Category Archives: Rutland Water

Big Red has an injury…Tuesday in Bird World

2 April 2024

Hello Everyone,

UPDATED CORRECTION: IT IS LIBERTY AND GUARDIAN’S FIRST CLUTCH. ONE EGG BROKE. I APOLOGISE FOR ANY CONFUSION WHEN I SAID IT WAS THEIR SECOND. REMEMBERING WRONG! THANK YOU SP.

We are starting with Big Red. Many of us watched and wondered about Big Red. Several reported seeing a limp before eggs arrived including myself. It appears that our much beloved Red-tail Hawk at the Cornell Campus has sustained an injury to her foot. Please read the article below for all the information and send positive energy to Big Red, Arthur, and their four eggs.

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The warmth of the sun is pouring into the conservatory. Hugo Yugo is asleep in the blue chair while Missey eyes the top of the cat tree. A woodpecker is at the square suet feeder while the Blue Jays flit back and forth from their nest tree to the feeder loaded with peanuts. Dyson and the last year’s kits have already been to eat and Little Red is still scurrying about.

There is something comforting and stabilising about nature and the change of the seasons. No matter what happens in our lives, life outside of ‘us’ continues. That natural rhythm gives me hope every year as life returns to the garden. The soil warms, the first Crocus will appear, and then the tulips. The leaf buds will pop open on the lilac bushes, and the fragrance of the flowers will envelop the entire space around the third week in May. This year also brings new promise as the Black-capped Chickadees are making a nest in two trees in the garden. It is a first. Normally, they nest in the very large Blue Spruce across the road. If deemed safe, Junior and his mate will bring the new Blue Jay fledglings this summer, and we will also have a deck full of baby Crows. Seriously, I cannot wait. That reminds me – both ‘Boyfriends’ have been to the feeding station today. Are they brothers?

The top is the ‘original’ Boyfriend that came to the deck with Calico. He has 2/3 of a white bow tie.

This one has only a part of a bow tie. The one below is actually the friendlier of the pair.

The central heating is off, and nothing made me think I needed a jumper or socks this morning. Today will be a day for a trip to the country or time spent whipping the deck into shape. It is getting there. This year, I will put up privacy screens to become a trellis for climbing flowers for the hummers and bees. Everything is going to be red – hopefully, it will be inviting. There is a new outdoor carpet to replace the old soiled and faded one. I dislike them immensely, those carpets. Most are plastic. This one is made out of recycled fizzy drink bottles, but the energy consumed in manufacturing the original bottles and now this carpet is probably much. I should try and find out. I have the carpet for a single reason – the feral cats. It covers the spaces between the boards and keeps the snow and rain from going under the deck where the outdoor cats often sleep.

It all feels different today – like spring really is coming. It was something we would only dream of on 1 April several years ago.

Megan Boardman spent Easter weekend at Rutland Water, where she took some amazing images of the Ospreys. Megan has happily and generously allowed me to share these with you. She holds the copyright. Do not share them with anyone – just enjoy them here. Thank you, Megan!

Maya in the nest with Blue 33 on the perch.

Megan caught the moment that the intruder arrived at the nest as Maya was laying her first egg. Blue 33 went into action to chase them away!

The first chase.

The intruder comes for the second time. Megan says that it was ‘an action filled day’.

Megan writes, “After things calm down (and first egg laid during the chaos), 33 brings fluff to the nest and Maya flies to wash her talons.”

I am a sap for Blue 33. Here he is protecting Maya again today.

Maya laid their second egg at Rutland this morning.

Sadly, intruders can cause damage and on Monday one of those caused Mother Goose to lose one of her eggs at Decorah.

As you will note from Alison’s terrific commentary, Leaper and Little Jersey are doing quite well at Duke Farms. There has been a big turnaround in food deliveries and life has settled back to being civilised. It is the ‘cherry’ on top of the sundae when life returns to normal without an eaglet being lost in the process.

‘A’ stayed up til the middle of the night (she lives in Australia) to give you this morning round up at Duke. “

Another fish came in at Duke Farms, courtesy of dad, just before 08:05. It is whole and medium in size. There is still half of the breakfast fish left nearby on the nest. Mum is brooding the eaglets and doesn’t get up. Dad leaves again 30 seconds later, knowing better than to attempt to take any fish with him. It is raining this morning, and mum shelters the eaglets, doing her best mumbrella. Just before 08:11, dad is in with ANOTHER fish, a little smaller than the last one but whole. Dad stands there for a bit, periodically looking down at his fish, then flies off the nest at 08:11:50. At 11:04:35, dad is in with yet another whole fish. This is getting ridiculous. He surveys the fish buffet in front of him – three whole fish and a half fish left over from breakfast – actually looking from one to another, to another. I think even he is astonished. Dad leaves at 11:04:49. 

At around 11:20, mum finally gets up and shakes her wings to get rid of the water, while the chicks scramble to get up from beneath her. This leaves Jersey front and centre at the table, and as mum flaps her wings to remove the water, one of her wings strikes Leaper, who immediately grabs Jersey by the back of the nape, though she quickly lets go and herself goes into submission. She is quickly up again while Jersey remains tucked. Mum surveys the brunch selection and chooses the smallest of the three whole fish to begin feeding Leaper. Jersey remains tucked though facing the table. Leaper interrupts her eating to back up for a huge PS (11:21:26) then returns to the table. Jersey remains tucked until 11:23:25, when he lifts his head and turns away from the food. Mum is now eating herself. She is hungry. She downs the last third of the fish, including the tail, as a single mouthful. 

