Category Archives: Dade County Eagles

Sunday in Bird World

25 January 2026

Good Morning Everyone,

It’s Sunday, not Monday. I have the week’s videos from SK Hideaways, and it is a wrap of a review of what is happening in Bird World.

We have been under an extreme cold warning for more than a week now. It is currently -35 (Saturday night). The vets have said that if it is too cold for humans then it is decidedly too cold for dogs to be outside. Their paws can freeze and crack! There is no evidence that frigid cold causes arthritis but dogs with arthritis suffer pain because of constrictions if they are out in this cold. Toby, hopefully, will never have arthritis, but his little incident the other day means he needs to stay inside. We have played a lot of fetch – he loves it – but he discovered that he also likes to play ‘fish’ with the Girls! We were decluttering the pantry as part of an overall downsizing of all our stuff and we found a fishing pole toy with feathered ends. Oh, all of them had such a good time. It was wonderful!

I have not spent as much time on the computer watching the nests as I did a year ago. This has not been a bad thing! In a recent blog, the lovely, talented cookbook author Mimi Thorisson said, “Over the years, living on this planet has taught me something important. It is imperative, from time to time, to detach slightly from the social world and enter a phase of semi-hibernation. It is healing. It is comforting. It brings you back to yourself.” I hope that each of us is taking time to watch the birds and animals outside – I often add that they are such an important part of my life that I have felt paralysed to move to a different house. Our day begins, as it always does, with breakfast in the conservatory and a ‘count’ of the visitors to the nest. Another count occurs around 1530, along with continuous checks on Brock’s dish. These birds and animals bring such joy to my life, along with The Girls and Toby, who have proven to be loyal companions. So, please, embrace the wildlife that is around you. Do what you can to improve their lives – a dish of water, some food. It all helps.

The second eaglet on the Winter Park nest in Florida has been receiving both food and attacks from its older sibling. The size and age difference along with food availability are key here.

Ondabebe caught the second eaglet with a full crop on Saturday. https://youtu.be/PUXtegsGAy0?

Send good positive energy for lots of prey – the parents have to eat, too!

Research indicates that siblicide on Bald Eagle nests is 5% or less – meaning that it is rare. (The osprey mortality rate is often higher than 17% in the nests we have monitored.)

Here is a good article on various Avian Siblicide to help you understand which raptors are more likely to have one nestling kill another. It is very informative.

Avian_SiblicideDownload

SK Hideaways sent their videos for the week of the 18th for your enjoyment.

Channel Island California Eagles
Livestreamed nests:
~ Fraser Point ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Cruz & Andor
~ Sauces Canyon ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Audacity & Jak
~ Two Harbors ~ Catalina Island ~ Cholyn & Chase
~ West End ~ Catalina Island ~Resident in flux

Two Harbors
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Two Harbors Eagles Cam Ops
Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ
Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI

Cholyn & Chase Do Nesting Season with Class ~ Mating & Fish Gift (2026 Jan 23)
Chase has embraced nesting season with much enthusiasm as he continues to woo Cholyn with fish between mating activities. 22 years of “wedded” bliss and romance is still very much alive for this royal couple of Catalina Island. (2026 Jan 23)
Video: https://youtu.be/2OEWiuQ9ZxM

Chase Wants Eggs ~ Tests Nest Bowl as Cholyn Watches + Mating (2026 Jan 20)
Despite the fact that Chase “knows” that Cholyn almost always lays eggs at the end of February or early March, he’s trying to hurry her along by showing her how comfy the nest bowl is and frequent mating. Here, Chase lays in the nest bowl 3 times to Cholyn’s zero times. Cholyn seems to give him a “what’re you doing?” look, but in her typical Cholyn way, just goes with the flow. Always in sync even when it means humoring the other. 
Video: https://youtu.be/SZZAkQ0D9z8

