Orange last year, so those two nests are on a similar schedule.

Our sweet albatross chick is the most beautiful creature. She is snowy, fluffy white, but her grown-up plumage is starting to show through in a major way now, so that she is rapidly beginning to resemble an albatross rather than a giant fairy floss. It is scary to think that when they take off, it will be years before they return, and they head off to fend for themselves with no training in flight or fishing, essentially alone, on a 6,000-mile journey. It’s incredible. And then, as if that were not miraculous enough, they return to within 50 metres of the nest in which they were raised. (Or is that just the males?) Every year, it amazes me anew. What incredible navigation systems they must have.”

Birdlife International has some great news including a link to the AviList – don’t know what that is? Well, check it out and discover something new.

AviList unites the world’s bird species – BirdLife International Download

Thank you for being with us today! Please take care. We look forward to having you back with us on Friday and pictures of Baby Hope’s second birthday party complete with ‘pet friendly cake’ and ice cream.

Thank you to the individuals who have sent me articles, information, observations and photographs, and news – you are amazing: ‘A, EJ, Geemeff, Heidi, PB, PS’, – thank you so much. Thank you to all the individuals whose names are in bold and who made videos from information on the streaming cams – and to all the owners of the streaming cams in bold, we are so appreciative as well as all the FB groups and individuals with their posts!

Friday in Bird World

27 June 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

One of our dear readers from Japan suggested a ‘snood’ to help protect Toby’s ears. What do you think? It is excellent for baths! Those big curly floppy ears are prone to infections, and I cannot thank ‘AK’ enough. Toby is a little shy and asked that his sisters not see him!!!!!!!!

We continue to declutter, and thank you for all the letters sharing your efforts to reduce clutter in your life. I appreciate the fact that I have kick-started some activity. Today, we are hosting a book sale. I wish you lived close if you like fine art, craft, ceramics, Asian art, and cookbooks. They are in mint condition and going for $5. Donations will be made to local pet rescues, as well as supporting the food for the feral cats that visit our garden. It feels good to clean out these books, knowing that they will have new life in someone else’s home. My mind feels lighter with them gone — they are in boxes wrapped in plastic waiting for 1400 to arrive! Anne is going to take Don on an excursion, and my friend, Susan, is coming to help me and Toby. We will be exhausted at the end of the day.

The book sale has kept me from losing my mind over commercial fishing for Menhaden – the boats have set their nets outside the Bay because there are no more adult Menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. Can you believe this! We are witnessing the decline and potential extinction of ospreys in this region.

As I sat listening to the birds in the garden and the distant sound of a Pileated Woodpecker working on one of the utility poles, I was drawn to a quote by Rachel Carson in her insightful volume, Silent Spring. I have substituted part of the paragraph, and the words that I have inserted are very apt for today. Carson would approve.

As man proceeds toward his announced goal of the conquest of nature, he has written a depressing record of destruction, directed not only against the earth he inhabits but against the life that shares it with him. The history of recent centuries has its black passages – the slaughter of the buffalo on the western plains, the massacre of the shorebirds by the market gunners, the near-extinction of the egrets for their plumage. Now, to these and others like them, we are adding a new chapter and a new kind of havoc – the direct indiscriminate killing by starvation of birds, mammals, fishes, and indeed other species by the commercial over fishing of Menhaden fuelled by greed and power. (85)

At Fenwick Island, on Tuesday afternoon late, the Only Bob suffers from heat exhaustion and what appears an inability to cast a pellet. On Tuesday, it was weak and refused to eat much fish. Mum tried to shade it and feed it so this is not a case of parental neglect nor siblicide, no siblings to harm it. Heidi and I have struggled. Does a physically weakened chick have a lesser ability to cast a pellet?

A fish did come to the nest later, and only Bob ate, but it did not matter. This feathered beautiful osplet perished. More is included in Heidi’s report, below.

Many people want to know how they can help halt industrial fishing. Do not think it might not happen in your state. It’s time to establish a ten-mile limit. That would help. They might also want to breed some Menhaden in fish ponds to place back in the Chesapeake Bay.

Heidi’s Osprey Report!