She then moves to a second whole fish. Leaper, who had left the feeding and sat down on the far side of Jersey, who had finally turned towards the table, suddenly changes her mind, turns around and heads back towards mum. This causes Jersey to turn away from the table again. Seeing that mum is offering bites to Leaper, who is refusing almost all of them, Jersey gains the courage to turn around and move up to the table beside his sister, though he is still nervous. Mum ignores both of them, continuing to eat herself. She appears very hungry. It’s a while since I’ve seen her eat fast and greedily like this. She sure deserves it. When Leaper shakes her head, Jersey leans away slightly. He remains nervous. 

Finally, mum reaches out towards Jersey with a bite. He shuffles a couple of paces closer to mum, half-turning away from Leaper as he does so, and grabs the bite. It is his first of the feeding. (Leaper has eaten about half a fish at this feeding so far.) Mum continues to feed Jersey big juicy fishy bites with no objection from Leaper, who is full, so sits watching her brother eat. He is still a bit slow to take bites, nervous of his sister, and is still grabbing at the food rather than eating in a leisurely and relaxed manner. At 11:27:20 Leaper moves towards mum, causing Jersey to turn away, but she is just changing position and has finished eating, so Jersey immediately looks over his shoulder and grabs the next bite. He then eats and eats, and some of the bites are very large. It is a lovely juicy fleshy fish. 

Around 11:29, he refuses a bite – he is too full (he started the feeding with a crop from breakfast), so does a crop drop and accepts the next bite offered. She is very patient with him, offering pieces several times, moving slowly and carefully around him so as not to startle him, turning her head to make a bite easier for him to access – she really is a special mum. I have grown to love and admire her so much over the past week. She has been amazing. Jersey is still eating at 11:30 but is looking as though he cannot fit much more. There is still one whole fish and two half fish (one large, one smaller) left on the nest. Both eaglets have gigantic crops. Again. He refuses a big bite at 11:30:30. Mum waits for a bit, and at 11:31:16 Jersey accepts the next bite she offers and then continues to eat. At 11:32, having refused a bite, Jersey crop drops but still cannot fit in the next bite mum offers either. 

After a short period where he was too full to take the proffered bites, Jersey resumes accepting food. Mum is stuffing him to the brim. A couple of crop drops shortly before 11:35 don’t make enough room for more food, so Jersey refuses some bites but then accepts a very large piece, and another bite, around 11:35:30. Mum is working on the last of this second fish now. The rain, which has never entirely stopped, is now getting steadily heavier and the eaglets are starting to look more than a little damp. By 11:36 mum is eating virtually all of the mouthfuls herself. She tries hard to persuade him to take just one more bite around 11:37 but he says no, eventually underlining his point by backing off and then turning away. The feed officially ends. 

Jersey is full and being soaked by the rain, so he heads for the centre of the nest and tries to dive headfirst under his sister, but is thwarted by her immense crop. He tries again, and there is some general shuffling of eaglets, after which he succeeds in tucking some of his head under Leaper’s crop He keeps trying to find a way to burrow under his sister, and eventually, at 11:40, mum comes over from where she has been standing on the rails, does a little aerating behind the two eaglets, and then settles down to shelter the pair from the continuing rain. What a wonderful mum. 

There is still one medium-large whole fish and one large part of another fish on the nest, along with a scattering of leftovers from the two fish that have already been almost completely demolished this morning (mum has left the second one as a skeleton with something that looks like a jawbone attached to one end and perhaps part of a tail at the other – slim pickings from that carcass I suspect). So there is lunch and dinner on this nest already, regardless of how busy an afternoon the parents have. Now that the rain appears to have set in, that may be a very good thing. 

At 12:26, mum stands up and flaps her wings, sending sprays of water in all directions. Another burst of flapping, and she leaves the nest soon after. The eaglets snuggle up together – it is still raining steadily, though not too heavily. As I type this, it is 13:10 and Jersey is sleeping with his head tucked as far under his sister’s right wing as possible. Both are in food comas, even as they are being soaked by the continuing rainfall. They have their thermal down now – this is the world of grown-up eaglets. (I think they’d prefer being brooded by mum over youthful independence just now.) I hope their mumbrella is back soon. I do hope she is not out fishing!!”

Monday morning and that beautiful peachy orange of the sun is waking up the land at Decorah North.

Those babies are kissed by its rays and Mum is ready with breakfast.

Guardian and Liberty laid a second clutch. They so wanted a family and here they are with two little bobbleheads at Redding. Doesn’t it feel nice?

The breakfast fish seems to be coming in around 0900 or 1000 at Moorings Park. Perhaps I am missing an earlier delivery. Little Tuffie did not seem interested in the first feeding but caught up during the second. The fish was nice and big and there was still much good flesh left for the third meal.

Both osplets are scooting out of the egg cup but Ruffy is the real expert so far.

Due to Ruffy’s long neck and bigger size, Tuffy has to work a bit harder to get food.

Look closely. They are changing. The back of their heads. The feathers are disappearing and that black oily tar colour is appearing as the two softly enter the Reptilian stage.

Notice the difference in plumage at Frenchman’s Creek Osprey nest. These three are getting their juvenile feathers. A really big fish is on the nest for breakfast Monday and the little third hatch is up at Mum’s beak getting first bites.

It looks like the third hatch got a bit of a private feeding later.

‘AE’ sent some images of the Patchogue Osprey platform. Mum and Dad have worked hard to repair the disturbance caused when the nest was flipped upside down. The egg area is quite small compared to last year but it appears that the eggs will not roll out. Might we hope for only two? And as ‘AE’ notes, the plastic bags continue to be brought to the nest.