Cholyn & Chase Nesting Season Kickoff ~ 2x Mating & Fish Gift (2026 Jan 18)
Cholyn and Chase had their official nesting season kickoff ~ at least from where we could see them. They mated in the morning, then Chase brought Cholyn a nice fish for lunch. They had long conversations off camera and then returned to the nest in the late afternoon to mate again. Here’s hoping for a fruitful season for this beloved couple and royalty of the Channel Islands.
Video: https://youtu.be/bNEHHlGDCQ4

West End
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | West End Eagles Cam Ops 
Nest Low Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfuqjSNXZ14
Other Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmmAzrAkKqI
Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kad6O4nF6bg

Couple ID Markers & More Mating ~ Need Nestorations to Seal Deal (2026 Jan 22)
The new West End couple (aka masked and unmasked; and VE1 (male visitor) and VE2 (female visitor)) continue to take steps towards being a bonded pair. While they have accomplished mating quite well (!), they have not embraced the nest repairs that would indicate their intentions to start a family this season. It’s early, though, and things can change (as they always do). (2026 Jan 22)
Video: https://youtu.be/acrvEOup90E

Masked Female & Unmasked Male Mate for 1st & 2nd Time on Camera (2026 Jan 21)
The visiting eagles have been at the West End for about 2 weeks and seen together most days. While mating sounds have been heard off camera, this was the first (and second) observed mating. So the bond is there, but will they remain here to lay eggs and raise chicks? Stay tuned for the next episode of As the West End Turns. 
Video: https://youtu.be/Z1z28PuQFTs

FOBBV Eagles ~ Big Bear, California ~ Jackie & Shadow
Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley

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
🔗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

Morning Chortle-Snortles & Shadow’s First Incubation Stint (2026 Jan 24)
Jackie laid her and Shadow’s first egg late the previous day, so this morning was Shadow’s first opportunity for some incubation time. From what we have observed, he really, really seems to enjoy this part of nesting. So much so that he took his time heeding Jackie’s fish calls.
Video: https://youtu.be/jcIPh9l19aQ

Shadow delivers FEEESH ~ Jackie Stumbles on Nest Rails Trying to Collect (2026 Jan 24)
When Jackie saw Shadow deliver a whole, big fish (aka feeesh) from her perch on the Cactus Snag, she squealed with glee and made a beeline for the nest. As it turns out, she and Shadow have constructed such a robust fortress, that Jackie stumbled trying to get in the front door. She, of course, did prevail and enjoyed her meal with gusto.
Video: https://youtu.be/nTcUFmY6Dxw

JACKIE & SHADOW WELCOME FIRST EGG OF SEASON! (2026 Jan 23)
A quick labor for Jackie as she laid the first egg of the season. Shadow quickly came to meet his egg and seemed pretty smitten already.

Video: https://youtu.be/n0-5Ko2AWYY

The Bald Eagle nest on Farmer Derek’s property in Kansas has its first egg.

Rose and Ron have two gorgeous eaglets with so much juvenile plumage!

Quinn is the cutest little eaglet over at the Captiva nest of Connie and Clive.

Girri is flying strong with Diamond and Gimbir. This is just incredible. How many years have we followed this nest, hoping for such an amazing outcome? This is wonderful – a strong, big female.

Duke Farms’ female looking at the trio of eggs she has laid.

SK Hideaways caught Shadow delivering a fish to Jackie as she has been incubating their first egg of the season. https://youtu.be/nTcUFmY6Dxw?

There are no concerns at the nest of Gabby and Beau. NE32 and 33 are growing strong with their thermal down and pin feathers. Lots of food and great parenting make a difference – Beau and Gabby are well-bonded, experienced, and work together like a nicely oiled machine. (Watch them using cam 2: https://www.youtube.com/live/hQrJv_Dt4tY?

At the SW Florida nest of M15 and F23, E26 is getting those gorgeous deep black juvenile feathers. Doing so well!

