We were expecting it. Big had been flapping her wings in the rain, getting stronger and stronger, and this morning he took off and returned to the nest like a pro. Time: 10:25:41. Thanks ‘PB’ and Heidi.
Proud Mum Jill and Little watched as Big circled around the nest. Congratulations – this is the most well deserved fledge and just wait til Little flies – maybe at the weekend.
Jill did it with a little help from Jack at the start and a lot of help at the end. Now to keep the fish coming for the fledgling.
This is just wonderful…at one point we feared these two would starve to death but Mum Jill literally taloned up and kept her babies fed. I remain astonished at all she did and so proud of her.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 20th May 2026
Another calm routine day, no alarms or intruders, just rain and fish deliveries and the males taking their turn on the eggs allowing the females to stretch their wings and go off nest to eat. Garry LV0 brought three fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to seventy three, and Louis brought one fish for Dorcha, taking the Nest Two tally to seventy three. The forecast overnight and through tomorrow is more rain, with a low of 7°C and a high of 17°C.
They could hear the chicks at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn in the microphones overnight! Won’t be long!
I love this! Jeff Kear says, “SO TODAY COULD BE BUSY.
With possible hatches at:- DYFI, POOLE HARBOUR, LOCH DOON and KIELDER NEST 7. And the second Chick at Clywedog has already hatched, Egg Number 4 at MANTON BAY as well(forgot that one)”.
Yes, it will be a busy one. Take care everyone. I will see you with the latest on the UK hatches this evening.
Thank you to ‘PB’ and Heidi, to Geemeff for their Loch Arkaig Summary, those who post to FB and the owners of the streaming cams that let us look into the lives of our friends.
It warmed up! Mike finished the railings and will begin the small deck extension shortly. Toby and I planted beans, tomatoes, red peppers, chives, various lettuces, and rosemary. We even managed to almost finish painting a wicker plant stand for one of the lovely chartreuse ferns. It was 17 C. Ann and Don went to the zoo, where to their delight, the peacocks were really putting on quite the show. It was what I call a ‘cracker’ of a day.
‘PB’ just sent a note about Achieva. Jill went out and caught a small fish for Big to eat alone. Then she went out again and came in with a big catfish for both her and Little. She is a brilliant dedicated Mum!
I love the fact that these two osprey are so bonded that they remain together despite having no eggs but protecting their territory and nest for next year! It’s called ‘hope’ and we all could use a good dose of it right now!
Sadly, Flora’s Harry has not been seen at the Alyth Substation osprey platform since Saturday. Flora had to go and find food, and when she left their eggs, the Corvids came and ate them. It is a blessing. There are no chicks to starve, and Flora can have a summer building up her strength. Harry was very special and is a huge loss.
Blue KL5 has not returned to the Loch Garten nest for many days. He is also presumed to be lost like Harry. It has been a rough year in the UK osprey world, much different than in previous years when couples were secure and chicks hatched and fledged in a normal calm manner.
Heidi reports on the saddness coming out of Mispillion Harbour osprey platform.
There is cuteness at the nest of Dylan and Seren – and what a bright spot these little osplets are that are hatching!
So cute – turn around you silly!!!!!!!! Manton Bay with Blue 33 and Maya.
Iris had a little visitor from one of the nests inside her nest!
Have you been wonderfing about the female at the Glen-Hayes nest?
We have a fledge/fludge at Johnson City ETSU.
Have you noticed that Monty and Hartley raise the most energetic chicks?!!!!!!!! Always getting into mischief. SK Hideaways gives us some of their latest antics in this video: https://youtu.be/GhKpFR5-4Ao?
Lady and Dad have been regularly coming to the nest tree in the Sydney Olympic Park.
Hatch watch for Richmond and Wendy.
Gracie Shepherd shows us the latest on the fires on Santa Rosa Island where there are eagle nests with babies!
What a cutie that hatched for Dylan and Seren yesterday with another nice pip in the second egg!
Prey becomes comfy pillows at Big Red and Arthur’s nest in New York.
Aerating the eggs at Pitkin County in Colorado.
Ann loves peacocks and this article just popped up in The Guardian!
It’s raining. The sky is grey and it is cooling off. Hoping for warm weather tomorrow! Take care everyone. We will see you again soon.