She also sent us a screen capture of the eaglet at JB Sands Wetlands. Just look at how big s/he is! Dad did a fine job caring for the eaglet and Mum just like Arthur is doing for Big Red. Look at those gorgeous wings!

‘MP’ writes that Barbara Walker, the Manager of the Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue, has undertaken to put up the necessary deterrents out of ‘high quality’ materials at the Achieva Credit Union Osprey nest of Jack and Diane who lost their eggs and two-day old chick. The precise reason for the eggs to be found under the nest and the demise of the little osplet has never been determined. Thank you, Barbara! – from all of us.

Watching for Iris to return to Hellgate Canyon.

The Owl Pole where Iris loves to eat the whoppers she pulls out of the local river.

Iris’s nest. It will be the best nest on the continent – Iris does an amazing job of keeping it in tiptop condition. Her ‘train’ is also waiting. When she arrives you will hear my scream all the way to Rio! Or Melbourne.

LJ2 working on the nest at Llyn Brenig.

Libby and Branson have returned to their nest at the Lochter Activity Centre in Scotland.

Today there were four eagles at the Dulles-Greenway nest.

The couple at the Wetlands Institute Osprey nest (there are five and this is one of them) are back working on their nest this year in hopes of raising a family.

There is a pip on Monday afternoon at the ND-LEEF nest! Congratulations!

Is there a second hatch at Centreport?

At the NCTC nest of Bella and Scout, the rain is coming down. Bella is protecting her precious eggs in the hope of fledging eaglets off this nest this year.

Chicks doing well at Little Miami Conservancy. And another one hatched this morning, LM3. Now there are three.

A lovely radio interview on BBC Radio Scotland about Louis and Dorcha at Loch Arkaig.

Dorcha and Louis make the BBC news.

Louis pretending he is a penguin delivering Dorcha a fish!

The Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society has put up a new nest for Ollie and his mate at Norwalk. It is a beauty. His nest often got washed out to sea with the high tides. They hope this will help. Ollie has returned home and is waiting for his mate. There is also a new camera. I am trying to locate the link for you.

Note the lovely mesh below the frame.

This was a storm that hit Ollie’s nest in 2022. The nest is on Long Island Sound.

Many have asked about Dmitri. You will recall he rescued the little storklet – the one Mamma Stork was killing – and raised it to fledge. Then Dmitri required surgery. He is well and fixing the stork nest for this year! Thank you to all who helped. He says he is “so happy to be alive and for the birds arriving back from Africa”.

At Utica, Astrid has laid her fourth falcon egg of the season!

Which brings me to Angel and Tom. Our dear ‘A’ is very worried about them and the fact that there are no eggs. I wonder if it is possible that they have another nest this year? or are they just a little late?

The latest word on R6:

The White Storks in Goggling Germany now have 5 eggs!

I love gulls and I purchase chips for them whenever I am at the beach or at Lockport by the dam. Do you feed gulls chips?

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Did I ever tell you how marvellous it is to still have story time with the girls? At least once a day, and always at 1900, we gather in the conservatory and I read to the cats. It all began with Calico and her needing to recognise my voice and to trust me. She was in a little room, my old office, and I would go in with a book and her meal. She would eat, cuddle on my lap (yes I sat on the floor) and I would read to her. She has a preference for certain author’s voices. It has been a wonderful way for me to keep up with my reading and for all four of them to gather together. I now know that volunteers at the raptor centres read to the ambassador birds. They are no different than humans – all living things need stimulation and love. I ordered a number of books before the end of 2023 because part of my year was a promise to cut down on the book orders. I have ordered three books so far which has to be an all time low for me during the winter when there is time to read! So, ‘The Girls’ and I are working through that stack of books during story time. Next up is Chris Packham’s Birdwatching From Beginning to Birder. Will keep you posted as we finish up Tim Mackrill’s The Osprey. Review coming up later this week.

Missey looking at the bookshelf to see if she can find a book for story time.

It was a delight to see that animal skins and feathers are being banned from fashion week in Copenhagen. It could be the start of something special. No more animals bred and kept for the fashion industry!

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Thank you so much for being with me today. All of the nests appear to be doing fine with the exception of Big Bear and Two Harbours where disappointment at a lack of hatch touches all of our hearts. All of the eaglets in the nest and all eggs being incubated appear to be in good order this Tuesday morning. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, photographs, videos, screen captures, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘A, AE, Geemeff, H, J, MB, MP, SP, TU’, Cornell Bird Lab, Megan Boardman, LRWT, SK Hideaways, Duke Farms, Raptor Resource Project, FORE, Moorings Park Ospreys, Frenchman’s Creek, AE-PSEG, MP-Achieva, Montana Osprey Project, Llyn Brenig, Lochter Activity Centre, Dulles Greenway, Wetlands Institute, ND-LEE, Centreport Eagles, Little Miami Conservancy, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC, Geemeff, LRWT, Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society, @Stork40, Utica Falcon Cam, Windows to Wildlife, Jeanne Kaufman, The Guardian, Goggling Germany White Storks and SPO, and Amazon.

The boys are back in town…Sunday in Bird World

31 March 2024

Good Morning Everyone!

For those celebrating Easter, may you have a lovely peaceful day full of family and friends.

Calico made me promise – since I embarrassed her so much several weeks ago – that I would show you her new ‘slender’ figure. She has lost more than two pounds on her new cat food and is really beginning to run and play with the other girls.

