Tag Archives: Glaslyn

Friday in Bird World

12 September 2025

Good Morning,

Oh, the sun is shining and the sky is blue! Everyone has now been fed and watered after a frolicking night of little raccoons on the deck eating cat kibble. We hope that each of you has a lovely Friday and a great weekend.

Late update from Rutland:

Late news from Foulshaw Moss:

I am starting to write this blog on Tuesday morning while Toby is at the vet clinic. He has been gone for four hours, and I miss that little bundle of energy. Toby went in for a neutering and will come out with that, but it turned out he still has all of his baby teeth. They didn’t fall out and should have, but are rather crowded with his big boy teeth. There was already some plaque building up, so they are coming out as well. Hugo Yugo is looking for him. Did I say that they are inseparable? And the vet fears that HY will try to wash Toby’s stitches. Oh, my. HY just decided to give Calico a good go! It is a good thing that Toby will be relatively sedated when we pick him up later today.

Hugo Yugo took really good care of Toby when he wasn’t feeling well. HY washed Toby’s face and slept with him, but didn’t wash those stitches as far as I know (of course, I was asleep, but they were quiet and I presume sleeping or they would have been romping all over me).

It rained on Thursday morning. There was something about the sky – it was dark. It was 20 °C, but it felt much colder. Watching Brock come for his meal made me realise that winter is coming sooner than I want! Brock is starting his 4th fall coming to the garden. He must have had a place to stay warm in the winter, or he would not have survived. Where is it? We have the heated food and water bowls ready for him. I contemplate having the carpenter make him a two-level house where he can sleep on top under a lamp and have his food below. But would he use it?

Miyoung came and cut our hair, and guess who wanted to help her?

Inseparable. Toby is feeling better. Him and HY are just cuddle buddies – and they are always looking for trouble. Good thing Miyoung likes dogs and cats!

Hope. Baby Hope is fine. She is getting new fur on her injury, and I now have some sedative tablets to help her get to the vet if necessary in the future. What a relief! As each of you knows, our pets mean the world to us, and when anything happens or when they are unwell, we do not rest and we worry and fret for them. They are family.

It is nice and quiet. All of the cats, Toby, and Don are sound asleep. A new season of the Marlow Murder Club is streaming – lovely with a nice cup of tea. And thank goodness, the Christmas teas are coming online. We have a favourite, and soon, some tins will arrive from across the pond. This is our holiday treat! Tea and scones. Yes! Good way to start fall, which will officially be here shortly.

As of Monday, the following male ospreys were still seen in the UK: Blue 33 at Rutland, Blue KC6, known as Teifi, and unringed Aran are still at Glaslyn. Blue KL5 is at Loch Garten, and Blue KS6, known as Dinas, is from a private nest in Wales.

As of Thursday, these ospreys appear to be around the UK: Samson remains at the Border Ospreys (see below), feeding his two fledglings. 9K5 was at Usk at 0859, and Heather Cormer was still seeing KS6/Dinas at Glaslyn.

Heather Corfield​​ from Glaslyn stated, “There have been no reported sightings of Aran since Friday, so he could have left. We thought Teifi had though as we had not seen him after Tuesday 2, but he reappeared on Monday 8.”

Iris is still at Hellgate Canyon on Monday, and she was photographed on Wednesday, the 10th, eating a large fish in her favourite tree. She was also there on the 9th. And guess what? Iris was on the snag tree eating a large fish on Thursday, the 11th. She is in no hurry to leave. Good for her for waiting and fattening up on that nice fish.

Samson is still at Border Ospreys with the two fledglings! Augusta departed about a fortnight ago.

RELUCTANCE TO GODownload

Fledgling Blue 7M5 from Llyn Brenig has now migrated. Last seen last Sunday, the 7th of September 2025.

SK Hideaways’ great videos keep us up to date on so many nests! (You may see a couple of these twice within the blog):

West End Eagles, Haku & MV ~ Catalina Island (11 Sept 2025)

After roosting on their night perch, Haku and MV met at the nest for bonding nestorations and a little mischief. Haku continues to try for beaky kisses, but MV resists. With this morning’s rejection, Haku took to nibbling MV’s tail instead. Interesting to watch the progression in this young relationship.

Video: https://youtu.be/NPkYfxPdXEA

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies, explore.org

Nest Low Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfuqjSNXZ14

Other Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmmAzrAkKqI

Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kad6O4nF6bg

Sydney WB Sea Eagles Lady, Dad, SE35 & SE36 (2025 Sep 11)

Lady was steadfast and determined to keep SE35 and SE36 warm and dry throughout a blustery night and into the morning. Except for two short feedings and an even shorter break, super mumbrella sheltered her eaglets.

SE35 and SE36 are 4 weeks old.

Video: https://youtu.be/qFYcxaQP8aU

Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park (https://www.sea-eaglecam.org/video.html)

Nest cam also at https://www.youtube.com/@SeaEagleCAM4/streams

367 Collins Street Falcons ~ Female F24 and Male M24 (11 Sept 2025)

A changeover became a non-changeover when Mum, F24 realized there was a prey gift from Dad, M24, that she hadn’t seen the day before. She departed with it, but not before M24 thought his egg time was over. He soon returned for a bit more time with his beloved eggs.  Dad’s chirps continue to bring me to my knees. So adorable.

Video: https://youtu.be/Y_jj2-rKCro

Courtesy 367 Collins St. Falcon Cam

South Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oibsohQ14cY

North Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNKk0ivuWe4

Big Bear Valley, home of Jackie & Shadow (9 Sept 2025)

It’s always special when Jackie & Shadow visit at this time of year, as nestorations don’t start for another few weeks. They spent the night perched on their favorite roost tree and then greeted the sunrise on the lookout snag before starting their day. Later, one of them perched on the cactus snag with two ravens.

Video: https://youtu.be/XsZkkRxmaDI

Courtesy FOBBVCAM, Friends of Big Bear Valley

🔗Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE

🔗Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://youtube.com/live/LCGYWfbyBWc

🔴LIVE Recap & Observations https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz

Sydney WB Sea Eagles ~ Lady, Dad, SE35 & SE36 (9 Sep 2025)

While SE35 continues to show dominance, SE36 shows superior wisdom and resilience. While patiently waiting for SE35 to fill up, SE36 sidesteps up the nest, arriving in prime position to receive bites once SE35 is sated. It’s a fascinating story of perseverance and, ultimately, survival. 

Video: https://youtu.be/kZ2rpcJJKwg

Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park (https://www.sea-eaglecam.org/video.html)

Nest cam also at https://www.youtube.com/@SeaEagleCAM4/streams

Sauces Eagles 🦅 Audacity & Jak Do Nestorations Before Bedtime 💤 2025 Sep 8

While early in the season, Audacity and Jak did some nestorations before heading to their favorite roost tree for the night. Nice to see them.

Video: https://youtu.be/w_VheWIfFtg

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies, explore.org

Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnTsOesC6hE

The last of Geemeff’s offerings from Loch Arkaig for the 2025 season!

Geemeff’s Final Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 10th September 2025

Season Nine has been such a successful season after the worries of last year. Not only did Louis return, but he was at his best, delivering 437 fish which together with a pair from Dorcha made a season total of 439. They hatched three chicks and fledged two, Darach 7P0 and Breac 7P7, and all four family members left on migration looking strong and healthy when they made their final appearance on nest cam. Louis has now fledged fourteen chicks, six with Aila and eight with Dorcha. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 returned and appears to have found a mate when Aurora 536 turned up and claimed the nest, accepting fish from him, mating with him and seeing off Affric 152 when she turned up. Once Aurora left on migration however, Garry turned his attention back to Affric and delivered fish to her too, bringing a grand total of 141 to the nest for which ever female turned up, he doesn’t appear to be fussy, he just wants a mate. It will be interesting to see what happens next year, it’s looking good for chicks on Nest One, but from which female? We had the thrill of Breac’s sighting in Spain just fifteen days after he left Loch Arkaig, and also that of Aurora, sighted in Poole Harbour three weeks after her last visit to Nest One. Fingers crossed for more sightings – we wish our Nest One and Nest Two Osprey families fair winds and plenty of fish, and have our fingers very firmly crossed for safe passage for all and a safe return by the adults to Loch Arkaig for Season Ten next Spring.

Grateful thanks to George and Woodland Trust for allowing me to clip bits off the livestreams. Many thanks to everyone who’s watched, liked, or commented on my videos – special thanks TibbyJ for bird IDs and keeping me updated on all the action by sending fishmails, Steve for his amazing fish stats and LizB for off-nest reports. After some IT problems (grrr), I hope to have my season highlights video completed soon and will post it here, it will also be available on my YouTube channel  https://www.youtube.com/@GeemeffGeemeff. Thank you to People’s Postcode Lottery for funding the nest cams and selecting my postcode a couple of times this year for the minor prizes – hoping for the big prize one day!