Thank you to everyone for their contributions – videos, informative posts and messages with images, authors of FB posts and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us these screen captures and a view into the life of these families.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 2nd May 2026
In the early hours of this morning, Dorcha produced egg number three, most probably her final egg as she’s not one of those rare Ospreys who produce four eggs. Nest Two was calm today, no intruders and two fish deliveries, although Louis did take his time with the second, bringing it more than fourteen hours after the first. Louis’ tally rises to thirty five, and the nest total to thirty seven. Over on Nest One, Aurora 536 spent most of the day on the nest, although she did spend a block of more than three hours off the nest, leaving the egg unattended. She might have been perched nearby, it was in the early hours so we don’t know. Garry LV0 brought two fish, taking his tally to forty three, and he’ll need to keep up a steady supply as Aurora’s second egg is due tomorrow. At the time of filing this report (23.30), Louis is still on Nest Two incubating the eggs, looking unlikely to move any time soon although Dorcha is standing right behind him.
‘PB’ continues to admire the fortitude of Jill, the female at the Achieva Osprey Platform, in St Petersburg, Florida. I don’t blame them. Jill is stepping up on the number of catfish she is bringing to the nest. As the two chicks get older, they require more food. She has to eat. Jack is not contributing nearly enough. We think of healthy osprey chicks. I look at nests like the Dyfi nest of Idris, Blue 33 at Manton Bay, Dylan at Lyn Clywedog, Louis at Loch Arkaig, or Blue 022 at Poole Harbour. Let’s think 7-8 fish a day. Nice big fish – not little twiddlers. Of course, there are others, White YW – I could go on and on. So the gold standard would be those 7-8 big fish, like Mullets, to make healthy fat osplets to fledge. I fear that like many of the eagle nests we have seen where the eaglets looked healthy but when taken into care were noted to be infested and ‘thin’ (Eagle Country a couple of years ago). So bravo to Jill. I wish we could drop some nice fish for her.
Others are abandoning their eggs. Severna Park in Maryland is one of the first on streaming cam. I want you to prepare yourself. There has not been an influx of fish falling into the waters. Better the eggs do not hatch than wee babes or fully feathered near-to-fledge chicks starve on camera. I warn you to brace yourself for what could be the most tragic year yet. I want to be wrong. If it is, It is sad and entirely unnecessary.
The Chesapeake Bay ecosystem is in a very dire situation. In its case, there are no Menhaden for the ospreys, the Striped Bass, the Tarrapins or others that fed on them to eat. I cannot comment on the neighbouring states, but we do know from images taken that Omega has been industrial fishing along the shores (within legal limits, but sometimes seen to use helicopters to push the fish out) of other states. Virginia is the problem. Want to change this? People have to care. So you have to elect people who really care about all living things, the balance of life on the planet, and are action, not all talk.
Look at how much Little has grown since it has had fish!
Take care all. See you soon.
Thank you to Geemeff, to ‘PB’, to you the readers who care dearly about all the wildlife and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us witness the lives of these beautiful creatures.
We had a splendid day in the country today, the warm sun on our faces with a beautiful, gentle breeze. Everyone was appreciating nature!
Toby was completely fascinated by the pig at the petting zoo at Pineridge.
Oh, what a beautiful evening we are having. There is a gentle, warm breeze flowing through the garden. Instead of being in the deep dark at 1630, we have a golden light from the setting sun. The fairy lights are just beginning to show and there are still squirrels and a few birds in the garden. The number of Starlings seems to have diminished significantly – something that needs to be noted in the garden journal.
Don went to the Zoo today with Ann (Tuesday). They walked for over 2.5 hours with a snack squeezed in. Don loves going to the little cafe next to the tundra area where the polar bears live. To their delight, all of the bears were active. One was sleeping by the cafe, another was swimming, and the others were in various areas of the large enclosure. With temperatures reaching 16 C, it is not a surprise that Don was very tired when they returned. I had woke with a head cold so Toby and I spent the day lounging in the garden after a short walk. We tried putting up the supports for the peony plants but, alas, the ground is still frozen! It was a lovely day to recover because we really hope to go to the country tomorrow to feed the chickadees before they disappear into the forest and then to Pineridge for burgers eaten on the picnic tables. This little ritual is another marker of the arrival of spring on the Canadian prairies.
For those following Charlo Montana, Lola has been spotted about two miles from the nest. She appears to be favouring the wing that was injured in the altercation with the owl. She appears to have lost her nest and mate, Charlie, to another female, but she is alive – and isn’t that all that matters?
Peanut was on the Winter Park nest, but I have not seen Brutus return despite being released under the nest. Connor has stated that Peanut is a female – she is huge compared to Brutus. This might well be the reason that she survived his attacks. Females can be determined, even second hatches.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, one of my favourite male ospreys, Aran, lost his nest at Glaslyn. Some wonderful locals are sharing news and images, and he has ‘hooked up’ with another female and has a new nest platform. I am very happy for him. He is a very good dad, although I was rather miffed with him when he was bonded with Mrs G while also keeping Blue 5F Seren on the side. Seren finally figured out what was going on and left the area – she is the mate to Dylan at Lyn Clywedog, and they have raised many to fledge, with a large number of those returning.