Calico is actually sitting under a chair staying out of Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope’s way. They have been jostling for the ‘Queen of the Cat’ Tree crown all morning.

Baby Hope held the throne, the orb, and the sceptre for a few minutes. She basked in the happiness of being able to have a front row seat in order to see the little squirrels running back and forth with their peanuts.

It was only a short time until Hugo Yugo ousted Hope. And then it began all over again!

They make me tired.

There were four Blue Jays in the garden today! It looks like both bonded pairs have returned. I watched carefully. The pair whose tree was cut down has found a new home and Junior and his partner are in the Maple across the back lane.

I did not come up with the title today. Jeff Kear wrote it in a comment, but it is so true. Now, I can’t get the tune out of my mind. The Boys are truly back in town. Idris and Aran returned to Telyn and Elen and their nests in Wales on Saturday, March 30th.

All is well in Glaslyn. Aran and his new mate, Elen, will have their second breeding year together. They had two lovely fledglings in 2023, and Elen proved to be an incredible first-time mother.

Aran marked his arrival with a huge fish! I bet that tasted good after such a long migration.

Idris brought a huge fish for Telyn and then worked on their nest. Talk about egg-cited. Joan Brady got the screen capture!

Dorcha also arrived on Saturday, arriving at the nest and soaking wet. Louis was quick to get a fish to her and pick up on their bonding! She always reminds me of Mrs G with that gorgeous dark plumage.

Louis and Dorcha’s reunion.

If you missed it, Blue 33 and Maya have the first egg of the UK Osprey season for 2024. Her gentle little chirps called out to Blue 33 to come and see.

Each of us has a warm spot for a bird – maybe several. Tegid, Z1 of the “White Egg”, was one of Monty’s lads. He has a mate – an Unringed Female -and they have been raising osplets at a private nest in Wales for several years. Tegid is the brother of Aeron Z2 at the Port Cresor nest near Glaslyn’s Aran and Elen.

Dylan and Seren’s lad, Blue 496 from 2021, landed at Lock Arkaig, and then, guess what? He flew home to be near Mum and Dad, landing on nest two at Llyn Clywedog on Saturday. Oh, and might we hope for a beautiful female to arrive, too?

No ospreys at Llyn Brenig yet.

BirdGuides celebrates the arrival of CJ7 and Blue 022 at Poole Harbour.

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Everything is calm at the Duke Farms nest, and Jersey had at least one massive crop on Saturday. Jersey and Leaper even ate side by side. Can you believe it?

The time stamps and big crops tell the story of the morning.

At 1640 there were lots of fish tails on the Duke Farms nest. Looks like no one is going to go hungry today.

‘A’ gives us another terrific narrative of what part of the day at Duke Farms nest was like for little Jersey! “Jersey gets fed a very good breakfast. He did start off snatching at the bites but gained confidence as the feeding progressed and he suffered no attacks from his sister. It was wonderful to watch. Such a happy wee eaglet. Just after 9am, he takes a huge piece and turns away to eat it. Leaper has decided she could do with seconds so has headed back to the table. Mum has a bite to offer Jersey, but is waiting for him to finish dealing with the immense piece he had just grabbed. As Leaper approaches Jersey, she decides it would be a good idea to pacify her by giving her that bite. She gets another, and considers giving it to Leaper, but changes her mind and turns towards Jersey, again waiting for him to have an empty beak! As Leaper moves closer to him, Jersey gets nervous and turns away, so mum gives a couple of bites to Leaper. But Jersey regains his confidence and moves back towards mum, so that he is actually pushing in front of Leaper. Mum is working hard on the last piece of the fish. The second she has it ready, Jersey snatches it, even before she has raised her head to offer him the bite. The fish is finished. Mum moves around the nest looking for stray pieces, which she feeds Leaper, who happens to be closest when she finds a scrap or two. Jersey has a very nice crop. At 09:02:35, mum finds the other half of the fish dad brought in at 08:55 – it appears he bit it in half and mum has only fed the chicks one of the two halves. She gives two bites to Leaper and then drags the partial fish over to where Jersey is on the rails and begins feeding him again. She drags the fish even closer to Jersey and further away from Leaper. This is definitely the larger half of the fish. Jersey is now less nervous, with Leaper quite a distance from him. He eats and eats. When mum offers him the tail, sideways, he politely refuses it so mum downs it herself. She cleans the table, feeding Jersey any leftovers she can find and he takes them, even though his crop is now noticeably larger than his head. Just as the final flake is gone, at 09:09:45, dad is in with another fish. He has unzipped it a little on one side but it is otherwise whole. Mum immediately takes charge of the fish. Both eaglets have absolutely gigantic crops and surely could not fit another single bite. Jersey staggers over to Leaper and flops down beside her, forming a fuzzy ball of happy eaglet in the centre of the nest. Dad comes over to check on their bedding, spreading a little grass behind the pair. TOO cute. He is still on the nest and has turned back to survey his fish. Mum begins her warning vocals (the ‘do not even think about taking this fish’ ones). The look on her face is absolutely clear. This is a mum protecting her babies’ food. She means business. Dad is suitably chagrined and leaves at 09:10:20. Obviously aware the eaglets need no more food at this moment, she heads into the centre of the nest to check on her eaglets. She does a little aerating and tidying, feeds a tiny food scrap or two to Leaper. Jersey turns around to face the table. The two are now both facing the same way but still snuggled up close. Just look at those cute little tail buds and round bottoms. Both are looking a bit woolly and oh so cute. Little Jersey only has half his white head feathers, Leaper having spat out the others after ripping them from Jersey’s head last week. Jersey has quite the individual hair style as a result. Mum returns to the fish and looks around and upwards. She vocalises threateningly at something above from 09:18:25-34 (probably warning dad not to take the fish if she leaves it). She continues to look around in all directions for another minute or two. More threatening vocals from 09:19 to 09:19:15. She is sitting over the fish and has her very stern look on. At 09:22:30 dad lands on the opposite side of the nest with YET ANOTHER whole fish. This one is medium-sized and very much still alive. Mum stays where she is but immediately begins with her warning vocals. He stays where he is, surveying his fish. Mum is not looking his way, so he is perhaps assessing his options. What does a man have to do to get a decent sushi breakfast around here after all? This is his third fish of the morning. When is it his turn to eat? But mum continues with her unambiguous warnings. Dad is looking down at the fish, then up at mum, then back to his fish. It is just TOO funny. I wonder who will win this battle of wills? Any bets? Of course, mum. Dad admits defeat, and shortly after 09:24, he flies off the nest. I’m starting to feel a bit sorry for dad. Eat the next catch away from the nest, I suggest. He deserves one. Mum goes and stands over the floppy fish perhaps to protect the chicks from it. There is some shuffling in the cuddle puddle as Jersey makes his way to the table and moves confidently up to mum’s beak, with Leaper literally against his back. Just after 09:31, mum begins feeding Jersey, and despite the massive crop he has, he takes the bites. Leaper is in a food coma. Jersey should be too, but having learnt the hard way that you eat whatever is in front of you, he is stuffing himself further. By 09:32, after a dozen or so bites, he is having trouble, so tries a couple of small crop drops. Mum waits for him. He continues to eat. Mum downs the tail. At about 09:33:30, another small crop drop. He is really struggling now. That crop looks uncomfortable but he soldiers on. Another small crop drop just after 09:34. He takes four or five tries at the next bite and eventually swallows it. Another small crop drop. This crop is getting ridiculous. His crop drops are small – I am not sure whether he has much room for them either!! Perhaps he has not yet fully mastered the technique. By 09:35:30 mum is having to literally force food into Jersey, who is leaning back, away from the food, as if to say ‘please mum, no more!’ but she is slow on the uptake and keeps offering the piece. Sometimes after four or five attempts, usually involving the spitting out of the food, Jersey usually manages to get the bite down. But at this point, he really has had significantly more than enough. Around 09:37 Jersey seems to get a second wind (or a second stomach), as he leans forward to grab a couple of big bites. But it is short-lived and by 09:37:30, he cannot eat another flake.”