Anna II is a valiant mom in the cold and rain of Louisiana. Not much nourishment for everyone – let’s wish for a sunny day tomorrow.

Jack and Jill have been seen at the Achieva Credit Union osprey platform in St Petersburg, Florida.

Gimbir, that cute Dad that fathered the dynamic Girri, is getting his adult plumage!!!!!!!

My lad and lass – besties forever.

It’s 2:46 minutes long. There is a bit of a pause in the middle but stay to the end. I hope these two make you smile.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Thank you for your e-mails and your comments. It is so nice to know there are others out there who love our feathered friends and who will do anything to make their lives better! I am sorry if I am not able to answer the comments or your e-mails as quickly as I did in the past, but I do appreciate each and every one of them and will, I promise, get around to responding!

We will be back on Friday, if not before – depending on action in the nests.

Please take care of yourself. We look forward to having you with us again soon.

We all owe a great debt to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to monitor the lives of our raptor families. I am indebted to all those who create videos (which takes a lot of time), such as SK Hideaways, and to the authors of the FB posts and the articles that I have included in my blog. We learn from one another, and I hope we share what we know with others. Thank you all. My blog would not be the same without your contributions.

Girri soars high!

3 January 2025

Hello Everyone,

It is a full moon night on the Canadian prairies with a temperature of -16 C. Tobby and Hugo Yugo are curled up beside me on the sofa along with a couple of ‘Little Lambs’, Toby’s favourite toy. Ann spent the morning with Toby while I went to the hospital to see how Don was doing.

I felt really ‘proud’ and happy when the nurse sat me down, hugged me, and told me how well I was taking care of Don. You don’t think it – or I didn’t – his clothes are always clean, and so he is. I feed him, for the most part, whole foods, giving in to a love of cookies that his mother created by her excellent (and constant) baking when he was younger. His bloodwork is good, and he is very healthy given his condition. I know that many have expressed concern about his discharge back into the home, but the root cause was not his dementia, but rather a serious problem with his bladder that the doctors have now repaired. He was very alert today, and after I had been there for about an hour, his oldest friend, Andrew, arrived, and you could hear them laughing several metres away. I slipped out quietly, knowing that his other friend from high school would be arriving shortly. Ann stayed home, monitoring Toby to make sure he didn’t start haemorrhaging again. Toby is getting stronger and more like himself. It was so nice having him snore in my ear last night – I will NEVER complain again about that! Sometimes he is so loud he could shake the roof off the rafters.

Thank you for all of your notes. I want to publicly pass on a big shout-out to Heidi and her video that was included on Day 11 – many of you have downloaded that blog so that you can watch her handiwork repeatedly. She is exceptionally talented, and I am so glad that our paths crossed in this lifetime.

The nurses have asked me to rest up for a few days, so my posts over the next 2-4 days will be shorter and less comprehensive. As most of you can tell, I have a real soft spot for Gabby and now for Beau after adoring Samson for so many years. Those two little scrappers in NE Florida are adorable. And like all of the other eaglets in the nests, they are adored by their parents. My goodness, I wish we could sprinkle this type of eagle love all over the planet.

Girri is one of those great events from 2025. Having sobbed our eyes out with the loss of Xavier, we thought Diamond would not have any chicks. Then along came Gimbir, and well, everyone thought he was too young and inexperienced to be a Dad. Well, were we wrong? Diamond and Gimbir gave us one heck of a strong female falcon, and here she is flying above the trees near the tower! https://youtu.be/ECUH1DwWGao? It just doesn’t get much better than this at the Charles Sturt University Falcon Cam project.

It’s not a raptor… but this is a story everyone should know about. China has footage of a Wild Siberian Tigress with five cubs in Hunchun. Northwest Tiger and Leopard Park. This is thrilling news! They normally have 2-3 cubs so five is rare and is a great conservation success. Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/JaSsbkfC5N4?