How cruel can people be? (If you are wondering, Powys is a county in Wales).
So far it looks like a good day on Wednesday at Achieva.
They ate well on Wednesday. ‘PB’ writes that Jill brought in a huge catfish around her usual time. How wonderful! I hope that this nest has had a great turn around.
Siblings eating side by side. Little with a huge crop. There is a sense of ‘food security’ now that Jack is back bringing several fish a day.
Geemeff is busy putting together her report for Loch Arkaig today. Here is yesterday’s offering:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 21st April 2026
Apart from some distant intruders, it was another reassuringly boring day where not much happened. There were mating encounters, nest scraping, and a few sticks, bits of bark and clumps of moss arriving and occasionally departing on both nests. Two fish were delivered for Dorcha and one for Aurora 536, Nest One tally now stands at twenty two fish, and Nest Two catching up quickly at eleven. No eggs yet.Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/E37u26fbzL0 N2 Louis hands over the fish then does nest prep 14.29.20https://youtu.be/S_MpJqktiiU N1 Flying fish arrives and departs several times 15.23.19https://youtu.be/JAdYmXPjQuw N2 Louis moves loose branches so Dorcha can leave with her fish 20.54.32
Bonus watch: Nest Two being built by intrepid licensed raptor experts Lewis Pate and Justin Grant (by climbing a 70ft tree!):https://youtu.be/xtwK6Yz1YNQ
Ah….Geemeff beat me…we got both days reports. How wonderful.
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Another mainly uneventful day, just the odd distant interaction getting rid of a few bothersome corvids but not so many fish – Garry LV0 and Louis each delivered one fish, however, Louis’ was tiny, and Garry’s ultimately got lost! Aurora had difficulty grasping the big fish and flew off without it, circled back but Garry had picked it up again and started to fly off with it but dropped it as he left! He flew backwards and forwards looking for it but some forest floor dweller is going to luck out with a nice free meal. Garry’s total now stands at 23 while Louis’ moves up to ten, twelve total for the nest including Dorcha’s two deliveries. Just before midnight, Dorcha returned to the nest and is still perched there as this report is filed at half past midnight.
Er na allen ni weld y wyau’n glir yn nyth Cyfeillion y Gweilch Pont Croesor, o’i hymddygiad roedden ni’n eitha’ siŵr fod Glas 014 wedi dodwy ei hail wy am 14:40 pnawn ddoe.
Yn y cyfamser, ar nyth Glaslyn, mi ddodwyodd Elen ei hail wy am 19:24 neithiwr.
Disgwyliem i’r ddwy iâr ddodwy eu trydydd wy ar ddydd Gwener, ond pwy fydd y cyntaf i ddodwy?
************
Although we were unable to get a clear view of the eggs in the Friends of the Ospreys Pont Croesor nest to confirm, from her behaviour we are pretty certain that Blue 014 laid her second egg at 14:40 yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile at the Glaslyn nest Elen laid her second egg at 19:24 yesterday evening.
We expect to see both females laying their third eggs on Friday, but who will be the first to lay?”
What a beautiful sight – the quadruplets of Monty and Hartley having a meal.
I am afraid that is it for me today. It was beautiful and warm and I am super tired but smiling. Take care all. Thursday is pajama day here – I will be back with you on Friday then.
Thank you to Geemeff for their great reporting, to ‘PB’ for keeping me informed on all things Achieva, to everyone who posted information on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to look into the world of our favourite bird families. Thank you also to Raptor Persecution UK for their great investigative reporting. Check them out. I only cover a part of the stories.
I hope that the weekend was kind to you and that you were able to get outside and listen to some birdsong! In our garden, they were singing their little hearts out as the sun came up and temperatures warmed up. Everything that breathes, including our plants and trees, wishes for spring to arrive as soon as possible!
Ann was here today with Don and Toby. They had a nice long walk, and I ran a few errands. My sympathy goes out to anyone who has only the weekend to do their shopping. My goodness, it is busier than a Tuesday! Won’t be doing this again – my current ‘dream’ is a super warm day to sit on the bench at our local park and read with squirrels running about and the birds singing.
It has been, so far, a simply great day in Bird World.
New Guy 2 arrived home to Iris yesterday, and today he brought her a huge fish, which she readily accepted and took away to eat. Our sweet ‘girl’ is being treated like the very special osprey she is.