Thank you, ‘A’ – we love your narratives. You should write a book! 

Leaper and Jersey shared breakfast Sunday morning. Jersey is doing the snatch and grab but still nervous if their beaks touch. Meanwhile, both are learning how to scale a fish! Fingers crossed for another good day with lots of fish in the nest. Notice that both have their thermal down and that their pin feathers are coming in.

In San Jose, Hartley laid her fourth egg of the 2024 Peregrine Falcon season keeping up with Annie and Archie. Monty, you are going to be busy!

Monty managed all those eggs for incubation!

The camera is back up and running and sometimes off again at Two Harbours. The egg is rolled. No visible pip yet.

Chase and Cholyn are 26 years old and have been together for 21 years. This only egg was laid on the 22nd of February. Today it is 39 days old. I am hoping for a pip under there!

Pair of eaglets at Decorah North are sooooo cute.

The pair at Little Miami Conservancy are pretty sweet, too.

The view isn’t as good as some, but the pair at Kansas City are also doing very well.

There is a big of a mystery going on at Berry College. Missey continues to cover up newly hatched B17 and the egg is now completely covered – B17 is sitting on the grasses covering the egg. That egg is 40 days old today and Missey knew it was unviable.

Port Tobacco’s only eaglet is doing just fine.

Second eaglet Sunday morning at Denton Homes.

At Bluff City, Oliver is growing nicely.

At Johnson City, JC23 and JC24 are getting their juvenile feathers.

Ruffie and Tuffy had an early breakfast fish from Harry at Moorings Park and several fish throughout the day. Food is plentiful.

Tom is home with Audrey at the Chesapeake Conservancy Osprey nest.

The ospreys at Moraine have a beautiful nest! Thanks, ‘L’!

Big Red and Arthur continue incubating their four eggs. Meanwhile there is no sign of an egg with Angel and Tom.

R6 fledged today from the WRDC nest!

Dedication and love. Plus hope. Sadly, there will not be a hatch at Big Bear this year for Jackie and Shadow. If only someone had airlifted an eaglet in for them.

Across the US, in NE Florida, Gabby and Beau continue to work on their nest with dreams of 2025, too.

In Eagle Country, Swampy and Meadow dream about flying – while they wait for the right time to arrive.

Toni Hoover reports that Rosa is back with Lewis in the nest at Dulles-Greenway.

Both Ospreys are home at the very popular German nest, Goitzsche Wildnis.

There is an osprey back at Great Bay. Sadly, the couple lost all their chicks in 2023 due to weather and starvation (one had to be euthanised). The nest is in Greenland, New Hampshire.

There are two little Great Horned owlets at the Wolf Bay Osprey Nest in Alabama this year.

The third hatch at the Venice Golf and Country Club is so tiny compared to its two older siblings who are entering the reptilian phase. For some reason, this nest is making me a little bit nervous this year.

Nest renovations are well underway for the pair at the Bridge Golf Club osprey platform.