The BBC reports, “Five Siberian tiger cubs have one very proud mum – she’s the first ever tiger known to have given birth to quintuplets in the wild in China. 

The family have been spotted in Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, which is one of China’s first five national parks and covers over 14,000 square kilometres – that’s around the same size as Northern Ireland!

It’s very rare for Siberian tigers to give birth to five healthy cubs, so it’s a big success story for the park, who say it’s likely that mum had the cubs back in June.” (27 December 2025)

It is all good for Beau and Gabby at NE Florida.

The AEF captured Gabby feeding Beau who then fed the eaglets with the food. How cute was that?

E26 is a massive eaglet. Want to bet we have a strong female here for M15 and F23 this year? Thermal down. Pin feathers. And quite enough food and more than enough love from Mum and Dad.

What a little cutie – the other only – at Captiva for Connie and Clive.

R9 and R10 are just adorable. Ron and Rose are doing a fantastic job at Dade County. Life is looking good!

One of my favourite all-time books about a human being changed by an encounter with wildlife was Raising Hare. Here is an incredible story about a Japanese island inhabited by Hares! Can I put it on my bucket list?

‘A place of darkness and light’: the uninhabited Japanese island that became a rabbit paradise https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/02/japan-island-rabbit-okunoshima?CMP=share_btn_url

I really do like those very short stories in The Guardian. Look under Environment, then Wildlife. 350 words or fewer. Always informative.

UK’s warmest spring on record led to rise in songbirds breeding, data showshttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/30/uk-warmest-spring-on-record-led-to-rise-in-songbirds-breeding-data-shows?CMP=share_btn_url

Time for Toby’s last medication. Oh, my dear darling little man. The sheer idea that I could have lost you is beyond my comprehension.

This week, I learned two significant things I would like to share with you, in the hope that one or both might help you in the future. If you know of anyone whose behaviour radically changes, from calm to agitated, please get them to the doctor to check for an infection. If you know or suspect they cannot pass urine, do not be shy about stating this. It is critical. Secondly, if you see any blood, watery or otherwise, in your pet’s vomit or diarrhoea, rush them to the vet. Do not sit around and twiddle your thumbs, I mean, rush. Toby’s life was saved because of quick action on my part and that of Dr Maryam.

Thank you so much for being with us today.

Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams that let us glimpse the breeding seasons of our wonderful raptors. Without them we would never see the joyful moments shared by these parents and their chicks! I would also like to thank The Guardian for their constant reporting on issues about wildlife. Thank you Holly Parsons or that great capture, to Cilla Kinross for her post and to the China Daily for its story on the Siberian Tiger.

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2026

29 December 2025

My dear friends in Bird World,

I cannot thank you enough for your best wishes. It isn’t easy to express how much your kindness and letters of support mean to me. I am as fine as fine can be under the circumstances. I slept for the first time last night. Nellie is going home on Tuesday and after she leaves I hope to begin processing all that has transpired over the past few weeks over hot mugs of tea. you will undoubtedly know that the British drink tea for everything – when I lived there any celebration or any issues were solved over a cuppa’.

Don is in the hospital, where he is safe, secure, and comfortable. He is currently in the ICU unit – urgent care. There is something significantly wrong with his bladder that is causing toxins to remain in his body. Those toxins could have caused the behaviour he was exhibiting. They are working on finding a solution to this problem. He will be moved ‘upstairs’ to the LAU Unit, where he will have an entire team looking after him – geriatric psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, home care workers, etc. Once he has been thoroughly evaluated and stabilised, they will work to find a safe and secure place for him to live. His condition has deteriorated rapidly, and my gut tells me that he will need to live where he can have 24/7 care and be in a secure unit where he cannot wander and get lost. Dementia is a terrible disease. Lewy Body Dementia is even worse with its horrific hallucinations. I am grateful to everyone who has helped and continues to support Don and me, and to our friends and family who have stepped up to take turns visiting him. Jaine came with her beautiful, smiling face and a bag of her favourite homemade chocolate-chip cookies. Their help and support are giving me the time and space to begin processing how our lives are changing.

