Tag Archives: gardens

Third hatch for Louis and Dorcha…late Saturday in Bird World

6 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

We have another yellow warning for heat and are being told not to be outside unless necessary. I had hoped to set up Toby’s spray pad, but it had a warning that pet’s toenails should be clipped. Of course. Punctures!!!!!! Hugo Yugo has her dental surgery on Wednesday and when I pick her up Toby will go in and get those nails trimmed then he can have some great fun!!!!! While it might sound silly, I had the deck extended by a modest 5 x 10′ in order for him to be able to have a little pool of this spray pad. The rest of the garden has really been given over to the garden animals so they have lots of cool shelter in the summer. There are bunnies – we thought one and their nest is under our deck. It is a good spot for some of the animals to get out of the way of the hawks and falcons that come for a quick lunch (or so they think!).

We travelled out to the garden centre that I prefer, and there were no peonies. I had hoped to add another 3 or 4 plants to an already growing number. They are toxic to dogs, like hydrangeas, and all of the groups are fenced off so that Toby cannot get ill or, worse, die. I am considering planting about ten raspberry plants. I have the perfect spot – with direct southern exposure just beside the conservatory. Sour cherries were also tempting. We will sleep on this over night.

There is no bad news about Telyn. She was eating and feeding the three chicks this morning. Oh, please let her be alright.

An osprey sitting on a nest made of sticks and grass, with a blurred green background.
An osprey is sitting in its nest made of twigs, overlooking a lush green landscape and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
An osprey standing on its nest made of twigs, with chicks visible nearby. The background features lush green fields and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.

From the Dyfi Osprey Project (Emyr Evans):

An osprey perched on a nest made of sticks with a lush green landscape and mountains in the background.

Teifi has been bringing in some nice Brown Trout for Elen and the triplets at Glaslyn.

A bird of prey feeding its chicks in a nest, surrounded by twigs and green grass in the background.

We have a second hatch at Keilder Forest nest 2.

Chick 2 for Nest 2

The surviving chick at Loch of the Lowes is doing so well. There is a third egg. It could still hatch.

A Facebook post from Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre discussing the status of a newly hatched osprey chick and the removal of a deceased sibling from the nest.
A close-up of a chick sitting next to a speckled egg, with an adult bird nearby feeding it. The scene showcases the nest environment with natural elements.

All appears to be well at the Usk Valley osprey nest.

A pair of ospreys standing in their nest made of twigs, with green fields and trees in the background.

Maya and Blue 33 have been working on the cot rails as those three kiddos get larger. The ‘babies’ are now preening their new juvenile feathers. This also helps take away the keratin sheath – that waxy protein tube that holds the blood feathers.

A bird's nest made of twigs and grass, containing several fluffy chicks resting together. The nest is located by a body of water, reflecting a blue sky.
Two ospreys resting on their nest made of twigs and branches near a body of water.

CJ7 and Blue 022 are masters at raising four osplets at once! Look at the images and spot the fat little bottom of hatch 4.

A group of fluffy bird chicks resting on a nest made of twigs and debris, with some visible food remnants nearby.
A group of fluffy, young bird chicks resting on a nest of twigs and straw.
An osprey feeding a chick in a nest made of twigs, surrounded by greenery in the background.

Dylan and Seren continue to bond and spend time together. Will they leave early for their migration – perhaps in July? This is wonderful to see – bonded and caring, they are protecting their territory and will really fatten up and be fit for their long migration. We don’t know where Dylan goes but we know that Seren Blue 5F goes to the exact tree in The Gambia every year.

Two ospreys perched on their nest with a green hillside and forest in the background.

Yesterday, Charlie’s former mate, Lola, visited their nest that now has eggs with his new mate. Charlie was incubating when she arrived. It is interesting to me that had this been the other way around, Charlie would have destroyed those eggs.

HFosp has the visit on video: https://youtu.be/y1juj3Kb4i0?

An osprey named Lola is seen turning around in a nest, with another osprey standing nearby, on a sunny day. The background features green grass and a path.

We are getting closer and closer to hatch for Clark and Iris at Hellgate Canyon.

An osprey sitting on its nest made of sticks, overlooking a mostly empty parking lot and grassy area in the background.

At Amersfoort, the Little Prince and his sister nap in the scrape box. No worries this year over the tiny baby. Can you tell them apart?

Two young birds huddled together in a nest filled with feathers and debris, with a view of rooftops visible through a nearby opening.

