Category Archives: Hellgate Ospreys

Busy Osprey Dads feeding fledglings with empty tanks…Monday in Bird World

11 August 2025

Hello Everyone,

We spent Saturday in the English Gardens admiring the gorgeous plantings, chatting to other dog lovers, and eating ice cream. Dogs get free ‘pup cups’ complete with a dog biscuit. Toby is already familiar with the routine!

You can see the ‘pup cup’ in the image below. The photos make Toby look ‘tiny’ – the dream of all humans when they get their picture taken! But he is now 16 lbs.

While we were there, we had a chance to talk to a photographer waiting for the elusive hummingbird. Yes, singular. Usually, the gardens would be full of hummingbirds, but he told me that he had talked to photographers in North Dakota, and they have so many hummingbirds they can’t believe it. The theory is that the wildfire smoke kept the hummers moving til they got to clean air.

Bears and other wildlife are still suffering.

Each of you will remember the wildlife and the fires in Australia – people helping with water for the koalas, many of them on fire. It is heartbreaking – well, beyond sad. Only time will tell how many eagles and ospreys will return next year, and whether there will be any trees for them to make nests. I wondered about the ash from the fires falling into the pristine lakes, and this is what I learned: “When ash from wildfires falls into lakes, it can introduce nutrients and toxins, potentially causing temporary algal blooms and impacting water quality. While the effects are often short-term, particularly in well-mixed lakes, they can disrupt the ecosystem and affect aquatic life.” 

Migration has started early, with geese congregating on many golf courses and sports fields.

At the park today, there were many more ducks and, in particular, Wood Ducks than I remember from previous years.

The weather is cooler and since the rains the past couple of days, the smoke has not been so bad. Earlier we had extreme warnings about being outside especially if anyone had respiratory issues.

At home, all is well. There are a couple of ‘witching’ times during the day when Toby needs to be calmed – after breakfast and in the late evening before bed. Otherwise, life with cats and a dog is going much better than I expected! Hugo Yugo continues to do better. She has been seen multiple times eating hard food and today ate two small tins of wet food for breakfast. She really wants to play with Toby and I must warn him that ‘the cats plot to get him in trouble’. Toby will go for his first little grooming session on Thursday. His nails really need trimming!

Missey does not quite fit on the small space at the top of this particular cat tree. She looks miserable.

Calico was inspecting the blueberry cookies for dogs thinking they should make some nice things for cats, too.

Toby spots Baby Hope inside the house when he is out.

They keep us busy.

Sunday waw three hours of sheer bliss at King’s Park. We walked and picnicked with Toby. The charcoal clouds left and the sun came out and it was simply glorious.

Part of our rigid routine is that Saturdays and Sundays are ‘family’ days. On the other days, we have Anne, Jaine, or appointments with doctors, haircuts, etc. So the weekend is reserved for ‘fun’, enjoying being together and walking outside. Our big disappointment is that there are not a lot of geese about – we will continue searching for them!

Time to get checking on those ospreys, and I want to start with one of our favourite fledglings from 2021 in South Australia, who is now old enough to be frantically looking for a mate – Ervie!!!!!!! Searching far and wide, Port Lincoln Osprey FB says, “Barge 2021 – Ervie is on the go again – still in search of the elusive partner. He has been for a visit to Taylor Island, and we know there are Osprey down there.”

The UK Hobbys are darlings.

Here’s the video capture by SK Hideaways: https://youtu.be/GoI0WP7RO1Q?

The pair were ringed, and here is the video by Wildlife Windows: https://youtu.be/h1XWCEbYKZs?

Leicester and Rutland’s Manton Bay:

Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Foulshaw Moss:

Dyfi Osprey Project: Idris is very busy getting those fish to the nest for the fledglings.

Birds of Poole Harbour: Both CJ7 and Blue 022 are delivering fish to their four fledglings. One, 5R5, hasn’t been quite as lucky on getting fish at the nest. Fingers crossed their luck picks up!

Glaslyn: Teifi continues to deliver fish to Elen and to seal their bond for the 2026 season.

Balgavies Loch:

‘PS’ give us the news from the Seattle Osprey platform:

“Visited the last few days – Saturday I saw 3 fish deliveries from dad in 40 minutes or so! Two Starry Flounder and one Coho Salmon. With the fledglings around but not always on the nest dad’s arrival often led to a bit of a scrum – though on this particular day the loser didn’t have to feel that bad as fish after fish kept showing up. One of the Flounder I saw dad circle, dive, and catch, at a distance, and then bring it straight back to the nest. It was so close he didn’t even turn the fish and just flew it back facing the wrong way. Today I arrived at the tail end of a feed, with one of the fledglings finishing up what looked to be a Salmon of some sort. 

I haven’t seen mom since Aug-1; do you think she could have started her migration already, 7-10 days after the first fledge? Or maybe I’m just unlucky and keep missing her. 

The ever growing album in the same spot – https://www.flickr.com/gp/193514804@N08/2n65zuEk4k.”

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 10th August 2025
Today was about fish, plenty of them – Louis brought five fish, and not only did Darach 7P0 get four of them, but he also flew with fish for the first time. It was unintentional, as he slipped over the edge of the nest while pushing his brother Breac 7P7 away from his fish, but nevertheless, he took off flying clutching his fish, and returned a little later with it still firmly held in his talons. That’s a big milestone achieved as the ability to fly with fish is an essential skill for Ospreys, sometimes called fish hawks. After being the dominant chick for so long, Breac was forced to defer to Darach who grabbed fish first, then lunged at him and pushed him off the nest on several occasions, making it clear he would not be giving up his fish. Breac also lost fish to invading Hoodies, but luckily it was only a few scraps. Louis’ fish tally rises to four hundred and five (407 nest total) while the total for Garry LV0 who hasn’t been seen since the 7th remains unchanged on one hundred and forty. Dorcha also hasn’t been seen since the 7th and the last sighting of Affric 152 was on the 8th, we wait to see if any of them will still make an appearance on nest cam. The weather was reasonably settled today but the forecast for the next 24 hours is light rain and light winds with an overnight low of 14

°C and a high tomorrow of 18°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 

22.08.04 (04.32.48); Nest Two  21.57.01 (04.42.08)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/JTtFfH5B2Tc N2 Darach flies with fish for the first time, albeit accidentally 06.47.34https://youtu.be/w_Pz9_Y-138 N2 Louis waits patiently with a second fish, Breac finally arrives for it 09.27.57  https://youtu.be/-q-8BEQ-qAs N2 Darach pushes Breac off the nest to keep fish number three 16.36.05

https://youtu.be/aaBcMqNz-B0 N1 A little songbird visits – no Ospreys seen since the 8th 

17.13.43https://youtu.be/S2F9L9aJnTU N2 In the stramash over fish four Louis gets his leg bitten 18.33.33  https://youtu.be/XJfd2Bxpf0M N2 Darach also gets fish number five then turns on Breac 20.03.38 

https://youtu.be/8OlfdpONB9w N2 Breac suffers an invasion of Hoodies who steal scraps from him 20.37.17Bonus opportunity to support intrepid Morag who’s going to swim Loch Arkaig to raise funds for Woodland Trust:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/mary-cheadle-3

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/h7sWHXV4gck  N1 Pandemonium among Pandions 2019

https://youtu.be/nEEzGfX3qOE  N1 We missed you! Welcome back Aila 2019

https://youtu.be/yvB2ZHq5W6I  N1 Just shut up and eat, Rannoch! 2019

https://youtu.be/vmct7etDQpo  N1 One fish, two fish, new fish 2020

https://youtu.be/ZJLmsHHd1Lg  N1 Captain ends up with two fish 2020

https://youtu.be/a2dk_AA0gAA  N2 Several different little birds visit the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/MBQ8n7dL9zA  N2 The chicks fight as fish number one arrives 2022

https://youtu.be/tgrYhwgMc1w  N2 Ringed intruder perches on the nest 2022 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/FFJsvTMjkzE  N2 Ludo arrives seconds after dad brings fish 2023

https://youtu.be/jUf5fhmCtZE  N2 Fish number three arrives, departs, and returns again 2023

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 9th August 2025
Louis delivered his 400th fish for the season (402 nest total with Dorcha’s two) when he brought fish number three today, and it went to Breac 7P7. Breac did very well today, after finishing off the substantial remains of last night’s mackerel, he also got two fresh fish from Louis. Darach 7P0 was ferocious in his determination to get a fish and actually pushed Breac off the nest causing him to fly away. The strategy worked again when he got the next fish despite Breac being on the nest, once Darach had the fish secured and Louis had gone, he flew at Breac and forced him off the nest again, making it clear he would not be bullied to give up his fish. This is necessary as he has yet to acquire the skill of flying with fish and must therefore eat on the nest. There was no activity on Nest One, not even a songbird visited – Affric was last seen yesterday, and both Garry and Dorcha were last seen on the 7th. Have they gone south? It’s probably much too early to tell. After rain and wind and some sunny intervals today, the forecast for the next 24 hours is cloudy with light wind, an overnight low of 11°C and a high of 17°C tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.17.38 (04.24.47); Nest Two 22.16.54 (04.55.56)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/fTaTXlZRdfM N2 Breac arrives and finishes off last night’s mackerel 05.24.47https://youtu.be/AzHy7AQUYVc N2 Darach arrives late and it’s Breac who gets fish one 09.48.05

https://youtu.be/ZwJBjmeA050 N2 Breac attempts to stay on the nest but Darach pushes him off 15.00.16https://youtu.be/k5moRjVq8Og N2 Darach makes sure he gets fish two from Louis 16.47.46

https://youtu.be/ovoRIslJuX0 N2 One fish two hungry brothers: Breac wins Louis’ 400th fish 21.15.32

Bonus read – energy boost for Woodland Trust as E.ON Next plan to step up their donations:

https://news.eonenergy.com/news/e-on-next-set-to-surpass-gbp-500-000-woodland-trust-commitment

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/oNzCzAn0VeM  N1 Stop please daddy! Louis pulls Rannoch off the nest 2019

https://youtu.be/11qAuMkDdL4  N1 Louis brings breakfast, all three are there but Doddie gets it 2020

https://youtu.be/8IC3e70LhTw  N1 Temperature inversion seen from the nest 2020

https://youtu.be/sdVgKT4YE3I  N1 Synchronised helicoptering by Doddie & Captain 2020

https://youtu.be/Jk-V4-DQZHI  N1 Aila brings fish and gets pecked by Vera! 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/9Moy1yWHtW4  N1 Juvenile Mistle Thrush pay an evening visit to Nest One 2021

https://youtu.be/291niuqJOvQ  N2 Fish number five causes a screaming frenzy from all three females (2022)

https://youtu.be/ORcpN6aPcSY N2 Hoodie lurks as Willow shows off her beautiful eyes 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/vj0dVfDdwQI  N2 Form an orderly queue! 2022

https://youtu.be/HT4f5n1Gss4 N1 Bullfinch lands after Affric departs 2023

https://youtu.be/xwkgVWCJ1aY N1 Garry LV0 brings a duvet of moss to Nest One 2023

https://youtu.be/aYN_ysUW3U8 N2 Ludo watches a parent chasing an intruder 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/raBkskKShcc N2 Louis is back! Looking good, and brings a fish 2023

https://youtu.be/7k-yZUR493k  N2 Second fish today – number 350 for the season! 2023

https://youtu.be/2PUZSP_N918 N1 A trio of songbirds visit in the absence of any Ospreys 2024

 Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 8th August 2025

Today’s fish were pretty evenly shared out between the two chicks – Breac 7P7 got the substantial remains of last night’s second fish, a flatfish, for breakfast this morning, beating the Hoodies to a free meal, then got one of Louis’ three fresh deliveries today while Darach 7P0 got the other two. The nest total now stands at three hundred and ninety nine, including the two delivered by Dorcha. She wasn’t seen on camera today, neither were Garry LV0 or Affric 152, in fact the only activity on Nest One was the brief visit of a juvenile Great Tit. Garry’s tally remains at one hundred and forty. Steve Quinn published his fish stats for Week 18 today, an interesting read as always, link’s in the bonus section. Steve told us about his recent visit to Avalon Marshes and meeting with photographer Andrew Kirby who was the first to photograph 2020 chick Doddie JJ6 who’d stopped off there practising his fishing skills on his first migration journey. Doddie caused much excitement by becomlng the first Loch Arkaig Osprey to be sighted away from the nest area, link to Andrew’s fabulous photos of Doddie in the bonus section. Today’s weather was windy and sometimes wet, and tonight’s forecast is for heavy rain and what’s referred to as a moderate breeze but when seen on nest cam looks much more powerful, with a low of 12°C, changing to thundery showers with a high of 15°C tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.22.04 (04.46.07); Nest Two 22.13.40 (04.52.07)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/qq0Q16iCA40 N2 Breac claims the leftover fish before the Hoodies invade

https://youtu.be/CEh1emWe62w N1 A Great Tit (Parus Major) visits  09.12.37

https://youtu.be/lDkie7NcVUk N2 Darach’s waiting and gets the first fish 14.49.08

https://youtu.be/Zx0j2kT7I9E N2 Breac gets a flatfish when Louis brings fish two 16.47.44

https://youtu.be/gRcp6ywmUz0 N2 Darach gets a mackerel when Louis brings fish three 21.31.26

Bonus analysis – Steve Quinn’s breakdown of week 18’s fish stats:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=27220830

Bonus photos of Doddie JJ6 in Somerset by Andrew Kirby:

https://www.akwildlifeimages.com/p488027889

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/AIAdCPIubvI Don’t bite the foot that feeds you! Louis’ difficult delivery (2019)

https://youtu.be/zLddX6xt-i0 Exit nest right pursued by Mad Mallie (2019)

https://youtu.be/_byBlgH5F0c Osprey antics as Mallie & Rannoch fight Louis and each other (2019)

https://youtu.be/DHWUsnxCNhE Vera is obviously better and pecks Aila (2020)

https://youtu.be/Rpc2uq34oKU Doddie and Vera fight for fish five (2020)

https://youtu.be/OugBSDzamKo Louis delivers a colourful Arctic Charr to Aila (2020)

https://youtu.be/vaI9BRb46fE News! Both Louis’ chicks have fledged and been named (2021)

https://youtu.be/ZQ9uid57ZLc A Sparrowhawk, a Hooded Crow and Sarafina all on the nest (2022)

https://youtu.be/oKC8m2YeWE0 Spooky Nest One in quick time (2022)

https://youtu.be/xLnSvyYalcA A good look at Dorcha coming and going 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/p7p0fEb6KnQ Fish number one, headless trout 2023

https://youtu.be/Ylyt2kQJkdU A shadow flies over Nest One but it’s not Affric or Garry! 2023

https://youtu.be/npgzBhJ8jJc N1 Garry notes unseen danger but still attempts mating 2023

https://youtu.be/-jdvLTKv3rE Fish number two, headless trout 2023

https://youtu.be/qd5T_c7Pt_4 Ludo does an involuntary helicopter in the wind 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/P5S76XoQiuE N1 Coal Tits and Robins visiting in the absence of any Ospreys 07.29.42

More cases of Bird Flu have been found in the UK, reported by Raptor Persecution UK.

Six more Bird Flu outbreaks in England, Scotland & Wales – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

It makes me wonder if we will discover from the necrscopy of Big Red and Arthur’s first hatch, O1, if she died of Avian Flu.

At Knepp Farm (you have no idea how much respect I have for their rewilding project), the sound of the Nightingale has not only returned but is becoming more abundant.

Knepp News bumper year for nightingales our MICHELINlisted Restaurant and Paul Hawken author supperDownload

In the US, the two oldest of the four osplets of Winnie and Swoop have fledged at Dunrovin Ranch in Montana.

Green Ledge Light Preservation Society: The three osplets of Ollie and Olivia have fledged!

Coeur de’Alene, Idaho: The three surviving osplets have fledged and ‘PB’ reports that each has taken a different osprey platform at the park where they are fish calling. I caught up with two of the trio.

Hellgate Canyon: New Male has been consistently bringing our dear Iris fresh fish to help her prepare for her migration.

Charlo Montana: Charlie has been busy bringing in some fish.

At the Fru Rauer nest in Norway, beautiful flounder are being delivered to the nest. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/F6wBsAZ6YaE?

Joan Castnyer catches a delivery at Goitzsche Wildnis: https://youtu.be/IQH_lg6K4Ak?

Zeus delivering a fish – the family trio are now rarely seen at the nest, with speculation that they are spending more time at the nearby lake.

‘A’ is keeping an eye on the Australian nests for us. So nice to hear from them! “As we reach day 37 for the first egg, the pair at WBSE have been dutifully incubating their clutch, through a lot of rain and cold nights. Lady has as always taken every night shift and on some days has sat on the eggs for eight hours or more as well. Dad relieves her often, if she’ll leave, but sometimes, she sits tight and refuses to budge.Apart from the frequent rain and the consistently cold nights, the pattern has been for not much food to be brought to the nest. Lady has done much of the hunting for herself, though Dad does bring in the odd bream tail or half-eaten fish and often arrives with a full crop himself. I do worry about whether he will step up deliveries once the eggs hatch – things will be difficult if he doesn’t. This pair appears strongly bonded, though, with duets every morning and Dad staying close to the nest each night, and they’re very experienced parents, so I’m probably just worrying about nothing. It’s just all the rain… 

There have been a number of sightings of one parent or the other being bothered/swooped/chased by ravens or lapwings or currawongs so that aspect of life in Olympic Forest, sadly, has not changed. The constant rain is a concern – the eggs have for the most part been kept warm and dry but there have been a few occasions when Dad has left the nest before Lady’s return from a break, leaving the eggs uncovered in the rain for ten minutes or so. Hopefully, there won’t have been any damage to the lives inside but only time will tell. 

Diamond and Xavier are doing well. Not egg time quite yet but both are looking healthy and are bonding as always. Xavier is STILL bringing Diamond starlings (and, worse yet, recycled starlings she has already rejected). It seems he has to relearn this lesson every single season. On the other hand, there seems to be a relatively plentiful supply of starlings and this can be useful when it’s time to feed some hungry eyases. 

At Port Lincoln, it’s R-rated. This pair seems to be mating constantly, with occasional dinner breaks and fly arounds. Eggs are definitely on the minds of these ospreys, and when they’re not mating (or eating), they’re bringing in nesting material. I do hope we have two eggs and not three. I’m never super happy when a third egg hatches on an osprey nest, although I know you are (for research purposes of course). I suppose at this nest, which is blessed to be overseen by a Fish Fairy, the research is partially compromised, in the sense that the lessons learned on the nest are different ones, at least to some extent. I hadn’t thought much about that, but obviously you would have, given the nature of your research. 

Nothing at Collins Street yet, and we don’t really expect there to be for at least another fortnight. I do wish we caught a little more of the early part of the season at Collins Street instead of having to wait until the second egg is laid (they usually don’t even switch the cameras on after the first egg, let alone before it, though they must have a fair idea of when the egg-laying window is likely to open. Frustrating.”

How in the world did we get here?

‘Erasure of years of work’: outcry as White House moves to open Arctic reserve to oil and gas drillinghttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/09/national-petroleum-reserve-alaska-oil-gas-drilling?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with us today. We hope you have a great week and we look forward to having you with us again on Friday.

I want to thank our notable contributors, ‘A, Geemeff, PB, PS’, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos, including SK Hideaways, Joan Castnyer, Cornell Bird Lab, 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. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

Monday in Bird World

16 June 2025

Hello Everyone!

Late news: Fortis Exshaw had their third osplet hatch!

We are creeping closer and closer to the first day of summer. It is marvellous to have the sun up early in the morning and light still in the garden at 2200. Winter will be here all too soon, and it will then be dark by 1630. These days we have the summer warmth with temperatures ranging during the day from 24-29 C. Coffee in the morning along with breakfast and lingering hours in the evening with our tea and Toby by our side are so enjoyable. It is a little too hot during the early afternoon.

This evening, we sat and watched the Starling parents feed their fledglings. All seven have survived, with another family of five arriving in the garden today. We have gone through so much kibble! They will begin to disperse in a fortnight, and I will miss them so much.

While the Blue Jay babies and the little Crows have yet to arrive, the behavior of the adult birds indicates that there are hungry mouths to feed in their nests. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness these birds flourishing and not having to compete for food. However, I can’t shake the desire to find a solution to bring fish back to the areas where many nests are faltering this year.

I have been working on this post on and off and I know that I have mentioned a few nests twice. Just consider it Double Happiness.

Today, ‘VV’ confirmed the disappointing news that no osprey chicks hatched on St. George’s Island, Maryland, this year, resulting in a staggering fifteen failed nests! The adults abandoned their nests with eggs in two weeks. A few of the adults have returned, but everyone is very disillusioned with no movement in Virginia to halt the overfishing of the Menhaden, which is essential for the lives of our ospreys.

I am deeply ashamed that a Canadian company is on the verge of driving ospreys to extinction in this region of the United States. The nationality of the company shouldn’t be a factor; what troubles me is the lack of a viable solution. Despite the hard work of many advocates raising awareness about this critical issue, Virginia politicians continue to turn a blind eye. Is it true that money can buy favours? Absolutely—short-term financial gain seems to overshadow the urgent need for environmental stewardship. We must demand better from our leaders!

At home, there is no shortage of food and love for all the animals, feathered or furred. Toby and Hugo Yugo are the closest of friends, even when it comes to sifting the cheese out of Toby’s kibble. (Don was a little enthusiastic about the amount and size! My son thought they were eating nachos.)

Back to the birds…

We have been discussing some questions that might arise if you have been watching a lot of the osprey nests this year.