I am also so happy that I have The Girls and Toby as well as Brock and the outside animals and birds – they get me out of bed to feed and clean after them which is extremely helpful. The problem is that it is too easy to cover one’s head with a duvet and shut out everything. I am responsible for their lives and I need to be strong for Don so that the team and I can make the best decisions for him that we can. He deserves that. He still knows me and I melt when his face lights up and he wants a kiss and a hug.

As we get to the beginning of 2026, I would love to hear from you on what your highlights of the 2025 season were. Please feel free to send them to me via e-mail or post them in the comments. I will put them in the blog on the 2nd of January. So please take part. I would love to hear from you. Let’s jog everyone’s memory about the wonderful things that happened this past year.

So thank you, and now, let’s get on with a look at a few nests! I hope to have a small daily report…I had thought a break might be good but I find, like you, that the birds bring much solace.

There is a pip at the Hilton Head Bald Eagle nest.

We are on pip watch for Gabby and Beau at NE Florida, and this baby just can’t come fast enough for me.

At SW Florida, E26 is getting a sweet little tail and some thermal down. M15 and F23 have been providing all manner of prey items – one, a RK cat – was removed. Thank goodness.

CE14 is one of the cutest little eaglets. Growing fast on the Captiva nest of Clive and Connie. Looks like another ‘only’.

Looks like Ron and Rose’s little eaglets are hoping for a bedtime snack!

Only nest so far with more than one hatch save for Superbeaks that had three eaglets with Froto passing. Let’s see how the others do.

We had hoped for the drama at the West End nest of Akecheta to stop. We had hoped that Haku and Akecheta could live in peace and raise an eaglet family. At the time I am writing this, Haku has been missing for a day with another female eaglet hanging around the nest. I hope that this is just a ‘silly something’ and life will return to normal there.

Or is it Haku? I cannot be certain. Akecheta seems perfectly at home sitting on Tor with this bird.

Gigi and Pat have been seen mating near the ND-LEEF nest in South Bend, Indiana.

I would love to see some ospreys on the Captiva Osprey nest, wouldn’t you?

Olivera and Hoots. Incubation of their two GHO eggs. Gosh, they are cute but I sure do not like them around the eagle and osprey nests!

I wonder how many trees had to be cut down just to make Christmas wrapping paper and napkins? Best to purchase gift bags and not write on them so they can be used over and over again!

Do you use Merlin Bird ID? Here is an article in The Guardian that you might find interesting.

‘It brings you closer to the natural world’: the rise of the Merlin birdsong identifying apphttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/27/merlin-ai-assisted-birdsong-identifying-app-bird-species?CMP=share_btn_url

Toby waiting for his walk with Ellen and Nellie. After Tuesday it will Toby and me hitting the snow!

Toby giving Nellie a good night kiss.

Thank you so much for being with us today. We hope your holidays were bright and that the new year is kind to each of you.

Thank you so very much to The Guardian for its wildlife articles, the owners of the streaming cams, and the authors of FB posts that helped me to write my blog this evening.

Day 23 Welcome to Winter…Eggs at John Bunker Sands, Hatch at Captiva

23 December 2025

Hello Everyone!

Good Morning.

-17 C and overcast. No sun in sight.

It was a great night. Our visiting canine, Nellie, settled in and slept through the night – and so did the rest of us! We woke up refreshed. Toby and Nellie headed out with Ellen at 0930 while ‘The Girls’ had their breakfast in peace. When the dogs got home, Don and I looked at the four sad bananas on the counter and set about to make banana bread. It was a great start to the morning.

Hugo Yugo and Toby were holding hands last evening. I can’t get enough of this puppy and sweet kitty. They have to either be touching or near to one another.