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 20.36.37 (06.02.00); Nest Two 20.29.50 (06.04.49)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/qbDw_EJ1-UE N2 Many little members of the family Paridae flit around 15.28.33

Season Nine synopsis: 

Dorcha arrived Nest Two 14.04.19 Wednesday 2 April 

Louis arrived Nest Two 19.47.44 Wednesday 2 April 

Affric 152 arrived Nest One 11.47.48 Tuesday 8 April

Prince arrived Nest One 11.48.02 Tuesday 8 April

Garry LV0 arrived Nest One 09.27 58 Wednesday 9 April

First egg 17.52.55 Wednesday 16 April

Blue 536 arrived Nest One 10.53.46 Friday 18 April 

Second egg 12.56.16 Saturday 19 April

Third egg 10.30.10 Tuesday 22 April

Hello Aurora! WTS name Blue 536 Monday 5 May

Hatch! bob1 07.34.19 Saturday 24 May

Hatch! bob2 02.58.07 Sunday 25 May

Hatch! bob3 06.46.27 Tuesday 27 May 

Sad unexpected death of bob3 16.02+ Sunday 8 June

Chicks ringed – 2 males: C1 = 7P0; C2 = 7P7 15.30+ Wednesday 2 July

Chicks named: 7P0 Darach; 7P7 Breac Monday 7 July

Fledge! Breac flies 13.23.30 Friday 18 July

Breac spends the night off-nest, returns from his maiden flight 09.05.27 19 July

FLEDGE! Darach flies 13.02.38 Saturday 19 July

Darach returns from his maiden flight 17.31.27 Saturday 19 July

Aurora last seen 11.22.37 Monday 28 July

Dorcha last seen 12.39.28 Thursday 7 August

Breac 7P7 last seen 09.11.28 Friday 15 August

Affric 152 last seen 15.48.47 Friday 15 August

Garry LV0 last seen 10.41.17 Saturday 16 August

Aurora 536 sighted in Poole Harbour 18-19 August

Louis last seen 12.34.56 Thursday 21 August

Darach 7P0 last seen 13.22.20 Thursday 21 August

Breac 7P7 sighted in Spain! Saturday 30 August and again Tuesday 2 September

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/rVhQlohNPTY N2 Cleaning crew? A flock of songbirds investigate the deserted nest 2020

https://youtu.be/tMw6O0_BTHw N1 Not much work for the cleaning crew this year! 2021  

https://youtu.be/_xq-ddyCCNk N2 Little songbirds pay a quick visit to the empty nest 2022

https://youtu.be/A09q6j1aYCc N2 Hoodies enjoy taking possession of the empty nest 2022 

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 9th September 2025
The usual small birds visited today, and one exciting big bird – a handsome Buzzard paid a brief visit to Nest One. Last winter a Buzzard visited quite often, so hope this one, or a cousin, will drop in again. The press has been highlighting how early autumn fruit is out this year amidst concern for wildlife finding sufficient food later on. Woodland Trust would like your help to document fruit ripening dates by logging your observations on Nature’s Calendar. Link in the bonus section.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 20.45.50 (

05.37.31); Nest Two 20.36.27 (05.58.22)
Today’s videos: 

https://youtu.be/Yo60gLBcOcY N1 Handsome Buzzard pays a brief visit 17.27.30
Bonus action – help Woodland Trust track how fruit ripening dates are changing over time and contribute to research on the impacts of climate change on our wildlife: https://naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/XUYF6OEpQ88  N2 Sarafina does a fly-by before landing 2022

https://youtu.be/sUpzBM54QHY  N2 Thief! A Raven arrives and steals a stick 2022

https://youtu.be/PLOmU0AJ8nM  N2 Several little birds come and go on the empty nest 2022

https://youtu.be/BQC_B1pN3tk  N2 Lights at night near the nest – deer management team 2022

https://youtu.be/5LK7YZ2CtZ8  N2 Confirmed – final sighting of Sarafina LW6 2022

https://youtu.be/6h4T2QWS_68  N2 Three Bullfinches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) visit 2023

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

Forestry and Land Scotland’s newsletter at the end of osprey season.

The summary for Birds of Poole Harbour for the season:

A surprise arrival at Poole Harbour:

And another:

Days at Dunrovin Ranch latest news:

Hard News and Hopeful SignsDownload

Lucille Powell caught Rosie at the Whirley Crane at the Golden Gate Audubon Osprey platform (the first for her and Richmond. They now use a light stand).

Newmann is at the High Spirit Bluff scrape.

Cute little sea eaglets on the EagleCAM wet from the storm – but Lady did a great job protecting her precious fluffy bundles.

SK Hideaways has Lady as Mumbrella on video! https://youtu.be/qFYcxaQP8aU?

Lady is such a good Mum!

Birdlife Malta’s September newsletter.

BirdLife Malta September 2025 NewsletterDownload

The latest migration results from Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania.

The Red kites are getting ready to fledge at Robert Fuller’s nest! https://youtu.be/aW1k-a2LYmc?si=HojsceaOAeERsm06

KCAL News follows the protestors who showed up to try and keep building development away from Jackie and Shadow’s nest in Big Bear Valley.

NBCLA reports on the protests, too, along with many other media outlets. Everyone loves and wants to protect these two Iconic Bald Eagles and their nest.

Gabby and Beau continue to work on their nest in NE Florida:

The West End eagle nest is busy – despite missing Thunder and Akecheta, let us embrace this new couple and hope that we have little eaglets to coo over in the new year! SK Hideaways caught them: https://youtu.be/NPkYfxPdXEA?

‘A’ reports from Australia:

“Here is our gorgeous girl getting her GPS tracker. 

Look at how very well behaved and calm she is while the rangers get things sorted. She is such a grown-up albie. It’s so good to know we will be able to follow her on her travels. The New Zealanders really do get a lot of things right, don’t they? I’m so very fond of them. (Australians love to adopt successful New Zealanders, and happily claim numerous actors, comedians, singers and sportspeople as our own.) They’re like our little brothers. 

More importantly, Miss SS Trig has her GPS backpack and a numbered yellow band on her left leg (I’m not certain but I think it might say ‘555’. Surely not.) 

She is still at the headland tonight (Thursday 11 September), but she got some really good hovering done in the windy conditions on Wednesday (10 September), with so much air beneath those wings that I thought we might be seeing her fledge then and there. But she does still have some downy fluff to rid herself of, and I am hoping that keeps her at home for another four or five days. 

What a gorgeous girl she is. She loves to closely inspect the camera (as she is doing here), which gives us some wonderful pics:

Thumbnail

We will miss this adventurous little lady. She has been wonderful to watch. 

At WBSE in Olympic Park, Sydney, both sea eaglets are doing well. Here are the ranger’s reports from today and yesterday:

September 10: An early post at 4:40pm, as a storm is approaching. The chicks were uncovered last night until rain started, when Lady moved back to the bowl to cover them as well as she could. The morning saw a wet Lady and damp nestlings. She did not leave then until 8:45am, damp and dirty. Dad finally bought a fish at 9:52am, grabbed by Lady and fed to the nestlings, mainly SE35. Then the nestlings were left alone, huddled together in the bowl, mostly with one or other adult nearby. The rain eased, and during the morning, both eagles brought in several sprays of leaves. Just after midday, Lady returned as rain started again. She left after about 30 minutes as the rain eased. Dad brought in a small fish at 13:21, again grabbed by Lady and fed to the young, mainly SE35 again. When rain started again later, she returned to shelter the eaglets. Another fish arrived at 14:35 – and another feeding, with SE36 doing well. Lady covered the nestlings again after the feeding, sheltering them from the light rain. As the rain became heavier, she spread her wings out.

September 11: Late yesterday afternoon, Lady left the littles again on the nest – and the wind was really strong. Then, she brought a big fish in at last light, eating well herself – then feeding the nestlings – SE35 ate well, then SE36. She then settled over them again on the nest. She covered them all night and in the morning looked quite wet. Dad brought part of a fish just after 6am and she fed SE35 a little, then covered the eaglets again when rain started. She was seen shivering to warm herself. Dad came to the nest around 9am – Lady was straight up before he could take the fish. Lady offered some leftover fish to SE35, turned away and then ate for herself. After a few minutes, SE36 moved closer and fed well until all the fish was gone. She had a quick shake of her wet feathers, then covered the chicks again as it was still raining. She got up again at 9:41am, with a shake and away, leaving them alone, both chittering away. She returned to cover them after a short break. Then, she was away again. Dad came in briefly, looking for scraps, and fed SE36 one little bit. Then he was off. The nestlings were busy grooming their wet fluff and itching, and the weather was improving. Dad brought in a gull at 14:42 and Lady fed both eaglets, SE35 first. Dad came in afterwards and fed a few scraps to SE36. Both, by then well fed, spent the late afternoon lying in the nest bowl. Another fish was brought just after 5pm, fed to the kids by Lady – both ate. She then settled over them just before 6pm. 

At Port Lincoln, there are three eggs, laid on 4 September, 7 September and 11 September. Of course there is plenty of time for a fourth egg but let’s hope they leave it at three. I wonder whether the Fish Fairy could ensure four osplets survive to fledge if there did happen to be four viable eggs – it wouldn’t be easy, even with enough food to go around, because sharing it between four osplets would be exhausting and difficult for the parents. It’s too late to hope for just two eggs so the best we can do is hope this is it for egg laying this season. 

At Collins Street, there are three eggs, and obviously, these two know that three is a good number. They are taking turns to incubate their eggs, and like the osprey pair at Port Lincoln, they seem to have a good relationship, closer than last year (whether they are a different pair or whether they are just more mature this season and know each other better, who knows). 

At Orange, there are no eggs, meaning there was no fertilisation in the few matings witnessed between Diamond and Xavier before his disappearance and Gimbir’s efforts [might be lacking]. “

Backyard Bird Lovers reminds us:

Some avian species are disappering more rapidly than others.

Ducks are increasing in number because of the increase of wetlands and hunters partering with ‘birders’ and environmentalists.

No feathers! But the rare baby Lynx that came into care at Wildlife Haven in Manitoba. https://youtu.be/_cRbeF4ZF1E?

Thank you so much for being with us today. We are delighted that so many people care about the raptors (and other feathered friends) that we follow. Osprey season is winding down, and Bald Eagles are returning to their nests in the United States. As I have mentioned previously, the active nest at the moment is the White-bellied Sea Eagle nest in the Olympic Forest in Sydney. We have eggs at the CBD Falcon scrape in Melbourne and at the Port Lincoln Osprey barge. Mum laid her third egg on Thursday at the barge, and we should now be in the hard incubation stage. We wait to see what will happen at Diamond and Gimbir’s scrape on the grounds of the Charles Sturt University in Orange.

I am going to take a ‘sort of’ mini-break. There is a lot to do to get the garden in shape for winter, and a few continuing renovations inside that need my attention. As a result of a lack of nest activity, I will publish my blog just on Mondays until the Port Lincoln osprey eggs hatch in 36-42 weeks. So check in on Mondays! Book reviews, Red Bird discussions, Bald Eagle sightings!