A look at the trio at Loch Arkaig 2 for Louis and Dorcha – a feeding video by Geemeff. https://youtu.be/-O_WQ33FChQ?

A parent bird stands on its nest, surrounded by twigs and branches, with two chicks visible below, set against a background of green hills and trees.
Two osprey adults standing on their nest with visible young chicks in the center, surrounded by twigs and vegetation. A green landscape is seen in the background.
A close-up of a bird of prey, possibly an eagle, standing in its nest surrounded by sticks and branches, with two chicks visible nearby in a natural setting.

I am glad that Little Dewey is a bit spunky. This might help him or her later on. Look at that fat little bottom and there is a fish on the nest – a large one.

An osprey in its nest, surrounded by twigs and branches, with a portion of fish beside it and visible young chicks underneath.
A bird's nest containing two chicks and eggs, viewed from above, with a waterfront restaurant and blue umbrellas in the background.

Geemeff’s latest Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 5th June 2026

Another day with plenty of fish and wet conditions. Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora 536, and his tally now stands at one hundred and one. He’d eaten the first one in a strange way, starting in the middle, but Aurora wasn’t bothered by the way it looked, and took it away to eat off the nest. Louis brought four fish for Dorcha and the two chicks, and the Nest Two tally now stands at one hundred and thirteen. At the time of filing this report (00.45), the third egg on Nest Two has pipped and is chupping away, and over on Nest One, there is a possibility Aurora’s single egg is also pipping, but a better view is needed. The wet weather is set to continue, with overnight drizzle and a low of 9°C, changing to light rain and a high of 16°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/jbt6sqQqjhY N2 leftovers for breakfast when last night’s fish returns 04.24.49

https://youtu.be/p0v_CCw69bs  N2 Lunch arrives – first fresh fish is a whole trout 12.46.29   

https://youtu.be/8FloAbbpKAo N2 Louis brings a second whole trout and stays, looking sleepy 14.50.52

https://youtu.be/D_8P1pYYEjw N2 A third whole trout arrives, larger than the last 16.27.32

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

I am so delighted that Telyn shows no sign of being adversely impacted by that fishing line and hook. Let us send our good wishes to all our families who struggle with more than we could imagine. Chicks are hatching in the area that Heidi monitors, and we are just praying for fish for them. They have, in the past, starved to death.

I will leave you with what is making me happy these days – the garden. The rain and heat have kick-started everything to bloom. Soon, there will hardly be any open space left, save for the deck area, so the birds, bunnies, squirrels, and Brock will have a place to stay cool.

There were two plants in the back garden when we bought the property – a peony and a prairie rose bush planted around 1902. These are the roses. They are so fragrant.

A pink flower surrounded by lush green leaves in bright sunlight.

The Korean Maple.

Close-up of green and yellow leaves with a few reddish leaves, set against a blurred green background.

The tunnel to the back of the property is now completely obscured.

Dense foliage with various green leaves and some reddish accents under sunlight.

The direct sun is shining down on all the garden and yet it is about 15 degrees cooler in this area for the birds and animals.

A garden scene featuring a bird feeder hanging from a tree, surrounded by lush green leaves, with a birdbath filled with pebbles and seeds placed below.

Thank you so much for being with us today. I am very tired and I do not know if I will have a post tomorrow but I will on Monday that will include SK Hideaways weekly videos. I should also mention that we have had fledges at the Spirit Bluff Peregrine scrape. Well done.

Thank you to everyone who posted information and images on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams that allowed us to view the birds and their lives, and me to take screencaptures. Thank you Geemeff for your amazing daily summary and videos. Much appreciated. Thank you so much.

Meeting fabulous women artists and thinking of Graysville

Several weeks ago, the Director of the Manitoba Crafts Council, Tammy Sutherland, asked me if I would be interested in being a facilitator for The Love of Craft members exhibition.  Even though there are regular critiques that I lead in my university classes, I wondered if I was up to the job.  There was such diversity in the participants – well, it was a bit worrisome.  All of that disappeared when, to my surprise, a former student was standing in the gallery, Erika Hanneson.  I had seen her name on the list of those that wanted to be part of the afternoon discussion but, there could have been many Erika’s as Manitoba has a sizeable Icelandic community.  But, it was her.  There is something beautiful about teaching, and it is seeing the students thrive and prosper when they leave that is the most rewarding.  I am afraid that my photograph of Erika’s work does not do it justice.  At first glance, most of the visitors to the gallery thought that the large plate had been entirely wheel thrown.  But, it isn’t.  The body of the vessel is a manipulated slab over a slump mould.  On the reverse, there is a wheel thrown foot ring.  The base is heavily gouged with the lines filled in with a dark slip.  There are subtle transitions in the glaze towards the rim giving the impression of a fall prairie landscape.  She has recently moved her studio to Gimli, Manitoba and no doubt the colours of the Lake Winnipeg and the summer sky will provide more inspiration.