Oh, these animals just lift my spirits.

There are two eggs at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle nest in Texas! That one flew right by me I was so intent on finding out about Girri. Congratulations.

That egg cup is deep!

SK Hideaway’s video of Girri’s return: https://youtu.be/2Yvnm67rL2A?

More videos of Girri reaching the tower. This one from Falcon Cam Project. https://youtu.be/0IIRQz6eImM?

Let’s hope we see more of Girri’s strong flying. It gives me hope that this fledgling of Diamond’s will survive!!!!!!!! She is one heck of a flyer.

Our friend ‘A’ is checking on Angel, the Leucistic Hawk, and her mate Tom and found an update from Connor at Window to Wildlife: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHDDXUkIKio

Connie and Clive have a hatch at the Captiva Eagle cam. CE14 looks strong and alert.

E26 appears to be lucky (in some ways). No indication of a pip in E27’s egg. This is day 38 for that egg. Yes, it is still within the time frame for hatching. Would I want it to? Well, I wouldn’t. Many will. E26 is strong, healthy, and eating well. A lack of a sibling means no bonking – that has already started at Dade County in force with the Rs.

Gabby and Beau continue incubation at NE Florida. I am getting excited for their first pip next week.

Jackie and Shadow are visiting the Big Bear Valley Bald Eagle nest! They were there Tuesday!

Ron and Rose have a nest full of food for C10 and C11. There are still a few bites of Coot and a whole lot of fish ready and waiting.

If you missed Ventana Wildlife’s December chat, here is the link to find out what is going on with the California condors: https://www.youtube.com/live/_FO6WuxmL08?

The post today is quick and sweet. We hope you are not caught up in the rat race of the build-up to the final days of the holidays. Take care. We will see you tomorrow.

Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams where I took my screen captures, to SK Hideaways for their video, to ‘A’ for alerting me to Connor’s Window to Wildlife update! This blog would not be the same without you and without all those amazing members of Bird World!

Day 22 Welcome to Winter…Girri flying strong…KNF E3 has an egg!

23 December 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Calm has settled in with the dogs and cats. Nellie tested me to see if I would feed her continually or provide endless treats or allow her to stay outside in the snow longer than her arthritic back legs could bear. ‘No’. Nellie is a quick learner. Toby and Nellie are waiting or Ellen to show up at 1500 for their walk – a treat for me for the holidays is a dog walker for the entire period coming twice a day. Oh, it is so nice.

I didn’t know all of those things that dog owners know until we got Toby. Of course, Hugo Yugo still sleeps in the crook of my arm at night while Toby is wrapped around me or on the other pillow. Calico still gets extra attention and brushings along with Missey who spends the late evening with Don and a brush. Baby Hope waits for me at night to sneak her some treats. I love my girls — and I love this little guy.

There is a new couple at the Kistachie National Forest E3 nest. On Monday, the first egg of their season arrived. Congratulations. For those of you who don’t know, this was the nest of Alex and Andria – a beloved couple. It is now the home of Alex II and Andria III. Congratulations to everyone down in Louisiana!

Monday evening, when we go to bed, Clive and Connie will have their first eaglet to care for! How exciting. They are incredible parents.

This means this morning there will be a fluffy bobblehead and maybe another on the way at Captiva.

Coot has been on the menu for R9 and R10 at Dade County nest of Ron and Rose. Aren’t they cute?!

E26 is a cutie pie. Their menu was fish and/or roadkill. It doesn’t look like that second egg is going to hatch (of course, I could get a surprise). This is day 38 for that second egg.

We are on day 30 today for Beau and Gabby’s first egg at the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest. So, it looks like we could have a baby there by next Monday! Are you getting excited?

