Tag Archives: arrivals

Dorcha waits for Louis while we seem to have a new ‘Queen’ at Glaslyn…Saturday in Bird World

11 April 2026

Hello Everyone,

Morning update:

There is news later about Aran. He does have a nest and he does have a female at that nest with him. Perhaps it is Elen? That would be wonderful. Or it could be the other female. We wait and wonder.

At the Glaslyn nest, Teifi is skydancing and courting Blue 432/Eschells.

An osprey sitting in a nest made of sticks, surrounded by greenery and water in the background.

Dorcha continues to wait for Louis at Loch Arkaig 2. It is extremely windy. Will Louis blow in?

A young osprey standing in a nest made of twigs and branches, with a scenic landscape of hills and a body of water in the background.

Jean-marie Dupart has reported the youngsters are still in Senegal but also some older birds that are either migrating late or not leaving their winter homes.

In Nova Scotia, Oscar continues to wait for Ethel at Russell Lake.

Again, thank you so much for your kind notes. I am feeling much better. Much better, indeed. It was 7 C on Friday, and I got to spend almost all of the day outside with Toby and Don. It was glorious. In the afternoon, Ann took Don to the zoo, where they watched polar bears rolling on their backs in the crisp air and bright sunshine.

Today is the 11th of April. It is the latest day that the male osprey, Louis, of Loch Arkaig, has returned from migration. I hope that by the end of the day he has returned. I have to admit that my stomach has been slipping down into my toes over the past week in fear that we will not see this amazing osprey ever again. For many of you, Louis was your favourite osprey on streaming cam during the pandemic. More than 400,000 watched him and his precious Aila raise their triplets – Vera, Doddie, and Little Captain.

Here is a video from that period: https://youtu.be/LhGCrj5O0xs?

The image shows the three chicks with Louis on the far right.

Four osprey chicks on a nest with a green hillside in the background.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 10th April 2026

Today ended with our key character not here – Louis has not yet returned. There is still time and fingers and talons are firmly crossed for his arrival soon. Dorcha spent the day on and off the nest, constantly looking around even when dealing with a troublesome branch she was unable to shift. Things on Nest One are looking much more positive, with Garry LV0 bringing two fish and huge clumps of moss and spending time nestorising when he wasn’t engaged with Aurora 536, who also looks really at home. They both worked together to see off a blue ringed intruder Osprey who flew right overhead but didn’t allow her ring to be read. As it’s on her left leg, she’s Scottish, and it wasn’t Affric 152, so we’ll have to wait and see if she returns to give us a better look before an ID can be made. Tomorrow’s forecast for Inver Mallie which covers the nest area is light rain and a moderate breeze, so nothing there to impede the progress of returning Ospreys. Weather link:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2646094 .

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/62WzHR0w6Qc N1 Ringed intruder follows Garry with his fish 10.48.53 (slo-mo zoom repeat)

https://youtu.be/mD0jZmNGwNs N2 Dorcha tries and fails to deal with a troublesome stick  12.20.41

https://youtu.be/N7vj8r9pWpY N1 Aurora flies off with the fish, Garry does housekeeping 16.10.50Bonus watch –  the importance of the UK’s temperate rainforests, like Loch Arkaig:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/habitats/temperate-rainforest/explore-britains-rainforests-film/
Blast from the past – this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/LbWEdz9F-qg N1 Aila & Louis share a love nest 2020
https://youtu.be/G-3kBllTF-8 N1 Louis’ enthusiastic fine-tuning 2020
https://youtu.be/0Qy8OO9mY30 N1 Tricky stick for the Stranger 2021
https://youtu.be/i71cxxtGq2w N1 No takers for the Stranger’s fish 2021
https://youtu.be/2I51i5kIVa0 N2  Together again: Louis & Dorcha are reunited 2023
https://youtu.be/LPHhs_3oFQU N1 Welcome home Affric 2024 (zoom)https://youtu.be/B0LdP-qTXW4 N2 The ringed intruder returns 2025

https://youtu.be/bstQ7gOgnqA N1 Affric and Garry have an encounter 2025

https://youtu.be/7IDTQEDXPtE N2 Louis has a little lie down 2025

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

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

Ospreys continue to arrive in parts of the US.

Swoop has now arrived at the Dunrovin nest in Lola, Montana. He looks good! April 10 is the same day that Swoop returned to his nest in 2025.

It is unclear to me if Winnie has returned. A female touched down on the nest, but I have no confirmation that it was Winnie (please correct me!).