Fenwick Island osprey nest (Captain Mac’s Fish House): Johnny and June’s only surviving chick died on 6/25 at 38 days of age. The cause of death was most likely starvation/dehydration, but it was not for a lack of fish. Despite the heat in recent days, Johnny had delivered (starting with 6/19) 5, 5, 6, 6, 3, 5 fish for June and her chick. On 6/24, we noticed that the chick was not eating despite being offered fish many times. Once in a while June’s baby would attempt to eat, perhaps ate a few bites, but then would quit. The temperatures were in the mid to upper 90’s, so the chick was dehydrating rapidly. On the morning of 6/25 the chick was seen attempting to cast a pellet a couple of times, but was unsuccessful. At 08:03 on 6/25, June brought her first fish to the nest since she laid her eggs. She wanted to make sure her youngster had a good breakfast. The chick moved closer to Mom, and June attempted to feed her baby. The chick was obviously hungry, wanted to eat, and tried to eat, but simply was not able to. Perhaps it was the inability to expel a pellet that caused the youngster to not be able to eat.

In 2024, June was a first-time mom, and she obviously had a lot to learn. She did not protect her first two eggs that year, and they were predated by crows. She did not incubate egg #3 adequately, and it did not hatch. Her fourth egg produced her only osplet, named ‘Fen’, and he was her pride and joy. Johnny and June nurtured Fen, and Fen fledged.

I was watching June very closely this season to see what kind of mom she would be. I must say, I will give her an ‘A’. She did very well. It is unknown why baby #3 died this year at 10 days of age, but it was possibly weather related. Baby #2 died of siblicide/starvation on 6/6 at 18 days of age, after a few days of bad weather caused Johnny to have difficulty fishing. Now, my heart simply breaks watching June look down at the body of her last remaining chick. Take care, June… You and Johnny did your very best.

Mispillion Harbor has two cameras that show the osprey nest. However, the Nature Center cam is set on auto-tour, and shows different views of the harbor. Once in a while, I can manage to find one of our ospreys flying to or from the nest, and that’s pretty cool. But, yesterday, I was extremely lucky to actually see Warren catching a fish in the river! Very cool indeed! I recorded a video of the event.

And a late addition to put a smile on your face form Heidi! Cape Henlopen osprey nest: An intruder delivered a fish to Hennie! Miles soon arrived to take charge. The kids thought it was ‘Uncle Bob’ bringing a fishie to Mommy, lol.

Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FD2duIvU2UE

Thank you, Heidi! Great report. Sure is wonderful to see some healthy chicks in Canada, too!

There was a great feeding for all three at Chesapeake Bay.

Smile. Big Bear. ‘PB’ sent a screen capture of Sunny and Gizmo together on a pine. When the nests in the NE get us so despondent, there were miracles this year that we did not think possible. Big Bear is one of them, and we should never forget these two amazing fledgling eagles. Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about them and seeing them together.

Please sign the petition to halt fireworks displays in the Big Bear Valley. Can you imagine the havoc this causes to wildlife including Jackie, Shadow, Sunny, and Gizmo!

Petition · No Big Bear Lake Fireworks Show for the Safety of Sister Eaglets (Gizmo and Sunny) – United States · Change.org Download

There is other good news. A reader from the NW United States wrote to me. They have found an osprey nest and have been monitoring the progress of the couple, the eggs, and now the osplets. ‘PS’ is delighted to share the images with all of you. There are plenty of fish, and the nest is doing tremendously well. Have a look. You can see the timeline and follow the progress on PS’s Flickr account!

This should brighten your spirits. There is no commercial fishing in the area, which impacts the wildlife.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/193514804@N08/x125M54o11

Rutland Manton Bay: The four youngsters have new bling on those legs! At least one is hovering!

Birds of Poole Harbour: Chicks to be ringed shortly – maybe before publishing time.

What a startling contrast. Rutland’s Manton Bay and the Birds of Poole Harbour easily (well, the parents worked hard) raised four osplets. Something truly needs to change in the United States regarding the overall affection and care for wildlife, our planet, and all living things. What the politicians are allowing to be done to the water and the fish that provide life for so many other species is beyond unthinkable.

A beautiful website with everything you wanted to know about the Llyn Brenig Ospreys and a link to their camera:

Llyn Brenig Ospreys – Llyn-Brenig Download

Kielder Forest: Sad news. The only chick at nest 5A has died.

Double bad news _ Kielder Ospreys Download

The Dyfi Osprey Project Family Tree with this year’s chicks! You will see that the ringers believe that the first chick is a female with two little brothers.

The latest news from the Usk Valley. The only osprey chick to hatch in this area of Wales for 250 years is now three weeks old. Brilliant.

Family Life at 3 Weeks — Usk Valley Ospreys Download

Hen Harriers continue to be killed near the estates that practice grouse hunting.