The USS eaglet that had to be rescued might be able to be returned to the nest! How wonderful is that? There is nothing like being raised on the nest with Mum and Dad. In this instance, Irv and Stella and they are marvellous parents. So happy for this baby and so very grateful to everyone who acted swiftly to get the help it required (along with all those permissions!).
We were so afraid that the middle osplet at Achieva would pass last night. Heidi counted 64 bites of fish for Saturday. Today, the little one had a nice crop and will live another day. Each day makes it stronger – at some point in time, Heidi and I figured out that after 28 days the survival rate goes up much higher.
Big sibling is getting those lovely soft juvenile feathers while middle is in the Reptile phase. Enough fish yesterday to calm the nest a bit. Again, Mum is doing an incredible job in a challenging situation. Continue sending them big puffs of positive energy!
1246 Baby is getting some good bites. It is in a great position to get food off Mum’s beak. Dad Jack watching from the perch.
The meal ended at 1311. I have no idea how much fish little got. Somehow that baby managed to get itself tangled up in the rim of the nest after.
I think Mum has gone off fishing. Well done if she has. This wee sweet baby might have a full crop which will make it feel so much better when it goes to sleep.
Mum returned, as believed, with one of her catfish. Little kept its head down til Big was full. Very smart move. Mum ate and so did Little who is going to go to bed with a very nice crop. Smile. This is a brave and resilient female and if both of these beautiful chicks fledge, it is down to Jill and her catfish, a determined female to not let her family die. I am delighted tonight.
I have received really good news from Viki who monitors twenty-one osprey nests right near her home. “It is remarkably hopeful here, osprey wise, although I nearly hourly try to rein myself in, unable to believe in a normal osprey year after the bad, worse, and steadily worsening years since 2020. But to keep on the hopeful side, here is the good spring news:
Synopsis: 21 nests; 11 w/ active pairs; 5 w/ at least 1 returned; 1 taken over by goose; 3 abandoned.
I can observe 21 nests that have been more or less active since 2020. A 22nd nest that has had a pair for years was destroyed in winter storms and no efforts at repair attempted by birds or humans.
Pairs have settled in 11 of the 21 and many appear to have begun laying eggs this week. I only feel confident of one pair actually incubating.
I have only been able to observe one osprey returned to each of four nests that had pairs last year.
I have also observed a single osprey on a fifth nest, but foliage often hides this nest from me so I cannot vouch for its history, nor feel confident in a full accounting this year.
Three nests, inactive last year, are abandoned, although Nest 3 has become the exclusive property of Nest 4 which is very close. A goose successfully kept 6-year resident Ethel off Nest 1 and probably has laid eggs in it. Nest 2 seems oddly still up for grabs, its story below.”
This is rather joyful. Two years ago all the osplets nearly died. Last year the adults abandoned their eggs after two weeks. So….it is all systems go. Can’t wait to see how things turn out this year. Thanks, Viki.
We have first eggs at Glaslyn for Teifi and Elen and at Usk Valley.
Jeff Kear and the UK Osprey FB Group have wonderful lists. Oh, I do love lists. Now, how can we get the date in there – or shall I go to the other forms???
I continue to dream that every osprey nest on a streaming cam or in a place to be monitored could have its history saved. It is so important to understand the osprey population – its growth and decline.
With all this good news, I am disappointed that there was not a single penalty imposed on the individual who destroyed the Peregrine Falcon eggs at St. Albans Cathedral last year.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 19th April 2026
It was another routine day with no intruders, just both pairs going about their business. Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora, although she didn’t want the second one, and spent time bring nesting materials and arranging the furnishings. His fish tally now stands at eighteen, while over on Nest Two, Louis delivered three fish, all eagerly grabbed by Dorcha, and his tally rises to four with a nest total of six including the two brought by Dorcha before he returned. The day started with the lovely sound of Louis skydancing before dawn, while Dorcha called not quite so melodiously from the nest, and ended with both of them on the nest in the dark, Dorcha on her perch and Louis snoozing on the nest. At the time of this report (23.30), they’re both still there, Louis still dozing, not surprising that he’s worn out after all his hard work yesterday and today – mating repeatedly, catching fish, skydancing and doing some enthusiastic nest prep.
I am so excited for Milda and Zorro’s first hatch. Milda is very special to me. I cried when she lost her loyal mate, Ramis, and then again when she stayed on the nest without food for at least 7 days. She was gone for a number of hours. It was winter and cold. No one believed the eggs would hatch, but there were two little miracles. And then…no food, again. The miracle little fluff balls died. Life has been very challenging for this amazing WTE and I am so hopeful that her hatchlings will thrive this year.