In the UK, Black-necked Grebes had a remarkable breeding year. Bravo!

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A lovely opinion piece sent to me by my friend Wicky Woo for all of us to enjoy! Birding is one of the best ways to avoid the therapists’s couch!!!!!!!! That is what Calico tells me.

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Thought or the week:

Thank you so much for being with us today. It was busy. There are nests not included, but as far as I know, JB Sands and Frenchman’s Creek. I have not heard of a hatch at Gainesville, but we are monitoring Two Harbours. There is a rumour of a hatch at Centreport on the 29th of March but no confirmation of feeding, and there is a pip watch underway Saturday night at ND-LEEF. Take care everyone. See you soon! For those celebrating Easter, the very best wishes for the day.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, J, L, SP, WW’, Jeff Kear, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Geemeff, LRWT, Welsh Osprey, The Woodland Trust, Llyn Brenig, Bridge Golf Club Osprey Cam, BirdGuides, Duke Farms, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore.org, Raptor Resource Project, Little Miami Conservancy, Farmer Derek, Sharon Lee, Port Tobacco, Yale Sharon, Bluff City-ETSU, Johnson City-ETSU, Moorings Park, Heidi McGrue, PIX Cams, Cornell RTH cam, Wolf Bay, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Toni Hoover, Goitzsche Wildness, Eagle Country, The New York Times, and David Suzuki.

Hatches and Intruders…Friday in Bird World

22 Mark 2024

Hi Everyone,

It was a gorgeous sunny day on the Canadian Prairies. There was blue sky, little wind, and it wasn’t a bad temperature.

There was a wonderful surprise in the garden – Hedwig appeared! I tried to be ever so careful as to not scare her away. Hoping for bunnies under the peony plant again.

The Little Reds continued to store peanuts while the Chickadees flitted from branch to feeder eating seed. Dyson has been at the table feeder several times a day. She is looking food. I cannot think of anything more relaxing. Calico was on my lap sleeping, Missey was on the wicker having a nap, Hugo Yugo was on top of the cat tree, and Baby Hope was on my bed. The world seems just right with itself.

As I write this there is a hatch happening at Moorings Park! How fantastic. Harry has been checking in on Sally and the progress anxious to see the first baby of 2024.

The hatch at Kansas City is with us! It feels like a really good day – full of joyful news. The little one at the Kansas City Bald Eagle nest is strong! Congratulations to Ellie, Harvey, Farmer Derek and his family.

We were concerned about the talon of the Bald Eagle female at the J Bunker Sands nest in Texas. I mentioned how raptors adapt to the events that cause them injury. One of the first that comes to mind is Ma Berry of the Berry College Eagle Nest. Today, ‘ MC reminded me of an informative article by Roy Dennis on White-tail Eagle 646, who lost a leg. It is a good read and one that provides much hope to us who worry when we see injured raptors.

The-explorer-returns-Roy-Dennis-Wildlife-FoundationDownload

Make a note that pip/hatch watch for the second clutch at Berry Eagles is this weekend.

The third egg arrived Thursday morning for Lucy and her new mate at Lake Murray. Time: 08:24.

There have been several attacks on Osprey females. Edie at the Captiva Nest – she is incubating four eggs – was attacked by another Osprey. (more images later in the blog)

Blue NCO was attacked by a Tawny Owl. She returned to the nest seemingly unharmed. Sorry Laddie. I don’t think you are going to come home…can someone please send Blue NCO a nice great fishing young male?

Here she is later working on her nest and looking beyond the horizon for her mate.

For the fans of Glacier Gardens Bald Eagles, Liberty and Freedom, they are home!

At Rutland, Maya and Blue 33 both have the old snake eye on Friday. Is Maya getting a little eggy?

No one at Glaslyn yet.

Llyn Brenig. They will make quick work out of those sticks. No one home as yet.

I would like to have some of the rain that is falling at Llyn Brenig and at Llyn Clywedog. No sign of Dylan or Seren 5F yet.

No one has checked in at Alyth.

Windy up at Loch Arkaig with precipitation during the night. Waiting for Dorcha and Louis.

The Osprey nests in the UK have the most beautiful natural settings. Poole Harbour is no exception. Waiting for CJ7 and Blue 022 to return.

One of the big differences—besides the sheer number of Ospreys—is how many in the UK get to enjoy the landscape and the rivers away from urban settings. So many of the ospreys on the streaming cams in the US live in towns, villages, and cities with pavement under them instead of rolling hills and trees.

Pip watch starts for Chase and Cholyn on the 29th at Two Harbours.

The Thunder babies are doing very well, indeed. Akecheta is an incredible Dad that takes part in the feedings more often than not. Some varied prey and well, Mama Thunder is one of the best.

The little one crawls out of the nest bowl hoping to get some of that nice fish before its siblings!

‘A’ adores this nest like I do. “

At West End, I really didn’t need the long shot of the nest on the face of a cliff that we were given at 16:21 yesterday – I am now absolutely terrified of what might happen when those three become mobile because it’s a long, long fall down that sheer cliff face. Very scary indeed. Now, when they go near the edge, I’ll know exactly what they’re looking down at!!! I do hope it scares them as much as it did me. 

Hopefully, Akecheta and Thunder will keep that nest as full of fish and those chicks as stuffed to the gills as they have been thus far. These three are just gorgeous fluffy little bundles. The older two have their moments, but wee WE tends to steer clear of them and manages not to antagonise its older siblings. Somehow, it always seems to end up in the middle of the line at feedings, waiting back until the others have eaten a bit and then pushing forward and stretching for some bites. All three are getting fed. 