  1. When do we start counting the age of the egg? The minute it is laid! When it emerges from the cloaca. There is no scientific basis for subtracting days, etc. due to delayed incubation. The age of the egg is from the minute it is laid.
  2. Can the second egg hatch before the first egg? Yes. Sometimes it isn’t easy to know which egg is which. In other cases, it is not. The markings on the osprey eggs can be quite distinctive, helping the observer recognise eggs 1, 2, and 3 easily from one another. The data that Heidi and I have kept indicate the following days related to hatch:

2023: This is the data for 342 eggs. If you can’t see it easily, the average time for hatch for the first egg laid is 38.8 days while that for egg 2 laid is 36.9 while egg 3 is 36.4 days.

2024: This is the data for 351 eggs. If you can’t see it easily, the average time for hatch for the first egg is 39.4 days, egg 2 is 37.4 days, and egg 3 is 36.1 with egg 4 at 36.0 days.

3. If the second egg hatches first, do you still call it ‘chick one’? Yes. The first chick to hatch, regardless of egg order, is chick one or the first hatch. This has happened at several nests, including the 2011 Dyfi Osprey Project nest. This is the chart from Tiger Mozone’s log for that season at Dyfi (imagicats):

Many of you know that I have a fondness for Blue 33. I also admire many of the male ospreys in the UK. One way to determine if an osprey pair is considered ‘successful’ is not only by the number of chicks they raise but also by the rate of second-year returnees. For example, Aran at Glaslyn, who was usurped this year by one of Idris’s sons, Teifi, has had three of his sons return to Wales this year. This is a remarkable achievement, and we should keep in mind that these are only the birds that have been seen on camera or photographed, as that’s the only evidence that counts for proving their existence.

There were lots of tributes to the great osprey dads!

Idris and Telyn’s chicks will be ringed this week and we will find out their names.

Latest news from the Cumbrian Wildlife Trust – home to the Foulshaw Moss ospreys.

Meet the neighbours_ our #FoulshawOspreys have company _ Cumbria Wildlife TrustDownload

Knepp Farm News!

News from KneppDownload

Been wondering what happened to the only GHO hatch for Bonnie and Clyde at Farmer Derek’s? Androcat caught up with Starri. https://youtu.be/B261Hw7-sic?

At Farmer Derek’s Bald Eagle Nest, Kanza returned home after fledging to a double fish meal. https://youtu.be/x-HOBz9SFIw?

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Nest: ‘MP’ sent shock waves through me when they wrote that the third egg had hatched at this nest. The chick has not been fed since it hatched (24 hours thus far). Attempts but Mum and chick are having trouble connecting. Fingers crossed.

Wetlands, NJ: Second hatch has died due to siblicide/starvation.

The trio at Saaksilvie #1 are doing great. They are in that terrible Reptilian phase. Hoping for three fledges!

At Saaksilvie #4, the trio are in the Reptilian phase. They seem to be doing well.

Saaksilvie nests 2 and 3 are vacant.

Taipalsaavi Osprey Platform, Finland: Two of the cutest fattest little bottom osplets.

We haven’t checked on the Royal Albatross chick for a long time. Baby fluff is disappearing. There are still 9-10 weeks before fledge. Here is the most recent weight check. https://youtu.be/y6XB3zjflNc?

Charlo Montana: A nice big fish came in for those babies.

Rutland Manton Bay: It is a nest full of osplets!

Dunrovin: ‘PB’ brings us the latest news.

I am sending some ‘old’ news. Heidi sent this for Thursday, and I missed it. The ages of the osplets will be wrong, but I want you to see her news, and we have sadly lost the Only Bob at Dahlgren as of Saturday. My apologies for missing this news. I love how Heidi puts the narrative in the image. She will also have a new report for today.

Heidi’s Report for Sunday, 15 June:

Two notes, one video link to Mispillion Harbor video, and six photos.

Dahlgren osprey nest:  On 6/14, both Helen and Doug were away from the nest leaving their only chick unprotected.  Sadly, the little 4-day-old baby was predated by a crow.

Happy Father’s Day to all the devoted osprey dads, especially to Warren at Mispillion Harbor.  Watch Warren doing his thing, feeding and protecting his family.  Here is “The Warren Waltz”  https://youtu.be/jToQbVm3838

Goitzsche-Wildnis, Germany: The Only Bob that survived the Red Kite attacks has grown big and strong. It is big enough that I believe the Red Kite cannot take it! Fingers crossed no one else comes calling. This is a beautiful osplet for Zeus and Fjona.

Eschenbach, Germany: Two lovely osplets.

Dunrovin Ranch: ‘PB’ reports that Winnie and Swoopie have their second hatch as of Sunday evening. Congratulations.

Charlo Montana: There are three. I really, really hope that Charlie gets a lot of fish on this nest!

Boulder County Fairgrounds: Two remaining Bobs with full crops on Saturday.

Trempeauleau Eagles: T3 is self-feeding and has a stash under the base of the tree. Smart eaglet!

Blithfield Reservoir, UK: Jeff Kear announced in UK Osprey Info FB that they have had a reliable source confirm three little osplets in the nest.

Clark PUD: Both Bobs appear to be in a food coma.

Pitkin County: The images speak for themselves. The largest chick eats first and the smaller goes into submission. Viewers were delighted on Saturday when the little one had a nice crop! The weather is very hot – approaching 90 F.

City of Independence: There are two Bobs in this nest. We can see their little heads pop up at 0842 for a feeding on Saturday. Soon they will be bigger and easier to view!

Gilestone Ospreys Usk Valley: Cogwyn doesn’t have to wait long for her mate Syfaddan to get a fish to their nest to feed their Only Bob. This chick is the first to hatch in 250 years in this Welsh Valley.

Santiam Canyon, Oregon: There are three Bobs. They have made it through the Reptilian Phase and are now getting those gorgeous juvenile feathers. The Santiam Canyon ospreys are located at the Santiam Canyon School District in Oregon. Specifically, they have nested in a football field light for the past two years and now have a permanent nesting platform nearby. This new platform was built in partnership with Pacific Power and other organizations to provide the ospreys with a safer home.

Salt Point: Orpheus and Ursula receive high praise for the care they give their three osplets.

Great Bay: Three osplets. The images show the difference in size and age. I get nervous. Fingers crossed.

VIMS, VA Institute of Marine Science: This says it all. No food. Menhaden taken for years by the Canadian company, Omega, out of Reedsville, VA. Virginia is the only state around the waters that does not have the three-mile protection limit. As a result, no food for the ospreys who have abandoned their nests along with fish hawks in neighbouring states.

WDNU: Female caught feeding the recently hatched chick on 1 June 2025. Two osprey chicks hatched on the WNDU studio tower in 2025. However, both chicks sadly passed away shortly after hatching. The osprey pair had laid three eggs, and two successfully hatched. 

This is a very unlucky nest. It is unclear why the chicks die each year shortly after hatching. The only chick to fledge in three years was Huey in 2023.

FOBBV: On Saturday, the entire family was at the nest. Sunny and Gizmo ate and spent time together. This miracle keeps on giving. Treasure it – when you feel low, remember that this year there were miracles. You are looking at them below. Jackie and Shadow make sure that their babies are fed in the nest or the pine. It is beautiful.

Denton Homes: They survived all the storms, the wind, the threat of tornadoes, the cold and sometimes the lack of food due to the weather. Just look at the trio.

San Jose City Hall Falcons: SK Hideaways checks in to see who is home. https://youtu.be/MjXHLrLbqEg?

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 15th June 2025
Another day where Louis delivered several fish, a contrast to this day last year when he was told off by Dorcha for arriving without fish and showing no inclination to go fishing. 

The start of his illness, although we didn’t know it at the time.. He brought four fish to the nest, all a good size, big and beefy, and candidates to be considered Silver Tourists rather than Brown Trout. In fact one of the fish contained a big surprise – a belly full of little fish! This bonus was snapped up by Dorcha as the chicks didn’t seem to be too keen, and their hugely distended crops shows how well they’ve been eating. Louis’ tally rises to one hundred and eighty eight, while over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought one fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to eighty nine. Although there were dry spells today, the weather forecast is for more rain and wind overnight with a low of 12

°C, continuing through tomorrow with a high of 16°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.37.08 (03.32.25); Nest Two 23.09.52 (03.51.37)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/XLkxcMgnrLU N2 Fish number one is a big silvery headless trout 05.56.58https://youtu.be/qKGEv6WQ4tQ N2 Louis delivers a second big silvery fish 13.26.31https://youtu.be/1uHKMsVgfjk N1 Garry LV0 finally delivers a fish for Aurora 14.28.29

https://youtu.be/UVotIUbtzMg N2 Louis delivers a monster fish and it has a bellyful of tiny fish! 17.50.51https://youtu.be/bB4kvztpDKM N2 Dorcha’s still busy with fish three so Louis takes fish four away 20.48.02 

Bonus blast from the past: Today’s fish full of fish is not the first time this has been caught on nest cam – thanks to PaulineC for finding Doddie JJ6 eating a fish, with a belly full of fish, in my archive:

https://youtu.be/wzmzLuDZqh8  21 July 2020

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/ntv71sF-N_s  N1 Simultaneous feeding – mum and dad each feed a bob! 2019

https://youtu.be/1RzPgaEWMr0  N1 Limbo dancing 2020

https://youtu.be/PvklkJGfZIc  N1 Home alone chicks amuse themselves 2020

https://youtu.be/J8geReKxLxc  N1 Mumbrella Aila does her best to shelter the chicks 2020

https://youtu.be/FJYbKk1hA-4  N1 A Jay visits the empty nest 2021

https://youtu.be/tsAAz0z9Ac8  N2 Hooded Crow intrudes and perches on the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/k6W6PKYMMYQ  N2 Chicks battle it out as soon as mum leaves 2022

https://youtu.be/LTMLWBLOZnY  N1 LV0 just won’t get the message 2023

https://youtu.be/hFbYpDjHeyI  N1 Affric reaffirms her bond with Prince 2023

https://youtu.be/yvMLAjhrNaA  N2 Hangry chick attacks Dorcha 2023 (quick-time)

https://youtu.be/2hIydufKS3I Fish number one, headless trout, C1 gets it all 2024

https://youtu.be/FlvoO8n_ZAk  Dorcha: from menace with a stick to brilliant mumbrella 2024

https://youtu.be/OiKvZO7vkTU Louis finally arrives but he’s fishless! Dorcha can’t believe it 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 Saturday 14th June 2025

Plenty of fish again today, Louis brought four fish including a late night fish which he had to take away again as his family were too full to bother with it, and his tally rises to one hundred and eighty four. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to eighty eight, but disappointed her tonight when he arrived with a piece of bark instead of a third fish. Dorcha was startled by a songbird, the size difference is striking, and the Great Tit was equally startled by big Dorcha and left very quickly. All was peaceful today and there wasn’t any fighting between the chicks, and they did a little nest tidying and experimental nibbling at fish while mum was dishing out. The weather was mainly settled today with some rain but there’ll be more rain and wind overnight with a low of 11°C, continuing through tomorrow, with the possibility of sunny intervals and a high of 16°C.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.49.37 (02.44.46); Nest Two 23.10.14 (04.02.00)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/LptdCIh0i2Y N2 Louis delivers a very early fish with night cam still on 03.38.39

https://youtu.be/Yi4Nj3KMsb8 N2 Dorcha is startled by a songbird: the size difference is striking 06.22.59 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/0LhS8ZtGAak N2 The chicks help mum with nest tidying, one does a spot of whittling 09.41.58

https://youtu.be/jhmn2mfnPUY N1 Aurora jumps down from her perch ready to grab the first fish 10.49.23

https://youtu.be/8QUMSzhLiO4 N2 A huge second fish arrives – the chicks have a nibble 11.55.01

https://youtu.be/yeKK1a8IFBA N1 Garry brings a second fish for Aurora and stays to tidy the nest 17.38.31

https://youtu.be/XQ_1oY9y0Lg N2 Although the chicks have bulging crops they tuck in to the third fish 18.53.12

https://youtu.be/QpFug8PNXJA N1 Garry and Aurora spent a little time on the nest but she wants fish 21.51.19

https://youtu.be/8wE4v6xm67E N2 Louis brings a late 4th fish: no one wants it so he takes it away 22.49.34 (zoom)

Bonus guide to Osprey eyesight (thanks Dyfi and LizB):

https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/facts-about-osprey-eyes

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/Exn19098zow N1 First self-feeding – big bob helps herself 2019

https://youtu.be/vat-pks8C0o N1 Good luck getting those growing bobs settled for the night! 2020

https://youtu.be/Er_He7M1Z_s  N1 Tawny Owl returns and strikes Aila 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/KaaAklC7VMY  N2 When mum’s away, the chicks do play – not very nicely! 2022

https://youtu.be/owboya14Psw  N2 Bob2 gets a really good dinner as Bob1 is finally full! 2022

https://youtu.be/FreDgrNdCn4  N2 Bob1 dominates bob2 when Dorcha goes flyabout 2022

https://youtu.be/bony4Vt5TEw  N2 Little bird visits, so tiny Dorcha doesn’t notice 2023 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/BecclFVDPAw  N2 Fish number one, chick has a go at self-feeding 2023

https://youtu.be/tOd-hoc2Cxo  N1 High drama: rivals Prince & LVO both bring gifts 2023 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/R-32UJt7tBY  N2 Dorcha takes a direct hit! 2023 (Classic Ospreys: Tchaikovsky)

https://youtu.be/cgcWVSNAr4k N2 Dad’s turn to get hit! Equal opportunity squirter 2023

https://youtu.be/xL0saakThcE N2 Fish number two today, number 200 for the season! 2024

https://youtu.be/7J_4iIlHbGE  N2 Fish number three, chicks are calm and queue up with no aggro 12024

https://youtu.be/pDQXzJzcvDw  N2 Oops! Dorcha gets decorated 2024

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

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 13th June 2025
Plenty of fish today, with Garry LV0 bringing two for Aurora 536, and Louis delivering three for Dorcha and the two chicks. Their respective tallies rise to eighty six (Garry) and one hundred and eighty (Louis), although as the missing footage during yesterday’s outage wasn’t retrievable as hoped, their tallies are probably higher. Aurora decided to pay a visit to the Nest Two area, and was chased away by Louis, who kept hold of the fish in his talons throughout the chase and brought it to the nest shortly afterwards. Dorcha decided to do some decorating with moss and sticks, but instead of decorating the nest, she decorated the chicks instead. Both of the two 

surviving chicks are developing nicely and both have well-filled crops. The forecast is 

partly cloudy and light winds overnight with a low of 10°C, continuing tomorrow with light rain, light winds and a high of 16

°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.43.32 (03.17.31); Nest Two 23.25.19 (04.05.13)Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/8ygNdz9hreQ N2 Fish number one, whole medium trout 06.39.21 

https://youtu.be/1th9_-SSf6M N1  Fish number one, headless trout 07.56.54

https://youtu.be/9txqWmPu9OA N2 Two Ospreys do a flyby of the nest, Dorcha is furious 09.19.28 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/SUB7zBX8NsA N2 Fish number two, headless trout 09.52.07 

https://youtu.be/j5WGjP4SooA N1 Fish number two, headless trout 14.36.30

https://youtu.be/6UHho_Lwt5k N2 Dorcha decorates the chicks 14.41.20 (quick-time)

https://youtu.be/IY1_t_Wf3yA N2 Fish number three, whole Silver Tourist 19.37.58 

Bonus read – Riverscapes Partnership, of which Woodland Trust is a member, advocates developing a countrywide waterway system: 

Making Space for Rivers calls for national river corridor network

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/Oec9yfsqzI8  N1 Dad breaks up a fight (2019)

https://youtu.be/7h8o4P1BjOc  N1 Toy-like deer graze near the nest (2020)

https://youtu.be/CmnoKwCdweU  N1 Crashing and bashing: mum creates chaos (2020)

https://youtu.be/RownqjRW6Hg N2 First fish arrives in the dark (2022)

https://youtu.be/qmnWqyl9Nrw  N2 The two surviving chicks enjoy a good feed (2022)

https://youtu.be/sgCSDSOspIs  N2 Chicks take lumps out of each other until mum returns with a stick (2022)

https://youtu.be/QNDrgxWxl6M  N1 LV0 attempts mating and is rejected again Nest One 2023

https://youtu.be/BnWHTwPBiX4  N2 Chick helps sort out the cot rails 2023

https://youtu.be/xCx56MCLBJw N2 Crash bang wallop! Dorcha lands on the chick 2023

https://youtu.be/n0Ev_HsN01M N1 More rejected mating attempts 2023

https://youtu.be/ijeXkzHe_Ew N2 Tawny Owl attack 2024 (super slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/jppiOHQt_ZI  N2 Louis sticks around doing housework after delivering fish two 2024

https://youtu.be/Xvulvoc7oZU N1 A pair of Redpolls (Carduelis Flammea) flit around 2024

https://youtu.be/l2NfkpeONbw N1 Garry LV0 pops in for a quick visit 2024

https://youtu.be/-KeC7f16UvI N2 Fish number five, whole trout, C3 asserts itself and gets some 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

Dyfi Osprey Project: It is terrific to see Telyn waiting and trusting Idris to get those fish on the nest for the trio. Idris never fails!

Birds of Poole Harbour: Blue 022 keeps the fish coming for the four on the Poole Harbour nest. CJ7 waits in anticipation just like Telyn! Tiny Little Bob, #4, is doing fantastic. He has a fat little bottom. There he is sleeping at the feet of Mum, CJ7.

Llyn Clywedog: It was not a good Saturday at the nest of Dylan and Seren. The rain came down. Seren kept the big Bobs as dry as she could. Dylan came in with a small Brown Trout around 1504. The chicks could be heard calling for food earlier. It looks like Dylan is feeding Seren so she can feed each Bob.

Glaslyn: So sad to see the nest without chicks this year.

Rutland Manton Bay: Maya is waiting for Blue 33. He doesn’t fail to deliver! All four chicks are doing very well, even with a delivery of a floppy fish!

Kurzeme Osprey Nest of Selga and Svings, Latvia: We have one osplet. Eggs were laid on April 23, 26, and 29. One egg was broken when an intruder came to the nest on 24 May. The Only Bob hatched on June 1. They are doing fine.

Wondering what that Stellar’s Sea Eagle has been up to?

A new osprey nest for you with three babies: Orihula, Wisconsin about 20 miles from Oshkosh or Freemont. There are three and there is an age difference. I want to be hopeful that little three will survive. It does get bonked so watch with some caution. Here is the nest information followed by the link to the streaming cam.

“The Orihula Osprey started in Orihula in 2016 when two osprey built a nest on a power pole nearby. The nest got knocked down and a nesting pole was then installed for them to lay eggs and raise baby chicks on. Since then they have been coming back every year. The names Cliff and Judy were picked for the birds this year to honor the legacy of Cliff and Judy Hahn as they were very well known and loved in the Orihula community. The male bird has a neck with more yellow feathers on it and band that has the number f24. He was banded in 2016 a few miles away in Weyauwega as a chick that year. We are not sure where the female is from but her neck is completely white and has no bands. Typically the birds come back around the first week of April and lay eggs middle to the end of April. Once the eggs are laid the mother or father will stay there 24/7 until the eggs have hatched in late May/early June. The chicks will continue to grow very rapidly from their parents feeding them from the Ospey’s fish diet. Cliff will bring fish back to the nest for Judy to feed and Cliff will then sit on the eggs until she is finished. He will also bring back fish for the chicks and Judy will then feed it to the chicks in pieces. Currently there is one egg that was laid around 5:30 a.m. April 20th, an Easter egg surprise! Egg number 2 was laid Wednesday April 23rd at 12:30 am, and Egg number 3 was laid Friday April 25th at 5:59 pm. Updates will continue to be posted with egg count and when they have hatched. You are able to zoom in on the live stream to better see the birds or eggs as well. Feel free to comment any suggestions or any other cool things that you may see while watching!”

https://www.youtube.com/live/JgPN0nlj-QA?si=NvG5wP80v8gQ_8xk

‘TU’ sends us news that Urmas is busy with the fish baskets for Kergu and his Blackstork Mate in Estonia. They write, “Urmas helps Kergu and Kerli to feed their chicks. ESTONIA nest in Pärnu County #Kerli + #Kergu + 3 chicks “A fish basket was installed on 07.june to the place where Kerli was caught last year. Next day she was already feeding there.” – info shared by our Madli Allsoo 🌹

‘A’ writes with some news on the upcoming Australian season and other things: “Thanks to you, I have discovered Bruce and Naha and their three osplets at Seaside in Florida, and what an adorable family they are. Bruce is a great fisher and all-round good dad – he and Naha did a dual feeding on Sunday afternoon. Too cute. No bonking amongst the siblings and Little Bob has no fear of its larger siblings (known as ‘the twins’). Naha is, like most female ospreys, extremely vocal when it comes to demanding fish. Poor Bruce is nagged off the nest – he dives a metre underwater to shut out the sound of Naha’s shrill fish-calling. Catching a fish down there is just a bonus!

But the three osplets are such cuties. I have to say I have only forced myself to watch ospreys because of you and your passion for them. It has taken me some time to truly warm to the species, but I think I am there now. Of course Iris had a lot to do with winning me over. It’s hard not to be won over by Iris, and of course Finnegan was SUCH a darling. I am sad to think of what has happened to Finn. I am probably anthropomorphising here, but I believe that he would have returned to Iris had he been able to do so. The fact that he didn’t leads me to the awful conclusion that he ran afoul of the bird gods on his migration. But I won’t stop hoping that he may return next season. We never know. It is amazing that Iris is again being courted by a much younger bird. Our queen really does have a very attractive piece of territory and I suspect she could probably hang onto it by herself if she had to, but at nearly 30, we don’t want her to have to, so it’s nice that she has suitors to keep Louis at bay and an eye on Iris. 