Ah, it’s a good night in Bird World! There is lots more going on…stay tuned!
Female birds are often overlooked. Their colouring is not so dramatic as the males. Now someone has studied female birdsong!
I am looking forward to tomorrow – the first day for the lovely cleaning lady to tackle a home with four cats, a dog, and two adults, plus a stock of bird seed! I hope she doesn’t run away and never return.
Our little garden is growing.
Take care all! See you soon.
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Geemeff, ‘PB’, the authors of those amazing FB posts, Raptor Persecution UK, and the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to cry and leap with joy with our bird families.
It is time for one of those ‘heart-to-heart’ chats with everyone who ‘only’ watches US Osprey nests. You have wrung your hands and cried when the baby died at Moorings Park. You have torn your insides out watching Achieva with the first baby dying, Jack not delivering enough fish, and now Mum having to fish because she is starving. Will Middle make it? We don’t know. It is difficult to watch osplets starve on a nest. Each of us wants every nest and every chick to thrive.
I study osprey mortality. The rate and cause of death vary from region to region. When I began my study, the top COD was siblicide – one sibling killing another. Normally, this is triggered by a lack of food, but there have been some exceptions due to food and dominance. I doubt if anyone watching the nest with Zoe at Port Lincoln (or Solly, also at Port Lincoln) will forget the eldest female eating and eating – much more than seemed possible and then killing her two siblings. Port Lincoln obtained permission to supplement the feed for the chicks on the nest in subsequent years. At Achieva, Mum is desperate. It is hot, and she leaves for only about ten minutes at a time to try her hand at fishing. She normally brings back a catfish, her legs wet. This is a huge risk for these young babies due to heat and predators, but when everyone is starving, what other choice does she have?
It is the last of the fish. Little will get nothing. Big got most of two fish.
Little had 64 bites of fish – Heidi is counting – . Still, Jill is fish-calling and fish-calling. She knows they are in danger of losing Little. She’s a good Mum.
We do not know why Jack does not deliver more fish. I have not kept up with the weather and drought conditions in the region this year. But heat and drought certainly impact fishing. Intruders taking fish from ospreys is another cause. Simple lack of fish is another – again, I wish I knew this area better. For years, there has been speculation that Jack might even have another family to feed. We simply don’t know, and speculating doesn’t change the situation.
Achieva has always been a nest where I remember the difficult year when Tumbles triumphed. Heidi and I sat up and each of us counted every bite that baby got. We monitored when Diane changed her mind and brought in a catfish at dark when the older two were sleeping and fed her baby. Tumbles was her nickname and she was feisty and smart. She ate off the old bones hidden deep in the nest. She scrambled around the rim to get to Mum’s beak to get some food. She squeezed into tight spaces to get bites so the older, much bigger siblings couldn’t get her. It was horrible to watch. At least five times, we thought Tumbles was a ‘goner’. Once, she had no fish for 79 hours. But she was a survivor. Out in the real world, ospreys cannot be timid. There is too much competition for so little in so many places in North America. So when you see a Tumbles, you always remember them – the drive to live was exceptional.
Each nest offers us a learning experience, whether it thrives or struggles. But often, our personal lives leave us emotionally worn out. We can’t stand to see another one starve to death, so below I have some recommendations for highly successful nests.
Nothing came.
In contrast, Sunnie Day reports on the Moorings Park chat: “8 fish today. 9:44, 10:38, 1:08, 2:42, 3:15, 4:19, 5:02,, and 6:31. All from Harry.” That is what needs to be happening when the chicks are bigger at Achieva. (And it won’t, believe me).
My recommendations: The first one is the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn in Wales. Idris is known as ‘Daddy Longlegs’. He delivers whoppers. He feeds Telyn. They are great parents. Then there is Dylan and Seren up at Lyn Clywedog. That reservoir is stocked annually with 45,000 fish (or so I was told several years ago). Then there is Poole Harbour, with CJ7 and Blue 022. They are going after some record for raising four osplets over and over again. There are others, including Rutland’s Maya and Blue 33, but there have been accidents with fish, and we have had a little one die now and then. They remain super parents still.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 17th April 2026
There is only one story of any note – the return of Louis, the dominant male of Loch Arkaig since 2017. As hopes started to fade due to his exceeding his previous latest arrival date by nearly a week, he arrived in a blaze of glory onto Nest Two at 17.57.42 this evening. Dorcha, his mate since 2021, wasn’t around and he landed without his usual soft chirrup so who’s to say they hadn’t already met up earlier in the day. We’ll never know but what is certain is that all of us watchers are thrilled, amazed and delighted to see Louis home safely and looking so well. In other news, the potential rival male JJ4 wasn’t seen today, and Garry LV0 was quickly sent packing when he intruded on Dorcha today. He returned to his own nest, Nest One, on a surfboard, and didn’t bring any fish for his mate Aurora 536 so his tally remains at fifteen fish to date. How quickly will Louis overtake that? It will be great fun to watch. Welcome home Louis!