At about 16:20, with the older pair in food comas, Akecheta takes the opportunity to give the youngest a private feeding. The little one is bold, and even when one of the others wakes up and dad tries feeding it too, baby stands up and grabs for the bites (and gets them). By the time its siblings fully wake up around 16:28, wee WE has a good crop (though continues to eat, maintaining front position and reaching for bites without any fear whatsoever of its older siblings behind. It never looks either in the eye, and this largely seems to keep the wee one out of any trouble. 

These two parents are able to fledge three chicks because they are dedicated in the extreme. They don’t get bored with feeding. They feed until there are no beaks left open (or the fish is gone). They feed frequently to ensure that if one misses out a bit at a feeding, it makes up for it at the next. And Akecheta definitely keeps an eye out for wee WE. I know we keep saying it, but in general, a lot of these males definitely DO take special care to look after the youngest eaglet more than the mums do, though of course there are some exceptions). “

E23 was high in the nest tree overlooking the Pritchett Property in a beautiful heraldic pose. Mum and Dad continue to provide lots of different prey and still enjoy feeding their only eaglet of 2024. What a precious one s/he is to them.

Sadly, the food deliveries at Bluff City have been few and far between. On Thursday late there had been nothing but a small fish and that arrived on Wednesday morning. Oliver continually attacks Willow. Hunger is a terrible thing. I am concerned that Willow will not survive.

The situation at Johnson City looks alright.

Things appear to be fine and the chicks are doing well and practising flapping their wings at Duke Farms.

Pepe and Mahludy’s eaglets, Dixie and Mason, are over a month old. Both are doing exceptionally well.

Swampy and Meadow survived their early ‘play fights’. They are now good buddies, and we are all going to miss them when they fledge. What a joy it has been to watch the nest of Blaze and Abby.

Cal may look out over Captiva Island, but he still enjoys being fed by one of his parents, Connie or Clive. I can only imagine that as time nears, when Cal will go his own way for a while, they also want to spend much time with him.

At the Captiva Osprey nest, Edie and Jack have had to protect their nest repeatedly by other Ospreys attacking. They are incubating four precious eggs.

Caught an Osprey for a second on the South Cape May Meadows nest. Last year Mum lost her mate and all three osplets due to the storm and starvation. It was a sad event to watch. We hope that the situation is better for 2024.

PA Farm Country Eagles have their second hatch! Seems like they just had the first. This is good news.

Bonnie and Clyde of Cardinal Land Conservancy have their first hatch! Gosh, there will be a lot of little eaglets in the nests by the end of the month. They are hatching fast and furious now. Let us hope for nest success.

A lovely image by Lloyd Brown of Rita in her new home. Grateful she will have a life of fish and clean baths, but wish she was flying free.

Darling Shadow continues to bring Jackie her breakfast in bed at Big Bear.

Big Red and Arthur continued to do a lot of incubation shift changes on Thursday.

There will now be legal safeguards for the birds of prey in Scotland – an attempt to protect them from the killing and shooting of the grouse moors. But will it be enough? I tend to think that the archaic practice of beaten grouse hunting should be obliterated altogether.

Scottish-grouse-moors-to-be-licensed-in-attempt-to-protect-birds-of-prey-Birds-The-GuardianDownload

The weather will play a significant factor in the lives of our beloved feathered friends this year. It is dry in Winnipeg. We had little snow compared to some years and we desperately need rain. There could be many more wildfires across my country this summer and record-breaking temperatures that will test even the best raptor families.

Weatherwatch-record-winter-warmth-may-not-be-good-news-for-birds-Climate-crisis-The-GuardianDownload

Our raptors would be in the funeral line, too. Not enough trees, not enough platforms, not enough fish in some regions. They need our help. The Earth needs our help.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. We hope to see you again soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘H, J, MC’, Moorings Park Ospreys, Farmer Derek Bald Eagles (Kansas City Bald Eagles), Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, SPO, Lake Murray Ospreys, Heidi McGrue, Geemeff, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Glacier Gardens, LRWT, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Llyn Brenig, Llyn Clywedog, Alyth SS, Woodland Trust, Poole Harbour, IWS/Explore.org, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Bluff City-ETSU, Johnson City-ETSU, Duke Farms, Superbeaks, Eagle Country, Window to Wildlife, SCMM, PA Farm Country Eagles, HDonTap, Lloyd Brown, SK Hideaways, Cornell RTH Cam, and The Guardian.

Cal fledges…Maya is home…Wednesday in Bird World

13 March 2024

Good Morning,

‘The Girls’ hope that your week has really started off nicely. They are enjoying all the warm weather because it means there is more squirrel and bird activity in the garden. They have a panoramic view and seem to stay out there most daylight hours.

Hugo Yugo was supposed to have her surgery on Friday at noon. It’s been on the calendar for months, but it was a ‘maybe if the vet surgeon has room’ date. So, I am waiting to hear tomorrow to see if there is space on Saturday. We wait. It is a universal problem: too few vets. Clinics are booked months in advance. Those who do reduced-cost work for the rescues take the rescue kittens when they have an open slot only.

Of course, Hugo Yugo needs her eye wipes. We use them several times a day and she still gets those little crusties. She is the loudest. Her meow could be heard in Toronto if they had their windows open! The smallest with the voice that lets you know she wants ‘something’ (normally kitten milk) and the biggest one that never makes a peep. What a group – love them to bits.

