23 June 2026
Hello Everyone,
I hope that the beginning of summer has been good to each of you. The days seem to pass so quickly that we must look past the ticks, the midges, the wasps, the mosquitoes and enjoy the beauty of this season. When I think of summer – and for those reading my blog the last week – you will know that I have had ‘Japan on my mind’. I remember walking around the Golden Temple in Kyoto with its pond surrounded by beautiful purple iris. The purple iris in many of the gardens on my street are blooming now, too. My son is in Tokyo eating ramen, shopping, and heading out to go fishing with his friends there. One day I will return – he might have to help me!
One of Bird World’s friends and someone who keeps a good eye on some nests, sent me the following note: “Remember that kitten season is amongst us; in Canada it typically runs from early spring (March/April) to late fall (October/November), with a peak in breeding and births happening between May and July. Brock and the other kitty are driven by their instinct and could be out moving around their territory. It’s early still so don’t give up hope just yet.” There are few homeless cats in our neighbourhood. Brock might have had to go a distance but he always came ‘home’ in the past after three days. I wish to be hopeful.
At the Cornell campus, P2 has now fledged leaving only little P3 at home. P3 will probably not fledge for at least 4 or 5 days. Big Red and Arthur will make certain that each is fed. No worries.
Some images from the nest today.
Just look at this! Iris and Clark’s baby after eating on that big fish all day. https://youtu.be/suhjI_PvwSI?
This sweet darling baby has no idea how lucky it is. Iris, the oldest breeding osprey in the world, and its very young dad, Clark. Yet, from his experiences with the Bald Eagles nearby, Clark is quick to stay home and protect his family while they eat, for fear that another raptor will try to steal a free meal and harm them. I think Clark is magnificent. I hope that he has more years with Iris, but, for now, let us simply enjoy these precious moments. A beautiful sleeping osplet, so full and healthy.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 22nd June 2026
The weather was settled, there were no intruders or fights between the chicks, and the day was calm and routine, apart from Louis bringing an even more unsuitable stick than the one dubbed The Aerial. Garry LV0 brought one fish to Aurora 536 taking the Nest One total to one hundred and twenty nine, while Louis just kept bringing fish faster than Dorcha and the chicks could eat them. His six fish today take the Nest Two total to one hundred and seventy eight. The weather will remain settled with an overnight low of 14°C, with sunshine and a high of 24°C tomorrow.
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/4Mr7YuXHFB4 N2 the first fish arrives with night cam still on 03.46.25
https://youtu.be/_3T1fnsbFVs N2 the second fish arrives just 7 mins 28 secs after the first! 03.59.23
https://youtu.be/_7s0yMD7XEs N2 Louis brings a third fish before 6am! 05.32.34
https://youtu.be/NuZIYdaRQoY N2 Branching out – Louis brings an unsuitable stick 12.29.27
https://youtu.be/0XLDXBafWHs N1 Aurora flies off with her fish leaving Garry in charge 13.13.56
https://youtu.be/AUdTehH1vBQ N2 Fourth fish is late but worth waiting for 19.54.20
https://youtu.be/V5V-8HYdpBo N2 Late fish supper arrives, fifth fish today 22.06.20
https://youtu.be/1MXOoZpWTaw N2 Fish number six flaps unnoticed by Dorcha 22.24.43
You’re invited to join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam
=========
News from the DNR Bald Eagle nest in Minnesota!
The fledge of Cornell Big Red and Arthur of P1: https://youtu.be/HZFLWDeb-g8?
I believe we are losing the third hatch at the Ferguson Museum -. It is tucked in, not moving, and could be dying from some kind of breathing/nest infection. It is, however, unclear, and the baby perked up during the afternoon. Fingers crossed. The female is fish calling!
We were so hopeful that the Buzzards that hatched in Latvia would survive and now the hawk is predating them. Goshawks are to be feared. https://youtu.be/gMX-ZS1URcI?
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 23rd June 2026
The weather was settled today and nothing out of the ordinary occurred. The chicks didn’t fight and the males supplied fish to their respective nests. Garry LV0 delivered two fish to Aurora 536 taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and thirty one, and Louis delivered three fish to Dorcha, taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and eighty one. The family was so full from yesterday’s fish that not much interest was shown in the first delivery but by the second and third fishes, the chicks were coming forward eagerly and trying a little nibble. Having wrestled with the unsuitable stick he brought yesterday and leaving it in an arched position, Louis decided to tackle it today, and after a great effort he managed to collapse the Arch over the side but still part of the cot rail security barrier. At the time of filing this report (00.30) light rain is falling and is expected to continue overnight with a low of 14°C, but dry up tomorrow with a high of 21°C.