Champagne corks popped around the world when Louis touched down. Louis has lost no time making up for being late. Fish and mating continue….eggs in a week?
SK Hideaways Videos, 10-16 April 2026
John Bunker Sands, Combine, TX
Courtesy John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Eagle Cam
Oh, the comings and goings at Iris’s nest. I cannot keep up with it! Nor can I tell Louis from one of the visitors – or maybe it is just Louis every time I check!
So many things are happening. Pip watches here and there…Peanut is back on the nest, Lola has an injury on her wing from the owl, etc. It is hard to keep up! We have been cleaning out a room today and had a short, brisk walk. The temperature with the wind was -15 C. Not so nice. But it was a good day. And I can tell you that the alarms work! Don got up this morning and decided to go outside. The siren went off. Yes, it did give him a bit of a fright, which I think will make him think twice about touching that door!!!!!!!!! It is nice not to have to take keys any longer but my real hope is that spring arrives soon.
Take care everyone.
Thank you to everyone who has been writing to me about Achieva – ‘MP, PB’, to Heidi for keeping on top of the bite count there, to SK Hideaways for their videos, to Geemeff for the daily summary and to everyone who posted images and information on FB, gosh, I am grateful to you. Thank you so very much. As always, we are grateful to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these raptor families.
I hope that the week has been good to you and that you are planning to be outside this weekend so that you can hear some birdsong. With migration well underway throughout the middle US, we are expecting more and more species to be arriving in Manitoba. Many ospreys are making their way home especially to the nests in Nova Scotia. We wait for the last of the streaming cam stars to arrive in the UK and northern Europe.
Thank you so much for your lovely notes. I really appreciate them, and this week they warmed my heart so much. I have been unwell, passing kidney stones the old-fashioned way. Life with Don did not permit me to be in the hospital taking advantage of modern methods of blasting these excruciatingly painful little blobs!!!!!!! I am, however, feeling much better as I write this. Don has been going to bed early for the past few nights, and this has given me a wee bit of time to sit and sip tea in the silence. Ironically, both Toby and Don ‘understood’ that I was ‘sick’ and each helped in their own way. I wish you could see my smile. It is also warming up and tomorrow Don and Ann will be out exploring and over the weekend, we should see temperatures around 10 C.
In terms of ‘escape proofing’ the house and property, the hardware is ready for installation next Thursday. The goal was to find a convenient time for them to come. The other day, I might have said that the locksmiths, the bathing lady, and her supervisor hit the front porch at precisely the same time. I don’t like ‘chaos’ anymore. One event per day is what Don’s doctor recommends, and I agree – it keeps my mind calm. The last things to do are to install a tall gate that can be locked at the front and a proper lock on the rear gate. So, I am getting there.
With spring arriving, all of us are starting to think about the garden. A young man has been hired to come and deal with all the birdseed remnants! It looks like there is about a ton of shells! I am serious. Some of it will be used to level off the back area – it would be grand if it all could be raked over. It does make the best compost. The plan is to toss in a lot of wildflower seeds. There will be a few plants specifically for the birds and the bees, including Don’s beloved hummingbirds. I have four trellis pyramids (not sure of their proper name) that will be devoted to climbing beans and tomatoes. Peony supports have been ordered – enough for the six plants put in last year. There are other plans – staining the old deck and building a bit of solid fence to meet up with the fence that was built a few years ago. That is to keep Toby’s eyes in the garden and passersby eyes on what they are doing.
Today, ‘pyjama day’ was very quiet, just as I planned for Thursdays (except or next week when PJ day becomes Monday). Few e-mails exchanged, no housework, etc. What we did do was put together a small indoor garden box with lights to grow salad fixings and herbs. At the current price in the shops, it will not take long to pay for it, and I don’t have to worry about running out of cilantro. So far, only Hugo Yugo has taken an interest. I hope she stays out of it! That little ginger cat can cause more trouble than a dozen other cats.