The Australian season approacheth and we are watching Diamond and Xavier courting. TThe bringing of food gifts is a year-round ritual at Orange. Madame Diamond is a demanding lady. Of course Collins Street is an annual source of frustration, with no cameras until we have at least an egg or two in the scrape. We have no idea whether or not a pair is even using the scrape this season, and if so, whether or not they are the same birds as last year and which end of the ledge they are using. We will have to wait to find out any of those things. 

Port Lincoln, of course, has become a much less stressful watch since the advent of the fish fairy. It is a strange nest, with uncertainty regarding dad’s identity and the possibility of some sort of neurological disorder with whichever dad owned the nest the season before last. It’s like a new adventure at that nest every year.

We have had some hopeful sightings on the Parramatta River over the past couple of months, with a juvenile WBSE sighted catching fish around the island. We have to at least consider the possibility that this is a past fledgling from the Olympic Park nest. Oh how I hope so. This is yet another circumstance in which we wish they had some sort of tracker or at least a Darvic ring or something to give us an idea of the longer-term survival rate and dispersal range of these sea eaglets. I wish I knew why it wasn’t being done. With any of our Australian raptors apart from the Port Lincoln osprey fledglings. And of course the same applies to the falcons. “

Closing with one of the most wonderful raptor nests – Cornell’s Fernow Tower Red-tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur! Just look at the Os – . Big Red still feeds them even though they can self-feed, and they are exploring the flight landing for fledgling. It will come sooner than we want. Count the dark lines on the tails. We would like to have 6 (but often they fly with 5).

I am counting four dark bands. We have some more time with these two cuties.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Your presence and insights are always invaluable. I sincerely apologise for my delayed responses. The garden is flourishing, but it requires far more time and attention than I ever expected. Sadly, the osplets are dying in so many nests, and I find it increasingly challenging to keep pace with the overwhelming situation. I am actively seeking a prominent figure to help raise awareness about the extinction of these magnificent birds in the Chesapeake Bay area. It’s truly devastating. They are in serious decline.

Everyone at our home and in our garden wishes you and yours a lovely week, full of happy birdsong.

Thank you to the great folks that send me nest summaries or news – ‘A, Geemeff, Heidi, MP, PB, Tiger Mozone, TU, VV’. I also want to thank those who created the videos included in this posting: SK Hideaways, Cornell Bird Lab, and all the owners of the streaming cams indicated in bold. I would also like to thank the English Forum on Looduskalender for their news on the Latvian Osprey nest and Bruce Mactavish for his post on the Steller’s Eagle in Newfoundland as well as Jeff Kear and the UK Osprey Information FB Group! All of these wonderful people are brilliant and generously share any osprey news they find.

Friday in Bird World

13 June 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It is so nice to have you with us today! There is even some sunshine peeking through the haze.

Late News: Foulshaw Moss nest 2 has 2 Bobs! Congratulations.

T3 at the Trempeauleau Bald Eagle nest is 9 weeks old today.

Thank you to everyone for your good wishes for Hugo Yugo. She is a strong-willed, ginger female, and she is fine. She woke up her old self, ready to romp and jump with Toby on Thursday morning. It was beautiful to witness.

After the rains, the temperature cooled. We took Toby for a walk on Wednesday evening and needed a light jacket and socks. What a change!

On the way to take Hugo Yugo to the vet Wednesday morning for her dental surgery, we spotted a Crow on the street. There was one of the grey squirrels that had been hit by a car. As I walked home to get a shovel, I kept hoping that the squirrel that had been killed was not Dyson. Thankfully, it wasn’t, but it was one of the kits that came to the garden. The squirrels now have to take the road to cross the street (I keep telling them there is no reason to go over there, but they don’t listen) because the trees are gone. They used to climb up on one side, cross over the huge branches that overlaid one another to form a magnificent canopy. Yes, some fell, but it was much safer for them than it is now. I know animals die, but I don’t like it when it can be avoided. If there is a silver lining at all, it would have been quick compared to being poisoned. Rodenticide should be outlawed, confiscated, and destroyed. Employ all those owls that take the osplets off the nets to be the rat hunters!

Hugo Yugo’s appointment was a fantastic success, surpassing all our expectations. Her teeth were thoroughly cleaned, and all the gingivitis was completely eliminated. Even better, there was no need for any extractions—such a wonderful relief! We could hardly believe our luck. She will be back in six months for another cleaning to maintain her healthy smile. As for Toby, he’s set for his final vaccinations next Wednesday, and he will be neutered in early September. We’re confident this will set him up for a happier and healthier life!

‘B’ and ‘D’ let me know that the link that ‘A’ sent did not work. ‘D’ wrote: “The long link you posted with T3, Betty Lou, and Blue and Kai didn’t lead anywhere for me, but I found this Explore eagle nest update which has these moments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XngiaRqFxcw

It was a better week in Osprey World – thank goodness.

Charlie and Lola have triplets at Charlo Montana!

Two lovely osprey chicks for Herr and Frau Rauer in Norway.

Alukin shows us the kindness shown to the storks in Poland. I wish we saw more of this at the osprey nests in the NE USA. https://youtu.be/aKO4NblRq0o?

They are all cute but Willow tried to push it to new heights at the San Jose City Hall falcon scrape. https://youtu.be/yMLyhXcabrc?

Fort St Vrain, Colorado: Fort St. Vrain, Colorado: One eaglet left to fledge! These two were the survivors of that heat spell, and many of us worried ourselves sick when they got stuck in the stick rails.

Trempeauleau: T3 is gorgeous.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: The ospreys have not given up on the one egg – yet.

Blue fludges. https://youtu.be/Nz9lsIsfjfo?

Hellgate Canyon: It was too late for New Guy2 and Iris to have chicks but he has been attentive bringing our Queen fish, helping with nest renovations, and spending a lot of time with our gal. Let us hope, beyond any kind of hope we can imagine, that both of them return to raise a family next year when Iris is what? 30?

Dyfi Osprey Project’s Telyn and Idris are working overtime to keep the three osplets fed as they grow their juvenile feathers!

Boulder County Fair Grounds: Two chicks. I don’t know if they both look ‘good’. Keeping an eye on that second hatch. There were four original eggs. One chick died of hypothermia, and the other did not hatch.

Seaside: Three osplets are lanky and emerging from that Reptilian phase. They are looking good. Bruce and Naha doing well.

Cowlitz: The only feathered friend at home is a House Sparrow (male). Maybe they are taking over Electra’s nest.

Carthage: Dad came in with a large fish, and Mum and Only Bob were excited.

Finland # 4: The chicks range from a cute, fuzzy head to an oily, reptilian one, but Nuppu seems to be doing a fine job of keeping the three fed.

Pitkin County: The third hatch has died. Cause unknown.

At Rutland Manton Bay, Blue 33 stepped in late on Wednesday to give Maya a break. It is a colossal job feeding four osplets! Tiring.

CJ7 and Blue 022 at Poole Harbour know precisely the issues of having to keep four full of fish, too!

Usk Valley, Wales: This is the first time in 250 years that ospreys have hatched in the Usk Valley. Eggs were laid on April 24, 27, and 30. Only the first egg has hatched.

Balgavies Loch: There are two osplets.

Rutland Water: You will have heard that only 30% of first year osprey fledglings survive. Well, Rutland Water popped the corks because all of the 2023 fledglings have been seen and photographed. Unbelievable.

Llyn Brenig:

Loch Doon: Two extremely healthy and strong osplets for Angel and Frankie.

Kielder Forest Update:

Nest 2 update and other news _ Kielder OspreysDownload

Taipalsaari, Finland: Two of the cutest little osplets.

How do you spell cute? Big Red and Arthur’s Os on the Cornell Campus?

Cornell Bird Lab caught Arthur delivering prey! https://youtu.be/hOe3UFe4NvQ?

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 12th June 2025
With the livestream being down between 8am and 5pm (GMT+1) due to essential maintenance by the local wifi provider, and the server not yet rebooted, a full report of today’s events will be made later. One fish each was delivered by Louis and Garry LV0 before the livestream outage, taking their respective tallies to one hundred and seventy seven, and eighty four. Steve Q posted his weekly fish stats showing Louis is consistent with previous years, full details here: 

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=25766428. The weather was settled today, but the overnight forecast is for light rain and light winds with a low of 13

°C, changing to drizzle and a gentle breeze tomorrow with a possibility of sunny intervals in the afternoon, and a high of 21°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.42.14 (03.10.05); Nest Two 23.14.17 (03.44.09)

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/GZ2WrSR3VfI N2 Another early breakfast arrives for Dorcha and the chicks 04.41.26

https://youtu.be/UhaVxXOlh2U N1 Aurora 536’s calls are answered when Garry brings an early fish 07.15.14
Bonus read – article about Captain Knight, the eccentric falconer and former WW1 sniper who attempted to reintroduce ospreys to Loch Arkaig in the 1920s: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=25768953

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/t5fExtS-g24  N1 Louis is in charge and causes chaos 2020

https://youtu.be/5v3mXd8jiP0  N1 Middle chick syndrome? Bob2 pecks mum 2020

https://youtu.be/CJZtoG43aOQ  N1 A Jay (Garrulus glandarius) pays a visit 2021

https://youtu.be/VtqM02uMCck  N2 Careful with that ax, Eugenie 2022

https://youtu.be/0x2UY3d9nEs  N2 OMG littlest chick is in big trouble 2022

https://youtu.be/ZKENudlj1gI  N2 RIP little bob3 15.44 – 19.22 (full version, edited, zoomed) 2022

https://youtu.be/3Tb7ULBiY-w  N2 Are the parents reacting to the loss of their chick? 2022

https://youtu.be/kkV6jT1ddEA N2 Mum keeps watch as chick wanders by the edge 2023

https://youtu.be/XC_XytW-0IA  N1 LV0 yo-yos on and off 2023

https://youtu.be/_FvG707X7z0  N2 Bob’s all alone in a violent rainstorm 2023

https://youtu.be/gYHA-fUukN0  N1 LV0 won’t give Affric his fish and departs with it 2023

https://youtu.be/X670uBiI8vg  N2 Fish number two, whole trout, C1 attacks the others to get all the food 2024

 https://youtu.be/1OrPesmMXjQ  N2 Fish number three, nice big trout, C2 & C3 manage to get some 2024

https://youtu.be/hhe82fYjd5Q  N1 A pair of Redpolls visit 2024 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/6-jk8QhKxbI  N2 Fish number five, huge headless trout, but C1 wants it all 2024

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

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 11th June 2025
Another day where there was no drama and the main event was the steady supply of fish. Garry LV0 brought three fish for Aurora, taking his tally to eighty three, but she only got two of them as she was absent when he delivered the third. Over on Nest Two, the chicks started and ended the day with hugely distended crops from Louis’ delivery of a constant supply of fish. He brought five today and his tally rises to one hundred and seventy six. The weather was settled and continues that way with clear skies and light winds overnight – owl weather – and a low of 11°C, and sunny intervals and gentle breezes tomorrow with a high of 22°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.03.24 (03.11.40); Nest Two 23.22.54 (03.52.11)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/6Th1vJv_J_o N2 Louis brings breakfast and leaves 17 seconds later 04.02.15

https://youtu.be/KIt0sZpMeAI N2 Only 23 minutes after the first, Louis brings a second fish   04.25.31https://youtu.be/jYAuAHj0QDE N1 Garry LV0 brings the first fish of the day for Aurora10.20.53 

https://youtu.be/RmV11t5lv_Y N2 Louis brings a third fish and stays to do some housework 11.52.52

https://youtu.be/DTMcyJm41ew N1 Aurora seizes the second fish from Garry and they both leave 15.04.49

https://youtu.be/062cWZOy6po N2 Dorcha receives a nice big whole trout, fourth fish today 16.47.47https://youtu.be/TOESTSDJ1ZM N1 Garry LV0 brings a third fish but Aurora’s not there 17.16.38 https://youtu.be/CwYJ_9St9Cw N2 Late night fish supper is eagerly received 22.48.24
Bonus read – Woodland Trust update The State of Woods and Trees report

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/state-of-uk-woods-and-trees

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/tegK6JTrCqE  N1 Louis brings a log and promptly loses it overboard (2019)

https://youtu.be/I40hGDuk6ow  N1 Aila leaves and the bobs take lumps out of each other (2019)

https://youtu.be/G5ccJ8SQQZU  N1 Feisty bob3 gives bigger sibling what for (2020)

https://youtu.be/nRL8UTESZPU N1 Pecking order: bob1 takes on the younger two (2020)

https://youtu.be/vrFI8LKkzXg  N1 Louis has a little chat with Aila (2020)

https://youtu.be/z_4B96iW9Q8  N2 Breakfast for the bobs, little bob gets a share (2022)

https://youtu.be/lPoCS6I2HjA  N2 Bob3 faces the wrong way again but eventually gets fed (2022)

https://youtu.be/dP2-EKmSSGY  N2 Dorcha clouts the chick with a stick then stands on it! 2023

https://youtu.be/XKmwGghcGkQ  N1 Affric rejects LV0 and sends him for fish 2023

https://youtu.be/NWUgq_YJ63s  N2 Fish number three, season’s first mackerel 2023

https://youtu.be/HiKXdWuQ6Vs  N2 Fish number one, and a fight breaks out 2024

https://youtu.be/qnuJM6ufSEY N2 Chicks do housework while Dorcha preens 2024

https://youtu.be/w_n5eC7_3Fo N2 Hello Louis – where’s our fish? 2024

https://youtu.be/DMs71z6YJYE  N2 C2 attacks the other two while Dorcha screams at Louis 2024

https://youtu.be/O_dw1p-GGTE  N2 Louis departs after being told off 2024

https://youtu.be/npYHeJjqMRs N2 Full unedited sequence 21.25 – 21.41 from Louis’ arrival to his departure 2024

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

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig  Tuesday 10th June 2025  

The weather was mainly settled today, but there were several intruder alerts causing alarm, although only on one occasion was a culprit seen on camera in the distance. Dorcha carefully removed the body of little chick3 from the nest, having a good nibble on it before she did so, and presumably the rest of it made a good meal for other forest denizens. After a busy morning repelling intruders, Louis delivered three fish taking his tally to one hundred and seventy one, while Dorcha delivered chaos by bringing various unsuitable and / or pointy sticks to the nest, and her day ended with being decorated by one of the chicks. It was calmer over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora, taking his tally to eighty, but she still urges him to leave her alone to eat in peace. Tonight’s forecast is dry with light cloud and light winds and a low of 9°C, and the dry weather continues tomorrow with sunny intervals, gentle breezes, and a high of 21°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.50.11 (03.21.09) ; Nest Two  23.12.15 (03.55.50)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/59sdGTP1GyM N2 Graphic warning: Dorcha nibbles the body of chick3 before removing it 05.13.00

https://youtu.be/h0-_12kbYtM N2 Breakfast is a little late as Louis has been chasing intruders 09.11.35https://youtu.be/9Nn6Fcg-nGw N2 Compilation clip of three nest furnishing incidents! 11.57;15.33; 17.23https://youtu.be/KQqxltNVaQc N2 Louis delivers a big trout for lunch, second fish today 12.22.22   

https://youtu.be/tIpNLQPY30g N1 Garry brings a fish for Aurora then stays despite her shouts 14.05.04

https://youtu.be/oDHpn2dYK7U N1 Garry LV0 brings an early fish supper 18.49.51

https://youtu.be/ekh1Ru4dsMs N2 Louis delivers a fish supper and stays to watch it being eaten 21.20.57

https://youtu.be/cGmrsfunqfc N2 Mum takes no notice of being decorated by one of the chicks 23.57.25

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/y6Xv5QjmtT4  N1 Eeek! Aila nearly throws bob3 out of the nest 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/Er2bFIWVR3E  N1 Aila only just avoids bashing the bobs with huge logs 2020

https://youtu.be/eBk3mIRU_bc  N1 Bob3 rides the slippery slope of the fish to get a mouthful or two 2020

https://youtu.be/te0rHGZfiWo  N2 Pesky crow harasses Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/zEmjQK41hzI  N2 Sudden gust forces Dorcha to do an involuntary headstand 2022

https://youtu.be/5i2j1JmAauY  N2 Little bob3 finally gets a bit of fish 2022

https://youtu.be/5-rYbkudNYU N2 Size matters –  little bird visits Dorcha 2023

https://youtu.be/aFW075n_WWQ  N1 LV0 brings Affric a fish 2023

https://youtu.be/7W_NxX2pt0I  N1 Affric doesn’t want to mate with LV0 and leaves quickly 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/Z-iI78_2FH4   N2 Louis helps sort out the cot rails now that the chick is more active 2023

https://youtu.be/x-dM1-WszI0  N2 Tempers fray as the chicks have to wait for the first fish 2024

https://youtu.be/QVM9Tn8MxMo N2 Big chick attacks C3 during feeding 2024

https://youtu.be/teeOKym65Nw N2 Fish number two, flatfish, everyone queues up nicely, no fighting 2024

Big Bear Eagles: SK Hideaways caught the entire family having dinner together! https://youtu.be/iJatrHcq8Cw?

Heidi’s Osprey News!

Curlews eavesdrop on prairie dogs. Really?

Crafty curlews: birds eavesdrop on prairie dog calls to evade predatorshttps://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jun/12/prairie-dog-calls-curlews-predators?CMP=share_btn_url

I want to end with a big smile – Bradley, Kasse, and yes, our dear Ervie with a puffer fish from Port Lincoln!!!!!!!!!!

The American Bird Conservancy’s Bird of the Week is the Black-crested Titmouse. Learn more here.

Black-crested Titmouse – American Bird ConservancyDownload

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. We hope you have a lovely weekend and we will look forward to having you with us on Monday.

I would like to express my gratitude to Geemeff, Heidi, and PB for their notes and comments, as well as their daily and weekly reports, which greatly assisted me in writing my post. I also want to thank the owners of the streaming cameras for the nests mentioned in bold. It is truly amazing to witness their lives, with all the highs and lows. I am thankful to those who take the time to create videos for us to enjoy, including Cornell Bird Lab, SK Hideaways and Geemeff. If I have overlooked anyone, I apologize. Additionally, I would like to thank The Guardian for its excellent wildlife reporting and the American Bird Conservancy.

Friday in Bird World

6 June 2025

Hello Everyone!

On Wednesday afternoon, we looked up and saw blue skies – a first in days where the sun was masked by heavy heavy haze from the wildfires. All of the citizens from at least two communities have been evacuated and any animals left behind are being fed and evacuated if they are fit enough. Many groups are stepping up to help those who have lost everything but a suitcase of items and maybe a dear pet. Hockey arenas have been taken over and community centers to house and exercise the pets. This is a blessing. Our City is rallying and collecting clothes and toiletries and pet food. It is making me proud.

The fires continue to grow. CBC News: https://youtu.be/dV9fEjyDKq4?

In our garden, six baby European Starlings have fledged. The adults were feeding them, and tonight they had them at the big table feeder, eating various items – small bits of cheesy dog treats, chopped peanuts, cat and dog kibble, as well as various seeds.

This photo was taken with an iphone through 3 panes of dirty glass. Those babies are cute! They are growing so fast and eating lots of finely chopped cheesy dogs and kibble – the bowls get filled at least 4 times a day!

You can see four – three at the table and one in the tree to the right. There are two more on the wire above the feeder so all six made it through the first days! So happy.

Toby is very tired. We bought a small 14″ push mower and Toby was just so excited! We cleared off the only spot of grass in the back in order to fix him a little pen so he can be smelling and moving and not on a lead when we are weeding and watering. I could fix the holes in the old fence but it would mean that Brock could not get into the garden so this is a good alternative.

Toby with his favourite stick. He loves to play fetch and there is a long area in the house that is perfect for this!

Hugo Yugo will be having her dental surgery on Wednesday the 11th. It already makes my mouth hurt! Poor little girl.

Hope is sound asleep in the small enclosed space at the base of the cat tree while Hugo Yugo is at the top. It is hard to see her. Maybe she is hiding from Toby!

It is another mixed bag of news in Bird World.

The only surviving osplet of the Red Kite attack in Germany is alive. Zeus and Fjona at Goitzsche-Wildnis are very diligent about keeping this one as safe as they can.

At Sauces, Betty Lou has been coming home and enjoying many big fish dinners. She can mantle spreading across that entire nest to protect her snack!

Please note that the IWS still has its Adoption Challenge going and I am ever so happy that last year one of my long-time readers on Bird World got to name one of Thunder and Akecheta’s eaglets! It could be you this year.

Gizmo has still not fledged but was so delighted when Sunny returned to the nest tree at Big Bear Valley. A few of the news agencies that carried this fledge at Big Bear! The fledglings are international stars now, too. Not just Jackie and Shadow.

ABC news has this return to the nest: https://youtu.be/cRHjmQq76aA?

Fly High Eagles got that reunion on video: https://youtu.be/tXG_5e3N_cc?

The first fledge, Sunny taking to the skies, continues to make the news. Here is FOX News 5: https://youtu.be/C75RVfJTX30?

NBCLA’s coverage: https://youtu.be/qmflp4BEO1k?

Some sad news coming from the UK:

At the Dyfi Osprey Project, Idris brought in a huge mullet for the family. They are doing well – Idris is an amazing provider and Telyn is just like her mother, Maya, fantastic.

Idris continues with his delivery of hugh fish for Telyn and the trio.

All four osplets of CJ7 and Blue 022 are alive and doing well at Poole Harbour.

 Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 5th June 2025

Once again Aurora 536 spent many hours on Nest One, waiting quietly, and her patience was rewarded when Garry LV0 brought her a fish. That fish takes his tally to seventy one. On Nest Two Louis just kept bringing fish, five today, and the fifth one takes his tally to one hundred and fifty for the season. The smallest chick seems to have worked out strategies for feeding times, and was front and centre during several feedings. All three chicks ended the day with bulging golf ball crops, but that didn’t stop chick1 suddenly attacking chick2, and later chick 2 unwisely retaliated and paid the price. Chick3 very wisely ducked down and let them get on with it, as did Dorcha, who watched but didn’t intervene. She was busy bringing cot rails including one with a sharply pointed end and had some difficulty choosing a suitable place to put it. She succeeded only for Louis to come along later and move it! It rained during the night and earlier today but not as much as forecast. Light rain and light winds are forecast for tomorrow and overnight tonight, with a low of 7°C and a high of 15°C. 
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.50.46 (03.23.17); Nest Two 23.06.45 (04.01.17)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/b_Djl6ySh8w N2 Chick3 moves in front of chicks 1&2 to get a good feed 06.39.56https://youtu.be/7rxHzjOTrWw N2 Chick3 moves around and gets a good share of the second fish 10.36.10https://youtu.be/ok_po0c7qNs N2 Chick2 unwisely retaliates and picks a fight with dino chick1 12.35.17https://youtu.be/58FdzKDL7Tc N2 Dorcha brings an unwieldy pointy stick 16.23.36https://youtu.be/rZnavAZfoA4 N1 Aurora’s calls are answered when Garry brings a fish 17.09.05https://youtu.be/__WBMKkPcMM N2 Louis arrives blood stained but it’s only fish3’s blood 18.21.53https://youtu.be/ktznutwuAms N2 Late night snack arrives – fish number four 22.04.00

https://youtu.be/rLDro-_QC_8 N2  Fish number five and 150 for the season 22.26.39

Bonus volunteering opportunity – Woodland Trust needs you! See all available opportunities:

https://volunteer.woodlandtrust.org.uk/opportunities

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/rlUnUXa24BU  N1 Aila feeds her two hungry Osplets 2019

https://youtu.be/Jgv4_LgJacE  N1 Aila tenderly removes her dead chick 2019

https://youtu.be/UvBT6LNkeqk  N1 Louis manages to hang on to a huge flapping fish 2020

https://youtu.be/tm_Fd4XZmNQ  N1 Media darlings: the nest stars on BBC Springwatch 2020 

https://youtu.be/rNKS4HKn524 N2 NEWS! The third chick has hatched! 2022

https://youtu.be/wOLzeoXHIPI  N2 Oh no! Newest chick falls over and struggles to right itself 2022 (zoom) 

https://youtu.be/gqBX67I9MVs  N2 Concern grows as newest chick falls over again 2022

https://youtu.be/ynl9WmokWA8 N2 Louis brings season’s early breakfast with night cam still on 2023

https://youtu.be/SgfJ6WGRqU4   N1 Prince brings a fish but Affric loses it 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/Jj95e3kdzgc   N1 LV0 and Affric getting cosy nestorising and preening 2023

https://youtu.be/xY5Gz9y9pNo N2 Dorcha takes a comfort break while Louis waits with fish number one 2024

https://youtu.be/NTrbIIoS2sY  N2 Chicks 1 & 2 fight, C3 ducks, mum watches 2024

https://youtu.be/Swd_38z9Td4  N1 Garry LV0 pays a late evening visit 2024 (zoom)

You’re invited to 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

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 4th June 2025

Business as usual today – Aurora 536 spent a lot of time on Nest One and Garry LV0 brought her a fish. Later he swooped past carrying a second fish but kept going leaving Aurora calling in vain. His tally rises by one to seventy. The family on Nest Two are all doing very well, Louis brought two fish raising his tally to one hundred and forty five and Dorcha shared them out leaving the chicks ending the day with golf ball size stuffed crops. The wind wasn’t as strong as predicted for today and is forecast to remain light until Sunday. It will be wet overnight with a low of 6°C and wet throughout tomorrow with a high of 13°C, in fact rain is forecast for the next week. 
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.25.30 (03.20.47); Nest Two 22.54.18 (03.57.46)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/MceHgqGGgUc N2 Littlest bob gets a good feed from the first fish 06.16.09https://youtu.be/LhJ1YYzvrDA  N1 Garry brings Aurora a well-munched trout 10.29.37 https://youtu.be/hedalV1YC1c N1 Aurora wants Garry’s fish but he swoops past and keeps going 14.25.34 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/T8W1JqTjix8 N2 The chicks line up in size order when fish two arrives 17.06.28

Bonus read – Osprey v Eagle digestive systems:

Digestive Anatomy

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/19Gf0Iu9Xzo  N1 Feeding time and all three bobs get a share 2020

https://youtu.be/zMbgjWURVL4  N1 Littlest bob gets an exclusive feed 2020

https://youtu.be/BklMKNWOzVY  N1 Sneaky Louis steals Aila’s stash 2020

https://youtu.be/N8ToynUSt60  N1 Aila is surprised by a Willow Warbler 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/V72CuYsuVEI  N2 Dorcha does DIY thanks to Louis 2022

https://youtu.be/7HQERAee5ew N2 Is the third chick on the way? 2022

https://youtu.be/zdGmzi6KXmQ  N1 Affric & Prince visit  2023

https://youtu.be/3c3p3n4sfTo  N2 Second fish is the first pike 2023

https://youtu.be/C7KLxQlvvZE  N1 Prince brings Affric a pike 2023

https://youtu.be/uoZxHqusZ3Y  N1 Unringed intruders divebomb Affric  2023

https://youtu.be/gSOp_1UMHEY N2 Weather’s still bad but Louis brings fish number two 10.01.37 

https://youtu.be/t-i9WHKicEA  N2 Bob3 wisely ducks down and lets the older two get on with it, Mum just watches 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

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 3rd June 2025
Apart from some noisy gusts of wind and the odd non-threatening intruder alert, today was fairly routine. Everybody got fed – four fish for Dorcha on Nest Two and one fish for Aurora 536 on Nest One – and the chicks ended the day with bulging golf ball crops. Garry LV0’s tally rises to sixty nine, and Louis’ to one hundred  and forty three. The weather was wet and windy as forecast, changing to drizzle and a gentle breeze overnight with a low of 

5°C, and light rain showers and a moderate breeze tomorrow with a high of 11 °C.Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.52.43 (03.21.04); Nest Two 22.50.40 (04.00.58)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/W6s8zOwX7-k   N2 Home alone chicks in quicktime 02.53 – 03.00 https://youtu.be/–NG_Z6RU-M  N2 Season’s earliest breakfast arrives 03.39.15 https://youtu.be/Z7MgJ2PDjgQ  N2 Second breakfast arrives and Louis sticks around while the chicks are fed 08.48.29 

https://youtu.be/zFtBedllEzE  N1 Aurora grabs the fish and tells Garry to leave 08.58.46https://youtu.be/wRnQq_QXtR8  N2 The gusting wind doesn’t stop fish number three being fed to the chicks 19.53.35  https://youtu.be/vnYqbvwP4QE  N2 Littlest chick makes sure of a good share of fish number four 21.33.56 Bonus watch – all the highlights of the season to date on Woodland Trust’s YouTube channel

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/YCIj4Favinc  N1 Chick Chick Chick! Third Osplet hatches! 2020

https://youtu.be/b1KUQjFXyZw  N1 A good look at all three chicks 2020

https://youtu.be/-LyppnxdIvo  N1 Simultaneous feeding of the chicks by both parents 2020

https://youtu.be/j3jA0FV2U9E  N1 The family stars on BBC Breakfast 2020

https://youtu.be/R7HdSkERuGU  N1 Louis drops a stick on Aila 2020

https://youtu.be/VOt1I51zEv0  N1 Aila shows off her impressive ballet moves 2020

https://youtu.be/zSitgPiYMKE  N2 Littlest chick falls over and struggles to right itself 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/cxivipxUDHQ  N2 Louis bashes Dorcha with a wet fish 2022 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/r5yWobFb6Ts  N2 Prelude to sunset 2022 (timelapse Classic Ospreys: Bach)

https://youtu.be/PZqOjIYBNr8  N2 Another owl attack on Dorcha 2022 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/aMpRdGWmD64  N2 First fish returns and bob gets another feed 2023

https://youtu.be/N3wO7-U4rz4  N2 Is that the egg or chick making a noise? 2023

https://youtu.be/IFhzO5KsdL8 N2 Littlest chick refuses to be bullied 2024

https://youtu.be/Doxi8HRjEro  N1 RAF jets overfly the nests – Dorcha notes but stays put 2024 (zoom) 

https://youtu.be/BDO2TT57j_8  N2 Fish number two, whole colourful trout 2024

https://youtu.be/2YM6p3Jri_E  N1 Garry LV0 drops in 2024Why 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

The news from Tweed Valley is not good, if you missed it. The nest 2 had Mrs O, an experienced female osprey, and another female and a male named New Guy. New Guy went MIA from the nest and the new female did bring in a single fish as their four eggs hatched. The first three were Mrs O’s and the last the new female. Sadly, all of the osplets died when mothering behaviour did not lead to fishing behaviour.

At Glaslyn, it seems Teifi is finding all the good fishing spots. Let’s hope he turns out to be a good provider for Elen next year.

Rutland’s Manton Bay: All four chicks are doing well. Little four got some fish. Dad came in with another big one but Maya had the kids already quiet and in bed.

Llyn Brenig: The second chick has hatched!

Foulshaw Moss: Some bonking is taking place.

Kielder Forest: A returnee to their natal nest. Wow. They used the word amazing. With only a small percentage of the osplets that fledge returning as two years old, this is something to celebrate.

One of the blog chatters says, “I never cease to be amazed by the inherent navigation skills of wild creatures. Not only did IB7 find his own way to West Africa, with no parental help, but two years on he returns to the very nest where he hatched. And most human beings cannot reach an address a few miles away, without satnav!”

Just amazing! _ Kielder OspreysDownload

Moorings Park: Fledgling Ozzie comes in and gets a late dinner on Thursday.

Trio at Pitkin County. Look at that sweet little third hatch getting right up there for some fish.

San Jose City Hall: ‘PB’ sends some images and a note: “Chico and Emma being playful on the roof tonight. Look at the size difference and colors. Chico smaller and darker compared to Emma.”

Chichester Peregrines: The two little eyases were ringed on 2nd of June and determined to be female!

Chichester Peregrines Newsletter No6Download

I wrote to the Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society about their ospreys. I received this response: “We just saw the first hatching this morning – at least 2. There were 3 eggs in total. The late-May Noreaster brought some wave action into the nest briefly during the worst of it, but avoided major impacts. The upgraded nest (as of last season) held it all together. We were very happy to see the little heads poking out this morning. The nest live camera isn’t optimally perfectly – the eggs have been just out of frame – but we’ll see more action shortly as the babies emerge and start walking around the nest. https://savegreensledge.org/osprey-cam“.

Steelscape Ospreys:

Charlo Montana: Pip Watch is coming soon.

Hellgate Canyon: Iris was on the nest on Wednesday. She looks great! The New Guy has been bringing her fish. I hope both return next year, and New Guy keeps Louis away so there can be other osplets on this nest!

Lots of in and outs on Thursday, too. New Guy will fly in with his fish gift and Iris will remove it to eat it.

Boulder Fair Grounds: A cold front appeared to come through the area on Wednesday evening and the third hatch was exposed and not under Mum and perished. All had been well fed. There are two surviving chicks.

The weather on late Thursday is wet and cooler again. Poor babies. I hope these two survive.

Longmont, Colorado: The third hatch died Wednesday night of hypothermia.

Allin’s Cove East: There is at least one little osplet that has hatched. You can barely see it on the left of this short video: https://youtu.be/0O7AQ_MnPjc?

Wolf Bay, Alabama: ​​The trio are growing. They have beautiful juvenile plumage. The oldest is 45 days, the middle is 44, and the third is 42. This nest has done well this year! There is still some time before fledge!

Cornell Red-tail Hawks, Ithaca: Big Red and Arthur’s O’s are working their legs walking around that nest, which must be very difficult. They are starting to flap their wings, too! These two are so cute.

Big Red sleeping and protecting her babies.

Look at the beautiful ‘peach’ on the breasts of these Os and their lovely feathers that are coming in. These two images show you the difference in size.

Cornell Bird Lab caught the flapping: https://youtu.be/Yjr5hDrrlgw?

Saaksilvie #1: Can you find the newly hatched osplet?

Saaksilvie #3: Incubation and egg rolling. Hatch expected soon.

Saaksilvie #4: Two of the three eggs of Nuppu have hatched so far! This nest was the home of the first osprey to hatch in Finland for the 2025 season on 1 June. Here it is on Nesting Bird Life and More’s video: https://youtu.be/yDF4ZYsy-Uc?

And now there are three osplets!

Saaksilvie #5: No one is home.

Janakkalan: Incubation continues. The egg cup is so deep that it is impossible to see the number of eggs or any piping.

Paltamo: Three eggs are being incubated. Dad brings in a nice fish for Mum so she can have a break after a long incubation period.

Muonio: Eggs being incubated. Again, it is so difficult to see how many are in the nest.

Norway: Two really healthy osplets! They hatched on May 31 and June 2. Their Mum is Fru Rauer.

Carthage Ospreys: The only surviving osplet on the nest is doing well. At least three fish of various sizes came in on Thursday.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: Only one egg left in the nest. ‘MP’ tells me that the cold wet weather of a week ago, caused one egg to get kicked to the side of the nest with a second sticking to the breast feathers of Mum. It rolled back to the egg cup and was buried.

Mlade Buky: Bety, Bukachec and two storklets.

Trempeauleau Eagles: Mum did it. Look at T3. Surely nothing can stop this amazing little miracle from fledging.

Denton Homes: All three still on the nest.

Sad news accompanied by the warmth of human kindness at a stork nest: “OUR WONDERFUL KROPECZKA UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY … 💔 The wonderful hostess of the main nest in Klekusiów, the most wonderful stork mother and perfect partner, had an accident and despite the best care of specialist doctors, our Beloved Kropeczka unfortunately passed away! 😭 Kleks was left alone, taking care of three tiny chicks, but we believe that with the help of a very good Guardian – the Host of Klekusiów, he will manage to raise all three and at the end of the season the youngsters will go to the wintering grounds! 💖👍

Alukin’s video of the nest: https://youtu.be/n5j5NiFLrC4?

Milda and Zorro’s White-tail Eagle nest, Latvia: The two chicks are almost ready for fledge and neither is hesitant to fight over prey deliveries! https://youtu.be/n5j5NiFLrC4?

Golden Eagles in Estonia: Liznm brings us up to date (the date of the banding was 4 June): “The eaglet was banded yesterday . Since then, Helju has stayed away Kalju takes care of the eaglet. He brought a small bird. The eaglet pulled another prey from under the hay! A furry animal.it managed to eat some of it. it looks like a part of a fox puppy – the back part with legs and tail.” https://youtu.be/bCf0pQo5z8g?

Golden Eagle in Latvia: Spilve feeding her surviving chick in the rain.

Black Storks, Lodz, Poland: Doing well!

Lovely video by B Isia: https://youtu.be/l_rQAyn-6oU?

Over the years, you have likely heard me express my frustration with the attitude of humans towards wildlife more than once. Well, who in the world believes that poison of any kind is a good thing? Sticking paper? Seriously. Well, it now appears that the oldest breeding White-tailed Eagle in Ireland has been poisoned! Since raptors don’t produce poison or put it out to kill animals, then it had to be some mean two-legged idiot!

Ireland’s oldest breeding white-tailed eagle feared poisoned – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

We continue to have wildfires. The Narwhal looked at what caused them.

What causes wildfires in Canada? | The NarwhalDownload

Many of written to find out if ‘The Girls’ are still getting their story time. Yes, they are. It has taken me some time to find quality books on birds that I wanted to purchase this year. In past years, we have had stacks of books to read. We have gone back and read some old favourites. Now I can tell you that our reader ‘J’ from Germany suggested a wonderful book, BirdNote. Chirps, Quirks, and Stories of 100 Birds from the Popular Public Radio Show. It arrived yesterday and we will have a review for you in next Friday’s post! I can already tell you that Calico quite likes it!!!!!!!! Thanks, ‘J’ for this great recommendation.

Thank you so very much for being with us today. We are delighted that you are here and that you care so much about our feathered friends! Take care. We hope that you can be with us on Monday when the next blog will be posted.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, J, J, MP, PB’, CBC, Goitzsche-Wildnis, IWS/Explore, ABC, Fly High Eagles, Fox News 5, NBCLA, RSPB Scotland, Dyfi Osprey Project, BoPH, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Jeff Kear, UK Osprey Info and Tweed Valley Ospreys, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, LRWT, Llyn Brenig, Kielder Ospreys, Moorings Park Ospreys, Pitkin County Ospreys, San Jose Falcons, Janet Shaw and chichester Falcons, Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society, Pam Breci, Joy of Ospreys, Steelscape Ospreys, Raptor Research Institute, Montana Osprey Project, Boulder Fair Grounds, Anderson Moor and Longmont, Colorado ospreys, Allins Cove East Ospreys, Cornell Bird Lab Cams RTH, Saaksilvie 1, 4, and 5 osprey nests, Finnish Osprey Foundation, DDTC, MN Landscape Arboretum Ospreys, Mlade Buky Capi, Trempeauleau Eagle Cam, Alukin, LDF, Liznm, Lodz Black Storks, B Isia, Raptor Persecution UK, The Narwal, Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Monday in Bird World

2 June 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

I have added the latest news that I have received at the top. It’s great to be back with you. I trust that you have been keeping up with your favourite nests and have an eye on Sunny and Gizmo. They are going to fly this week.

I have received staggering news from our monitor VV living in Maryland. They have 15 osprey nests within sight of their porch. This is yesterday’s report. When you finish reading it, I want you to educate yourselves. Join the good folks at Menhaden- Little Fish, Big Deal FB page and find out why ospreys are starving in the Chesapeake. Then I want you to write everyone you know to stop the industrial fishing of Menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. It could be too late. For several years, the osplets have been dying. There is no one to replace the adults once they die or leave the area. They are going extinct, faster than DDT killed them, due to one company – Omega and that company is Canadian. It makes me furious as a Canadian.

VV writes: ” I wish I had a shred of good osprey news for you. But I have not. Many nests were incubating but nearly simultaneously nests were abandoned, some osprey have returned after gulls and crows cleaned out their eggs.  Some have not returned. Two unpaired males I know by name abandoned their nests a good week before the pairs left. Those without eggs quit mating and they, too, left their nests. I guess a food issue, males no longer able to provide and females having to fish for themselves to survive.

It all happened within a matter of a week, a week and a half. It happened last year after chicks hatched but all died in early July. A second year of no fledglings.

Another observer on the island continues to see eagles stealing ospreys’ food. And the osprey behavior toward eagles is muted to non-existent this year. As little as two years back the entire creek full of osprey would leave their nests to chase an eagle passing overhead. Osprey ignore them entirely this year. The osprey grow silent when the eagles fly across the creek.”

This was the largest area for Osprey. Heidi and I have seen a steady decline and I believe a few years ago I predicted that there would be no osprey in the area in 3-4 years. I am beyond sad. I am angry that humans take money and profit takes over the quality of life for everyone on our planet. What happens in the Bay impacts all of us.

The UK and the Roy Dennis Foundation know what extinction of raptors looks like. In comparison to what is happening in Maryland and the neighbouring states of the Chesapeake Bay, the very first osprey has hatched in the USK Valley (think south Wales) in 250 years! Congratulations.

A HISTORIC FIRST HATCHING — Usk Valley OspreysDownload

Llyn Brenig did have its hatch!

It is also expected to start raining on Monday morning in Winnipeg. Outside, it smells like a campfire. The fires continue to rage, people are being evacuated, and there are areas where only a helicopter can access. There are so many fires burning that there are not enough helicopters. I hope private companies are helping.

I am starting to write Friday evening. We have just finished watering the garden plants. The air is acrid. The sky is hazy. You might think you were in the middle of hundreds of car tyres burning. I cannot even imagine what it is like for those on the front lines fighting the fires in northern and eastern Manitoba (or other parts of Canada). It is 29 C.

While others are caring for the people in the towns and villages under threat, there is the wildlife that makes their late spring and summer homes in our province. Imagine hundreds of raptor nests with chicks and the fires burning. The adults can fly if they do not get ‘smoke inhalation’ and hopefully get to safety. Those chicks cannot fly. There are still many issues trying to rescue more than 17,000 people. They are leaving with nothing. If they are lucky they can bring their pets. One of the problems when they get to my city with those beloved pets is that the hotels are not allowing them inside! I find that incredibly ‘mean’. We are fortunate to have a few agencies that are rescuing the dogs and cats that had to be turned out on the streets. They will provide care and food for them and return them to their owners when it is convenient for the owners. I hope they can find the owners. So many of the pets might not be tattooed or have a microchip. Many of us are busy collecting toiletries and clothes as well as pet food for these unfortunate people. Can you imagine losing absolutely everything?While many are dedicated to helping the people in towns and villages facing danger, we must not forget the wildlife that calls our province home during late spring and summer. Picture this: hundreds of raptor nests filled with helpless chicks, surrounded by raging fires. The adult birds may be able to escape if they avoid smoke inhalation, but the chicks are unable to fly.

Simultaneously, we are confronted with the daunting task of rescuing over 17,000 individuals who are fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs. If they are fortunate, some can bring their cherished pets along. Yet, upon arriving in my city, they face a heartbreaking reality—many hotels refuse to accept pets. This is utterly unjust.

Thankfully, a handful of compassionate agencies are stepping up to rescue the dogs and cats abandoned in the streets. They are providing much-needed care and food for these animals, with the hope of reuniting them with their owners when the time is right. However, many pets lack identification tattoos or microchips, complicating the rescue efforts.

In the meantime, many of us are rallying together to gather toiletries, clothing, and pet food for these displaced individuals. Can you imagine what it feels like to lose absolutely everything? We must come together to support them in their time of need.