Take care! See you on Monday.

I want to thank our notable contributors, ‘Geemeff and SK Hideaways, ‘, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos and the authors of posts such as Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all others, often too many to name but who I have tried to cite in bold. I am very grateful to you and to the newspapers that still cover environmental issues as they relate to our precious feathered friends. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.

When is the last goodbye? Late Monday in Bird World

2 September 2025

Hello Everyone,

Our family knows this truth all too well. You never know when you say ‘Goodbye, I love you’ if it will be the last. I will never forget the morning that our son walked out the door on his way to his summer job, and his employer phoning me two and a half hours later, wondering where Will was – because he was never late. I am so grateful that our morning was spent having breakfast together in the warm breeze of a Canadian summer. It was calm and it was beautiful. Twenty-six years later, I still miss that amazing kid. We have learned that you must treasure every moment – live life as if it is the last day, always. Never leave with a harsh word, never have to say you are sorry to someone. Surround yourself with love. And that brings us to this post…We generally do not know when the moment will come when we will see a person, a pet, or a treasured ‘bird’. We do not realise it until it is past.

Today as I drove out to Oak Knoll Farm to pick up the week’s produce and eggs, skeins of Canada Geese filled the skies. Others have photographed the Bald Eagles gathering on the river. The great migration has really begun in earnest as our temperatures dropped from 30 C two days ago to 8 C today. Fall is here, not by the calendar but by the movement of the wildlife.

And so, we must treasure all the years we have spent with these amazing birds and hope that those who are departing, or have departed, on their great fall migration will return to us in the spring.

Iris stood and posed on the nest on Tuesday 2 September as if she was ready to depart. Iris has outlived all other female ospreys that I know about and if this is her last visit to the nest and the last time we will see her this year, I hope that her migration is safe, full of huge fish, and that she returns safely to raise yet another nest of checks with New Guy in 2026.

Tiger Mozone told me years ago that it is, in part, good DNA and luck that allows some adults to thrive as long as Iris has. She will be at least 30 when she returns next year, if not 31. She has definitely had luck on her side. We have no idea where she spends her winters, but she would have honed the trip over the years, landing at the same tree and making the same stopovers. We have learned these things from the ringed birds from the UK spotted in The Gambia and Senegal.

We didn’t know when Xavier delivered that yummy parrot to Diamond five days ago, that it would be the last prey delivery. Xavier was a ‘real’ character. He always seemed so small compared to Diamond, and the poor little guy often got scolded for only being able to find a Starling. It will be Xavier’s acute desire to help incubate the eggs, brood the babies, and his sneak attempts to try and feed his children that will remain with me. He was a good provider, and we will not forget him. He takes a little piece of our heart, just like Annie and all her mates, beginning with Grinnell, when they did not return.

Life in the wild goes on. Diamond will hopefully have chicks this year. She is no youngster and has now outlived two mates. Let us hope that this new chap will warm our hearts by his intense caring for her.

At the falcon scrape on the grounds of Charles Sturt University in Orange, Australia, Diamond is bonding with the young male who has been delivering prey to her on the tower. https://youtu.be/uwc9J40eGps?

Cilla has named him Gimbir. Dr Kinross posted this:

From the Box Cam live stream info in Youtube:

GENERAL INFORMATION This site is about a family of peregrine falcons using a nest box since 2008 in a water tower at Charles Sturt Unversity, Orange, Australia. The adult female is Diamond and the new male (just arrived 31/8) is called Gimbir (Wiradjuri for spring or fountain, pronounced more like Kimber, not Jimbeer). The previous male, Xavier, disappeared on 27/8 and is assumed dead, probably from a hunting accident. He had been with Diamond since 2016 and is sorely missed.

NEWS 2nd September 2025 We don’t know yet whether Gimbir will be accepted as a new mate but there have been at least three bonding session and we know he is a good hunter as brought two large prey to the tower yesterday. I’ve made several videos of him already. He still has to prove that he can provide for a family by giving his catch to Diamond so we shall see.

Tributes to Xavier are filling FB and YouTube. I will have those for Friday. In the UK: Brianne is getting ready to break the Dyfi record for being the longest remaining fledgling. Idris is there with her, delivering fish, and he is set to beat Monty’s time between arrival and departure, which was 166 days in 2013. Idris arrived back at Dyfi on 21 March 2025 (earliest ever for any Dyfi osprey). Harry is delivering fish to Forest at Alyth. The entire family is reportedly still at Llyn Brenig. Heather saw two ospreys at Glaslyn in the distance – too far away to identify. 8 remains at the Rutland Manton Bay Nest with Blue 33 and Maya. At Poole Harbour, Blue 022 is still home but hasn’t been seen at the nest today.

Thank you to the Montana Osprey Project, Charles Stuart Falcon Cam Project, and Orange, Australia Peregrine Falcons FB for the streaming cams, videos, and posts, and Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn for their streaming cam and Emyr Evans for his reminders.

Monday in Bird World

14 April 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It was a bit nippy on Sunday, but spring is definitely here. It was time to shake off the winter and get back to walking 4 or 5 times a week. Our first trip was around St Vital Park and then over to the duck pond. There were approximately 85 Canada Geese there along with 5 male Wood Ducks and 2 females, and a couple pair of Mallards along with 3 Ring-billed Gulls. There is still some ice on the pond. It was nice to see families with proper seed feeding them as we wait for the grass to turn green and grow.

You have no idea how happy I am that the walkways are free of ice. This winter has been long because of this. I so enjoyed all the walking that we have done in previous years. Oh, this is wonderful!

Moving on to our feathered friends…

Eggs are starting to land in those osprey nests! Eaglets are growing or fledging or halfway there.

Birds of Poole Harbour: CJ7 laid the season’s first egg for her and mate, Blue 022, on Sunday.

Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home: There are now three eggs in this osprey nest.

Glaslyn: Ospreys can count and they ‘know’. Aran arrived on Saturday and Elen laid her first egg on Sunday the 13th. It would have been KC1’s, Teifi’s. Aran tried to evict it and then when that did not work, he buried it. Aran might have trouble holding on to the nest he shared with Mrs G and then Elen when Mrs G did not return from migration. We wait to see how this works out.

So why did Aran (and other males at different nests at different times) try to eject and then bury the egg?

Male ospreys eject eggs from their nest if they suspect they didn’t fertilise the eggs. We quickly learn that ospreys can count! This behaviour is a strategy to ensure their offspring survive, as they may eject eggs from the nest that they don’t believe to be their own. Ospreys are generally monogamous and mate for life, but if a male suspects infidelity, he may eject eggs to remove potential competitors. 

  • Ensuring their own genetic line: Male ospreys are motivated to ensure their offspring survive. They may eject eggs if they believe they are not their own, as they are essentially removing potential competitors. 
  • Guardianship of the nest: Ospreys fiercely protect their nests and mates. If another male is suspected of mating with the female, the male may eject eggs to ensure his own paternity. 
  • Courtship and Mating: Male ospreys engage in frequent courtship displays and mating behaviours, which can increase the likelihood of fertilisation by their partner. If they witness a female with another male, they may attempt to eject the eggs to ensure their genetic line is the only one present. 
  • Territoriality:Male ospreys are territorial and will defend their nest and mate from other males. This can extend to ejecting eggs if they suspect other males have been involved in mating with the female. 

In summary, the ejection of eggs is a behaviour driven by the male osprey’s instinct to protect his mate and ensure his genetic line continues. It’s a natural defence mechanism against potential rivals and a strategy to maintain the success of his breeding effort. 

Film showing a bathing osprey. It is delightful. https://youtu.be/rev2Y0sbFhk?

Oh, what a worry KNF-E3 O3 was to everyone. Steve looked. Cody helped. And on Sunday that fledgling flew up to the nest like a pro wanting fish. Mum and Dad did not disappoint. Isn’t this wonderful? We will count every one of these moments as gold.

Little Miami Conservancy: These two are doing well but cannot yet thermoregulate their temperature.

Foulshaw Moss: White YW and Blue 35 have their second egg on Sunday. at 1308.

Fort St. Vrain: Less drama today at the nest. Both eaglets fine.

Fat little bottom. Cute.

NCTC: The trio of Scott and Bella are doing extraordinarily well. Little angels.

Port Tobacco: All is well.

Johnson City ETSU: I blinked and that little fluffy chick now has juvenile feathers!

Bluff City ETSU: And just look at these two!

Duke Farms: Then there is this trio. All doing well.

US Steel: Only Bob is doing well. Getting his pin feathers.

Sauces: Betty Lou. Look at those feathers coming in!

Fraser Point: Two adorable babies being well cared for by Andor and Cruz.

Big Bear Valley: Is it possible they will be too full to fly? We would love to keep them on the nest.

Geemeff’s Daily Summary for Loch Arkaig. Just look at the number of fish that Louis has brought in. Now he started out, as Geemeff reminded me, like this last year. But bad weather and an illness and/or injury turned the tide on the nest and the two osplets were translocated. One survived. One did not.