Calico does try to get away from Calico Kitty Kitty. Doesn’t she look exasperated and tired?

More Canada Geese are arriving! We can hear them honking over the conservatory as they fly into the city heading for the open water in parts of the river. People have spotted crocus coming up and they are saying that spring is really here. Having seen far too many blizzards around the beginning of May, I remain a little sceptical.

Somehow there always seems to be several small bags of bird seed in my pockets or in the car. These two have flown a long way to find the Duck Pond frozen solid at the zoo. I felt very sorry for them.

I am terribly grateful for the eaglets that we have this year. There have been many failed nests, many new dads, and many missing from major nests. Like so many others, I am grateful for Jackie and Shadow and their comic love in Big Bear. For Gabby and Beau who have had two years without eaglets but continue working on the nest. I hope Scout continues to work out for Bella….and that all the bobbleheads in the nests now fledge and thrive.

Top news of the morning. Cal, the only surviving eaglet of Clive and Connie at Captiva, fledged this morning, Wednesday the 13th of March at 0912. Thanks, ‘H’ for that great incoming news. Congratulations! Please return to the nest!

There is great news coming out of the UK. Blue NCO arrived and went fishing and caught a super Brown Trout on Monday. Another ‘queen of the nests’ arrived today in very good physical shape.

Maya, the favoured osprey to arrive first, arrived second. She appeared on the nest she shares with Blue 33 at Rutland Water’s Manton Bay on Tuesday.

Unringed Maya and Blue 33 are considered to be a super osprey couple. They have successfully raised two clutches of four to fledge and no less than 20 chicks. She had 11 chicks with her previous partner, and at least 5 of them are known to have returned from their migration. Great DNA and luck.

Here is her bio from Rutland Water. Please note that recent hatches and fledges and returns do not seem to appear.

About-the-Rutland-Ospreys-Leicestershire-and-Rutland-Wildlife-TrustDownload

On Monday, the two eaglets at Bluff City, tiny little bundles, were alone. it caused worry amongst watchers. They also did not get dinner until late. Was it intruders? Certainly, the eagles are alerting.

Oliver and Willow continued to enjoy the rabbit that Franklin brought to the nest. Oliver did bonk Willow some, but the little one did manage to get a good feed.

At Johnson City, Jolene has had good control and both of the eaglets have eaten well without a lot of anxiety. ‘J’ wonders when they got so big!

Thunder and Akecheta have high-spirited and healthy eaglets. This year Thunder is 15 years old. She hatched at the Two Harbours nest in 2009. Akecheta is 8 years old and comes from Los Pinos Nest.

I don’t know who said it first but name suggestions for the trio at the West End include: Rock’em, Sock’em, and Good Luck. I laughed til I cried.

The first two hatches are the strong-spirited chicks these two raise. They would rather bonk one another than eat. Do you remember the wonderful job Akecheta did when they had three before? Those triplets grew and thrived under his watchful care, along with Mum, Thunder. They were the 2022 hatches Sky, Ahote, and the group’s female, Kana’kini. I love how Thunder sits on them and stops feeding when they continue to act up. She will have then quiet and lined up to eat before you know it.

Gracie Shepherd caught it – all three at the West End lined up eating nice.

Lady Hawk has a montage of all the bonking battles.

Jak and Audacity continue to hope for a hatch from their single egg at Sauces.

As does Chase and Cholyn, Thunder’s parents, at Two Harbours.

At the Captiva Eagle nest, Cal really wants to spread those wings and fly. Remember that most fledges take place in the early morning or evening. Not on rainy days normally and not when the chick is overly full with a huge crop. There are always exceptions, however.

E23 is a kindred spirit of Cal. He spends more time on the branches, looking out to the wide world, and wants to fly soon. Mamma F23 might want to keep filling her first baby up to the brim to try and get him so heavy he can’t take off! Hopefully, E23 will spend much time at the nest after fledging like M15’s other fledglings with Harriet, so we can enjoy watching him grow into the eagle he will be. (No one has said he is a he…I am going by the length of the mouth in relation to the eye).

Dreaming of flying.

I have not consistently watched the Duke Farms nest. The eaglets are Leaper, the oldest, and Jersey. It looked like they were both fed today. Fingers crossed this continues. Each is using its little wing tips to balance and you will see the two spread the wings as if they want to flap them.

R6 had a nice fish meal around 1100. He is certainly spending a lot of time sitting on the rim of the nest. Branching will come soon enough.

Oh, just look at Swampy and Meadow. They are the richest 90% pure chocolate brown. Beautiful babies…well, not babies anymore. Note that deep chrome yellow colour to their feet. These two are very healthy eaglets! Very healthy.

Latvian White Tail Eagles. Mr H is bringing Milda fish gifts. I get the feeling that eggs will be here soon.

The ladies are fighting over Newman at Spirit Bluff. Lisa and intruder fought in nest box. It was not a pretty sight. Imagine those sweet eyases who do not bonk and then see the fight to the death (sometimes) for a mate and territory.

On Wednesday morning, Big Red and Arthur were actively checking out the nest bowl and the construction going on across Tower Road. We could have eggs anytime!

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care. We look forward to having you with us soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, photographs and screen captures along with the streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J, SP’, Geemeff, LRWT, Bluff City-ETSU, Johnson City-ETSU, IWS/Explore, SW Florida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, Gracie Shepherd, Lady Hawk, Window to Wildlife, Duke Farms, WRDC, Eagle Country, Biruta Lapa, Helen Matcham, MLizGrindstaff, and Cornell RTH Cam.