Menhaden overfishing has significantly disrupted the ecosystem in the Chesapeake Bay, leading tof whales and dolphins several years ago. Additionally, striped bass are starving and turning to crabs for food, leaving ospreys without the necessary sustenance. I have mentioned this to you before: overfishing causes widespread disruptions. In Ireland, for example, similar overfishing issues are driving whales and dolphins away. I wonder what the long-term outlook is for the ospreys that are beginning to breed there.

‘Nothing left’: Irish whale-watching company closes amid ‘overfishing’https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/30/irish-whale-watching-company-ends-tours-on-south-atlantic-coast-and-blames-overfishing?CMP=share_btn_url

Other news comes from Arctic research showing that birds lived with the polar bears in an area of Alaska more than 74 million years ago. “Researchers believe their discovery of more than 50 bird fossils from the Prince Creek formation in Alaska is the oldest evidence of birds nesting in polar regions, pushing back the date by more than 25m years.”

Birds were nesting in the Arctic during age of dinosaurs, scientists discoverhttps://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/29/birds-were-nesting-in-the-arctic-during-age-of-dinosaurs-scientists-discover?CMP=share_btn_url

Heidi has a good report for us on the US osprey nests she is monitoring:

Osoyoos:  Soo and Olsen bonded after their return from migration, however after some battles at the end of April, a new male took over. Two of their three eggs were laid after Olsen was no longer seen, but the new male destroyed all three of those eggs.  A new egg was laid on 5/30.  I believe the female is Soo.  Comparing photos, she looks like the same female for the past 4 seasons, but some believe it is a new female.  The new male is a big fellow, and he has a very large dark crown mark and a necklace.  This new clutch may not be a good thing.  In the past, the ospreys have had difficulty finding fish during the heat, and now they may be trying to raise chicks a month later than previous years.

Patuxent River Park Nest 2:  After the cam was offline for 9 days, two of the three osplets were missing.  It appeared as though the oldest one was the only chick in the nest.  We have been told that the other two chicks blew off the nest during a storm. But, I suspect that the park staff may not really know what happened to those two chicks, and we can’t rule out the possibility predation.

Dewey Beach Lions Club osprey nest:  Things were going very well for this family of two osplets… until a few days of wind and rain spoiled the fishing. Then chick 1 became aggressive. When the weather improved, Mom supplemented Dad’s fish, and even the past 2 days when there were 9 fish, and 6 fish, chick 1 would not let chick 2 eat.  The fish Mom and Dad were catching were on the small side.  They never caught that really big fish that would have allowed chick 2 a chance to have a good meal.  Little 2 died on 6/1, at 16 days of age.

Thanks, Heidi!

The news that has come to my inbox is mixed – osplets dying by the nestfuls while others are thriving. Betty Lou has fledged and returned to the nest, where she was rewarded with a giant fish. Jak and Audacity know how to raise ‘children’. Let us hope that the circumstances come together so that they can do this again in 2026!

BUNDGoitzsche-Wildnis: “Red kites are fast and skilled hunters. When an attack occurs very suddenly, the adults often have only a fraction of a second to react. Furthermore, wild animals instinctively weigh up whether a defense could endanger their own life or the remaining clutch of eggs. We suspect that the adults were taken by surprise and didn’t recognize the danger. They have been breeding successfully on this eyrie for so many years now, although they have never been threatened by red kites before; perhaps there is simply no strategy for dealing with it.

June 1, 2025: A red kite takes a second chick from the nest.

May 26, 2025: Drama for the ospreys: a red kite comes while the chicks are being fed and steals a chick from the nest. The attack lasts only seconds.”

White Rock Eagles: It appears that the male may be providing some assistance. The two eaglets, Miracle and Phenom, are doing well. Their crops are about to pop. Sweet little babies. Another miracle and a fish fairy. Love it! https://youtu.be/BvEHLnh-Wh4?

Dyfi Osprey Project: Telyn and Idris are doing a fine job with their triplets. They are kept warm and nicely fed.

Rutland Manton Bay: The fourth hatch is tiny. We wait to see if it will survive. Blue 33 has fish in the largest freshwater lake in Europe at Rutland Water and he is an excellent fisher and provider. The pair have raised several clutches of four. Fingers crossed. Blue 33 spent a lot of time on Sunday on the nest with Maya and the four kiddos.

Foulshaw Moss: Little Three gets right up there to eat. White YW and Blue 35 have raised nests where there were two quite larger chicks and a tiny one and all three fledged. Indeed, the third hatch in 2021 became the dominant on the nest!

Birds of Poole Harbour: Blue 022 and CJ7 raised four to fledge in 2024, to the shock of everyone. Looks like they are going to do it again this year. I wonder if they might become another ‘Super’ Couple like Blue 33 and Maya at Rutland? Or maybe this pair could beat Rutland’s record!

Family Portrait.

Llyn Brenig: We’re on hatch watch week!

Llyn Clywedog: Dylan is keeping the fish coming in despite some inclement weather. The chicks are doing well and Seren is being the perfect Mum.

Tweed Valley: The two females now have four osplets to raise between them. The male, New Guy, has not been around and it is understood that he is not assisting the ‘women’ in any way. The first three eggs to hatch belonged to Mrs O, an experienced female, while the fourth hatch belongs to the new female at the nest. The females do not seem to care whose is whose – they are happy to bring in fish to share between them. An incredible display of cooperation and another one of those miracles from this year that we must enjoy.

Glaslyn: Everyone loves Aran. He was not seen for the past five days. The weather in Wales was horrible. Well, to the delight of everyone, Aran came out and was seen on Sunday. Fabulous. He was enjoying the sunshine that finally came out.

Loch of the Lowes: Raining on Saturday. The female incubates the remaining egg for this new couple, taking the place of Laddie LM12 and Blue NC0.

Alyth: The camera is down, but there is evidence that Harry and Flora are feeding at least one chick on the nest. Thanks, Jeff Kear, UK Osprey Info, and VG for checking and reporting.

West Midlands Ringing Group:

MNSA Oceanside Ospreys: Three chicks on the nest. Cold weather event occured on the 23/24 of May. Little three could not fit under Mum and died of hypothermia. The feeding on the 24th without little 3: https://youtu.be/RGwYSUptOqA?

Loch Arkaig:

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 1st June 2025

Today saw the return of Garry LV0 to Nest One, although to Aurora’s disappointment, he arrived with empty talons. Later when Aurora was alone on the nest, she was disturbed by a Raven’s kronking as it did a fly-by, and flew off to chase it away. Over on Nest Two, Louis continues to provide plenty of fish – four today, taking his tally to one hundred and thirty six. The second fish was a little tiddler that vanished in three minutes, and Louis was instructed to get more, if that’s how we can interpret Dorcha’s reaction. He returned an hour later with a fish so massive, it travelled on and off the nest providing several meals as it went. He is very strong to be able to lift such a big fish out of the water which bodes well for the continued well-being of the chicks who were stuffed full today so much so that one chick did a comical faceplant during feeding time, as if its bulging crop was too heavy to keep it upright. It rained throughout the night and sporadically throughout the day but a dry night with light winds is forecast for tonight with a low of 7°C, continuing dry through tomorrow with a high of 15°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.01.18 (02.50.57); Nest Two 22.56.00 (04.01.47)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/WJsJLdNJmqM  N2 Bobs 2&3 have a tug of war over a piece of fish one!  07.07.28

https://youtu.be/ao-Up4L7NyA N1 Aurora’s hopes are dashed when Garry arrives empty-taloned 11.14.04https://youtu.be/oyh7O2O8gvM N2 Snack-sized fish two lasts three minutes – Dorcha calls for more 12.03.13https://youtu.be/sIJtlrxOrzs  N2 Louis does as requested, brings a third fish and it is absolutely massive 13.12.42https://youtu.be/It7wP0qWVvE N1 A Raven disturbs Aurora and she chases after it 14.38.46https://youtu.be/ojNzSKAINIE N2 Louis takes the big piece of fish away – Dorcha is not amused 15.28.37https://youtu.be/FO5EiELibIg N2 One of the chicks is so full from fish number four it does a faceplant! 21.25.07  

Bonus guide to rapid growth in Osprey chicks:

https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/blog/emyr-mwt/rapid-growth-phase-young-osprey-chicks

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/i–2XW43oXM N1 Second Osplet has hatched! 2020

https://youtu.be/XbNjpDD3WlQ N1 The family star on BBC Breakfast 2020

https://youtu.be/q4H8zoxABb4 N1 Four birds, one egg and a stick 2020

https://youtu.be/b2IqFZAEsCQ  N2 Bob’s in a food coma after a big feed 2022

https://youtu.be/BzFjPMkQWNI  N2 Little bob decorates the nest 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/8iA7u9vco48  N2 Aerial acrobatics as Louis chases crows 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/uIyRLn_uEjY  N2 Breakfast for day-old bob 2023

https://youtu.be/ARLjY1fBI2E  N1 Prince brings moss, a little bird scares Affric 2023

https://youtu.be/p1dSf6D594s  N1 Male LV0 intrudes on Prince & Affric 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/Knfn8T1p3lI  N1 Mating attempts 2023

https://youtu.be/vWefra79niY N2 Fish number one 04.16.11; Two 04.24.22 ; Three 04.39.24 A new record! 2024

https://youtu.be/P5M_NMUdDGM N1 Garry LV0 pays a fleeting visit 2024 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/IP8sJBIGe5A N2 Fish number six – bob begs from dad in error 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 Saturday 31st May 2025

Not much happened today on either nest, Aurora 536 did a bit of perching and preening on Nest One but again there was no sign of Garry LV0, and over on Nest Two all was routine which is what’s needed as the chicks enter their rapid development phase. Expert fisherbird Louis delivered six fish, taking his tally to one hundred and thirty two, and Dorcha ensured all three chicks got plenty to eat. It was wet and windy today and more of the same is expected tonight with heavy rain and a gentle breeze with a low of 8°C, with the rain lessening a little to light rain with a high of 14°C tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.21.00 (03.33.01); Nest Two 22.50.14 (04.05.20)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/MoB_uBBdzZ0 N2 First fish arrives and all three get a share 06.17.35

https://youtu.be/BO61UB4BaI4 N2 Bob1 has eaten so much of fish two it collapses into a food coma 07.08.41 

https://youtu.be/hcJWbIkLMBw N2 All tree chicks get a good feed from fish three 12.07.14

https://youtu.be/VSTpfQH7Iu4 N2 An early fish supper arrives, fish four 18.03.39

https://youtu.be/9q579fFqWpA N2 Yet another fish arrives, number five today 20.25.43

https://youtu.be/___SuiP3geQ N2 Dorcha carefully shares out fish six 21.51.05  

https://youtu.be/JHwjovpitoA N1 Aurora gives up and leaves for the night 22.02.09

Bonus action – People’s Postcode Lottery helped Woodland Trust buy Arkaig Forest, fund its on-going restoration, and support the Osprey cams giving us our 24/7 livestreaming joy. If you’re a social media user, could you please thank them when posting Loch Arkaig content:

https://www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes/charities/woodland-trust

Blast from the past, this day in previous years: 

https://youtu.be/iwfBMeFYino  N1 Record fast fish arrives: 5 mins 23 secs! 2020 

https://youtu.be/svRZ4AJ3C4M  N1 Sleepy bob uses the other eggs as a pillow 2020 

https://youtu.be/MWwaGMTjPek N1 Osprey with blue ring intrudes on Aila & Louis 2020 (slo-mo) 

https://youtu.be/E_JOPZSi0nQ N2 Egg 2 sings sweetly preparing to hatch 2022 

https://youtu.be/VqQDp44UxTg N2 First chick has hatched! 2022 

https://youtu.be/14S1RC_H0IE N2 Chick’s big day: meeting mum and dad 2022

https://youtu.be/84WJZxukT5c  N2 Louis reacts to the chupping 2023 

https://youtu.be/-bKcyAe1lwQ  N1 Affric & Prince fend off an intruder 2023 

https://youtu.be/btm-8Qg6e0o  N2 Little bob hatches! 2023 (zoom) 

https://youtu.be/udB7LRh6zMs N2 Proud parents and a good look at little bob 2023 (zoom) 

https://youtu.be/3AEkinUe5Io   N1 Prince brings fish for Affric 2023 

https://youtu.be/OpIOpWqfB0A   N2 Disco divas are Staying Alive, Staying Alive 2024 (Artistic Ospreys)

https://youtu.be/grQeBqx-770  N2 The bobs squabble when Dorcha leaves and stop when she returns with a stick 2024

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

Thanks, Geemeff! And thanks, Mary.

Report from Jane Goodall brings hope!

Protecting chimpanzees and building community resilience to climate change in Senegal – Jane GoodallDownload

Sauces Canyon: Sauces Canyon: Jak and Audacity are amazing parents. Not only did they reward their young daughter, Betty Lou, with a big fish to encourage her to return to the nest, but they have also sat with her in the pine tree and delivered food to her there! Thanks to ‘PB’ for the wonderful report on Saturday!

Fraser Point: Mama Cruz has been missing for almost a day. When she returned to the nest, it was clear that she had been fighting an intruder. I am just holding my breath.

FOBBV: Jackie and Shadow adore their two eaglets, Sunny and Gizmo. I cannot imagine what is going through their heads as these two darlings ready to take to the sky. Jackie is feeding them on Saturday!

KTLA captured Sunny’s flight to the branch! https://youtu.be/Zw9yJUNAN9k?

So what will Jackie and Shadow do after Sunny and Gizmo fledge? What do you think? Have a look: https://youtu.be/8lXgCfA4xys?

Kansas City Eagles (Farmer Derek): Fish delivery after fish delivery. https://youtu.be/oH4im5vikqA?

San Jose Falcons: Dinner time! https://youtu.be/G6120p0G_Ko?

Hartley’s Missed Prey Drop?? Check it out! https://youtu.be/q-UHk-SNCyQ?

Trempeauleau Eagles: T3 doing fantastic. Mum brought in at least three fish on Friday.

Duke Farms: All three fledglings on the nest wanting some dinner! I did not see any prey delivered. Maybe you did.

Boulder County Fairgrounds: Three osplets with the fourth egg pipping on Saturday. Experienced Mum and new dad are going to be busy keeping these crops full.

OPPD Fort Calhoun: The triplets are so close in age. It appears everything is going very, very well. So tiny. They blend in to the point that if your eyes are tired, you really have to look close or hope they move!!!!!!!!

Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home: The only surviving eaglet is doing well. Thanks, ‘PB’ for posting this message on FB.

Pitkin County: Three little heads peek up out of the deep nest cup when it is dinner time. Two hatched on the 27th, with the third on the 28th. Fantastic, they are so close in age.

Cornell Red-tail Hawk Cam: The Os are walking around and pecking at prey. Arthur has the nest looking like a massacre. No one ever goes hungry on Big Red’s nest. Never.

Hellgate Canyon: Iris was on and off the nest on Sunday. She is looking good.

Charlo, Montana: Incubation continues.

City of Independence, Oregon: Female looking down. I did not see an indication of a hatch or feeding. Incubation continues.

Latvian Goshawk Cam: Beautiful chicks get a feeding. https://youtu.be/qMX_CVCZkRo?

Knepp Farm: Purple Emperors are about to hatch!

News from KneppDownload

Snowy Egrets. Want to learn more about them? There is other great information in this newsletter from the American Bird Conservancy including this announcement: :Lake County, Illinois Rules That Homes Must Prevent Bird Collisions – A National First“.

Snowy Egret Golden SlippersDownload

Love across species. https://youtu.be/OX1_OiR1j0E?

They fought to protect the Ground Squirrels in my City and they won! Thanking my daughter, Jaine, for sending this to me.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-ground-squirrel-sulfur-gas-application-rejected-1.7549220

I am delighted that you could join us today. Everyone in the family is doing fine. We hope that you are happy and well and getting outside whenever you can.

Calico and Baby Hope on the table watching Toby but not having their tails bitten!

Toby can climb up the cat tree!

Hugo Yugo loves to sleep on the top of the small cat tree. She will have her next dental cleaning and surgery on 11 June.

Missey in Toby’s toy box!

Brock waits and sleeps on a deck chair for when we get up and he gets some fresh food.

Calico is sending everyone a smile – look at the cute cygnets! https://youtu.be/9CJ1HM5WhWo?

Thank you to the following for their letters, notes, comments, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, PB, VV’, The Guardian, Osoyoos Town Council Osprey Cam, Patuxent River Park, Dewey Beach Lion’s Club, Crooked Lake, Seaside Ospreys, Colonial Beach Ospreys, PSEG Oyster Bay, Brevard County, Moraine State Park, BUNDGoitzsche-Wildnis, Hancock Wildlife Foundation White Rock Eagle Cam, LRWT Manton Bay Ospreys, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, BoPH, Llyn Clywedog, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, Scottish Wildlife Trust (LOTL Ospreys), West Midlands Ringing Group, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Mary Cheadle and Friends of Loch Arkaig FB, Jane Goodall Foundation, IWS/Explore, CIEL and Barbara Wolfsong, FOBBV, KTLA, San Jose City Hall and SK Hideaways, Trempeauleau Eagle Cam, Duke Farms, Boulder County, OPPD, Cornell Bird Cam Red Tail Hawk Cam, Cornell Bird Cam Hellgate Canyon, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, Oregon Public Broadcasting, CBC Manitoba, Robert Fuller, Farmer Derek, Discover Outdoors, Nesting Bird Life and More and the LDF, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Usk Valley Ospreys, Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Info and Llyn Brenig

Betty Lou Fledges…Friday in Bird World

30 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

The highlight of Thursday was the fledge of Betty Lou, chick of Jak and Audacity, at 76 days. Oh, she had been doing some incredible hovering on Wednesday.

Nestflix Memories caught that fledge! (I wonder if Jak and/or Audacity saw their miracle chick fly for the first time?). https://youtu.be/k1egvndhupg?s

Betty Lou likes the pine tree branches!

She returned to the nest and grateful parents Jak and Audacity presented their fledgling with a whole fish, which she devoured! There was a lot of squeeing…check it out on the live webcam.

If that wasn’t enough, ‘PB’ sent me the message by Pat Burke that all three of the Duke Farm’s eaglets fledged one after the other on Thursday. Amazing!

We are just waiting for Sunny and Gizmo and the San Jose Falcons and we are just sitting on pins and needles.

One of the incredible stories of this year has been the Tweed Valley nest where two females with a single male laid their eggs. All along the two females have supported themselves, sharing fish, and tending to the eggs. The male hasn’t been around the nest for many days (but seen in the area). The females have taken turns fishing and sharing their fish. They have each cared for and fed, together or separately, the two chicks that have hatched.

You will need to join their FB group to see the video but here is a screen capture.

This may well be the year that we see females rise to the occasion and raise chicks alone – White Rock, Tempeauleau, and Tweed are three that come to mind. Can you think of others?

The garden has been busy! The Baltimore Orioles have arrived along with a host of different Warblers, to the garden! The birdsong is phenomenal. We have made a little nook to sit with Toby, and it is like being in the middle of a jungle surrounded by birds.

I sincerely appreciate your understanding and the wonderfully supportive letters I have received. Choosing to reduce the frequency of my posts from Bird World was a tough decision, but it is essential for my family’s well-being at this time. I am committed to creating Bird World updates that not only educate and inform but also keep you connected to the happenings in the nests. I truly hope you find the content I share valuable and enjoyable!

The weather in Winnipeg has been warm and sunny. In the north and east of my province, large wildfires are raging. The Province has declared a province-wide emergency. People from larger towns that are threatened with being burned to the ground are being evacuated to Winnipeg. The smoke has coloured the sky, and many people are having health difficulties due to it.

Just one image of hundreds showing Flin Flon, Manitoba. The entire town has been evacuated. (Someone flew a drone and the water cannon aircraft could not fly setting off this catastrophe!).

IIn Norway House, the only highway access in or out is on fire. This is just one of the many fires burning in the northern and eastern parts of my province. We are okay for now, aside from the smoke. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, including all the wildlife in the forests that were once their home but are now ablaze.n Norway House, the only highway access in or out is on fire. These are only two of the numerous fires burning in the north and east of my province. We are alright except for the smoke. Our thoughts are of course with every breathing soul including all of the wildlife in the forests that was once their home and is now blazing.

This is the current fire danger map for Canada. We need some of that rain that has been plaguing our raptor nests.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who reached out to check on us after hearing about the wildfire conditions in our area. Your concern means the world to me and truly showcases the strength of our community. The dry conditions are quite alarming, but there’s hope on the horizon as the forecast indicates a couple of days of rain next week.

In the meantime, I’m grateful to have Toby and Don by my side, helping to keep the garden containers watered. Our dried peas and beans are beginning to sprout, which is an exciting sign! We experimented with cayenne pepper around each planter box, but the squirrels have completely ignored it in search of cozy spots to stash their peanuts. Dyson and I definitely need to have a chat about their antics!

I’m optimistic that in a few weeks, I’ll have some stunning photos to share of our thriving climbing peas and beans, so let’s keep our fingers crossed! Meanwhile, the lilacs continue to bloom magnificently. We’ve discovered a charming, shady spot for a couple of chairs and a small table, the perfect setting to enjoy our coffee with Toby. It’s such a joy that he is now trained to go outside. Sitting there, listening to the cheerful birdsong and surrounded by the delightful fragrance of blooming flowers, truly elevates our moment of tranquillity together.

The view of some of the lilacs, the crabapple tree, and the trees at the back from inside the sitting room. This entire space is full of birds singing. It is wild. Nothing controlled by humans here, just the way the birds like it! And the rabbits, the raccoon, and the squirrels. What about those deer that visit?

One type is so gorgeous.

I’m truly relishing every moment spent outdoors. Tonight we played a captivating game of ‘Miss Marple.’ After finishing his late meal, Brock piqued our curiosity, prompting us to follow him and, perhaps, uncover his current living situation. To our surprise, he appears to be residing under the deck of a house just half a block away. This could be an ideal shelter for him, except for one drawback: he must cross the street to access our feeder.