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 13th April 2025

Another calm day without intruders, Affric 152 or Prince dropping in. And sadly, no unattached female visitors for Garry LV0 despite his bringing a fish and making Nest One very cosy with sticks and bedding. Garry’s fish tally rises by a whopping 50% up to a total of three since he arrived on 9th April, fingers crossed that this will be the season he finds a mate. Louis on the other hand is providing so well for Dorcha that she initially refused the second of his two fish deliveries today, and his tally now stands at twentynine since they returned on 2nd April. At the time of filing this report (23.45) Nest Two is empty – will Dorcha return and spend the night as she did last night, will she lay the first egg tomorrow? We must wait and see. The weather forecast is light rain and light winds overnight and into tomorrow, not the best weather for eggs but Dorcha will cope.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.31.19 (05.28.03); Nest Two 21.29.45 (05.32.34)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/cJRzg3GKcZw  N1 Garry LV0 brings a fish but takes it away seconds later 07.58.17

https://youtu.be/tJxdXWMuArw N2 Louis brings a late breakfast 09.02.07

https://youtu.be/2sWdD3SyZQI N1 Garry LV0 stays a little longer on his second visit 08.56.47

https://youtu.be/8_TK0aK9cus N1 Garry pole-vaults in for a third visit 09.33.50

https://youtu.be/Y2Zr8mmDBxA N2 Dorcha doesn’t want the second fish 20.19.17 

Bonus guide to Osprey egg production:

https://kielderospreys.wpcomstaging.com/2013/05/04/copulation-and-laying-eggs-a-bit-of-a-biology-lessonBlast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/S79vEf6sTV0  N2 Louis chases an intruder 2020 (Slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/aw9gnUSlGO0  N1 Late night drama as Louis chases another intruder 2020
https://youtu.be/6yGNxv2KqNQ  N2 Misty morning mating 2022 (x-rated!!)
https://youtu.be/P60wseTCepU  N1 Louis brings a fish to his old nest 2022
https://youtu.be/NmUONfZzPeI  N2 Louis loses a stick and nearly gets lucky 2023
https://youtu.be/9dNWnjbzqEY  N2 Dorcha sees off a Hoodie 2023https://youtu.be/NHDU63bbEag  N1 Garry LV0 brings another fish 2024 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/G1l5YJriSt8   N1 Garry LV0 startles a little songbird 2024 (slo-mo zoom)
https://youtu.be/9MU4DHe21Ak  N2 No egg tonight: both depart 2024

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

Loch of the Lowes: News from The Woodland Trust:· 

“Over the last 5 days, things appeared to have settled into a fairly relaxed routine for LM24 (The Dark Intruder) and his new mate the Unringed Female. The pair have been spending more time on and around the nest, often appearing at first light, indicating they are likely to be roosting nearby. Mating has been regular, though the male is still sometimes getting himself back to front, but he has also busied himself with bringing material into the nest, skydancing and bringing in fish to his mate – everything you would expect a breeding male to do.

Throughout the week there had been little in the way of intruders, with only a fleeting incursion on the 9th April, which the Unringed Female easily defended against. Not content with LM24’s offerings, she brought in a huge trout yesterday, which unusually she caught on the Loch where it is usually more common to see pike and perch.

This morning it was only LM24 who appeared on the nest at dawn, and it remained quiet for much of the day, with no sign of the Unringed Female. Ospreys can be a little bit like buses, with not much happening and then everything happening all at once! True to form it all kicked off mid-afternoon with the arrival of yet another new intruding bird (another unringed female) who was very ‘hangry’!

This female wasted no time in demanding food from LM24, who although initially reluctant, passed his half eaten pike to her, before trying to attempt to mate. The female, with very striking markings (a large triangle on the back of her head, dark chest and a white gap between her eyes) was not keen to reciprocate, but quickly began rearranging the furniture. This female behaved in a way that was very confident and suggested that she may be a little older and more experienced than both LM24 and his Unringed Female partner.

The ‘hangry’ female (who devoured her fish) very vocally began demanding more food from the male, who was keeping a close and perhaps rather confused eye on the things from the top of the camera. After several more failed mating attempts, he finally managed to encourage the female to lift her tail and mate successfully, before……enter stage left; LM24’s mate, the Unringed Female landed on the nest, flapping her wings and mantling, clearly unhappy with proceedings!! She was closely followed by LM24, who briefly touched down before being chased off by the ‘hangry’ intruder!

All three osprey then took to the skies in a spectacular display of flying, diving and shouting, before the Unringed Female returned to the nest. Her respite was short lived however, with the other female returning to launch another furious attack! Once again the birds took off in a flurry of talons and wings, before order finally seemed to be restored 5 minutes later with both LM24 and his mate the Unringed Female settling back onto the nest together.

Things appear to have settled down and order for now seems to have been restored, but for how long?

Follow the webcam for all the action, or come and visit the centre, open 10:30am – 5pm each day”

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/…/loch-of-the…

Hellgate Canyon: Gorgeous Iris. Still waiting for Finnegan. He was there on the 14th last year. Fingers crossed he arrives today!!!!!!! Oh, tears will flow around the world. Please let this miracle happen again…

Salem Electric: Lots of work to do on this nest. I sure wish that humans in the US would follow some of the UK’s practices where the nest is refurbished each year while the ospreys are on migration!

Clark PUD: Both ospreys are on the nest. Lovely.

Port of Ridgefield: Both home.

Seaside: Bruce has been supplying Naha with some really nice fish since their return. Sunday was no exception with a Redtail Surf Perch and two trout.

Niagara Bee Ospreys: No eggs but a Canada Goose is visiting the nest.

Farmer Derek’s Owl Nest: Bonnie and Clive have one owlet this year, Starr. She is a beauty.

Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: Oscar arrived so early. It seems that he was so happy to have Ethel return that he has been out looking for any kind of gift to brighten her day! OK, Oscar. You can stop now. Those eggs and chicks don’t want to get mixed up with human litter!

Coeur de’Alene, Idaho: No ospreys in sight. Canada Goose nesting on the north platform.

In 2024, with four osplets on the nest and everyone hoping for them, the male disappeared during a heat dome. Mum tried but it is difficult to raise four even if both parents are fishing. Three of the chicks died of siblicide/starvation. One fledged.

Update from Fort St Vrain:

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post: ‘Geemeff’, Birds of Poole Harbour, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, RAKPhotographic, Kistachie National Forest, Little Miami Conservancy, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Fort St Vrain, NCTC, Port Tobacco, Johnson City ETSU, Bluff City ETSU, Pix Cams, Duke Farms, IWS/Explore, FOBBV, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, The Scottish Wildlife Trust, Montana Osprey Project/Cornell Bird Lab, Salem Electric, Clark PUD, Port of Ridgefield, Seaside Ospreys, Niagara Bee Ospreys, Farmer Derek, Ospreys of Nova Scotia, City of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, The Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Loch of the Lowes Visitor’s Centre, Fort St Vrain/Excel Energy

Tuesday in Bird World

28 May 2024

Good Morning All,

I apologise for being late with the Monday posting.

At Lake Murray, Mum came down from her perch to sleep with her only surviving chick. Did she hear the GHO. Oh, if this chick can only put on some good weight and if the beams from the strobes were the same as they were Saturday night, Middle might stand a chance. (Note: Little was taken the first night and it appears that Big was taken Sunday night.)

Baby was safe this morning. Oh, please, let this nest keep one!

As we recover from the second GHO predation at Lake Murray, we must – where possible – advise the osprey and eagle nests of the success of the Cowlitz PUD experiment with the metal fish grids. I keep talking about the economical cost. Two fish grids with a welded rod attached to opposite sides of an Osprey platform. That is all you need! It works. A baffle at the base of the pole for raccoons would always sweeten the deal. If you know of a nest that suffers predation from other raptors, please advise them. You can feel free to copy this. They can contact Cowlitz PUD and they will happily tell them how they did it. We need to be proactive. No sense osprey parents working hard to fledge chicks only to fatten them up for owls and eagles who can find other meals.

‘B’ wrote with a very good question. I want to go through my files and put my ‘thinking cap’ on with ‘H’. It is not a topic that we have put into our data forms which are related to ’causes of death in ospreys’ and, specifically, siblicide, but it is worthy of some good notes and someone might be working on this research and I am unaware.

I wonder if there is a statistical difference in predation from osprey nests on platforms that humans have installed specifically for them, as opposed to predation from nests on natural sites that the ospreys have selected?  (That is, are the ospreys somehow better able to select a site from their own choices among natural sites than when they receive implicit encouragement to use a site selected by humans?  Have the ospreys built up some sort of knowledge from experience and historical patterns?)

I have not seen a difference.  In fact, if I think of overall predation by other raptors for the past three years, it ‘seems’ higher on natural nests in the UK and Finland than on platoforms in the US – the deaths there were mostly caused by weather related events or eggs that DNH.  The major predator in the UK and Europe appears to be the goshawk that lives in the nearby forests.  These nests are not in urban areas as a rule like many are in North America.

A goshawk came and took one of the osprey chicks at Llyn Clywedog right when Seren was feeding them in 2023!  

This is a comment by John Williams who cares for these ospreys: ‘This blog was never going to be easy to write, but yesterday at just before 16:30 a goshawk attacked the nest and took one of our young ospreys. It was blue 8B1, the attack was very quick and out of the blue. Both juveniles and Seren 5F was on the nest eating the fish when it happened. All distracted by the food their guard was down. You could see Seren 5F looking down to the ground as if she could see him down there.’ (I have placed a file at the end of this, the entire sad report by John Williams. I was glad to see him refer to the birds as ‘family’ because that is, of course, how ‘H’ and I feel about those we monitor).

A young goshawk took a female chick that had just been ringed at Kielder Forest in 2023 from the nest of Mr and Mrs UV. The couple are raising chicks again this season on that very nest.

Goshawks also attack ospreys in Latvia and in one nest in particular the male has failed to attract a new mate because of this. The rumour, this great sadness of chicks taken, must have spread. It was the nest of Theo and Vita.

The new fledgling, Sacha, named after Sacha Dench and The Flight of the Osprey, was attacked by a goshawk at Tweed Valley. To my knowledge, the ospreys are still breeding there.

CJ7 and Blue 022 are still using their nest in Poole Harbour despite the goshawk taking their fledgling H52 on 5 August 2022.

In the US, people will remember Steve and Rachel and the attacks on their nest. Rachel did not return from migration and Steve and his new mate, Callie, refuse to use the on-camera Hog Island nest despite restoring it and mating and having fish gifts.  “Last year, the rangers posted a photo of a very remote nest on Hog Island that they believe was used by Steve and Callie (H)”. ‘H’ also adds, “Dory and Skiff had Skipper that was predated by an owl in July 2023, but they did not change nest sites.  The primary nest that I know of is Hog Island.”