Girri has been seen on the top of the tower with Diamond and Gimbir! This is the time from the chat moderator: “@donnadec2606​​23 DEC TOWER 3 on the roof ; 06.43.43; FLIGHTS 09.26.07+; BOX 06.44.06 screaming Girri flies by; LEDGE 07.00.33 kangaroo hops away; 09.26.14 Girri hovers by ledge.” Holly Parsons caught Gimbir on the ledge and Girri flying by – mid area at the right!

This is nothing short of marvellous news. I do not remember, in recent years, any of the fledglings flying so strongly – please feel free to correct me!

SK Hideaways has Girri flying on video! https://youtu.be/2Yvnm67rL2A?

A story from The Guardian that should put a smile on your face!

‘Miracle’ of Zealandia: chick is born to rare takahē pair thought to be infertile https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/21/takahe-chick-rare-born-new-zealand?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with us. I am going to send this out this evening because of the news of Girri. See you late Tuesday or Wednesday morning! Take care.

Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams where I took my screen captures, to SK Hideaways for that great video of Girri, and to The Guardian for always covering the environment and wildlife.

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

22 December 2025

Good Morning Everyone!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All is right in ‘dog’ world.

SK Hideaways Videos, week of 14 December 2025

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

West End Eagles

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies, explore.org
Nest Low Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfuqjSNXZ14
Other Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmmAzrAkKqI
Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kad6O4nF6bg

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

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

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

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

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

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

There is nothing cuter than a couple of bobbleheads – .

Dade County R9.

SW Florida E26.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Bird flu: Defra’s most recent update seems to cover the period up to 30 November and has a lot of positive records, especially of wildfowl, and adds Woodcock to the 2025 list of affected species bringing the total to 53: Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Bewick’s Swan, Black Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Eider, White-tailed Eagle, Red Kite, Buzzard, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel, Curlew, Woodcock, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Kittiwake, Little Gull, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, Gannet, Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Cormorant, Razorbill, Guillemot, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Grey Heron, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch and Starling. The flaws in the ‘surveillance’ scheme mean that it is difficult to know what this species list means in terms of species affected – click here. “

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

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

Day 19. Welcome to Winter. R9 hatched…Froto passed

20 December 2025

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Oh, my goodness. I have not seen so much snow in so long. Our weather was so lovely for so long – well into late, late November. Everyone believed we would be clobbered by snow, and we certainly have!

It’s Saturday. Tomorrow, Nellie arrives, and she will be with us for thirteen days. Nellie is a Retriever – a huge White British Retriever. Toby adores her, and they both like the snow, so the pair of them should have some superb romps in the garden.

We have all of our provisions in thanks to Ann who came in the middle of a heavy snowfall to be with Don and Toby. There is enough pet food for several months and surely there will be something in the larder – maybe not fresh fruit – but something for the humans in the house should the weather set in and not go away.

Many have asked what we are doing for the holidays. ‘Nothing’. I am not a grinch – I love and have loved sharing the holidays with friends and family for many decades. I am now ready to put the skids on and enjoy some quiet. We will enjoy the animals. I am not going to cook a big dinner – perhaps a small one with a pavlova for dessert or a Haskap Chocolate Yule Log from the Farmer’s Kitchen. There are only two of us who will be there! Although I suspect it depends on the offerings, as Toby and Nellie might have their noses right up at that table. My idea of a holiday, this year, is relaxing – we have done the big dinners, the fuss and muss and the fun and laughter. This year, I would like to sit under the duvet by the fire with a good book, watching the animals, a mug of hot chocolate in hand.

Indeed, I urge each of us to make our lives simpler and less stressful. Simple gifts, shared meals so that not one person has to do all the work, breathing and relaxing, walks and quiet times and, of course, watching the birds.

Rose and Ron’s first hatch, R9, has arrived at 37.8 days, at the Dade County nest in Florida. Egg 2 is 35 days old. What an incredibly beautiful sight – Ron and Rose looking at their new baby! The little one was first seen around 0813.