I hope you’ve had some time to reflect on the incredible rescue at the osprey nest in Western Maryland Shore Old Town Home. How many times did we urge people to remove some of the osplets from nests around the Chesapeake Bay when food was scarce in 2024 due to the overfishing of Menhaden, the primary food of ospreys, in the Chesapeake Bay by a Canadian company, Omega? Many of you yelled at your screens when help did not come to the osplet at Colonial Bay. Of course, there were at least another hundred nests in the same situation.

It is unclear whether or not the rehabilitation of the third hatch at Old Town Home will be successful. These are some things to consider:

Young ospreys in rehabilitation have variable outcomes, depending on the severity and nature of their injuries or circumstances, as well as the quality of rehabilitation provided. While some ospreys, such as those with leg injuries, can recover and return to the wild, others may face challenges with feeding and development, which can impact their long-term survival. 

Factors Influencing Osprey Rehabilitation Success:

  • Injury or Condition:The type and severity of the injury or condition will significantly influence the likelihood of successful rehabilitation. 
  • Age and Developmental Stage:Young ospreys are particularly vulnerable and rely heavily on parental care for essential skills like hunting and flying. 
  • Access to Food and Water:Providing the right diet and ensuring proper hydration is crucial, especially for young ospreys who may not eat well in captivity. 
  • Rehabilitation Techniques:Some rehabilitation centers use innovative approaches like introducing juvenile ospreys to the concept of fish from the water through supervised practice. 
  • Release Strategies:Successful release often requires careful planning, considering factors like the bird’s physical condition and the availability of suitable habitat. 

Examples of Successful Rehabilitation:

  • Ospreys with leg injuries that regain function and are successfully released back into the wild. 
  • Young ospreys rescued from entanglements that are rehabilitated and released.
  • Ospreys that are re-nested in new nests after being rescued. 

Challenges in Osprey Rehabilitation:

  • Difficulty with Feeding:Ospreys can be notoriously difficult to feed in captivity, and some may not eat at all, making it challenging to rehabilitate and release them. 
  • Developmental Delays:If young ospreys are not properly cared for and lack parental guidance, they may develop delayed or incomplete hunting skills. 
  • Entanglements and Other Threats:Ospreys can be entangled in fishing nets, twine, and other materials, potentially leading to injuries or death. 

The third hatch at Maryland Western Shore was quite tiny and young. It had a head injury and could have had other internal injuries caused by the male stepping on its body. It was also denied food but had a large crop when removed from the nest. Looking forward to updates with the hope that this little one is another miracle of 2025.

Sadly, on Wednesday, there was some concern for the middle hatch at Maryland’s Western Shore. It has died of hypothermia. Thanks, ‘PB’, for keeping me informed of the situation.

Weather and lack of fish have plagued the osprey nests in the Chesapeake Bay area for the past few years. It is taking its toll this year. I wonder how many osprey nests will fledge their own clutch this year?

Some interesting spring migration counts and news is coming out of Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania. “Count coordinator David Barber summed the season up as follows: The count ended on a low note with three days of fog and rain. The last official migrant of the 2025 count was an unidentified raptor on the afternoon of May 12. Trainees, staff, and volunteers counted 220 hours over 38 days. The total count of 1,271 birds was 30% above the 10-year average of 980 and was the fourth highest spring count recorded at Hawk Mountain. The high day was April 18 with 581 birds including 2 turkey vultures, 6 ospreys, 3 bald eagles, 6 northern harriers, 1 sharp-shinned hawk, 12 Cooper’s hawks, a season high 542 broad-winged hawks, 5 red-tailed hawks, 3 American kestrels, and 1 merlin. The broad-winged hawks count of 885 was 71% above the 10-year average and a new record high! The count of 33 northern harriers was 61% above average and the highest count since 2013. Counts of Cooper’s hawks, American goshawk, and American kestrels also were above average, whereas counts of black vultures, turkey vultures, ospreys, sharp-shinned hawks, red-shouldered hawks, and red-tailed hawks were below average. All other species had average counts this year.”

Migration eUpdate Spring 2025 Wrap UpDownload

White Rock, British Columbia: The single Mum, together with a generous fish fairy, is keeping the two eaglets alive. I don’t think anyone would have believed that these two would live to get their thermal down, and if you look closely, you will see some feathers coming through!

Kielder Forest: The first hatch at nest 1A for parents W6 and KF13. The latest post from KF also reads, “The weather has been very poor since Saturday with strong winds and rain at times. The parents on Nest 7 have been doing a wonderful job balancing sheltering with feeding their three chicks.

Although there is rain in the forecast for Kielder Forest it should be mainly just showers with less wind and warmer temperatures.”

Well, by Thursday all three eggs had hatched at Kielder Forest. Congratulations!

FOBBV: By the time this is posted, I expect that both Sunny and Gizmo will have fledged. (more below)

Sauces Canyon: Betty Lou is ready to take to the skies, too. And as reported above, she did just that! https://youtu.be/8bsdSUkulpY?

White Rock Eagles: The two raised by the single Mum are doing fine. Thanks, fish fairy, for lending a hand and some fish!

Ely Cathedral Falcon scrape: Two eyasses this year as one of the eggs did not hatch.

Birds of Poole Harbour: An update by BoPH for us on this year’s happenings. (more below)

Osprey Webcam 2025 Update – Birds of Poole HarbourDownload

Glaslyn: It appears that it is now official. Five-year-old Teifi, the son of Idris and Telyn from the Dyfi platform, has now taken over the lead male role at Glaslyn. Aran continues to be seen in the region.

Dyfi: Idris and Telyn feeding their clutch as high winds make their way through the valley. Check out the cows below.

Birds of Poole Harbour: CJ7 and Blue 022 now have four osplets in the nest as of Thursday. The 4th hatch has already had its first fish meal.

Llyn Clywedog: The miserable weather has the two hatches of Dylan and Seren beaking one another. Let’s hope that cold and wet clears up.

Foulshaw Moss: White YW and Blue 35 are doing a good job with their three.

Trempeauleau: Mum doing a great job – all alone!

Denton Homes: The nest has dried out and we are just waiting for these three beauties to branch.

Little Miami Conservancy: Two beauties. Like the others getting ready to branch.

Cardinal Land Conservancy: These two are so ready to fly.

Cornell Red Tail Hawks: O1 and O2 are standing, walking around, and getting their beautiful juvenile feathers. Both are doing exceptionally well as we would expect with parents Big Red and Arthur. Big Red is still staying with her babies at night.

Hellgate Canyon: NG has been fighting intruders at the nest over the last days. Iris has also been coming around.

San Jose City Hall: They are ready to go. Will they take off at the same time? Like Duke Farms? (Thanks, PB, for the screen capture.)

Big Bear Valley: Jackie, Shadow, Sunny, and Gizmo were all together on the nest Thursday evening. What a beautiful family. This could be one of the last images of the four on the nest, as fledging can happen at any second.

SK Hideaways caught some of the action at Big Bear: https://youtu.be/io-MSVvvUWQ?

Patuxent River Park 2: All three chicks have perished while the camera was down for a week. Cause unknown.

Moraine State Park:

Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home: The only surviving chick of three with a big crop on Thursday.

Loch Arkaig: The latest from Geemeff on what is happening at Loch Arkaig!

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 29th May 2025
Today was all about fish – plenty on Nest Two but none on Nest One. Garry LV0 did turn up where Aurora 536 had been waiting for hours – she wanted fish, he wanted to mate, and neither got their wish. This is day six of thirteen without fish, his tally is becoming slightly meaningless and remains at sixty six. Louis on the other hand is performing magnificently and delivered another five today, and as Steve’s stats show, he’s Mr Consistency as it was the same as this day last year. His tally shoots up to one hundred and twenty two. Although it appeared bob3 didn’t have much, it must be remembered that being so much smaller than the other two means needing less food, and Dorcha did take care to include all three chicks when sharing out the food. It rained today as forecast but there were breaks in the weather. The forecast is light rain showers and light winds with a low of 11°C  tonight, and light rain showers and a gentle breeze tomorrow morning, clearing in the afternoon with a high of 17°C.Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.33.57 (03.40.51); Nest Two 22.43.36 (04.03.43)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/1gX2u2eGvIE N2 A chick nutmegs Dorcha with a squirt! 10.00.58https://youtu.be/yZEt_-fipSU  N2 Breakfast is very late because dad’s eaten most of it! 10.09.55https://youtu.be/uJJIn3vt96o  N2 All three chicks get some of fish two 15.43.44https://youtu.be/wsqyBae4VAo N1 Aurora wants fish, Garry wants to mate, neither succeeds 16.43.03https://youtu.be/M7avkNa__fw  N2 Fish number three is finished quickly but bob3 does get some 18.53.49https://youtu.be/za_qjIHMpaU N2 Dorcha blocks the view of fish four being shared out 21.07.49  https://youtu.be/GMtWeYvN1_4  N2 Fish number five arrives – will there be another today?  22.14.10
Bonus guide – when is a wood not a wood? When it is a forest!http://woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2024/12/difference-between-wood-and-forest/

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/JrHUpXY-a7c  N1 First chick has arrived! Happy birthday Doddie-to-be 2020

https://youtu.be/gOLg_bK_xP0  N1 First look at his chick for Louis 2020

https://youtu.be/8s40lObbaYA  N1 First really good look, and a magic moment with mum 2020

https://youtu.be/oMbnjRm-XpA  N1 First squirt just misses Aila’s fish supper 2020

https://youtu.be/OmRsqDDynoY N2 Dorcha goes for a quick comfort break, no pip visible 2022

https://youtu.be/7BLSruxJFzE   N1 Affric (Blue 152) and Prince? on Nest One 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/KBZ2QR7ya5Q  N1 Louis does a bit of nestorising 2023

https://youtu.be/wKZuLPNZEOI  N2 A close up look at the eggs – is that a pip? 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/3PgLtnW4E7I N2 Rock chick song and dance 2024 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/XQA-9K4Tu90  N2 Fish number two, small whole trout, all the bobs get some 2024

https://youtu.be/UJaqA0uIc_I  N2 Louis and Dorcha have a chat 2024

https://youtu.be/RSx0V5DBRHA  N2 Bob3 starts a fight then leaves bobs1&2 to get on with it 2024

https://youtu.be/VrWzAVSrBHw  N2 Lovebirds – Dorcha gives Louis a hug 2024

https://youtu.be/38GAjtlL70M  N2 Fish number five arrives in a sunset glow 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

‘A’ shares a few of her thoughts: “Did you see Mrs T brought in a huge bouquet of flowers to the Trempeauleau Eagles nest this afternoon (29 May)? I’ve never seen that before. T3 had a bit of a nibble. Mr T hasn’t stolen a fish from this nest for several days now – we hope his other nest is doing as well as this one is. 

And the hawklets at Cornell are doing well, although the younger one is still much smaller than its sibling. Plus, I thought you might like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxbrs5MplyA

Isn’t Mama kestrel gorgeous? And those hungry chicks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGPOAL5fUZU

And Betty Lou is a wonderful outcome for a nest that has seen so much heartbreaking disappointment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbNysUP8how Such a happy family. Well done Jaks and Audacity. Perseverance pays off for darling Audacity, whose determination has made her one of my favourites as you know! I do hope her bone density is not compromised by all those fragile eggs she kept laying. 

And Jackie and Shadow are watching their pair preparing to leave the nest. Both Sunny and Gizmo are looking fabulous. It really has been a mixed season – great success for some nests and tragedy for others, including the RTHs at Cornell, usually a nest that never loses a chick.”

And than you to ‘L’ who had a Cooper’s Hawk visit their birdbath in South Carolina reminding all of us that water is essential for the birds – please put out some bowls!

Calico’s Tip for the Week: Get your legs moving! You don’t need to hit the daunting target of 10,000 steps every day; studies have shown that just 4,000 steps can keep you healthy and active. It’s crucial to maintain strength and muscle in our legs. As a wise surgeon once told my mother after her hip replacement, “If you don’t use them, you will lose them.”

This past winter, we relied on a stationary bike because the icy sidewalks made walking outside too risky. To avoid falls, we opted to stay indoors, venturing out only for short walks at places like The Leaf and IKEA.

Now that summer is here, we’re excited to take Toby out in his stroller for our walks. In just five weeks, once Toby has completed his vaccination series, we’ll be ready to let him explore on his leash, helping him maintain his fit and energetic puppy figure. Let’s stay active and enjoy the great outdoors!

The New York Times has some ideas on how to get walking.

Well 4 ways to trick yourself into taking a walkDownload

Thank you so much for being with us today. We will see you on Monday. Take care.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, L, PB’, Nestflix Memories, Pat Burke, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, Streetheart, Chesapeake Mermaid, Maryland Western Shore, Hawk Mountain, White Rock Eagles Community FB, Birds of Poole Harbour, Gywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Clywedog, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Trempeauleau Eagle Cam, Denton Homes, Little Miami Conservancy, Cardinal Land Conservancy, Cornell Bird Lab Red-tail Hawk Cam and Hellgate Canyon, Big Bear Valley, Popular Science, IWS/Explore, Accuweather, Moraine State Park, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, SK Hideaways, The New York Times, Laura Rose and Trempeauleau Eagles, UK Osprey Info FB

Tuesday in Bird World

27 May 2025

Good Morning,

Update: Third chick just hatched at Loch Arkaig for Louis and Dorcha. Oh, I was hoping that this one would stay in the egg as the others are so big. But, no. They have three!

Hatch at Boulder County Fairgrounds.

Hello, everyone. It is nice to be back with you after being away for a week. The hours and days flew by and it was a week that was anything but uneventful! Let’s see if I can remember a few of the highlights:

-Toby’s ear infection got worse. Then he started clawing at his left ear, and went back to the vet. This time, they realised that putting drops into Toby’s ear wasn’t working for Toby, me, or the infection. They gave him a treatment that was to last a fortnight. Hopefully that will do the trick! A snood has been ordered. A scrunchie ties these floppy ears back with a covering for the ears themselves. I will send photos when it arrives. To make my life easier, Toby is sleeping through the night. He has learned to go potty outside. This is a big deal and I am shocked at how smart he is. Does every puppy parent say that? The issue is you cannot do something once and think you won’t have to repeat it so it takes thinking at every turn not to be caught into creating a bad behaviour. Toby loves to play fetch, and he drops his little lamb at my feet so I will toss it again. That poor lamb. Toby shakes it and shakes it. I am told it goes back to when Spaniels were ‘helping with the hunt’ and would subdue the prey. Today, it is often a way of getting rid of some energy, thank goodness. Toby has lots of energy and continues to be either in ‘off’ or ‘on’ mode. There is no middle ground. Toby loves Hugo Yugo, and they often play chase! Initially, I wondered if I had made a mistake getting a puppy. It was ‘my’ first dog. My father always had dogs, but they were under his care, and I loved the cats at our house. So Toby has been a new experience. It is getting easier and I adore him.

-I lost my credit card. Anyone who has lost a card will understand the frustration this causes.

-Garden planting. We have all the containers on the deck planted with pollinator-friendly plants, herbs, or a combination of three types of beans and peas. The Kentucky Wonder beans have already sprouted! There are cherry tomatoes and peppers in patio pots, and we picked up some bright red Salvia today for the hummingbirds when they arrive. The new hose is heavy. The new brass nozzle is divine. We also planted four hydrangeas, and to our delight, the three peonies we planted last year are coming up nicely.

-Little trips. We helped with my bestie’s Golden Retriever while she was away – a walk and a small feeding at noon. Then we headed out on various trips, including Baby Days at the wildlife rehabilitation centre, the opening of Oak Hammock Marsh, and a couple of trips to Pineridge, where the antique shop held a yard sale. We found two lovely French terracotta jardinieres, as well as another on a stand. The plan is to create a focal point on the deck. We have been able to visit with some friends during all of this, which was delightful. Today, at Pineridge, we ran into our granddaughter, who was there with a friend checking out its potential as a wedding venue for June 2027.

-Nice things that happened. I have desperately been trying to make my life easier. Three areas that require attention when one has a puppy is grocery shopping, hair cuts, and doctor’s appointments. We were able to solve the hair cuts by getting an appointment with one of our City’s most respected mobile salons. Will keep you posted. We ordinarily do not go to malls or large grocery stores and Toby is welcome in the Farmer’s Kitchen at Pineridge and St Leon’s Market, thankfully. That is perfect for us. Now just to figure out what to do about the doctor’s appointments or treatments. If I know that they are on prone to be on time, it is not a problem. We are trying not to be away longer than 1.5 hours due to the issues related to ‘withdrawal/separation anxiety’ within this breed.

So the week was a balance of the good and the bad. Thankfully, there was ‘no ugly’.

What I realised during this time away from writing the blog is that our summers are very short. This past winter was not conducive to being outside often due to the ice on the trails. One of the things I want to do is spend much more time in the garden with Don and Toby, as well as friends and family. Simple meals and laughter, hopefully with few wasps! (The feral feeder is being relocated to help with that.)

I have consistently emphasised the importance of spending time outdoors in nature and finding a balance in our busy lives as crucial for prioritising self-care. I often remind myself to secure my oxygen mask before assisting others. As Don’s dementia evolves—albeit subtly—he continues to help with many things around the house, which allows him to feel valued. Yet, sometimes I find it challenging to discreetly untangle his assistance without him noticing. Communication is growing more difficult, but there are moments of striking clarity that leave me almost speechless.

This summer, my intention is to dedicate more quality time to him, fostering patience, fun, and cherished memories that will sustain us during tougher times. With all this in mind, I’ve made the difficult decision to shift my blog schedule. Difficult? I have made so many long-time friends through the blog that not reaching out to you every day has caused me some anxiety. I need to slow down, and I know you understand. Rather than daily posts, I will share updates twice a week—on Mondays and Fridays.

I intend to summarise all the weekend happenings on Mondays, while Fridays reflect the week’s events. I aim to revamp the format to better engage with you by addressing your questions from the mailbox, spotlighting key happenings at the nests, and featuring one educational topic of current interest related to nest activities. I appreciate your understanding as I navigate these changes.

I also want to thank all those wonderful people who continually support me by sending me news from the nests. You have no idea how helpful that is.

Australian Bird news: Alison gives us a run down on what has been going on ‘down under’:

“In bird world, Diamond and Xavier are well. Diamond regularly has a giant crop – she was crop dropping this morning, twice actually, so she has plenty of room for a largish lunch. Xavier is such a darling. He is very fond of Diamond, though he is twinkle-toed when it comes to bonding sessions, when he darts out of the box as if afraid he’ll get squashed. 

At Port Lincoln, mum and dad were both on the barge this morning, Mum on the nest and Dad in the mancave. Both are looking well and seem to like their renovated nest. 

At Collins Street, there is no activity, and won’t be until eggs are due to hatch (assuming we get eggs this season). 

At Olympic Park, Mum and Dad have been working on the nest, bringing sticks and nesting material around lunchtime yesterday. They went fishing in the afternoon, then settled near the nest overnight. 

At Taiaroa Head, SS Trig chick is on her nest this morning, looking absolutely gorgeous as usual. It is so lovely to see that snowy-white plumage unblemished by any incidents of spilling. This is plumage that indicates a childhood totally free of bullying! She is exquisite, she really is. Mum came in yesterday at breakfast time to feed her chick and the little one was given a supplementary feeding two days ago (24 May). We’ll see what her weight is like tomorrow (Tuesday 27 May), which is weekly weighing day. SS Trig chick has fairly consistently been on the skinny side, with her parents seemingly unable to find enough food for her. Thank heavens we have the rangers – the squid smoothie fairies. These gorgeous birds really are given the very best of care. It’s astonishing how far these rangers go to ensure their safety and to assist them to breed successfully. A wonderful example to the world. 

Winter is quickly approaching in Melbourne, with icy mornings but sunny days.”

Stork Intervention is not new to the European Union.

‘PB’ reports: “Watching white stork cam in Hungary and they rescued baby #5. They said its taken to a rehab where they later release it. So happy they saved it before parents threw it over.”

So, just why do people help the storks?

People in Europe help storks due to a combination of cultural beliefs, environmental concerns, and the birds’ role as a symbol of positive aspects like good luck, new beginnings, and family life. Storks have been associated with good fortune, and their presence on rooftops was believed to bring harmony and even protect against fires.


Here’s a more detailed look at the reasons:
Cultural and Symbolic Reasons:
Good Luck and Fertility:
Storks are widely believed to bring good luck, and in many regions, they are associated with fertility and the arrival of babies.
Family Harmony:
In Central and Eastern Europe, storks are believed to bring harmony to families on whose property they nest.
Symbol of New Life:
The storks’ tendency to nest on rooftops is seen as a symbol of the arrival of new life, contributing to the belief that they bring babies.
Protection Against Fire:
In some regions, storks’ nests on houses were believed to offer protection against fires, further enhancing their revered status.
Conservation and Environmental Efforts:
Habitat Protection:
Storks are highly dependent on wetlands and other natural habitats. People in Europe are actively involved in protecting and restoring these habitats to ensure the continued survival of stork populations.
Awareness and Education:
Programs like the “Stork Route” in Brandenburg and initiatives like the European Stork Villages network help raise awareness about storks and their conservation needs.
Public Relations:
Festivals and events celebrating storks, photography contests, and other public relations initiatives help foster a positive relationship between humans and storks.
Stork Villages:
The European Stork Villages Network encourages communities to embrace storks as part of their natural and cultural heritage, fostering a sense of responsibility for their well-being.

As an advocate for intervention, I find the actions of individuals helping storks to be noble and I wish these attitudes would translate themselves to the eagles and ospreys that need help throughout the world.

One significant relationship that became internationally famous was that of a Polish man and a female white stork who could not fly and her mate. If you do not know this story then please watch this video that captures the extraordinary measures that were taken to care for this female and to ensure that each year she could spend the summer with her mate raising storklets.

