21 August 2026
Oh, my goodness. Summer is flying by. We had such a gorgeous day. I don’t want them to end!
We are joining our daughter and family at a beach cottage to take Toby to the dog beach and go swimming. Don is going to love it. He loves the sand and the water – let’s hope the weather is good.
Toby met Ann’s new tiny, tiny dog, Daisy, today. Those two played with Lucy in the garden. Like three old friends. It was a wonderful afternoon away from the house but not being a public place like the zoo – which is full of children attending camp right now.
As for me, I was searching high and low for something interesting to eat. Do you ever just get sick of eating? Things don’t taste good? Takeaway or delivery is often a mix of disgusting food, small portions, cold portions, and service fees, plus taxes and tips. Seriously, two burgers can wind up costing $62. Sorry. We have decided not to do that, so I’m looking for meals prepared locally, like The Greek Market. So Greek it is tonight!
This will be the shortest posting of the week, probably. I left at noon worried about Clark because he had not been seen delivering fish to Wensi. Instead, Iris was taking on this role.
So who delivered this fish first thing this morning? It sure looks like Clark. Am I bonkers?
Wensi came and went from the nest hoping for more fish. at one point he must have seen an adult.
I cannot tell you if this is little 4 at Blackbush or not but whoever it was kept seeing ospreys flying (you could see their shadows) and they were ever hopeful for a delivery.
Please continue to send prayers to those small islands and the Midway Atoll so that Hurricane Lala will pass and head off north.
I have missed commenting on Collin Marsh in Wisconsin. They had three fledglings originally. I cannot tell you if this is the same fledgling or not but it appears healthy. I am very pleased. The Marsh has been drained and the adults would have been fishing the local rivers and inlets.
Eating a nice fish!
Sharon Leigh Miles and friends have put together a family chart for Iris:
We need some really good news and if this doesn’t fit, I don’t know what does. No longer the fire threat to the Big Sur condors and – a condor returning to Big Sur after 21 years? All I can say is, wow. Thanks, Kelly, for your letter.
| August 21, 2026 |
| Dear Mary,I have both an update and a genuinely remarkable piece of condor news to share with you today. The Timber Fire is no longer threatening our facilities or any wild condor nests. That said, it is still burning, and in these rugged landscapes anything can happen, so we continue to monitor conditions closely alongside our fire and agency partners. A huge thank you goes to Big Sur Fire, CALFIRE, and the U.S. Forest Service for the incredible job they’ve done managing this fire so far. As for Condor (340) and Condor (868), the two birds we released earlier than planned, both have since flown back toward Pinnacles, putting welcome distance between themselves and the fire. It’s exactly the kind of instinct that has helped this species survive in fire-prone country, and we couldn’t be more pleased with how they’re doing. We’ve also had encouraging news from the field. Early indications suggest the Grimes nest tree survived the fire, and while some of the camera equipment on the ground was lost, the nest cavity itself appears intact. The nest isn’t active right now, but a camera is in place for the upcoming season, and our partners at Explore.orghave already committed to replacing anything that was damaged. We’re grateful for their continued support, and hopeful about what the 2027 season may bring there. Joe will share more at the Condor Chat.  The Grimes nest tree still standing after the Timber Fire. Photo courtesy of Tim Templeton. Now for the extraordinary part. An incredible piece of California condor history is unfolding right now. For the first time in 21 years, Condor (161) has returned to the Big Sur coast.  Condor (161) back on the Big Sur coast, captured on our live San Simeon Condor Cam. Released into the wild as an eight-month-old chick on December 12, 1997, she became a foundational member of the central California recovery effort. She spent her formative years navigating the rugged cliffs of Big Sur, helping her species push back from the brink of extinction. In 2004, her journey took a dramatic turn when she flew south to join the southern California flock. Over the next two decades, she became a prolific mother, successfully nesting and producing 10 offspring. Biologists are thrilled but mystified by her sudden homecoming. We’re unsure what prompted her return to her original stomping grounds, or how long she intends to stay. This surprise visit is a powerful reminder of how much we still have to learn about the complex behaviors, memory, and lives of these majestic birds. You can tune in to see Condor (161) and other condors on our live Condor Cams, and be sure to join us on the Condor Chat Thursday, Aug 27, to hear more about both stories. Thank you, as always, for following along and for standing with us and the condors. With gratitude,  Kelly Sorenson Executive Director …and the Condor Crew Ventana Wildlife Society |
‘R’ sends us news of Avian Flu in New Zealand.
That is good news to close on. Take care everyone. Send good wishes to all our ospreys as they struggle to get fit for migration!
I will see you again – on Sunday. I am going to take a day off. I really am! I urge all of you to turn off the screens and step back for a few days and just enjoy the end of summer.
My faithful companion who really brings so much joy to my life I cannot even find the words. He loves having a bath – Toby is truly a ‘Spaniel’.
Thank you to everyone who contributed information that I have included in this blog. To R and Kelly Sorenson for their news on Avian Flu (R) and the good news at Big Sur. To everyone who posted on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us watch the birds.