An osprey perched on a wooden beam, surrounded by green fields and trees in a rural landscape.

In Norway, Fru Rauer is in Germany while Herr Rauer is on their Norwegian nest with another male and a female plus a fish.

There is a lot of confusion at several nests.

TMZ has covered the plight of Jackie and Shadow!

https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/10/big-bear-bald-eagles-nest-threatened/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRGSuZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeuqsC_HZdfc09MJyZfjLdAFyEiqcwiywOh7lO5wNv5FQ_4JmxPr3vHeaSk9g_aem_5ML-d1-MQG3VPkRV8ud57w

I adore Aran and am heartbroken that he lost his Glaslyn nest last season due to a late return that he had shared with Mrs G and Elen. Elen has not been seen for a week. No one knows her status. Thankfully, individuals are keeping track of Aran as Teifi continues to reign over the Glaslyn nest.

A collage of four images showcasing an osprey perched on a wooden post and a branch, with a green background.

I love this screen capture and information by Jenny Powell. Iris can out-fish any of the local ‘Masters’ or male ospreys! She is really quite amazing – at least thirty years old.

A close-up of an osprey standing on a wooden post, showcasing its prominent features and feathers. The bird appears healthy and strong, with a piece of food visible at its feet.

European ospreys arriving.

Two ospreys in a nest, surrounded by sticks and branches, with a forested area in the background.

Seems to be very windy at all the nests in the UK. This is Telyn waiting for Idris and a fish at Dyfi where the camera has been on and off.

An osprey standing on a nest made of twigs and branches, with natural vegetation in the background.

Harry is doing a good job for Flora at SS Alyth.

An osprey flying above its nest while holding a fish, with another osprey sitting in the nest on a sunny day.

As reported earlier, all is well in the Usk Valley in Wales where both ospreys have returned.

https://www.uskvalleyospreys.org/news/reunited-and-re-bonding?fbclid=IwY2xjawRHOlxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe0HLjDn3XOL4yXcE_Lxf0oDkSIk1SsQPMaMibOf5b2zBwjFmJsGfRUuz1etE_aem_qOSW_SqZh3zAqU9-HdADEQ

Blue 022 doesn’t mind the strong winds when it comes to mating with CJ7 at Poole. Watching for eggs!

Two ospreys in their nest, with one standing over the other amidst branches and greenery.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Unless there is news about Louis, I will be taking a wee break for a few days. I really want to get ahead on the spring cleaning of the garden. It is going slowly this year – wish me luck!

Thank you so much to the individuals who created videos, to Geemeff for all the daily news from Loch Arkaig, and to those who have posted wonderful screen captures and information on FB. I am always grateful to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to look into the lives of these bird families.

Both eaglets have hatched at Big Bear

5 April 2026

Wow. Isn’t this a great morning?! We had marvelled at Jackie and Shadow’s first hatch keeping a keen eye on that second egg that was pipping knowing full well there would be two eaglets today – and there are!

We missed the second hatch. Thanks to ‘PB’ for sending me some great images while we were out walking Toby.

It has been a while since I watched the news. In fact, I have made a conscious decision to live in the moment, to rejoice in what is happening in our garden as the seasons change, and to monitor how our on-screen bird families are faring. The world is too dark and from past experience checking on streaming cam videos that show ‘death’, it would seem that more people prefer to see a ‘snuff’ video of an eaglet than one where a much loved and wanted chick is hatching. To me that is simply ‘sick’. So, I don’t post them and I don’t watch them.

Today was also a glorious day in the garden. At 0900 three Blue Jays appeared! Three. One of Junior’s and the Mrs fledglings from previous years has returned. They make their nest in the tree across the lane now that their big elm has been cut down. Mr and Mrs Crow have arrived. We have started putting out leftover chicken and their cheesy dogs as they begin to build up after the winter and prepare for their nesting. The Starlings are here, the sparrows are down in number, and the chickadees arrive at dusk and dawn. The Red squirrels are busy caching peanuts – I do not know why and to date, we still have dear Dyson coming with her kits. She is VERY old. We know it is her because of markings that we have compared over the years. With lots of good food and a safe environment, Dyson can possibly live for several more years. That makes me happy.

The Starlings yesterday:

I could never catch the three together in the same frame.

Two blue jays perched near a feeder, one holding a peanut, with a background of twigs and branches.
Two blue jays at a bird feeder filled with peanuts, one in flight with a peanut in its beak and another perched on the feeder.