Her name was Malena. https://youtu.be/sXMfbY8CawY?

Another video by Unity: https://youtu.be/b3Sb3-u4vAk?

Bonus: You might also recall when Urmas rescued the surviving storklets of Jan and Janikka after Jan disappeared on June 1, 2022. It is believed that he was probably electrocuted. The storklets were taken to the veterinary clinic on June 5, and there, along with Dr Madis, they were first raised by humans and mechanical storks before being placed into nests. Bonus was adopted by my favourite Black Stork of all time, Karl II and his mate, Kaia on 30 June. Bonus was fitted with a transmitter. We know from a sighting that the transmitter was down when he was alive and well on August 3, 2024, at Turov, Belarus.

Video of Urmas removing the storklets: https://youtu.be/oCJd5RLfN6M?

Video of storklets being fed by by humans and mechanical storks: https://youtu.be/3-Jf2gTlvbQ?

Video of Urmas placing Bonus on the nest of Karl II and Kaia: https://youtu.be/UrFLFPbDGZk?

Video of Karl II feeding his storklets and Bonus: https://youtu.be/JKU6H1NH85E?

Mlade Buky, Czech Republic: Community comes together to feed the stork nest when parent is dead. Caught on video by Tomas Borbely: https://youtu.be/nm5wTNjWfC4?

There are many more examples of human kindness towards storks. I encourage you to find them; they will warm your heart.

I want to publicly thank the individuals at Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home Osprey nest and streaming cam for rescuing baby three on Monday, the 26th of May. Owl Moon Raptor Centre will be trying to save this little one. It is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, osplets I have seen go into care. I know they will try their best to help this baby. It had been pecked and had a bloody head, had been denied food, and on Monday morning, Dad stepped on its head and stood there for some time. The little one was rescued and taken into care. It is unknown whether it is too small or ill to survive at the time of this writing, but I am grateful for the kindness shown. It is time for all interventions to occur. Fish are in short supply, and fish fairies are needed! As are rescues.

What has been happening in the UK Osprey nests (and the few North American ones) while I was away the last week?

Rutland Manton Bay: Blue 33 and Maya have four osplets this season. It is not the first time. Sadly, the last time there were four, tiny little Bob perished. Blue 33 is hauling in lots and lots of fish and all four are doing well. The tiny little Bob is quite the character and gets itself up there for the feedings!

Birds of Poole Harbour: Blue 022 and CJ7 have three beautiful and healthy chicks! Chick 4 is emerging from the egg.

Loch Doon: Frankie and Angel have sadly lost their little third hatch. It is quite cool at the nest and the older two got under Angel after a feeding, but little three didn’t. It perished very quickly being unable to thermoregulate.

Llyn Clywedog: Miserable damp cold weather here, too. Seren Blue 5F is keeping her two Bobs fed and warm. Unclear about the third egg.

Glaslyn: First up. The good news is that Aran has been seen after being MIA for a number of days. People were getting concerned. Thankfully the BOGS have been keeping a good eye and saw him!

Elen and Teifi are sheltering in the trees.

Dyfi: The weather is miserable and Idris was trying to feed them a very tough flounder this morning. Idris and Telyn have had their three eggs hatch! Dates were:

🐣 17th May at 16:22 (38.1 days)

🐣🐣  18th May at 13:15 (36.0 days)

🐣🐣🐣 21st May at 15:29 (36.0 days)

Three Chicks Hatch – Including Bobby Bach (Eventually) _ Dyfi Osprey ProjectDownload

Foulshaw Moss: All three eggs of White YW and Blue 35 have successfully hatched.

Kielder Forest:

Nest 7: KX7 and KM18 have three successful hatches.

Tweed Valley: This is the latest news, and it’s a week old. I hope the weather has improved and more fish have come for the two females – eggs should have hatched or be hatching soon!

Loch Arkaig 1 and Loch Arkaig 2: See Geemeff’s daily summary below.

Hellgate Canyon: Iris and the ‘New Guy’ are still together! She often gives him a right ear full. It is too funny. No more eggs this year, just take the time to enjoy every moment with this amazing osprey! The new guy shares some of his fish. What a couple.

Charlo Montana: Pip Watch is coming soon! Coyotes were observed on the streaming cam going across the valley.

Golden Gate Audubon: Richmond and Rosie have one chick this year, which hatched on either the 10th or 11th of May. (I have no knowledge of another hatch, but please correct me!)

Snow Lane, Newfoundland: Beaumont and the New Female have been sighted around the nest. No eggs yet. Maybe not this year.

Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: The unseasonal weather has stopped. Oscar and Ethel are incubating eggs, but only for another 7 or 8 days.

Trempeauleau Eagles: The success of this single-parent nest (male has another nest) is outstanding. Just look at T3 all kitted out with its juvenile feathers.

FOBBV: Sunny and Gizmo are getting great height as they prepare for fledging.

Sauces Canyon: Betty Lou has also been getting some amazing air. What a miracle child for Jak and Audacity. So thankful that they were able to be parents this year after so many tragic attempts.

Fraser Point: Kaimana and Blue Day are 65 and 63 days old. Adorable eaglets! Andor and Cruz are great parents.

Denton Homes: The trio are really getting into jumping on that nest. They have survived storms and what a relief it is to see that nest held during some dramatic weather. It will not be long.

Kansas City Eagles: Kanza is 9 weeks old and getting some air. Ellie, Harvey and Kanza have suffered through some rough weather like The Majestics.

Latvian Golden Eagle Nest: Spilve, Grislis, and Meldrs. Food has not been plentiful. Grislis finally brought a squirrel! https://youtu.be/7uXlT8ve3bk?

Fort St Vrain Eagle Cam: We worried they would get caught in the sticks and could not escape. We feared they would fall over the edge. Could you look at the two surviving eaglets on this nest?

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 26th May 2025

A slow day on Nest One, Aurora 536 spent time perching and waiting, then Garry LV0 arrived but without any fish. He had other ideas and mounted her successfully but it’s probably too little too late for eggs this year. His tally remains at sixty six. Over on Nest Two, Louis brought a big breakfast in the form of a massive trout from which the bobs had plenty of feeds. He’d eaten the head but still seemed hungry and returned for a mid morning raid, discovering the fish tucked under Dorcha’s feathers and foiling her attempts to stop him taking it by pulling her across the nest until she let go. He did return the fish a little later, however the fish’s travels weren’t over as he took it away again with Dorcha in hot pursuit until he returned it for the bobs’ next feed. Later Dorcha’s attention was on a distant aerial chase as two Ospreys pursued each other, too far away to confirm ID but one was probably Louis. The day’s action ended with Louis bringing a small fish supper so fresh it was still flapping, and he remained on the nest watching Dorcha feed the eager chicks. At the time of posting this report (midnight) some watchers think the third egg has pipped but the view hasn’t been clear enough to confirm it. Perhaps those who watch through the night and submit their excellent reports will have exciting news for us tomorrow morning. It was a wet and windy day today just as forecasted, and the rain’s expected to continue overnight with a low of 6°C but with the possibility of sunny intervals tomorrow and a high of 13°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One (03.50.35E); Nest Two 22.35.27 (04.04.54)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/Tz7Y_155TwI N2 Dorcha tucks into breakfast, Louis covers the chicks 07.30.55

https://youtu.be/Rb60Etc3cw0 N1 Aurora calls for fish but Garry has other ideas! 10.25.19https://youtu.be/nC9LVBEwMcg N2 Dorcha tries and fails to stop Louis taking a fish 11.40.42

https://youtu.be/43o1eD2kI3I  N2 Louis steals the fish but Dorcha makes him return it 13.57.46

https://youtu.be/2FqE3EXsIwY N2 Dorcha watches as two Ospreys chase each other 14.41.05 (zoom / slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/QrzNvjRaZWU N2 Louis delivers a fresh flapping fish supper 19.44.59

Bonus – fancy solving a puzzle? Loch Arkaig jigsaw puzzle featuring Louis & Dorcha is on sale:

https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/woodland-trust-loch-arkaig-osprey-jigsaw

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/j2zFGdLHFfI  N1 What spooks Aila? 2019

https://youtu.be/OtayWPtR_fo N1 Aila repels an intruder Osprey 2020 (real-time)

https://youtu.be/Ocm48b6Os7s N1 Same intrusion in slo-mo 2020

https://youtu.be/dedcBVUI0dQ N1 Tug of fish: Let go, Louis! 2020

https://youtu.be/AYQ–hL3MLU N1 A Jay visits 2023

https://youtu.be/EJXmdCL0D2g N2 Dorcha has breakfast while Louis does the housework 2023https://youtu.be/qgZZjeA6M5U   N2 Fish number three, headless trout – bobs are home alone 2024https://youtu.be/CMBJis-X6UQ  N2 No one wants fish number four so Louis takes it away 2024

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

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 25th May 2025

A soggy night and wet for a good part of the day too, but that didn’t prevent the second chick hatching. Pipping was seen yesterday  around 10pm, and tucked away warm and dry under Dorcha, bob2 allowed brief glimpses from time to time as it made its way out of the shell, emerging fully by 3am. By 5am bob2 had had a first feed from Louis’ first fish delivery, and things are looking good for these two. The third egg is a few days away from hatching and will need to be strong and determined to compete with this pair. Louis delivered a second fish and his tally rises to one hundred and eight. Unusually when returning the second fish to Dorcha, he sat on top of the chicks and wouldn’t let her feed them, prompting a discussion about his usual lack of enthusiasm for chick-sitting as opposed to his extreme enthusiasm for egg-sitting. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 put in an appearance after not being seen yesterday, and rewarded Aurora’s patience with a fish. His tally rises to sixty six but Aurora would probably prefer it rises a bit faster as she sat patiently perching for many hours waiting in vain for him to return with more fish. Dorcha’s mumbrella skills will be needed as more rain is forecast throughout the night with a low of 6°C, and thundery showers and a moderate breeze with a high of 11°C tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.08.17 (

03.51.04); Nest Two 22.39.52 (04.10.50)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/NyeaPABkHboN2 Welcome little bob2 – second chick is here! 02.58.07

https://youtu.be/Oij43i5RvqQN2 Fish number one – bob2’s first feed 04.56.58

https://youtu.be/Nsf3B2QYrC8 N1 After yesterday’s no-show, Aurora’s glad to see Garry with fish 

09.35.23

https://youtu.be/Lr0bAPHnRHY N2 Dad brings a second fish and mum feeds the bobs 13.00.47

https://youtu.be/f2aHh2WdLOA N2 Dorcha would like to feed the chicks but unusually Louis is sitting on them ! 15.19.36

Bonus advice – George WTS’ 2024 post on how to survive the highs & lows of nest cam watching:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=14839719

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/8FYcojpPJQc  N1 Louis brings a v-shaped stick 2020

https://youtu.be/5f4o-219oIs  N1 What time do you call this? 2020

https://youtu.be/DKhP0pbVLbQ  N1 Louis is given his marching orders 2020

https://youtu.be/if-vCqrqRLI  N2 Unusually persistent Hoodie annoys Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/Isc_NPFqB4M  N1 Louis visits again 2023

https://youtu.be/rLwmdraNUD4  N2 Dorcha’s branching out 2023

https://youtu.be/4pTHER9sy-w  N2 Bob1 has a go at self-feeding!!!!! 2024

https://youtu.be/GRCzf9FTFRo  N2 Olympic hero! Louis pole-vaults in  2024    

https://youtu.be/vZcMnDPsX-s  N2 Fish number three, first flatfish of the season 

https://youtu.be/EpDxudcMp6Q  N2 Tough as old boots – Dorcha and the fish skin 2024 

https://youtu.be/P_1jqw2RRf8  N2 Purple haze: Louis & Dorcha caught in the glow of sunset 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

Big Red and Arthur and O1 and O2. The hawlets are getting their feathers! What a beautiful nest! Everything continues to go smoothly with Big Red in her element as Queen Mum.

Latvian Goshawk: The eyasses were ringed. Here is the video! https://youtu.be/sHUHLcDdJwM?

San Jose Falcons: Oh, they are mischievous! SK Hideaways catches them in the act. https://youtu.be/uhz-X5Mg4hU?

Looking for Loons? The cams are back up!

2025 Loon Cams are LiveDownload

Wildfires continue to burn in our province. Grave concerns for wildlife – not only the mammals but also the migrant raptors and songbirds that come to Manitoba in the late spring to raise their young. Send positive wishes.

A beautiful story of people working together to transform sheep fells for birds. “A groundbreaking tree-planting programme is uniting farmers and rewilders, as portions of common ground in the Yorkshire Dales national park are being restored to their ancient glory.” Why can’t this be happening everywhere?

Bringing back the birds: the ‘ghost woodlands’ transforming England’s barren sheep fells https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/26/ghost-woodlands-rewilding-sheep-fells-yorkshire-uk-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. I will see you again on Friday!

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, messages, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, PB’, Eagle Goddess, The Dodo, Liznm, Unity, Tomas Borbely, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, LRWT, Birds of Pool Harbour, Loch Doon, Llyn Clywedog, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Kielder Forest, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, Montana Osprey Project, Charlo Montana, Golden Gate Audubon, Snow Lane Osprey Cam/Newfoundland Power, Nova Scotia Ospreys/Connie and Don Dennis, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Cornell Bird Lab Red-tail Hawk Cam, Trempeauleau Eagle Cam, FOBBV, Sauces Canyon/IWS and Explore, Fraser Point/IWS and Explore, Denton Homes, LDF, Xcel Energy, The Weather Centre of Manitoba, LDF/Verotaja, San Jose City Hall, SK Hideaways, The Guardian, Loon Preservation Society, Farmer Derek

Tuesday in Bird World

13 May 2025

Good Morning,

Set your clocks if you can and watch Monty and Hartley’s chicks get their bling this morning!

San Jose City Hall: Chicks will be ringed live on streaming cam today!

Thanks ‘PB’ for sending the announcement:

Hi all,

Zeka Glucs from PBRG here with some more details on the San Jose City Hall Banding Day. We are looking forward to banding the four chicks and reporting back to this group on check sexes and overall health. They are looking quite active for their age (~20-21 days today) so I expect they are developing well.

Tomorrow morning we will likely arrive to the roof at around 10:30am and then rappel to the nest ledge soon after that. We will be keeping the cameras running during the nest entry and try to arrange ourselves so that you can see the process of measuring and banding the chicks. Each chick gets one metal identification band per leg: a black band with a large alphanumeric code and a silver US Geological Service band which we will cover with temporary colored tape for more identification ease in the nest and during fledge watch. Once they are measured and banded we will be able to discern if they are male and female. Then we collect a wing feather clipping for contaminant stable isotope analysis and three newly emerged body feathers for genetics before returning them to the nest. During the nest entry you may see and hear the parents defending the nest. This is normal and expected, and quite convincing in person! We will complete our work as quickly and safely as possible, then leave the chicks in the nest box for the parents to discover are all well and accounted for so they can know that they successfully chased us off and can resume their job of parenting the young.

Thank you all for your interest and investment in this peregrine family. If you miss the live banding there will be a recording of the nest entry posted on youtube at a later date as well for you to observe.

Zeka”

Today’s blog is relatively short. It is the Full Flower Moon, and any full moon means that my life, as well as Don’s, is turned upside down for about four days. This is despite the fact that this is the last micromoon of the year. The others will be larger and more, thus, more concerning. The lunacy of ‘luna’ is quite real. Be gentle with anyone with mental health issues during this time.

It is also stifling hot on the Canadian prairies, and any plants left outside yesterday were rushed in and placed in a tub, soaked. It is expected to be a hot and dry summer. A wildfire broke out in a northern part of Winnipeg, and fires are burning throughout our province. The fire ban continues. We brought the dill and rosemary plants into the house, where it is cool. I cannot imagine what it will be like this summer. Perhaps it is time to get one of those enormous umbrellas!

I keep reminding myself- and you – that we have had some miracles this year. Several continue to unfold and we need to remember and rejoice in their struggles and survival.

Against all the odds, the female at White Rock has incubated her eggs, alone, and raised two eaglets so far, alone. The two are doing well and there is fish on the nest.

This is an incredible story unfolding and if there is no other news today, well, this is gold! The one is at the White Rock Bald Eagle nest. I have no images and the other at Trempealeau.

Trempealeau Bald Eagle Mum is doing amazing, too. These two really deserve some kind of gold medal this year!

More Miracles. Sunny and Gizmo.

Jackie knows it isn’t long now. What a beautiful year it has been for her and Shadow to be parents again. Monday night she slept in the nest with the ‘babies’. https://youtu.be/ff5x80cJdJ0?

Sauces: Another Miracle. Betty Lou is preparing for ledge just like Sunny and Gizmo.

NEFlorida: Bodie fledged. The nest is pretty empty without that big presence of her and her adopted sibling, Juvie.

Bodie dancing before fledgling: https://youtu.be/uje9p0LAZoQ?

Fort St Vrain: It isn’t over til they fly off the edge of the nest, but it looks like the two surviving eagles at Fort St Vrain will do just that.

Cornell Red-tail Hawk: I thank all of the stars that Big Red is still with us. Here she is with her two surviving O1 and O2 from this year.

Hellgate Canyon: The male visited the nest. I did not see Iris. She is off somewhere in the hills fishing and enjoying her summer without the need for little ones. If she returns next year and forms a strong bond with this male, then we may see another family. For now, Iris is living the spa life and this fellow is wondering where she is.

Rutland Manton Bay: Both chicks doing well.

Latvian Golden Eagle Nest: Two days ago, Spilve was feeding two of the sweetest little eaglets. https://youtu.be/2ANQ-FoirgE?

Nizhnyaya Kama National Park in Tatarstan: Chulman feeds chick on the 11th! https://youtu.be/qYSslwIatZE?si=4sNVYvfnppXPzVyY

Black Stork Nest Jogdeva: The intruder ate the last two of the chicks (they were already dead as the female did not cover them). Sad ending what was hoped to be a return of the Black Storks to the area.

Worcester Cathedral: Due to the stress of losing two of their chicks this year, with one surviving, a decision has been taken not to ring the chicks as it could be too stressful.

Norwich Cathedral: Three beautiful little eyases.

Michigan State Spartan Scrape: Three eyases and one egg.

Salinas Falcon Cam makes the news: https://youtu.be/WlCr5g_hHO8?

Tweed Valley 2: This amazing threesome, two females and a single male, are doing fantastic. These chicks will be truly blessed.

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 12th May 2025

An interesting day, with two fish brought to each nest by the respective males. However, Garry LV0 made Aurora 536 wait for the first fish, by showing it to her then flying off with it and not returning for several minutes. He didn’t pull that stunt with the second fish, she moved in and took it as soon as he landed. His tally now stands at forty nine. Louis brought the season’s earliest breakfast for Dorcha, and followed it up with a trout for lunch, and his tally rises to eighty three. He and Dorcha joined forces to see off an intruder Osprey who buzzed the nest several times but wasn’t given an opportunity to land, and the eggs are safely making their way towards hatching, we’ll be on pip-watch in under two weeks. The weather was sunny and settled and is forecast to continue like that for the rest of the week. Fingers crossed tonight’s clear skies and light winds don’t attract the owls who’ve been heard nearby.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.53.24 (04.05.00); Nest Two 23.05.18 (04.11.38)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/ylEhZH07-eY N2 Season’s earliest breakfast for Dorcha 04.56.06

https://youtu.be/yVlU4fGjDEw N2 Dorcha leaves with lunch as soon as Louis delivers it 13.40.47https://youtu.be/AImTtGwHR64 N1 Aurora gets Garry’s fish the second time he brings it 14.38.05https://youtu.be/PwjwvCqeWYg N2 Louis & Dorcha join forces to see off an intruder overhead 16.48.40https://youtu.be/H1uWYmgtyhE N1 This time Garry doesn’t make Aurora wait for the fish 17.52.48

Bonus watch – how tough are Ospreys? Check out this valiant female across the pond on Mother’s Day: 

https://youtu.be/tziVm7AIHPY

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/BFfBZitcjv0    N1 Haven’t you forgotten something? 2020

https://youtu.be/_rGpAZaTjmQ N1 Oops! Where’s it gone? Aila loses her fish! 2020

https://youtu.be/7fjub6AqXts  N1 Stickgate! Louis lands a stick on top of Aila then perches on it! 2020

https://youtu.be/Ah7wghdmEsA   N1 Look who’s back bringing moss! 2021

https://youtu.be/x9ltb4rsX-w   N1 The Stranger nestorises while Blue 152 calls for fish 2021

https://youtu.be/Kdo-dxeZv3Y  N1 That technique needs work! Amusing mating incident 2021

https://youtu.be/Avbi8BbEvC4  N2 Intruder Osprey flyover 2023

https://youtu.be/bLMSoIgb1Yc   N2 Another year, another stickgate!! 2023

https://youtu.be/IR7bJxY7AsE  N2 Louis brings a fine flapping trout 2024

https://youtu.be/0bNLIxCelsw N1 Female Chaffinch visits 2024 (zoom)

Everyone’s welcome to join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, fun, and free:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

Duke Farms: On Fledge Watch. Thanks, PB.

Oak Hammock Marsh: One of my favourite places to wander and look for birds of all species is set to reopen after an extensive refurbishment that has taken 2 years!

As I end this there is some concern that the second hatch at Venice Golf and Country Club is unwell. Heidi is keeping a watch. The symptoms sound an awful lot like Molate at the Golden Gate Audubon Nest of Richmond and Rosie. Molate did not receive a necroscopy so the cause of its death is unknown.