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/ITQ6QjCIulk N2 The family barely react to the first fish 03.59.36https://youtu.be/7WUzI-6938w N2 Dorcha’s not interested but the chicks try a nibble 10.36.56https://youtu.be/JCNJ3E7LEVI N1Aurora grabs the fish and leaves Garry in charge 15.21.28https://youtu.be/-gEPRQex3NQ N2 Louis delivers a massive fish and remains on the nest 15.30.19https://youtu.be/hcgj_uHDsy4 N1 For how much longer will Garry incubate the unviable egg? 19.24.30https://youtu.be/ORvGGbqPBlA
N2 With great effort, Louis removes the Arch! 20.19.19
Bonus info – how do Ospreys manage to swallow fish bones without injury on the way down? Here are some answers (thanks LizB)
https://nutritionofosprey.wordpress.com/digestive-an
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
We have news from our monitor V from Indian Creek, Maryland:
“Rough storm last night and the third head on the nest in front of my porch did not appear this morning and the female brought soft ground grass to tromp down in one spot of the nest. The other two chicks look very healthy and although the fish are smaller, the male is still bringing them in regularly.
Similarly, the nest next door has at least one chick still in the nest. They raised the nest wall on my side so after my early glimpse of one chick really going at another, I’ve only caught a rare glimpse of a chick, but did this morning. This nest would seem to have had less fish, but of course I miss so much.
The four nests along the south shore at the creek mouth are probably a bust. One I’d hoped for left her nest yesterday. I never did catch a glimpse of the two of them together after she began incubating, too long ago for viable eggs now. I have a magical pretend hope in one of these four, still. It will be some time before a chick would be big enough for me to glimpse through the box nest and foliage. OH MY the most bizarre thing, an eagle was sitting right next to the osprey on that nest – here is a fast snapshot, was too slow to get a better focus, eagle flew immediately after and osprey chased. Weird.
As for the string of five nests at the head of the creek, the pairs are maintaining contact with their nests and one another, but either eggs or hatchlings didn’t make it. However, one nest that spent the earlier season abandoned has a steady couple hanging out.
And finally, yesterday I was certain a nest farther up the road, above Island Creek, with the Potomac across the road from it, had a chick or chicks. But I saw both male and female staring into the bottom of the nest this morning as I went to vote. Last night’s storm would have hit that nest hard, wind right across the wide Potomac. Down here nobody is throwing any silver dollars across the river.
And, finally, I will begin promoting the initial serialization of Island Creek Ospreys tomorrow on my marketing site. Here is the link to the Island Creek Ospreys home page which has links to each of the small segments within the years. I’ve got two years posted and will turn back now to the next 5 years. They’re written. It’s now a matter of cut, paste, find photos, etc., etc. But it’s a start.”
I have seen some wonder why Clark stays with Iris and the baby while they eat. This is precisely why – an eagle will land right next to an osprey on its nest. Iris would be focused on feeding the chick. As I mentioned, Clark is a hero. A great Dad and so ever young.
Jill continues to feed Big and Little at the Achieva nest. No sign of Jack for a bit. I wonder what has happened to him or if he just decided to start his summer vacation?
What do over 571 osprey nests tell you about what is happening in the Chesapeake Bay? If you didn’t believe that a lack of fish mattered, perhaps you might think differently after reading this study. Please forward to anyone. This is tragic – and I need many, many more to join the movement to stop the industrial fishing of Menhaden. (That includes along the Gulf States, too).
Thank you for being with me. As the rain settles a bit, Mr and Mrs Crow, Mr and Mrs Blue Jay and a host of other songbirds are at the feeders in case there is a storm before they turn in for the night. We have had nothing but rain and more rain. We were wearing jumpers today with the heating on. I worry about the nests – the cold damp is not good for little ones but I believe the Crows and Jays are fledged or near to it.
I also want to thank ‘L’ in Alabama for feeding the crows on her picnic table. They will reward you – every day when they call you will know that you have helped wildlife in your patch. Now if we could get everyone to join there would be no blank spaces and no hungry birds and animals. Humans waste 40% of the food they buy…why not let the animals eat it?
Take care.
Thank you to absolutely everyone – to Geemeff for her summaries, for those amazing videos and reports from all the others including our monitor V in Maryland, to the owners of the streaming cams, and those that write good reports based on observation not fantasy!