There was a spate of killings in Finland and I do wonder if some of the nests without families this year are those. I would have to do some more research and check for certain.  

Della and Warren have their first hatch of the 2024 season at Mispillion Harbour.

There is the first hatch at Clark PUD.

Olive and Oscar’s little chick at The Port of Ridgefield is peeking up – look under Mum’s fluffies -. So cute. This nest will be getting lots of predator protection for the 2025 nesting season.

Cutie Pie baby at Boulder County.

And another one at Cowlitz. Let us hope those fish grates hold this year against predating raptors in the area like they did last year.

There is a hatch at Moraine State Park on Monday.

Idris and Telyn are celebrating the hatch of their third chick. It is the 15th year for Ospreys at Dyfi in Wales.

All-Three-Chicks-Hatch-Without-Delay-Dyfi-Osprey-ProjectDownload

There are now three for CJ7 and Blue 022. CJ7 is making valiant efforts to get that little one some fish.

Beautiful Dorcha is feeding her three chicks. Louis keeps that pantry full despite in climate weather.

Louis delivered six fish on Monday. SIX large fish!!

And there is the first hatch for Elen and Aran!

The three osplets at Smallwood State Park in Maryland are doing very well. Like Manton Bay they are right on the water and I hope it is full of fish!

The three at Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home are getting a little rowdy, especially the two older ones. Arthur needs to being in many more large fish – if they are even available, maybe not. Or lots and lots of fish deliveries very close together! Fingers crossed for this little one.

Patchogue Nest is so full of garbage you can hardly see the chicks.

Radford University has two babies. Here is the link to their camera in Virginia.

There are four osplets at Field Farm.

At the Loch of the Lowes, Blue NCO lost her chance for a family when Laddie was killed/died. She had two suitors – a Pale Male and a Dark Male. Now Mrs G’s (Glaslyn matriarch did not return in 2023 from migration) granddaughter 7C1 has been battling with Blue NCO for the nest and she was on the nest with the Dark Male on Monday. It is not going to be nice this nest attempted take over.

Archie is working over time to keep his four babies fed!

The trio from the Denton Homes nest are doing very well at SOAR. As well as can be expected when they are being raised in care. Safe, well fed, nice vet care.

Across Europe firefighters work tirelessly to save the lives of storks – whether it is fishing line or floods or just abandonment.

Other ordinary individuals adopt storks and feed them. Makes my heart warm up!

Bety and Bukacek had only one hatch out of two eggs at Mlade Buky this season.

Iris and Finnegan hoping for a family.

The fledglings still visit the nest at the Venice Golf course in Florida while that nest that was loaded with fish at Fisherman’s Creek appears to have no more visitors.

It is very difficult to tell how much food Smallie is getting at Amersfoort. ‘PB’ reports that Smallie was very clever and jumped out of the box to get fed and then back inside. Yeap for Smallie.

Larry’s eyases are getting pretty independent and not sure they want Mum telling them what to do!

Pip/Hatch watch at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum coming up in 3-4 days.

‘H’ reports on the nests she is monitoring:

“5/17 Patuxent osprey nest – There were six fish brought to the nest by Dad.  After two days with very little to eat, chick 3 “Little” finally had a couple good meals on Monday.  At 0715 Dad brought a medium size whole fish, and Little was not allowed to eat.  It’s not just ‘Big’ that is aggressive toward Little, but also ‘Middle’ at times.  Dad quickly brought another fish at 0805, while the two older chicks were still full, and Little was able to eat 52 bites of fish. Little was shut out of the third feeding.  At 1336 Dad brought a very large headless fish, for a feeding that lasted nearly an hour.  Little ate 70 bites of fish at that meal, and had a nice crop.  There were two more fish deliveries from Dad of small fish, and Little was not able to get any bites of those fish.”

“5/27 The Mispillion Harbor Delaware osprey nest of Della and Warren has their first baby of the season.  One egg remains.”

“5/27 Captiva ospreys:  They had a better fishing day with 8 fish brought to the nest, including a partial catfish from Edie.  Darling (CO8) was only completely shut out of one short meal, and s/he managed a couple nice crops.”

Could this Golden Eagle nest be the exception to the rule of ‘Cainism’? There are two healthy eaglets at the Golden Eagle nest in Estonia. The first chick always eats first but there is enough food for all and second chick eats well, too along with Mum. Fingers Crossed.

The camera has been on and off with ‘Highlights’ at the West End. I have been told that Koa has branched. I did not see it! They are so big!

It was yesterday but we can celebrate today. One of my heroes.

Thank you so much for being with me today. This was a quick check on all those hatches and some coming up. It is a busy week and there are still eggs to hatch – lots of them! Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, questions, posts, videos, articles and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, J, H, SP, PB’, Heidi McGrue, Clark PUD, Port of Ridgefield, Boulder County, Cowlitz PUD, Moraine St Park, Dyfi Osprey Project, BofPH, The Woodland Trust, Geemeff, Smallwood State Park, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, PSEG, Radford University Ospreys, Field Farm, The Scottish Wildlife Trust (LOTL), SK Hideways, SOAR, CS, Mlade Buky Stork Cam, Montana Osprey Project, VGCCO, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Amersfoort Falcons, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Patuxent River Park, Mispillion Harbour, Window to Wildlife, Eagle Club of Estonia, IWS/Explore, and USFWS History Archives.

3 Hatches at Cal Falcons…Tuesday in Bird World

23 April 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It was a beautiful spring day on the Canadian Prairies! The hundreds of Dark-eyed Juncos remain in the garden. They hop and hop, scratching and pecking trying to find seeds. They are adorable. We will enjoy them for awhile longer and then they will leaving, heading north to return again in the fall.

Calico has asked me to post her ‘new look’. She is now down a little over three pounds. She runs down the hall, through the galley kitchen and straight up to the top of the cat tree. The energy and the joy in play have returned!

In California, it was sheer happiness as the second eyas of Archie and Annie hatched on Earth Day, too!

Archie meets his chicks for the first time.

The chicks first meal.

Can’t get enough of Annie and Archie!

There will be a third one soon!

And then there were three for breakfast on Tuesday! Way to go Archie and Annie!

The first eyas has hatched at Cromer Peregrines, too!

At Mispillion Harbour, Della loves bringing things to the nest she shares with Warren. Sometimes it is something yellow, Della loves yellow. Sometimes it is something else..

The pair also have a full clutch of three eggs.

I did not get a chance to watch Tuffy as closely on Monday. He is definitely being fed. Ruffy is so big compared to Tuffy and requires much more food that it often feels as if Tuffy gets short-changed.

A nice meal at sundown and Tuffy will get a nice crop and go to sleep dreaming of more fish for breakfast.

Heidi reports that there is a possible pip in one of the eggs at the Captiva Osprey nest of Jack and Edie. This would be a welcome surprise. Some have said that they do not have late hatches in the Barrier Islands – so let us wait and see!

And it was a hatch! Welcome to the world little miracle osplet. We now know that opera eggs can hatch with a live chick this late in the season on the Barrier Islands.

Surprise! Two chicks at Lake Murray. Wow.

First egg or Mr and Mrs UV at Kielder Forest nest 5A on the 22nd at 19:47.

Nest-5A-joins-the-egg-club-Kielder-OspreysDownload

The Ospreys are returning to Finland. Some are finding open water with snow melting while other nests are covered with no ospreys yet (smart).

#1 Nest: The male, Ura, arrived on 14 April at 1516.

#2 Nest, Satakunta: Nothing

#3 Nest: Nothing

#4 Nest: Nemo, the male arrived on 8 April with Nuppu, the female, arriving on the 14th.

#5, LS: Roni and Sara are together. Sara arrived on the 16th with Roni arriving on the 21/22nd.

Janakkalan: nothing

Juurusvesi: nothing

Muonion: nothing

Aran and Elen at the Glaslyn nest in Wales have their first egg.

The second egg has been laid at Dahlgren for Helen and Doug.

What is happening at nest 1 at Loch Arkaig? What is wrong with Prince

Poor Affric. Two males. One female. One nest.

Meanwhile on the other Loch Arkaig nest, Louis is taking very good care of Dorcha.

This is the situation at Frenchman’s Creek Ospreys. The nest is full of fish, the older two osplets are alive and self-feeding. The streaming cam is up and running with notices from Frenchman’s Creek about stealing content, etc. You can go to their site on YouTube to check on the osplets. So far they are alive and it looks as if they are sleeping on fish!

In Latvia, Milda is in the midst of a snow storm. She is trying to care for her two eggs by herself since the absence of Hugo.

The female at the Trempealeau Eagle Nest in Wisconsin has done a top rate job caring for her two little eaglets all by herself! She had to leave alone to hunt for them so the three could eat. They survived that and now have their thermal down. Send positive wishes to this nest, please.

Oh, thank you Stephen Basly. I know we have talked about Meadow but let us go back to ND17. Starved by its two older siblings. We know that he had to eat skin and bones to survive and then he fell from the nest. Spent 3 full days and a bit more on the ground and then, thankfully, Humane Indiana Wildlife rescued ‘our baby’ – he was everyone’s baby. ND17 survived. They taught him to fly and hunt and returned him to a spot near the nest site where he engaged with his parents.

I want to thank Trudi Kron who has been keeping a close eye on the Mum at the JB Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle nest. You will recall that Mum injured her foot and was unable to care for JBS20 for a few days. Dad did a heroic job and continues to help out. But Trudi got a great screen capture and enlarged it and it is showing improvement and healing! Great news.

Watch for Swampy to fledge anytime! S/he is climbing higher on the nest and really working those wings.

The trio at Decorah North are getting their blood feathers. They are growing so fast. It seems only yesterday that they were white little chicks sitting in the morning sun.

There are three eggs at the Great Bay Osprey nest in New Hampshire. The third was laid on the 18th of April.