Now to the birds…
I am happy to say that the fortunes at both Brevard County and Achieva changed somewhat on Thursday with the arrival of several fish. I was afraid that if the poor weather at Brevard continued, all the chicks would be lost. As it was, Mum was just as starving. The little second hath at Achieva finally had a crop! I was happy to receive the following note from ‘MP’ who watches this nest with ‘eagle eyes’. “I’ve watched the Achieva nest continually, and I can say everyone needs more food in the raptor world. Jack has started to show the female how to feed the chicks as he has started feeding them with smaller bites than she gives. The female watched him intently. Jack did try to get her to letting him feed her, but she wouldn’t go for it. She just walked over and grabbed the fish he had. The younger osplet appears to be aggressive toward the older one. Just sayin.
I believe the female is a new mom. She appears to be more interested in her hunger pains. With Jack being a bird who likes stashing fish around whether he does it for safety or a penchant, he does bring in fish. It may be old and decomposing fish, but it does fill their stomachs. I would prefer fresh, since it has more moisture giving the osplets fluids.
I think Jack could do better, but maybe he can’t. I only hope the chicks aren’t knocked down through the drain holes. You know better than I how quickly a nest can turn around. “
The other good news is that there is a male that has landed on Iris’s nest.
A series of images. At once when I saw the ‘snake eyes’ I really thought this male was Louis but I am told it is not. So we will see.
More hopeful signs early this morning. Now please bring Iris a nice big fish and treat her like the Queen she is!
There is a young male at the Charlo Montana nest. Lola is calling for fish and he is just leisurely munching away on the pole. I don’t think this behaviour is going to win any hearts and minds.
The first egg has been laid at the Bassenthwaite nest.
Herr Rauer returned to his nest in Norway on Thursday. Fru Rauer is on her way home, according to her satellite tracking.
Both ospreys are home at the Emma Osprey platform in the Pitkin County Trails, Colorado. They have been back for a little more than a fortnight. Wonder if we will have eggs soon?
There are reports that we also have a first egg at Port of Ridgefield yesterday! The first egg in 2025 was laid on the 26th of April – gosh, seventeen days early. I wonder if these ospreys are trying to beat the heat that might be coming.
Teifi is the male in charge of the Glaslyn nest. Aran appears to have retired to his patch that he enjoyed last summer after relinquishing his nest to Teifi and Elen (no chicks – it was chaotic). Elen has not been seen and her fate is unknown. It has been six days since she flew off the nest. I hope she found another one! She was a good Mum.
Geemeff reminds me that Louis lands in the evening. I sure hope to see him tonight or tomorrow.
Everyone has Louis on their mind. That is because he is much loved.
Latest news from Knepp Farm and its rewilding project. Will they finally be bringing bison back to the UK?
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 9th April 2026
Things were more settled on the nests today as the three key players, Dorcha, Garry LV0 and Aurora 536, stayed on their own nests, although Dorcha did mantle at an intruder Osprey who flew too close to her nest, but not close enough to see who it was. Dorcha caught her own fish and attempted to eat it on Nest Two while the intruder was nearby, and Garry brought two fish to Nest One for Aurora which clearly convinced her he is mate material as she not only allowed him to mount her on several occasions, but also lifted her tail. Although early stages, it’s looking good for chicks on Nest One this season, which is ironic as Dorcha is still waiting for Louis, spending time on the nest looking around constantly, even arriving in darkness this morning and perching quietly for hours – will we have chicks on Nest Two this year? There is still time for Louis to return, he is 13 or 14 this year, having first turned up ten years ago in 2017 as a 3- or 4-year old, which makes him a mature but not an old Osprey.
Thank you so much for being with us. I will, of course, send out a note if Louis arrives! Take care. Get outside. That is where I am headed with Toby. Don is at the zoo with Ann. It is a beautiful +5 C day on the Canadian prairies – blue sky, sunshine and all.
Thank you to absolutely everyone for their articles, their posts, and their letters. I am grateful to ‘MP’ for their comment on Achieva. Heidi is monitoring that nest, and I peek in once in a while, but not as often as I should. Thank you to Geemeff and everyone else for their summaries, and to the owners of the streaming cams, we are always ever so grateful. Without you, we would have little idea of what is happening in Bird World.
It could be a very busy day at the UK nests and in the western part of the US as favourable winds are blowing in the ospreys.
It has been confirmed that our dear Iris is, indeed, the osprey that landed early this morning on the Hellgate Canyon nest. I hope everyone had a good cry – a joyful one. Now let’s get that young male osprey back that was courting her last season!
Louis and Starr are already back. Starr was the first to arrive in Missoula. Their nest is at the Baseball Park – and despite all we think, Louis is a good mate to Starr and they raise 2 or 3 chicks to fledge every year.
Gosh, Iris looks good.
Blue 35 has returned to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve in Cumbria and is reclaiming her nest after Blue 717 got a little friendly with White YW.