Eagle Country will be shutting down their cameras for maintenance very soon.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. If it is as hot where you are living as it is on the Canadian Prairies, please drink lots of water. Don’t go outside during the heat of the day and leave a bowl of water for the birds and animals outside. They will thank you for it. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their posts, notes, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, PB’, White Rock (Hancock Foundation), Trempealeau Bald Eagles, WI, FOBBV, NE-Florida, Lady Hawk, IWS/Explore, Cornell Bird Lab Red Tail Hawk Cam, Montana Osprey Project, LRWT, LDF, Liznm, Nesting Bird Life and More, Looduskalender Forum, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Norwich Cathedral, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, Ashley Wilson Hawks and Falcons, Cali Condor, Oak Hammock Marsh, Eagle Country, Worcester Cathedral, SK Hideaways

Sunday in Bird World

11 May 2025

It is a very, very sad day in Bird World. Not the Happy Mother’s Day that I hoped for all these beautiful birds that have raised so many amazing chicks and brought us such happiness. This morning Dory (Audubon Boathouse) was savagely killed by a GHO. She had just laid her third egg.

Heidi writes, “I loved Dory.  Mom to Skipjack, Schooner, Sloop, Skipper, Harbor, and Grey.  Sadly, three of her offspring suffered the same fate.”

Is there ever a possibility that knowing the owls are there and will strike that those individuals or organizations owning streaming cams will work together to set up methods that would keep the GHOs from harming the Ospreys? The osprey do not kill the owl chicks and eat them. They are no threat to their food supply. If people can go for a space ride for millions of dollars, cannot we come up with even a simple earthly fix to help our fish eaters? In this instance, this has been a long standing known problem and there are people who should have worked on solutions including red strobe lights!

Soar High Dear Dory.

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Happy Mother’s Day to Anyone who has ever cared for another living, breathing being! And It doesn’t matter how many legs it has!!!!!!!!!

I was fortunate. My ‘mothers’ were fascinating people. My mother has always wanted to be a registered nurse. She was the Valedictorian of her high school class and won three scholarships to three excellent universities in Oklahoma to realise her dream. All her father had to do was provide funds for room and board and her books. Well, ‘no’. She was a girl. She was bitter all her life. I was born eleven years after she had worked for the US Navy during WWII in Long Beach, California. When I was eighteen months old, she was offered a position she could not refuse, and the most wonderful thing happened. There was no daycare. My maternal grandmother cared for me until my early teens, so my mother could work. (She continued to work for many decades; it was in her DNA). While my grandmother let me do everything my mother would not allow me to do including braiding my hair (can you imagine it might straighten the curls??) and gave me this easy going sense towards life and a love of gardening and chickens, my mother spent her life making certain that I had the very best education that I could have and that opportunities she only dreamed of I did. My PhD was, in part, her desire that every woman on the planet be able to care for themselves. She was a ‘Tiger Mum’ in a sense! I am full of love and grateful to them because they gave me balance.

No doubt each of you will have a raptor Mum that has touched your heart this year in a way that was not thought possible.

I want to remember an amazing raptor mother who is not with us this year. We will never know what happened to her, but she will live on in our hearts whenever we think of the University of California at Berkeley. The Campanile will never be the same. My first Mum of this year is Peregrine Falcon, Annie.

Big Red has always been on the top of my list because she is the raptor on streaming cams that first touched my heart. She hatched in the spring of 2003 in Brooktondale, New York, seven miles from her nest on the campus of Cornell University. She has had at least two mates – Ezra and now Arthur.

Finally some sun for Big Red, Arthur, and the Os.

‘B’ swept me away because they included some of the most miraculous mothers of this 2025 season! They wrote, “Special to me are three moms who are once again mothers this year after each has had difficult years: Jackie at Big Bear, Audacity at Sauces, and Gabby at NE Florida.  Also very special to me is Mrs. T at Trempealeau, who is working so hard (and doing so well) raising eaglet TE3 pretty much by herself.”

Here is ‘B’s list!!!!!!!

FOBBV: Mark your calendars fledge watch begins on 13 May or Sunny and Gizmo. Can you believe it?

A video with Mamma Jackie! https://youtu.be/_P7jg-nW_1A?

Fish delivery by Mamma Jackie! https://youtu.be/GAyUI5s-nVU?

Sauces: Betty Lou is the spitting image.

NEFlorida: Bodie leaves the nest and misses a fish delivery from Mamma Gabby: https://youtu.be/ph-qZGmAGR4?

Trempeauleau Eagles:

‘A’ has Mrs T as a hero. She writes: “Since your blog alerted me to the plight of Mrs T at Trempeauleau, I have been keeping an eye on that nest. So tragic that she had to leave her eaglets in freezing rain – she has been doing such an amazing job with her surviving first hatch. This morning she left just as the skies were starting to lighten – and she was back within 15 minutes with a fresh fish for the wee one’s breakfast. She fed little T3 a couple of times during the day and there was no sign of Mr T, although I have seen footage of him removing a fish from the nest and flying across the river to the island, where he obviously has another nest, to which he delivers the fish (www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bp-_oilfqc). There has been speculation on the chat that this phenomenon will become increasingly common because of the larger numbers of eagles sharing territories. It’s a double-edged sword – yes, we want more eagles but not if it means they are competing for territory to the point where they hurt each other and cause eaglets to starve. We need to provide habitat for the eagles, not just increase their numbers without thinking about how the additional eagles will live. 

But back to T3. It had a funny interaction with mum in the middle of the night last night – mum jumped down from the branch above the nest where she spends most nights and the eaglet went into nest defence mode like a little warrior. Stood up as tall as it could and pecked at mum!!! This interaction went on for several minutes – mum eventually bonked T3 back. T3 responded by pecking at mum’s breast feathers several times, still standing as tall as it could, flapping its wings occasionally for balance as it lunged forwards to peck its mum. That’s no way to treat your dedicated single parent mother on Mother’s Day T3! Especially when she’s come down to the nest for a snuggle on a windy night – she rarely joins T3 on the nest and the little eaglet, who has lost both its siblings to hypothermia, snuggles up to the trunk of the tree for warmth and comfort. Sometimes, it looks up at mum longingly – but when she did decide to come down, T3’s reaction made me wonder whether eaglets have far less acuity at night than adult eagles because it was as if T3 didn’t recognise Mrs T at all and was defending the nest against an intruder. It was very strange. Eventually, after a five or six-minute stand-off T3 snuggled down as if nothing had happened and Mrs T arranged some nesting material (she’d been bringing in fluff a lot during the day). Teenagers!! It’s a little delinquent. Here’s the footage. It’s just TOO funny: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnFmArd8jh0. “

‘VS’ said: “Love Naha at Seaside and Mum at Port Lincoln.”

Naha

Oh, yes, absolutely. Thank you.

Mum at Port Lincoln

Rutland Water: One of the finest osprey females, a super Mum, Maya, is right at the top of the list for more than two dozen people. Her and Blue 33 just had their second hatch of the season!

Heidi’s Osprey Report:

Everyone fledged at Smith Rock Park! https://youtu.be/Nt7nZI0sc4s?

This drives me crazy!

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 10th May 2025

Today on Nest One started with a visit from a male Tawny Owl, who perched and made an unusual call, perhaps trying to attract a mate. Later there was much excitement as Garry LV0 saw off a persistent intruder Osprey. The unringed female tried to land several times with Garry on the nest actively dissuading her, and then they had quite the aerial battle with much chasing and circling round both nearby and in the distance, all caught on nest cam. She did return and managed to land shortly after her epic encounter with Garry, but was very wary and then startled off the nest by a Jay rustling through the branches of the nest tree. Aurora 536 wasn’t around or at least not visible on nest cam during the female’s visit, but did turn up in the afternoon to get a large whole trout from Garry. That one fish took his tally to forty six, but he has a long way to go to catch up with Louis, whose two deliveries took his tally to seventy nine. The first fish he brought wasn’t much more than a tail end which explains Dorcha’s enthusiastic reception of the second, she even gulped a few mouthfuls on the nest before departing and leaving Louis to egg-sit. The weather was settled and sunny as promised, but in a change from the forecast, light rain is expected tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.51.44 (03.45.47); Nest Two 23.08.52 (04.07.40)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/lz68zyEX6Uw  N1 A Tawny Owl perches, calls but no response 00.24.40 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/KQPgI_C2YfE  N2 Louis does a flyby before delivering fish one  05.13.15 

https://youtu.be/NKSslCjZ2AY  N1 Garry’s dramatic encounter with an unringed Osprey 11.19.56

https://youtu.be/yr5AUEabxDk   N1 Unringed intruder returns but is startled by a Jay 11.35.43

https://youtu.be/CnBTtPySvKM  N1 Aurora takes Garry’s fish immediately 15.31.44

https://youtu.be/DQBB7OIY92I  N2 Dorcha gulps a few mouthfuls before leaving with fish two 18.53.41

Bonus read – looking at those clouds of insects on the nests today, this study shows the amazing biodiversity of the Arkaig ancient Caledonian rainforest:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/press-centre/2023/08/loch-arkaig-invertebrate-survey

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/WRJVln57L5w  N1 Cheeky Tawny Owl perches next to Aila 2019 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/1IEDIyo9rCQ  N1 Louis adds to the chaos on a windy day 2020

https://youtu.be/zcl511TMr_0  N1 Louis resists Aila’s blandishments 2020

https://youtu.be/e_xzfE0KTlk  N1 Louis chases a pesky Hoodie 2020

https://youtu.be/iStLjLcvl2I  N1 Eurasian Wren pays a visit 2021

https://youtu.be/VPfvH9XEqzU  N2 Unringed female intruder steals Dorcha’s fish 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/AM_UsK1riDg  N1 Juvenile Tawny Owl plays on the nest 2023

https://youtu.be/0Mbyxj-Wr90  N1 A handsome Jay visits 2023

https://youtu.be/Pe8lgQ2Pdbs  N2 Season’s earliest breakfast for Dorcha 2024

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

My top book recommendation for last year – and Calico’s too – was Raising Hare. ‘B’ sent along an article from The New York Times. Raising Hare was in their top 15 for 2025! Feeling delighted.

Just in case you didn’t see it, Raising Hare is on the NY Times list of the Best Books of the Year (So Far).  One of 15 books on the list.

The Best Books of 2025 (So Far) – The New York TimesDownload

Cumbria Wildlife Nest 2: Two eggs laid very late in the season for the new couple. Fingers crossed.

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

I am going to be doing a very abbreviated blog for the next week or so. It is gardening time and with Toby and The Girls, there isn’t enough hours in the day to keep up. Geemeff and Heidi will be with us when they have news and I will be covering the hatches in the UK.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, Heidi, PB, VS’, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways, Cornell Red Tail Hawk, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Trempeauleau Bald Eagles, IWS/Explore, LL, Seaside Osprey Cam, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Smith Rock Park Eagles, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Maryland Western Shore, Fostythe, Fortis Exshaw, Audubon Boathouse, Rutland Water, Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Thursday in Bird World

8 May 2025

Hello!

Sssshhhhh. Toby is ‘not’ spoiled.

Toby has grown. He has legs! So far, he does not mind his collar and having his leash attached going about the house. He goes to his potty pads, twirling around like a ballerina, which is a good sign that something is about to happen. My son says I must teach him to sit and to behave on his lead. I do not doubt that this intelligent little man will be fine.

If I forgot to say, Hugo Yugo and Toby slept in the bend of my left arm Tuesday night. Calico was back on the conservatory table this morning and well, The Girls have settled into their ordinary routine and just don’t seem to be bothered by his presence this afternoon.

The weather continues to be ‘weird’. It is going to be 36 C next week. I have a serious problem with this because of the dryness and the fires. What about the birds? I have lived in Manitoba, on and off since I was a late teenager, and having a 36 degree C was something that was rare. Of course, that temperature has been more familiar the last four or five years but not until ‘summer’. Not the beginning of May. We will make certain there is plenty of water for all the outdoor animals.

Today, Mr and Mrs Crow began, in earnest, to eat the cheesy dogs, which tells me that they have either babies in the nest or are thinking about it! The Blue Jays are here in earnest, and Dyson took five peanuts this evening at one go! She has to be at least ten years old, and it is her.

My goodness. When ‘LS’ submitted her ‘Spark Bird’, I am not certain she realised how many people love Harriet and miss her so much. The fact that we will never know what happened to Harriet has left holes in so many hearts. People are pleased that M15 was able to raise their last two eaglets, E21 and E22, alone and that he was happy to find a new mate BUT everyone would like Harriet back! Thank you, ‘LS’ for taking us down memory lane – albeit full of tears.

Eleven people sent in the name Louis. You know who you are! No, not Iris’s Louis, but Louis from Loch Akraig, specifically Louis with his mate Aila, whom they met during the pandemic when the pair raised their triplets, JJ5, JJ6, and JJ7. 400,000 people are said to have watched the couple from the Loch Arkaig I nest that year. When Aila did not return, Louis moved the nest to nest 2, where he raised chicks with his current mate, Dorcha. I must admit that I was devastated when Aila did not return, and it did take me a while to warm up to Dorcha.

Louis and Aila feed the triplets. https://youtu.be/jBE6pWdWlgM?

News of a Norwegian osprey couple! What a gorgeous place for a nest! https://youtu.be/C8B9sYYWo58?

Big Red and Arthur: It appears that the last two eggs are pipping. O2 is taking some time and we have seen this many times this year. Wishing both those little ones a good hatch!

O2 has hatched!!!!!! Arthur has covered the nest with chipmunks and squirrels. O3 is on its way too and should arrive by today. What joy!

I love watching Big Red and Arthur raise their family. Arthur just fills up that nest with every kind of critter he can so that no one ever goes hungry. Big Red stuffs those babies and keeps them warm and cosy alternating brooding with Arthur. I cannot tell you how much I adore this Red-tail Hawk. She is, of all the birds on streaming cams, my ‘Spark’ Bird.

SK Hideaways has all the drama at Ithaca on video! https://youtu.be/yWjP7_1t5Os?

Cornell Bird Lab shows us that O3 is almost here! https://youtu.be/0WWZd7Gi0H0?

Someone commented about all the prey. Thank goodness for Arthur’s good hunting skills. The pantry is always full and in case of a bad weather day this is essential for these babies. Great parents.

Hellgate Canyon: The New Boy has finally brought Iris a fish!!!!!!!!!! Viewers around the world jumped up and down for joy and shed tears. It appears not to be Finnegan – I really hoped it was – but, a new male interested in our Queen and her nest.

Foulshaw Moss: White YW and Blue 35 incubating eggs. It won’t be long.

Agrippina & Antares Peregrine Falcons: https://youtu.be/kMtd_9UtYfE?

Jose City Hall Falcon Scrape: ‘PB’ sends us a screen capture of some very full crops! Monty and Hartley are taking superb care of these four. Brilliant.

Our favourite couple, Jackie and Shadow bonding at Big Bear: https://youtu.be/Ou9u3uMPdZ4?

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 7th May 2025

Today’s main story is all about Aurora 536 – we received word today that she was ringed in Loch Fleet in Sutherland in 2022. This means she’s a three year old, and a good match for five year old Garry LV0 who was ringed in Loch Garry in 2020. They’re both young and healthy, he’s an excellent fisherbird and has a good nest with a well stocked loch nearby, and she appears to have adopted him and his nest. So everything has aligned for them to be successful parents – fingers crossed it works out as hoped. The Tawny Owl who visited Nest One this morning might find surprise occupants next time if the young pair produce eggs this season! Garry brought two fish taking his tally to forty one, and over on Nest Two, Louis’ three deliveries for Dorcha take his tally to seventy three. The weather was settled and the day ended with a colourful sunset best seen from Nest Two, and the forecast promises more settled weather and sunny spells tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.46.52 (04.23.21); Nest Two 22.56.24 (04.31.52)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/iZCtZxSvdtQ N1 A male Tawny Owl visits, calls but gets no reply 04.06.45

https://youtu.be/zoVG6Xtn21o N2 Dorcha has a quick nibble before departing with fish number one 05.54.01

https://youtu.be/9AUcpQbxfI4 N1 Lunch arrives for Aurora 13.21.08

https://youtu.be/ICUoOHx0qBg N2 Louis delivers a second fish for Dorcha 16.44.58 

https://youtu.be/qGapMARckT8 N1 Aurora gets the second fish when Garry brings it back again 18.22.50

https://youtu.be/AFxIoXOi7hU N2 Dorcha’s fish supper arrives against a colourful sunset sky 21.13.23 (quick time)

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/8OaqnwQiaBI  N1 Aila does a bit of Louis-bashing before he takes the hint 2020

https://youtu.be/2qFBiVop8DQ N1 Clumsy Louis clatters the camera! 2020

https://youtu.be/T8wmG4NbfIo  N1 Late night bat visits Aila 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/VA8CwMT9qyA  N1 Eurasian Siskin and Crossbill visit 2021

https://youtu.be/0FlIlYJMsGQ  N2 Cheeky Tawny Owl perches on the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/LcPUWA3mWDo  N2 Tawny Owl strikes Dorcha then returns to perch on the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/kJIFH0RyeSk  N1 Louis pays a visit to his old nest 2023

https://youtu.be/6z_D0r_72h4  N1 A little songbird flits around for a while, then nudges a stick over the side 2024

https://youtu.be/1MzoKTgPm4w  N1 Aida lands on the perch, welcome back, we missed you 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

I am so angry. There are some of us that wish we lived in Virginia and could make an impact on these decisions. The ospreys and their chicks are dying. We saw this in earnest in 2024. Have a read!

“Menhaden – Little Fish, Big Deal!

Thomas Lilly  · nsdoorpetSccag140a5f51a25m8i0a227h3i9ca1ca8a66u1hch057g8ati3  · 

In case you haven’t heard the menhaden board met today at 1 PM to discuss area and seasonal protective options for Chesapeake Bay menhaden …the options the work group proposed concentrated on ospreys and their critical times for raising young for example May 1 through August 15 . Area restrictions were proposed by the WG for Chesapeake Bay and the mouth of Bay during the critical time periods.

Please be aware that Lynn Fegley, the director of DNR fisheries and Allison Colden , CBF’s chief scientist who was the Maryland representative on the work group sat in silence when the time came for them to make a persuasive presentation on the options that they favored, the benefits of the options and the benefits to Maryland. A few questions were directed to them about ospreys and striped bass and they gave very incomplete one might say incompetent answers. For example, they could not explain to the questioner the difference between the freshwater ospreys, successful breeding, and the saltwater ospreys that rely on menhaden to survive’s dismal breeding success. This is completely covered in Dr Bryan Watts’s scientific article titled a Tale of Two Bays , but they ignored these well-known sources or had never bothered to read them.

Lynn Fegley and Allison Colden are two very intelligent women who decided to sit mute during the  most important moment that we have ever had for Chesapeake Bay in so far as protecting its food supply. I am quite sure they had read all of the articles about ospreys and that they completely understand the ERP science it says when ospreys and striped bass are in poor condition it is menhaden over harvesting that is to blame. The ERP science was never mentioned. They both know completely, how our Maryland recreational, commercial and charter fishing for striped bass has collapsed but they did not discuss it. Their silence was deafening .

The question is why these two menhaden board leaders did not speak out to convince this board to adopt options to protect Maryland. When the time came for them to make a motion for the board to pass protective options to protect our bay’s food supply, they sat in silence. Because of the inaction of these two people today , there is nothing that is going to happen to prevent the starvation of thousands of osprey babies this season and nothing to prevent more of our charter fishing captains from going out of business and no hope for progress here to restore the bay’s food supply so millions our children could enjoy the bay the way it should be.

If you can find factual evidence as to why this disaster to Chesapeake Bay occurred I hope you will post it on this website so the public will know why this happened

By the way, the end result was this board abdicated its responsibility and kicked the matter back to “discuss” it again in August. You can be sure that in Virginia’s Pat Geer and his cohorts at Omega protein are celebrating victory, once again, tonight., I expect the advocates for menhaden reform are in shock over what happened today.”

Black Stork Nest in Poland: Two hatches on Wednesday!

Golden Eagle Nest in Latvia of Spilve and Gristlis: One egg has hatched. Still watching and waiting to see if the second egg will hatch.

Black Stork Nest of Kergu and Kerli: They are still incubating. The eggs were laid on: Looduskalender Forum listed when the eggs were laid:

1. egg on 21.4.2025, 00:06
2. egg on 22.4.2025, 23:35
3. egg on 24.4.2025, 22:41
4. egg on 27.4.2025, 02:02

Wild Bucovina Golden Eagle Nest 2: Eaglet was stuffed today!

Bety and Bukachek, Mlade Buky, Romania: Incubating two eggs (I think).

Glaslyn: Teifi and Elen have been at the nest. Individuals are observing Aran who is remaining in a familiar place and fishing for himself.

Ladies showing off their osprey eggs!!!!!!! Heidi’s Nest Notes are Visuals today! Love the labels – those really help. Enjoy!

Port Lincoln Ospreys: New has come in that Phantom is alive and well. Fran Solly writes,

“In what surely is the proverbial “needle in a haystack” search we were thrilled to find Phantom this afternoon and to see her with another bird. Phantom is the 2021 female bird from the Price Artificial Platform. She flew to Kangaroo Island shortly after fledge. In October 2024 her tracker stopped operating but locals reported sightings of her. Today we can confirm those sightings with these photos.”

Ospreys of Nova Scotia: Names have been chosen for Oscar and Ethel’s chicks by popular vote: Nova, Russell, and Sunny. Congratulations. Lovely names!

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their posts, comments, notes, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, PB’, Liz Bracken, Norwegian Ospreys, Cornell Red-tail Hawk Cam, SK Hideaways, Montana Osprey Project/Cornell Bird Lab, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Agrippina & Antares Peregrine Falcons, San Jose City Hall Falcon Scrape, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Menhaden- Little Fish, Big Deal FB, Bociany Czame Online, LDF, Looduskalender Forum, Wild Bucovina, Mlade Buky Stork Cam, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dahlgren, Forsythe, Kent Island, Fortis Exshaw, Maryland Western Shore, Cape Henlopen, Port Lincoln Ospreys,