‘A’ has been keeping a wishful eye on the nest of Angel and Tom. “A male red-tailed hawk that we believe to be Tom just flew onto Angel’s nest. He left after 15 seconds, and there is some debate now about the tail markings, which were apparently different from those of the RTH that shared beakies with Angel on 5 April at 09:02:08. Others say it was definitely Tom, based on the confidence with which he entered the nest and based on the fact that this is Tom and Angel’s territory. There is a view that Tom’s plumage is still changing, even in a the two and a half weeks since 5 April, and that this was definitely Tom. 

Obviously, we all very much want it to be Tom, and it does confirm the report I made of hearing RTH vocals when I was typing my earlier email to have been accurate. It’s now 11:42 on the Tennessee nest and I can again hear the sound of a RTH very nearby. This is probably what I heard originally when I lost the TS – it sure sounds like it. If I check the PTZ cam at around the 11:42 onwards TS (the noises are continuing), I may be able to spot whether it is Angel there or whether it is Tom. or even whether it’s neither of them and some visitor instead. 

I will keep you posted, but I would call that a very hopeful sighting, and I am fairly confident it was Tom. Talons crossed. He (or she, if he was accompanied by Angel) is continuing to vocalise, and it sounds as though the vocals are coming from either the nest tree itself or somewhere within one or two trees either side of that microphone. It sure sounds extremely close. I am hopeful. “

The three Bald eaglets at the Sutton Centre in Bartlesville, Oklahoma are thriving.

Three Osplets at Venice Golf are all feathered and fine. Gosh, isn’t this a relief.

Our darling Ervie.

‘EJ’ wrote to remind me that Any Tan’s book on her backyard birds is being released tomorrow. There will be many articles and there is a wonderful interview with Tan on YouTube. My copy should be in the mailbox by Wednesday. I am so looking forward to reading it, but most of all seeing the drawings that Tan made of ‘her’ birds. She took classes, taught herself. That should encourage all of us to look closer, keep a nature journal, and get really involved with the wildlife right around us.

EJ sent this article:

https://www.npr.org/2024/04/22/1245849320/amy-tan-the-backyard-bird-chronicles-trish-okane-birding-to-change-the-world

Here is the link to the chat:

Another senseless death due to a power pole. This time a White-stork mother with five eggs on a nest. The male stayed for two days incubating and then eggs were removed. Power poles kill. Every new install should be safe at the outset – every old pole should be retrofitted so it does not harm wildlife. Yes, there are a lot of poles, but the solutions are often simple as shown to use many times by Dave Hancock of Hancock Wildlife Foundation and Christian Sasse. So sad. It happened in Germany.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Stop in and see Annie and Archie’s little fluff balls. Turn the sound up to get the full impact during a feeding. Smile. Little falcons can quickly take away the glum of the day. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, articles, videos, and streaming cams: ‘A, Geemeff, EJ, H, PB’, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways, Heidi McGrue, Sharon Pollock, Mooring Park Ospreys, Joanna Dailey, Lake Murray Ospreys, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dahlgren Osprey Cam, Geemef, Frenchman’s Creek, LDF, Aiva Vantere, Stephen M. Basly, Trudi Kron, Raptor Resource Project, Window to Wildlife, PLO, Npr.org, and VGCCO, NY Audubon.

Tuffie’s crop is as big as he is…Sunday in Bird World

7 April 2024

Hello Everyone,

It was a sad day in the garden on Saturday morning.

Everyone always talks about a Spark Bird. There can be several of these significant birds throughout our lives. As a child in Oklahoma, it was the Blue Jays and Cardinals that my dad fed out of his hand. As a teenager, it was the Red-tail Hawks. Then, decades later, there was the most magical moment. It changed my life. It was a winter morning in the garden when my eyes connected with those of a female Sharp-shinned Hawk within half a metre of me. Since that day, hawks have been visiting the garden in search of a “Sparrow Blue Plate Special”. Now, to have an Immature Cooper’s hawk die in my garden is simply heartbreaking. The carcass is going for testing for HPAI, as there were no obvious signs of trauma. However, I suspect the hawk flew into the garage belonging to the house next door or somehow broke its neck, colliding with the thicker branches trying to catch a songbird.

The happy ending to this, if there could be one, is that the hawk’s body is going to our local museum as part of their specimen collection. If you find a bird whose carcass is in good condition, check with your local natural history museum or wildlife centre to see if they would be interested in having it as part of their specimen collection.

It was 14 degrees C Saturday afternoon at the nature centre. The Canada Geese had moved from the main lake to the smaller ponds and fields to forage. There were hundreds of Dark-eyed Juncos, several dozen Chickadees, Woodpeckers, and House Sparrows enjoying the warmth as a huge hawk flew overhead.

Meadow is at the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey and is getting the first-class care this rehabilitation centre is known for!

Meadow being weighed.

An ambassador celebration at Audubon!

Two little eaglets being fed at the ND-LEEF nest. Looks like the new Mum has been named Gigi.

There has been some concern for the One eaglet in the nest at Tremplealeau, Wisconsin. The male disappeared and the female is alone.

UPDATE: Dad has returned to the Trempealeau Nest and two fish have come in already – Saturday! Yeah.

The situation at Moorings Park improves for Tuffie bite by bite.

Tuffie had some of the leftover fish early and it appeared that he might have had some other bites. It was when I returned from my walk at the nature centre, that Tuffie had a nice feeding. After Ruffy ate, Tuffie was fed and then both of them ate together.

‘H’ gives us a more detailed day’s report for our little one at Moorings Park. “Tuffy ate at least 54 bites at the first meal of the day; 1109 headless fish, Tuffy was attacked by Ruffie, Tuffy moved away to the rail and never went back to eat. Harry removed the leftover fish;1156 Harry returns with what appeared to be the leftover fish.  Tuffy is beaked several times and was not able to eat;1455 Harry in with whole tilapia, Tuffy is beaked and intimidated several times while Ruffie is fed.  At 1526 Ruffie moves away, and Tuffy is finally able to eat.  At 1533 Ruffie returned to the table, Tuffy was intimidated and turned away.  Ruffie ate until 1538, then Tuffy moved up and the two ate side by side until 1540, when Tuffy was beaked again.  Ruffie finished the fish.  Tuffy ate at least 66 bites at this meal.”

With my bad math, that would seem to be at least 120 bites of fish for Tuffie today – more than the two previous days counts.

Oh, the size difference between these two! So glad that third egg didn’t hatch.

Last instalment from ‘H’ – what a good day for Tuffie all things considered. “1710 large headless fish – Tuffy got 3 quick bites, was intimidated and turned away, later got 3 more bites and was beaked.  Ruffie ate until 1722 then moved away.  Tuffy had a short private feeding until 1726, then was beaked by Ruffie. Ruffie ate some more, then Tuffy got a few more bites starting at 1730.  Ruffie quit the feeding again at 1736.  Tuffy voluntarily moved away from Mom from 1738 t o 1740.  Tuffy ate a few more bites at 1740, and then Tuffy went and laid down at 1742.  Total bites for Tuffy at this meal = at least 77 bites.Total bites to Tuffy for the day so far = 197”.

The crop is almost as big as Tuffie!!!!!!! Get the tissue box.

The little bottom sticking out from under Sally belongs to Tuffie who, all in all, had a reasonable day. Each day is getting better in terms of food intake for Tuffie.

Over the past seven years, turning points come on nests like this one. Whether or not it is the change from the Reptilian Phase into the period when juvenile plumage is coming, or if the weather shifts and the fishing gets better, or if the female ‘decides’ that the little one is going to live and begins to feed it, we should be watching and waiting to see what it is on this nest.

Many of you will have shed tears of joy for little Tuffie today. He is hanging in there and all that good energy from the Tuffie Fan Club must be helping!

The second egg was laid at the Patchogue Osprey platform on Long Island Saturday morning around 0858.

Storm Kathleen is hitting the UK hard.

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In the UK, Storm Kathleen is hitting areas hard. Dorcha was just blown off the perch at Loch Arkaig.

The storm is not blowing so hard at Loch of the Lowes, yet.

The winds were howling at Alyth, where Harry and Flora have their nest.

Storm Kathleen is kicking up waves at Rutland as Maya and Blue try to protect their eggs.

Idris holding on to a huge fish while the gale blows at Dyfi.

Telyn is soaked.

What a great screen capture of Idris and Telyn.

Extremely gusty at Glaslyn.

Same gusts at Llyn Brenig where there was a fish delivery. You might recall Blue 372. She was over at Glaslyn with Aran and flitting from nest to nest. She is trying to find a mate…well, this is her! And this is what is happening in the image below: “LJ2 has been joined on the nest by Blue 372 this afternoon.Blue 372 is a 3 year old Scottish female translocated to Poole Harbour in 2021, she has been seen on a number of Welsh nests over the past week or so and is now braving the winds up at Llyn Brenig. LM6 our regular female has not yet returned from migration.”

She is determined. Will this be her nest?

‘H’ reports that the Mum at Carthage laid the season’s first egg. Saturday the 6th of April at 10:17:10.

Confirmed pip at US Steel’s nest of Claire and Irwin – and now it is a hatch. looks like another crushed egg hatch. Little one alive and squiggling this time!

Darling Big Red never seems to age except for her feet and legs. She and Arthur continue their dedicated teamwork to hatch those four little hawklets.

Iris might have wished she had waited a few days to return to Montana.

Do not get upset if you check on the little owlet at Wolf Bay. They are both fine. There is a prey item currently on the nest, Saturday evening, that is white.

JBS20 is getting those wings strong. Adult in to fed but JBS20 is good at self-feeding!

Was it a quail lunch at the Redding Eagle nest? or a Guinea Fowl? Both eaglets are doing very well.

E23 gets a fish delivery from Mum. It must have been delicious. The fledgling ate all of it.

A family portrait at the West End nest of Akecheta and Thunder.

Little heads pop up for dinner at the Fraser Point nest of Cruz and Andor.

All is well at Denton Homes.

Happy eaglets at Decorah North.

Diana Persinger recorded a video for FB of a very messy meal for these two at Decorah North.