New report highlights the ongoing criminal persecution of Hen Harriers on UK driven grouse moors – R Download

Red Kites being poisoned – come on people.

Police launch investigation after Red Kite killed in poisoning hotspot – Raptor Persecution UK Download

Sending a big thanks to Geemeff for all her daily summaries for Loch Arkaig.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 26th June 2025
Today started out very wet and improved as the day wore on, allowing the chicks and Dorcha to dry out. The fish likewise improved, starting out with a couple of tiddlers which were devoured very quickly but ending with a sixth fish that was a very good size. Louis’ tally now stands at two hundred and thirty two, while over on Nest One, Aurora 536 waited in vain – Garry wasn’t seen today so his tally remains at one hundred and two. Back with Nest Two, there were several intruder alerts causing the adults to alarm-call while the chicks pancaked, but no intruder was seen on camera. In fact, the only hint of a threat came when a disgruntled chick nipped Dorcha but the brief display of aggro didn’t last long. Tonight’s forecast is for light rain and light winds with a low of 12

°C, getting wetter tomorrow with heavy rain and gentle breezes with a high of 18°C.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.01.50 (03.13.11); Nest Two 23.27.44 (03.52.07)
Today’s videos https://youtu.be/UgED2vaVnqM N2 Tiny tiddler fish one disappears in 2 mins 44 secs! 06.01.22

https://youtu.be/T3wcvWqr90s N2 Fish number two is another tiddler trout, finished in 4 mins 18 secs 06.34.17

https://youtu.be/orl47PFpCZw N2 Alarm calls don’t put the chicks off fish three, C2 downs the tail 12.10.29

https://youtu.be/94_-OBRKhMg N2 The weather’s improved by the time Louis brings fish number four 14.31.44

https://youtu.be/_Tccc54DSoc N2 Dorcha seems distracted and doesn’t immediately start sharing out fish five 16.01.41

https://youtu.be/2c04CmwTpIw N2 Dorcha moves to shelter a chick and gets nipped! 20.24.31

https://youtu.be/Op1paAvV5o4 N2 Fish number six is greeted with enthusiasm by the family 22.43.48

Bonus read – BTO history of ringing (you might be surprised at how long it’s been carried out):

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/bird-ringing-scheme/about-ringing/history-ringing

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/7yjPCfe3BBM N1 Aila is alarmed and departs leaving her chick home alone (2017)

https://youtu.be/weTByvoNmU0 N1 Little bird lands on the nest unseen by the chicks (2019, slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/FePBgx3QZcM N1 The nest’s getting pretty crowded so Aila perches for the night 2020

https://youtu.be/Vbhk_9zm_cg N1 The chicks start getting ready for lift-off (2020)

https://youtu.be/xfmi6cOZFm8 N2 Louis brings leftovers for breakfast (2022)

https://youtu.be/UolftDEfSiE N2 Chick left alone with dad watches his every move 2023

https://youtu.be/tAe5tiIbdh4 N1 Dramatic 15 mins with all three players in the love triangle 2023

https://youtu.be/staRRldEFb8 N2 Carnival of the sticks: elephant feet on the nest 2023 (Classic Ospreys – Saint-Saëns, quicktime)

https://youtu.be/Dn2-ZuLvotg N1 Affric finally gets another fish and it’s not from Prince 2023

https://youtu.be/XYwCiVtw5pE N2 The family enjoy a quiet cosy time as the day draws to a close 2023

https://youtu.be/AITavG2FXxw N2 Fish number one and only, small trout remnant, Dorcha gets very little 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 25th June 2025

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 24th June 2025

Another routine day with plenty of fish, the only disturbance was both Louis and Dorcha being pecked by their chicks, angry at being trampled. However the pair are old hands at the business of raising chicks and don’t retaliate, they merely move away. Louis delivered four fish for the family including his first flatfish this season, and his tally rises to two hundred and twenty three. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora 536, bringing his tally up to three figures with the second one being his hundredth fish. The weather was more settled than the forecast had suggested, and it’ll be a dry cloudy night tonight with a low of 11°C, staying cloudy with occasional showers tomorrow and a high of 18°C.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.52.42 (03.26.57); Nest Two 23.12.54 (03.52.33)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/OsAAdFr1wtg N2 First flatfish from Louis this season 07.46.24

https://youtu.be/QbHgqBIf850 N2 Fish number two is a headless big Silver Tourist 10.09.44

https://youtu.be/hflj4TIC2CU N1 Aurora seizes the fish as soon as Garry lands 10.10.58

https://youtu.be/pHhG2Zgdl1w N2 Fish supper for the chicks – a whole trout 20.49.43

https://youtu.be/uPinOwoSN8k N2 A mystery dark fish four provides a second supper, the chicks queue politely 21.36.59

https://youtu.be/0z96lSwSiq0 N1 Garry brings Aurora a second fish 22.22.31

https://youtu.be/SHVFvR_3BPs N2 Both Louis and Dorcha are pecked by chicks angry at being trampled 18.34.24