There is sadness at the Central Florida Superbeaks nest of Pepe and Muhlady as chick number 2, Froto, has died at 10 days old. It is thought that he got caught in the rails when one of the adults went to ward off an owl (both left the nest).

E26 is doing very well. Cute and already strong and eager to eat!

It appears that the part of E26’s egg that was attached to E27 is now off. No pip yet. Happy to have one healthy eaglet, too.

Country Diary is all about Brent Geese flying over the Isle of White.

Country diary: Postcard from a pier, where brent geese are the main attraction | Lev Parikianhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/19/country-diary-postcard-from-a-pier-where-brent-geese-are-the-main-attraction?CMP=share_btn_url

During the storm.

Brock came to the feeder around 2000 Friday night after the blizzard had calmed down. He does not mind the woven basket around his heated food tray, but he dislikes one of those plastic bins. Did someone try to trap him with one of them?

I do worry about Brock, but he has no frozen ears, and it has been really cold. His bolt hole must be warm.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. We will see you again tomorrow! Today is Nellie proofing the house!

Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams, the authors of the FB posts, and The Guardian for covering the environment.

Day 18. Welcome to Winter. E26 is a strong eaglet.

19 December 2025

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Oh, my goodness, what a day it has been. I have made a couple of videos for you. Still, you do not get the intensity of the heavy wet snow blowing down. We have had more than 20 cm of snow in our garden in only two hours!

Ann braved the storm, which let me shop in the neighbourhood, stocking up on cat and dog food, along with any provisions we were missing. We can now stay put for up to a fortnight without having to leave the house – perhaps longer! Mind you. Toby loves the snow. He doesn’t care if it covers him from top to bottom. He jumps and, living up to his sporting pedigree as a duck hunting dog, often likes to pester the small birds.

SW Florida did beat Dade County to hatch, but R9 is now working its way out of that shell. This is perfect timing, as it lets us watch both of them and cheer those little ones on as they clamour to step into the world of eagles.

Oh, what a sweetie. And strong. This will be a formidable big sister for that second hatch (probably).

That little eaglet was ravenous!

You will notice that part of E26’s shell has attached itself to E27’s shell. Don’t concern yourself. The little one should be working itself out of the other end and as F23 and M15 roll that egg, the old shell could easily come off.

Proud parents M15 and F23.

I really hope you can open this. Girri has been seen and she was caught on camera flying very strongly. I am including that FB post and I urge you to visit the Orange, Australia Peregrine Falcons FB page for the latest news.

Cilla Kinross’s latest blog is located here with all the news about Girri and a video:

https://falconcam.csu.edu.au/2025/12/18/and-shes-off-2/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOymP1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeu4NmShlCMPYMAZH4VmFqJZ3mi4MhtTfify_gaNnGHIVraBcjdOqV97ogRxc_aem_SerBcOW7qxqLYqUDTvqA9w

In case you cannot open the link, Cilla notes that the fledge was a very strong one. Then she says, “I had a couple of visitors from Melbourne today and so we went and had a look for her. We found her by chance on the ground with some magpies in the woodland directly in front of the ledge cam, so she had moved a fair way from her original landing place.

Unfortunately, we disturbed her and she took off, flying close to the ground towards the road. We checked that she hadn’t gone across the road and into the open paddock (she hadn’t) and had a bit of a look around, but didn’t want to disturb her again as it is very hot today (32 C), so it’s best she rests in the shade until this evening.

She’ll now start learning to fly and may return to the box within a few days or a week or two. Barring accidents (they do happen from time to time) she should be with us for a couple of months and I will try and get some photos of her in the field.”

That brings you up to date on the latest ‘big’ news in Bird World.

Please take care. We look forward to having you with us again tomorrow!

Thank you so much to Cilla Kinross for her informative post, to the owners of the streaming cams I am so grateful as you allow us into the lives of our wonderful birds. I also want to thank those individuals who have posted on FB the latest news and photos. My blog would not be the same without you.