Everything is good at Little Miami.

Little fluff balls at the ND-LEEF nest.

Worried about Angel? She was on the nest with Tom on Friday.

There are no worries about Leaper and Jersey. They had crops most of Saturday and were about to burst late in the day and Dad had a fish in his talons and Mum had one, too!

The fortune of a nest can shift from good to bad to good. Let us hope this is what is happening at Moorings Park.

Hatch watch has begun for the Fort St Vrain Eagles in Colorado.

There is some thought that the ‘original’ Dad at Pittsburgh-Hayes has returned to the nest after being gone for a very long time. (I would have to check my Memorial Page). Is it possible he was in care, rehabilitated, and released and came home?

This was posted by WingsOfWhimsy with the photos below. They sure look alike.

“WingsOfWhimsy 20 hours agoA little bit of interesting news to share. I will say right up front that I have VERY little personal knowledge to go on here, so I will direct you to either the live cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l95k-… or the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/36054… for additional info. There is a theory that the original “Dad” from the Pittsburgh Hays nest has returned. Dad has been away for quite some time, and HM2 has bonded with Mom, although their egg failed to hatch this season. (I believe mom was first seen with HM2 in September.) Recently a visitor has been on the scene, and I have to admit… even I see the similarities! Could it be that Dad has returned? This is certainly exciting, but also a bit concerning. If this is Dad, both he & HM2 likely consider Mom and the nest to be theirs. These comparison photos were shared by a FB Group user: Lynda Philips, comparing Dad and the recent visitor. This is all I know right now, but I will update as best as I can. The folks in the group or on chat are surely more familiar than I am, though. Please consider checking in with them for more details!”

Yesterday I included a video by DaniConnorWild to show you the penguins in Antarctica. Today, here is a sobering article on the unprecedented heat rise on that continent and the fears that it has for the penguins and for humans. The author says with the rise to 38.5 C, “These events have raised fears that the Antarctic, once thought to be too cold to experience the early impacts of global warming, is now succumbing dramatically and rapidly to the swelling levels of greenhouse gases that humans continue to pump into the atmosphere.”

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Killing Owls to save Owls. Is it really the answer?

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Thank you so much to the following who sent me comments, news, their pictures, screen captures, videos, articles, and those who operate the streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘Geemeff, H, J’, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, Stephen Basly, Tremplealeau, Moorings Park, PSEG, The Guardian, Geemeff, The Scottish Wildlife Trust (LOTL), Alyth SS, LRWT, Dyfi Osprey Project, Marissa Winkle, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Llyn Brenig, DTC, PIX Cams, Cornell RTH Cam, Montana Osprey Project, Wolf Bay, JB Sands Wetlands, FORE, IWS/Explore, Denton Homes, Raptor Resource Project, Diana Persinger, Little Miami Conservancy, Window to Wildlife, Duke Farms, and Sassa Bird.

The curious happenings at Fortis Exshaw…Wednesday in Bird World

23 August 2022

Good Morning to each of you!

It was a drizzly sort of day in the garden. The sun never came out and everything felt cold and damp. Everyone was here, at one time or another, including one of the Crows. Calico had her tracker on during the day. In the early afternoon, she was here, and when I went outside to freshen up the table feeder, she lept to the deck. It startled me as I am so used to her meandering in from the back of the lilacs. She ate her food, chased a moth, and then had a siesta under the lilacs. It was different behaviour, but in a bit, she went back to the place where she has her kitts. She returned at her usual time in the evening, and while she ate, I removed her tracker for charging. Once in a while, I will check to ensure she has not moved the Kitts.

Dyson was here chasing peanuts and trying to get as many or more than Little Red.

Dyson was smart. She had dumped the covered feeder and then when the drizzle began she decided to go inside the feeder!

This is one way to get a drink!

In the frenzy between Little Red and Dyson, the Black-capped Chickadee swooped in and occasionally grabbed a seed!

There is some celebrating going on!

Jane Dell posted (on a couple if FB websites) a really good document on Western Osprey identification. This will be a very helpful resource – maybe put it in a file with useful articles, etc. for when the time comes.

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‘H’ has one report for us today and that is about the intrusions that continue at the Fortis Exshaw nest in Alberta, Canada.

8/21 had been an unusually tranquil day for the fledgling Banff.  The first half of the day was also very peaceful on 8/22.  Banff took a couple of early morning flights, and she was out when Louise delivered the first fish.  Banff flew in quickly at 0715 to claim the large whole fish.  At 0729 Louise delivered a tiny whole fish to Banff.  Banff managed to swallow the last half of the fish in one big gulp!  For the next three hours Banff enjoyed numerous out-and-back flights and spent some time on the big T-perch and the nest perches.  At 1032 Louise brought the third fish of the day, a medium sized whole fish.  After she ate that one, Banff resumed her brief fly-abouts.  Fish #4 from Louise at 1155 was a huge live fish.  Louise wanted to keep the fish, and there was a brief tug-o-fish, but Louise gave in.  Banff was eating intermittently, and had eaten about 1/3 of the large fish, when, at 1313 a female intruder landed on the nest.  At 1316 the intruder made a move for the fish, but Banff fended her off.  Then there was a long standoff.  At 1334, the intruder moved aggressively to take the fish.  There was a struggle as Banff tried to hold on to her fish.  Both birds ended up going overboard, and it looked like the intruder had the fish in her left talon.  At 1335 Banff flew back to the nest, and was almost immediately dive bombed three times by the intruder (apparently the intruder had dropped the fish).  Banff flew off the nest.  An aerial chase between ospreys could be seen at 1409, but we don’t know who was involved.  At 1438 Louise landed with a partial fish, but Banff was still off the nest.  Within seconds, a different intruder landed on the nest.  Some thought it was O’Hara, but the markings didn’t seem quite right.  Louise was not happy at all, and at one point she flapped at the intruder, but that had no effect.  Louse flew off with the fish at 1447.  The intruder starting moving some sticks around, and that really confused us!  At 1458, as Banff flew toward the nest, the intruder flew off, but it immediately circled back and dive bombed Banff a couple of times.  Louise immediately returned with the partial fish and Banff grabbed it.  The intruder dive bombed Banff three more times while Louise was on the nest.  That was a first.  No intruder had ever attacked while Louise was on the nest.  We were dismayed that the intruder had become more brazen and had elevated its aggressiveness to a higher level.  Banff flew off the nest at 1459, leaving the fish behind.  Louise waited for Banff to return, but she flew off with the fish at 1545.  At 1553, the intruder brought a stick to the nest, and left.  That was so bizarre, and so confusing for the viewers, who were trying to make some sense out of everything.  Louise landed on the nest with a different headless fish at 1655 (fish #6).  Banff quickly flew to the nest to claim it and Louise departed.  Banff was nervous, and mantled the fish, scanning the sky.  At 1702 the intruder buzzed and dive bombed Banff at least six times, and at 1703 Banff hurriedly flew off, leaving the fish on the nest.  The intruder departed.  Banff flew back to the nest at 1734, and grabbed her fish.  This time, she got down to business and ate without hesitating.  The latter part of the evening was intruder-free.  Banff took a couple of short flights, and she landed on the T-perch at 2026.  Dear, sweet Banff elected to roost on the T-perch overnight.  It had been a very complex, and stressful day for Banff, but she was well fed.  Onward, Banff.

Thanks so much ‘H’.

As of Tuesday, Elen was still at Glaslyn and Aran had delivered a double-header at 1735 – there were more fish during the day despite some windy periods. Aran you are amazing. Everyone is home and safe, eating well thanks to this amazing dad – and well, what a great year with new Mum, Elen. So happy for Glaslyn!

Elen eating a flounder Aran brought for her. She will be gone very soon. are travels, return to us!

Maya and Blue 33 were still on the nest on Tuesday 22 August. You can always tell Blue from that look in his eyes before you see the Blue Darvic band.

That is one brave Hoodie going after Ludo! Good thing Ludo is an osprey and not an eagle.

What is happening with Bird Flu? It was big news and then something else takes over and the impact of this deadly disease is put aside. What is going on and what is happening in Africa where our beloved European and UK birds will spend their winter. Mark Avery brings us some of the latest data to his blog on Monday, 21 August. “In 2023, up until 14 August, 45 species have tested positive. The last month has seen a bunch of colonial seabirds adding their names to this year’s casualties. Here’s the list (with additions in bold): Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Fulmar, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Teal, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Razorbill, Guillemot, Puffin, Curlew, Ringed Plover, unspecified heron (!), Grey Heron, dove/pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Red Grouse, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Reed Warbler and Carrion Crow.  Last year will be remembered as the first year when impacts on seabirds in the breeding season were noticed. This year the disease spread to many colonial gulls, in particular Black-headed Gulls, all over the UK.”

Mini has been eating well, resting her leg, and using the right foot more.

Early morning.

0815. Beautiful. I think this one will deserve a spot on the bulletin board. She is so lovely.

1605. Looking up and expecting a delivery?

She was slightly wonky on that leg with that 1609 fish.

1908

Mini flew into the nest with a huge drop around 1957! Gracious. It looks like our girl had a nice fish meal off-camera.

At Dunrovin, Harriet is still home and there was at least one chick at the nest today – possibly all, I did not watch or rewind. This nest of Swoop and Harriet has done well this season! So happy for them.

Boulder County: Throughout the day I only saw two fledglings at the nest at any one time. It is impossible to know if they are the same two each time.

At Orange, Xavier came in with a Starling for Diamond. What a guy. She doesn’t always want them! Eggs should be coming before the end of the month. But then later Xavier comes in with a Red-Rumped Parrot (thanks ‘A’) to the delight of Diamond who is looking a little eggy these days.  

In California, Annie and Lou continue to come to the scrape in The Campanile. They also bond in the scrape but we won’t be seeing any eggs until spring of 2024. Stay safe you two!