Bonus read – Flights, Camera, Action! Postcode Lottery discuss their sponsorship of the nest cam:

https://www.postcodelottery.co.uk/postcode-hub/news/flights-camera-action

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/ArAamS1fRzQ N1 Ouch! Bad-tempered Bob1 pecks Aila in the eye (2019, slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/fT6FvDGs30I N1 Is that a chick snoring? (2020)

https://youtu.be/Gp2lut-Uwg4 N1 Golden goddess: Aila at sunset (2020)

https://youtu.be/wZd7bvRqhOY N2 Dorcha drops the fish tail chasing Crows (2022)

https://youtu.be/2cdE4bMAN_M N2 Dorcha senses the presence of a Hoodie under the nest (2022 zoom)

https://youtu.be/b_KmDWwbjOc N2 Sleepy Dorcha rests her weary head on the chicks (2022)

https://youtu.be/cnrmWr6Mc1M N1 Fish for Affric from LV0 2023

https://youtu.be/ivJXSVb4nAs N2 Lovely waggly wing wave 2023

https://youtu.be/_x3tC69zmB4 N1 New pair Affric & Garry looking settled 2023 (quicktime)

https://youtu.be/_8Z0ryX0F5Q N2 Fish supper arrives and the chick has a nibble 2023

https://youtu.be/Alfrd7novqE N1 Garry LV0 arrives early and does some nest prep 2024

https://youtu.be/iQA9jIPeDsE N2 Fight! Is the nest getting too crowed? Chicks have a pop 2024

https://youtu.be/opTBHM-Q3jk N2 Dorcha brings a stick and hangs it round Chick1’s neck 2024

https://youtu.be/45KVDHPY0x40 N2 Fish number three, headless small trout, soon finished, Dorcha’s still hungry 2024

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 23rd June 2025

Another wet and windy day, dawn broke showing a very soggy nest. But Louis brought an early breakfast, the rain stopped, and the well-fed chicks soon dried out. It did rain again during the day and the wind picked up with gusts strong enough to overturn Dorcha and show off her underfluffies again, but the chicks were safely hunkered down and in no danger. Louis brought a total of four fish, taking his tally to two hundred and nineteen. The third of those fish was the 2000th fish counted and recorded by Steve Q and the fish counting team over the past five years – citizen science in action, well done team! Over on Nest One, Aurora 536 did eventually get a fish from Garry LV0, taking his tally to ninety eight, but first he decided to reaffirm their bond with what looked like a successful mating attempt, purely to strengthen their pairbond as it’s not possible to raise chicks now, however this behaviour bodes well for next year. Tonight’s overnight forecast is light rain and light winds with a low of 12°C, continuing through tomorrow with a high of 15°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.01.11 (03.19.14); Nest Two 23.08.33 (03.46.25)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/5SQEpQsyBQk N2 After a wet night the family is glad to see Louis with breakfast 06.59.13

https://youtu.be/nhAAPpCkdAE N1 Aurora wants fish but Garry prefers to reaffirm their bond 11.35.37

https://youtu.be/cV1jsH31ook N2 The chicks wait politely while Dorcha shares out the second fish 15.11.20

https://youtu.be/nQTfYzY5tVY N1 Aurora demolishes her fish in 15 minutes, returns demanding more 15.20.21

https://youtu.be/ltX67OdWZmU N2 Oops! Dorcha gets blown over, underfluffies on display again! 15.36.44

https://youtu.be/bWyjtRWbBcw N2 Louis brings a third fish and stays to do some nest tidying 16.44.45

https://youtu.be/PbLaUGIVZs4 N2 Fish supper arrives when Louis brings fish number four 21.45.27

Bonus opportunity to make a difference – jobs and volunteer positions available at Woodland Trust:

https://jobs.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ and https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/act/volunteer-with-us/