Like many of those that come to the School of Art, Erika was a nurse, but her passion was art.  She was enrolled in the Diploma programme, but shortly after beginning her classes, Erika discovered that she liked the academic courses and did well in them.  She went on to get her BFA degree while raising children and working.  An excellent role model.  Now she devotes most of her time to her craft.  I wish her every success in her new studio and am anxiously awaiting the end of winter to go and visit.

IMG_1606

I intend to write about all of the women who I met on Saturday.  Each and everyone is doing something they are passionate about, and there were so many similarities in their stories.  Each tries to give voice to their experiences, they appreciate different materials and processes while acknowledging that one must practice a craft, ‘the verb’, and do things well.  One other thing we discussed is the need for meeting new people, the sharing of ideas, and the importance of positive support.

The other talented woman I would like to introduce you to is Judith Rempel Smucker.  Judith is also a graduate of the School of Art here in Winnipeg where she studied graphic design and the Basel School of Design in Switzerland.  She lived for some years in Pennsylvania where she taught graphic design.  The featured image is a photograph of a mixed media collage, one of 28 originals, that form the pages of her book, RE-encounters.  Views from the Field.  Here she has used vintage material, repurposed letters from the newspapers, and bouncing images of sheep.  Judith took 28 words that begin with ‘RE’ and gave them to 28 individuals who are part of her daily life.  She asked them to provide her with a text.  Re-count, re-direct, re-fresh, re-new are amongst the words chosen.  It is a delightful book and is available at the Manitoba Craft Council Shop on Cumberland.

Thumbing through the pages of RE-encounters made me recall part of my life tas a rural potter.  I lived in Graysville, Manitoba.  It is roughly eleven miles west of Carman Manitoba.  There was grain storage, a church, a school, and the general store run by Ada and Howard Stephenson.  The railway line that went all the way to Snow Valley had been removed.  The young people were leaving.  Most of the farms were getting larger and larger.  Some, like my neighbours to the east, used an old tractor and didn’t spray.  None of the ‘new fangled’ technology there.  I loved Graysville and the people who lived there.  And there are times when I miss them all.  I had a marvellous friend, Walter Toews.  He lived with his family near Graysville.  Walter was a teacher, and in his spare time, he raised sheep.  It has been so long ago now that I have forgotten some of the details but..in a nutshell.  Sometimes Walter’s ewes had twins.  And sometimes the mothers didn’t want to have to contend with two sheep so they would push one aside.  At other times, ewes whose lambs had died decided to literally butt in and try and take those of another mother.  Looking at their faces and their soft woolly bodies one would never imagine such things.  They are so cute.  Walter had heard about me from someone, perhaps his daughter who used to come and babysit my children, Cris and Jaine.  At any rate, it came to pass that Walter would give me the orphan lambs.  He didn’t have the time to deal with them.   So, they went in my basement at the beginning because the barn was too cold.  Yes, you read it right – lambs in the basement.  They were fed with bottles of milk from Elsie, the cow.  We were all gleeful when they were around.  The idea was that they would become outdoor pets used for their wool,  and die of old age.  Then one summer, the vegetables in the garden were getting eaten by some kind of worm.  It was taking its toll but, looking up and down, produced no sight of caterpillars or any other insect crunch a munching on the broccoli.  Ah, but one day Jaine and Cris came to tell me that they had seen something so ‘cute’ – it was the word they used.  Little Cindy was in the garden eating up all of the green beans!  Cute I asked myself.  Cute?!  This garden had been years in the making – getting rid of all the weeds and then having it killed by the farmer’s spray the second year.  This year there would be vegetables…an electric fence had been put around the area to keep the calves out.  But apparently, that lovely wool insulated the sheep.  They could go in and out.   We did get to eat those green beans one way or another…but I must thank Judith for bringing back those memories.  Someone asked her why she chose sheep and Judith replied it was because they were innocuous.  I smiled and didn’t say anything.  Shrewd might be the word I would use!

I want to thank the Manitoba Craft Council for inviting me to be the facilitator of the discussion.  I gained more having met three talented women previously unknown to me and become re-acquainted with a former student.  It was my pleasure.