We are waiting the arrival of Louis at Loch Arkaig Nest 2 in Scotland. His mate Dorcha will be delighted to see him land with a nice big trout.
Busy day at the Glaslyn nests:
Lots of action at Loch of the Lowes.
Thanks, Alison Copland. BoPH have created a genealogy chart. The Carey nest is the one for CJ7 and Blue 022, and it has a streaming cam.
One of my favourite males, Tegid Z1, Monty’s son, who breeds on a private nest, has returned safely.
So the males are starting to show up in Wales, too. Come on Louis!!!!!!!!!
The feeding is going very well at the Achieva Osprey platform. My goodness, if I didn’t know better, I would think this was a new male. (Maybe it is – I am not trying to start rumours here, just pondering the fish deliveries. I was never that pleased with Jack’s deliveries for Diane and the kids. Has anyone truly identified head markings?)
Bella and Scout’s two eaglets are doing just fine although there was a choking concern for the baby earlier on Monday.
Nature chat’s banner:
Interloping Common Buzzard laid 2nd egg today at Lesser Spotted Eagle Cam, as usual LSE pair hasn’t arrived for the season yet.
Peanut has branched at the Winter Park, Florida Bald Eagle nest. Best be watching this energetic second hatch. She is going to take off fast!
News about California Condors:
Stop over and see the two little cuties that Jackie and Shadow are feeding and brooding. They are two little round teddy bears! So very happy for our darling couple.
Take care everyone. Iris’s arrival has made this day much brighter! We are all delighted. If Louis returns, I will be posting again. Otherwise, I will see you later in the week.
Thank you to ‘PB’ for her messages, to the owners of the streaming cams for my screen captures and for allowing us to witness the life of these incredible birds. I am grateful to everyone who posts on FB with information. Without your eyes, we might miss something!
Oh, my goodness. I can’t keep up. Everyone knew this week was going to be a madhouse but we have osprey arrivals, eggs being laid, pip and hatch watches, hatches, fledges – and you name it. It is absolutely wonderful.
Jack and Jill have their first hatch at the Achieva Osprey platform in St Petersburg, Florida. Please send them extra love – they need it! There is a lot of competition for Jack’s fish from other species and that platform has not given us much confidence. I hope this year goes wonderfully well for this couple – send the love!
Thanks, MP, for alerting me and sending the images. Time: 15:46:41
If you have not watched Tim MacKrill’s presentation on osprey migration, I urge you to do so. You will learn so much! Then you can teach others. https://youtu.be/wlJoNyKapfc?
Dad might have brought in a huge male Tilapia to the Moorings Park nest, but these three are now well into the Reptilian Phase, and they are not having that feeling of ‘love’ with one another – at least not when it comes to food! You might see some unhappiness once in a while. Hopefully, this will all settle down once they get their juvenile feathers.
They can be nice.
Nice evening at Pitkin!
Heidi reports that both ospreys are at Seaside – Bruce and Naha. They have a chat and there is a great observation board to check out current and historical information.
Thanks for being with me. Please take care. See you on Monday if not before. Have a great weekend.
Thank you to ‘MP’ for the notice and images for Achieva, for Geemeff for reminding me about Tim Mackrill’s talk and now it is archived, to all who posted notices on FB, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to partake of the lives of these wonderful birds.
Just a quick check in on some nests and the garden as spring arrives.
The first Dark-eyed Juncos of the season have arrived! Thank goodness the whole seed area is a mess and there is lots for them on the ground.
The big news (as far as I am concerned) is that Kai, Beau and Gabby’s baby, fledged about an hour and a half ago caught on video by Netflix Memories. https://youtu.be/VnmSSSODa6M?
Ospreys are arriving at the European nests including those in Germany.
Blue NCO calls for a mate from her nest at Loch of the Lowes.
She might be 23 years old but she is still gorgeous. Big Red.
Chichester’s Peregrine Falcon newsletter has arrived.
We have at least one osprey on the Pitkin County nest in Colorado.
On pip watch at Achieva. I hope that Jack steps up provisions. Many of you might wonder about the fish he brings in – this couple recycles fish just as Jack and Diane did. A fish comes in, part is eaten, it is taken away and. brought back. The ospreys have a place where, like the squirrels in my garden, that cache food. We saw this clearly at Captiva when there was a tree near to the platform that served this purpose.
So when you see a fish, don’t count them as individual fish – that is not the case. Jack will need to provide more. Diane supplemented the fish with her great catfish. Will this female have to pitch in for her babies to survive?
Thank you so much for being with us. Take care! See you soon.
Thank you to all the individuals who posted videos that I am sharing, information on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams, we are all grateful to be able to watch our beautiful birds.