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/Oay1Lrgh3O0 N1 Another Osprey intrusion, the chicks pancake 2019 (Slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/obBc6-JVTgU N1 The family ignore fish three and track an intruder 2020

https://youtu.be/5CFk79DzWVg N2 A large unwieldy twiggy stick arrives and departs 2020

https://youtu.be/Zl0Mf-1ZbRs N2 Dinner en famille! Dad feeds C1 from F3 while mum feeds C2 from F2 2022

https://youtu.be/ElJNzd8XcRA N2 Sunlight sonata: a slice of family life 2022 (Classic Ospreys – Beethoven)

https://youtu.be/04jToc-igIg N2 Prince intrudes at Nest Two 2023 (slo-mo, zoom)

https://youtu.be/cQ1zI4L_ng4 N2 Bombs away! Thankfully chick misses the nest cam! 2023

https://youtu.be/ovW-q9Dcbkc N1 Is Affric becoming more accepting of LV0? 2023

https://youtu.be/FaLhOxt1U50 N2 Mumbrella Dorcha does her best to shelter the chick 2023

https://youtu.be/e1DJpaL8Dlo N2 Dorcha causes chaos with a stick, tbut it soon goes overboard 2024

https://youtu.be/e3oZRUuHIzs N1 Garry LV0 visits for just seven seconds 2024 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/35Zn71fWiCg N2 Fish number five breaks all-time latest delivery record! 2024You’re invited to join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s

friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

Thank goodness for Suzanne Arnold Horning, who has a Miss Marple nose for tracking down Big Red, Arthur, and their fledglings. Otherwise, we would know nothing except for Ferris Akel and others who visit and post images. Thanks, Suzanne! If you want to see all the images, please join the Cornell Haw Cam Chatters FB group.

A recent video of the activity at Big Red’s nest in Ithaca, New York: https://youtu.be/LqRMYGHBwzA?

Norwegian Osplets at the Frau Rauer nest are doing fantastically. A video of a Gar fish delivery on the 21st and some images from today. Look at that beautiful plumage coming in. Gorgeous amber eyes, paired with a bold black band, will help them avoid glare when catching their fish. https://youtu.be/8JYzeY3e2gg?

News from Loch of the Lowes:

San Jose City Hall. SK Hideaways caught Monty and Hartley having some bonding time now that their four fledglings have flown the scrape! https://youtu.be/ZxdGDgrU7kE?

Charlo Montana: Mum and her three chicks! So far, Charlie is keeping the fish coming for his family. Cheer them on.

We were not sure that the female at the Trempeauleau Bald Eagle nest in Wisconsin could provide for her eaglet to fledge. Well, she did it! T3 is gorgeous! https://youtu.be/YjTK95bVETc?

Boulder County: Family portrait.

Saaksilvie #4: Three chicks are doing well.

Eschenbach, Germany Osprey Platform: Joan Castnyer reports: “This morning, early in the morning (07:23), the two young birds of this year were ringed in the Eschenbach nest. The operation was perfect and quick. Tomorrow (if the wind permits) the only chick from Goitzsche Wildnis is scheduled to be ringed. For reasons of protecting my own image, I have not published the specific moment, but when the ringer leaves and only the helmet is visible. I hope you understand.”

Golden Eagle Nest of Spilvie and Grislis, Latvia: Looks like our eaglet is fully feathered or nearly.

White Storks, Mlade Buky, Czechoslovakia: Bety and the two lovely storklets on the nest waiting for Bukacek to come with food.

Smile. Alukin’s new video of the white storks in Poland, which a generous and caring human helped. https://youtu.be/murd58vSLsU?

Marcin Kus films more help at another nest for little storklets in Poland! https://youtu.be/QJAD98Jp81o?

I would like to see this kind of caring – and courage – in parts of the US. Just feed them! With all that is going on – seriously? Wildlife is suffering.

I was shocked to receive a note from ‘B’ in California appraising me of the removal of Peregrine Falcon eggs to be hatched away from their natural nest. ‘B’ writes: “Hi Mary Ann,

I wondered if you had seen this, that three Peregrine chicks have hatched at Ojai Raptor Center (ORC)? US Fish and Wildlife evidently reported that the adult Peregrines had established their nest in the middle of a nesting area for endangered and threatened species (California Least Terns and Western Snowy Plovers, respectively) and were preying on those species. USF&W removed eggs from the Peregrine nest and took them to ORC, where they have now hatched.