I record the seasonal changes in the garden including the arrival of more species in this book:

Cover of 'The Naturalist's Notebook' featuring illustrations of birds, plants, and natural elements, with titles and authors' names.
An open book page featuring illustrations of a large beetle with wings and a black bird perched on a tree branch.

Just like many of the large nature centres keep track of the arrival and departure of their ospreys and eagles, I do the same with all of the garden animals over the years. It is a wonderful way to keep yourself in ‘the present’. Nature heals us – it does not destroy us. We need to embrace the life around us.

Each of us should turn off the outside world to keep our hope and kindness. Most of you will recognise that we are all interrelated and that what is good for wildlife and the planet is also good for humans. Then why do we allow people to destroy our precious home? Clearly, Jackie and Shadow do nothing to destroy Big Bear, and yet their habitat is constantly under threat, as it is now from proposed construction at Moon Camp. I want ‘the people’ to triumph for Jackie and Shadow – not just for them but as a signal that we care about wildlife, their habitat, and the sheer joy that their existence gives to us. If there has ever been a time to step up and be heard on this matter, it is now. Being silent is no longer an option. Whether you do it at the ballot box, by donations or volunteering, writing letters or op ed pieces, do something. That something could be as simple as a dish of life-saving water put out daily and refreshed for the birds and animals.

Baiba has the first feeding attempt at Big Bear for hatch 1. (Gosh, I hope they name this one Sandy!), and they could name the second Speers. That would be a wonderful tribute to a woman who worked so hard for these eagles. https://youtu.be/Lyo3kpR280M?

Baiba has the arrival of the second eaglet: https://youtu.be/CB0Jfj3dVoQ?

My gosh they are cute.

A fluffy gray chick sits in a nest surrounded by sticks and two unhatched eggs, with some straw and twigs scattered around.

There continue to be ospreys arriving. We are keeping a close eye out for Louis and I would love to see Blue 35 return to Foulshaw Moss although I have to say that hope is dwindling by the day. Blue 717 has really taken a liking to White YW and why wouldn’t she? He is an amazing provider.

Fish deliveries at ​​the Pont Cresor nest of Z1 Aeron and Blue 14 are at 07:03 – 11:29 – 16:23 according to chat. This is the new streaming cam at Glaslyn owned by Friends of Osprey.

Z1 Aeron is an excellent provider – one of Monty’s boys. Making his dad proud.

A bird with outstretched wings is perched on a nest made of branches, set against a cloudy sky at dawn. The image is slightly blurred due to water droplets on the camera lens.
A close-up view of an eagle perched on a branch near its nest made of twigs, with a scenic landscape of hills and greenery in the background.

At the nest of Aran and Elen, close to the Pont Cresor platform, Aran is delivering fish in terrible conditions, but no Elen to eat them. It is not clear to me that Aran and Elen have seen one another at all since Aran’s return. Please correct me if I am wrong.

A bird perched on a branch amidst bare trees, with greenery in the background.

Storm Dave has brought rain and wind, with some snow, to Wales. It was particularly bad last evening in Sotlad at the Loch Arkaig nest. Will Louis return today or tomorrow?

Dorcha had a sunken crop. She is waiting for Louis to bring her a fish but she doesn’t know he has not arrived. Oh, please, Louis come home.

A bird sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, overlooking a mountainous landscape with patches of snow in the background.

Asha has arrived home at RSPB Loch Garten.

A female osprey is seen in a nest made of twigs at Loch Garten, surrounded by a forested landscape with hills in the background.

Keep your eyes on those screens for arrivals and if you haven’t seen the second baby at Achieva, check it out. Dad is doing an amazing job bringing in the fish! What a relief.

An osprey chick stands in a nest made of twigs on a platform, with an adult osprey perched above it. In the background, trees and a street are visible.

To those celebrating, Happy Easter or Happy Passover. May you find peace and joy and have good times with friends and family.

Take care everyone. That is it for today. Toby is getting a nail trim in the house tomorrow. Another one of the convenient services I have discovered and it is now time for me to think of what we might have for lunch. We hope to see you soon!

Remember – if you are feeling the least bit down, put on a jacket and head outside. Sit and listen. Feel the breeze on your cheek. I promise you will feel a thousand times better. If you are up to it, go for a walk. Check out the birds around your home. Let me know what you are seeing. Bye for now!

Thank you to Baiba for the videos of the Big Bear Valley family of Jackie and Shadow. Thank you ‘PB’ for alerting me to the full second hatch at BBV and to all the owners and people who post news including Jeff Kear and the UK Osprey Info FB, I am so grateful. Thanks a billion!