Gosh, it is hard to know what to think. It is sad that the Peregrine nest was removed, and I do worry for the outcome of these eyases, who will need to learn to hunt and live for themselves (apparently without the benefit of foster parents?) if they are to thrive. But one also needs to weigh the fate of the endangered and threatened species. In the discussion on the ORC facegook page (https://www.facebook.com/theojairaptorcenter/), ORC says USF&W planned to capture and relocate the parents, but that sounds difficult to accomplish.

I don’t know what the plan is for the coming months. Perhaps a falconer could help with the final steps of the pre-release process, as was done for Nox, one of Annie’s last chicks in Berkeley, after he was rescued injured from SF Bay. (Recall that Nox did pass away not long after release. I am not sure if I heard the cause.)

From what I read, it sounds like ORC was not involved in discussions and decisions that led up to them getting the eggs, so I do not want to criticize them for a difficult task they have inherited. I certainly wish them — and especially the eyases! — well in what sounds like a challenging process.”

‘A’ brings us her report for Australia. Can you believe that we are now anticipating an egg for the White-bellied Sea Eagles? Where did the time go?!!!!!!

“June 24: Lady stayed in the same place all night. Dad turned up at the nest around 7am – he must have been somewhere close last night. There were early duets and mating by the nest, off for a while, then another duet and mating. A windy morning, with more bonding heard. Rain started around 10am. Later the wind was really strong. Both eagles came to the nest – but no action. Dad returned alone around 2:30pm, off again then back with leaves. Lady must have been close, as there was a duet when he left. Then both returned with leaves – then away, with another duet close – and again. They have been very vocal today. Dad brought leaves at 4:20pm, followed by Lady with more. Then again a duet, leading to mating at the end of the day. They both went to the nest – is this it? Then to the branch again. Again lots of bonding behaviour today, with duets and mating. They settled for the night nearby – but we are still watching and waiting for her first egg.

Sea-Eagle Cam: Lady and Dad worked on their nest at the Sydney Olympic Forest.

In New Zealand, our princess continues to grow rapidly, preparing for her great adventure. Mum GLG came in yesterday to feed her baby, and happened to time it perfectly such that the wee one was weighed before and after the feeding. She gained 1.6kg!!! That’s a helluva lot of squid for one feeding. Good work, mum. The day approaches. Still a few weeks to go. September I think is usual. She really is exquisite.

At Orange, Diamond is sleeping on the Cilla Stones. She and Xavier are bonding, eating and waiting for eggs. It’s very windy there tonight, as it is in Olympic Forest. And wet. Diamond has a huge crop (courtesy of a large dinner presumably) as she always seems to do when I check in on her. Xavier is a very devoted mate (although Madame would prefer duckling to starling).

Finally, in South Australia, the ospreys are both asleep on the nest, tucked and puffed up against the cold wind. Earlier in the evening, dad was actually snuggled up against mum, sheltering her with his body and wing. Too sweet. She seems happy to have him there. Both appear to have full crops (although they are also puffed up against the weather).

As for the Collins Street falcons, you know the situation there. I will begin checking the site but the cameras won’t be switched on until there are eggs (they usually wait for two to be laid before they deign to let us in on the situation but we’ll see what they do this year. I do wish they would allow us to see the pair bonding and give us a chance to get to know the pair and establish whether it’s the same two as previously or a new pair or some combination of the two. It’s usually pretty hard to be sure at Collins Street so the more time we are given with them, the more chance we have of being sure of their identities, this year and subsequently.”

Thanks so much ‘A’.

We are also getting excited about the beginning of the Kakapo breeding season in New Zealand. Read all about it in the DOC’s Conservation Blog!’

Kākāpō breeding season 2026 | Conservation blog Download

Sad news coming in. You might recall that Keo and Keke were forced to make their nest on a light stand when the goose family took over the osprey platform. Now, tragedy has struck as a result of this. ‘PB’ writes: “Sandpoint Keo and Keke 3 babies fell from their nest. A stick was brought, and that side collapsed, and three babies didn’t make it.” This is the first time that Keke has had three babies. They were healthy and will be buried under the nest today, according to Robin on the chat.

Thank you so very much for being with us today. We hope to have you with us again on Monday! Take care.

Thank you to those amazing people who help me by sending raptor news – special thanks today to: ‘A’, ‘B’, Geemeff, Heidi, ‘PB’, and ‘PS’, to the owners of the streaming cams or photographers mentioned in today’s blog and whose names I hope to have highlighted in bold. To all of the writers of the articles, chat moderators, and blogs that are included today – I am grateful for your hard work! Thank you.

Category Archives: Cornell Red Tail Hawks

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