It is sometimes painful to watch the early feedings at the Sydney Sea Eagles. Even after 31 was full and 32 had finally gotten itself up to Lady’s beak, Lady had to try and try to get this very intimidated little man to eat. ‘A’ provides a complete narrative for us: “The little one gets up to the table by about 06:45 but he cowers away from Lady’s beak when she tries to feed him. She keeps feeding SE31, even though SE32 is right up to the table – she tries periodically to coax SE32 to eat but he just won’t accept the food, no matter how patient mum is. He finally takes a bite at around 06:50:45, just before dad arrives at 06:50:50 with yet more food. Surely there wasn’t another nestling in that nest. It is a fourth! At 06:54 mum finally manages to get him to start eating, albeit very gingerly. He is so nervous that even though SE31 is full and nowhere near him, he is still not confident about taking a bite from Lady, who is only inches from him. He is facing her, watching the food, but still cringes each time she tries to feed him. It is SO frustrating to watch. But there are still at least two nestlings on that nest and SE31 is full, so surely SE32 will get a decent breakfast. Lady is doing everything she can but she cannot force-feed SE32! She is certainly being as patient as she can. By 06:56 he is eating with a bit more confidence but SE31 is moving back towards the table, considering a second helping. She stays back for now. SE32 continues to eat, very nervously. Lady is now feeding them alternate bites. SE32 grabs at each mouthful, turning away as he does so. He is SO scared, even though he has not been bonked at all during this feeding and SE31 is sitting back, not leaning over him or making any contact with him. He should be gaining confidence and eating faster but he is still cringing with each bite. Lady returns to feeding SE31, offering SE32 a single bite for every four or five she gives his big sister, whose crop is now huge. Around 07:05, she returns to feeding SE32 bite after bite. This is fresh juicy red meat and should be very nutritious for SE32, who is slowly developing a crop. And surely, out of four nestlings, there is enough food for both to eat plenty. Lady is also eating. Dad is the only one who seems to have missed out on breakfast, so I would suggest he is currently out fishing. Mum was certainly not letting him take any of the four chicks he brought in for his own chicks to eat! She made that very clear, physically and verbally, when he delivered the fourth. At 07:08 she is still feeding SE32 bite after bite, some of them extremely large. He is eating everything he is offered, no longer turning away from Lady but confidently staying at her beak at last. He has a good crop and has eaten a lot of food quite quickly (he is grabbing huge chunks and swallowing them all). At 07:10 she gives SE31 a few bites, then returns to feeding SE32, whose crop is still only half the size of his sister’s. At 07:20, she is still feeding SE32 the last remnants of the nestlings. He now has a very large crop, though nowhere near the size of his sister’s, which is so huge that she actually refused a mouthful a few seconds ago.”

 

Another prey delivery and ‘A’ notes: “Dad brought in a small whole fish just before 08:38 but by the time the little one got up to the table, the fish was all gone. He is still SO nervous, he cannot eat, even with a full crop and SE31 not being aggressive. He did take one small mouthful and was beaked in the head (just once) for doing so, which of course sent him straight into submission for the remainder of the feeding. This attitude is so worrying, but then occasionally, when he is hungry enough, he suddenly finds some courage and stands up for himself and his food.”

Port Lincoln: Mating but no eggs yet.

Taiaroa Head: ‘A’ reports: “In New Zealand, there was no weighing of Manaaki yesterday, but he has had six or seven parental feedings since last week’s 9.8 kg so is no doubt at a healthy weight! Mum arrived around 09:54 this morning to feed her little man yet again, leaving again at 10:01. It’s great to see you, mama. We missed you so much. We adore Manaaki. He is such a special little person, very laid back but also very confident, having spent his childhood living on a crowded street corner. He has been the most entertaining chick to watch, excavating and gardening as he engages in his endless nest-building, as well as exploring his surrounds and visiting his many neighbours. We will miss you, Manaaki. We have another fortnight or so with him, but that fluff is fast disappearing, and he will fledge in the not-too-distant future.”

He found the camera!

 

Karl II’s mate, Kaia, who had not been at the nest since 23 July but had been out foraging to regain her strength for her long travels, came to the nest to say goodbye on 15 August and began her migration on the 22nd. Thanks, ‘PB’ for the confirmation. Here is the information from Looduskalender.

Maria Marika reports that Timmy has also begun its migration. Soon they will all be on their way and we will be fingering our worry beads until we know that they are safe and sound in their winter homes.

Karl II continues to feed the three fledglings at the nest. All three were present on the night of 22 August. They, too, will begin their migration shortly.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. Hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to compose my blog this morning: ‘A, H, PB’, Megan McCubbin, Jane Dell, Fortis Exshaw, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, LRWT, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Mark Avery, PSEG, Dunrovin Ranch, Boulder County, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Cal Falcons, Sydney Sea Eagles, Lady Hawk and NZ DOC, Looduskalender, Maria Marika, LizM and the Eagle Club of Estonia.

Mini fledges! Cowlitz fledge? …Sunday in Bird World

23 June 2023

Hello Everyone!

Oh, tears….The big event begins on Saturday when ‘M’ alerts me to Mini’s amazing hover and ends with all of us rejoicing. Mini flew!

On Saturday, Mini did a great hover…a great hover…has been on the nest and has observed her siblings. She is going to do so great!

The tail on the ascent.

Landing after about 5 seconds of good hovering.

And PB wrote, “Mini at Patchogue branched on the perch 7:23am and fledged 8:26am….sooo happy and crying at same time. She did the impossible from being the runt and getting bullied and made it to fledge. So wish she was banded so when she ever returns we know it’s mini!” –Those banding sentiments are with so many of us…We want to know how she does. One way to tell one osprey from another is their head markings and Mini’s are distinctive. Take screen shots of her head from all angles, keep them. It is the only part of her that will not change!

Mini got her fish at 0856. What a fantastic reward – although it is unclear that Dad knows his little girl flew! Congratulations Mini. Stay safe out there. I think we all must have cried. Bittersweet moment.

The news is sad but the eagle that is being honoured was one of the first to be banded during the re-introduction of Bald Eagles into the US after the terrible decimation of our raptors from DDT.

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There has been a rare bird sighting – a Switchable Black Kite – in Norfolk.

Speaking of kites and all other raptors in the UK – the Hen Harriers, the eagles…one utility company has said that it will not renew the licenses for grouse hunting on its land. As a colleague and friend pointed out, what is not known is how long those licenses can be used. When is the deadline? I hope that it is soon and that other utilities will follow suit. If the legal system cannot stop the grouse hunters from killing off all the raptors then preventing them from using the land is a brilliant alternative. Of course, the 21st century thing to do would be to stop this medieval tradition in its entirety!

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There is sad news coming from OWL in British Columbia about Tyr, the eaglet on the Hancock Wildlife nest. Early concerns showed a possible issue with its leg.

If you are fans of Thunder and Akecheta at the West End Channel Islands nest, the 2023 fledglings often show up at the old nest site along with one or more of the parents.

Anthony is often on the Two Harbours nest along with parents Chase and Cholyn.

Now for some nest news:

MN Landscape Arboretum: Gosh, that little chick is getting its feathers and Mum is attentive. A real change from a month ago!

Boulder County: What a loving family. The five of them just make my heart beat. It is so interesting this year that the Ospreys living on nests in places other than in Florida and in the NE US are doing so very well. It is good to have their population growing and sadly, as hard as it is to say, to have some of the pressure off of the over saturated areas (like Florida and Chesapeake Bay).

These three at Boulder are real beauties. Mum does everything she can for them including being a huge umbrella when it is hot even if they are as big as her!

Charlo Montana: ‘L’ alerted me to the streaming cam being back on at Charlo Montana. The two chicks hatched in mid-June. They are 5 weeks old and doing well. And then the cam went down again! It is extremely hot in Montana. Mum is doing a fantastic job keeping the two cool. Bless her heart.

Loch of the Lowes: The Woodland Trust is more positive than I am that Blue NC0 will return. Laddie has his hands full and the chicks are hungry like those at Forsythe. Blue NC0 has been MIA for a week and this is really more than a spa break. She is a devoted mother and it has been a difficult year with little fish ——–how about stocking that loch like they do at Clywedog in Wales? That would solve this issue! Come on Woodland Trust – not just trees, fish! Here is the most recent report.

At the same time, I would like to call for a few more platform nests to be built for the growing population of ospreys.

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Steelscape, Inc.: This Washington in Kalama had fallen off my radar until ‘PB’ wrote to me this evening about a real problem with fish deliveries for the three osplets. It is entirely possible that the third hatchling could be lost. Let us hope not. They have the same problem as Cowlitz it would appear – Eagles taking the fish from the Osprey, the heat, etc. But unlike Cowlitz, which has only one osplet to feed, this nest has three. Thank goodness the fourth egg did not hatch. Oh, goodness. Send it your very best wishes….and look. It is baking hot there, and these babies are feathered. We don’t want to lose another one – so many are starving this year.

Cowlitz: We now know that the wire mesh grids that Cowlitz PUD constructed to protect the osprey nest from Eagle predation have not hindered the ospreys. The only osplet has flapped and jumped and today, that sweet baby fledged (?) or did it branch to the top of the mesh? I think it is on top of the mesh but, if it did not fly – this one soon will!

Seaside: The two osplets, Kawok, the first hatch, and Naika, the second, are beautiful juveniles who are starting to feel their independence. They remind me a bit of Ervie and his brothers once they had fledged. Everyone was civil until then and then it was everyone lad for itself. There is a bit of an aggression showing up just like it is at other nests towards the adults especially if they do not show up with fish! No one is hungry, as far as I can tell, on this nest!

Alyth: The fledglings return to the nest for fish and rest. Flying is hard work. They did not sleep on the nest last night.

Poole Harbour: Oh, it was wet in Pool Harbour on Saturday! Miserable. Windy. The trio were busy preening and trying to dry off Sunday morning.

Glaslyn: OH2 has walked to the perch to with OH1 and Mum, Elen. Will he fly today? He sure is flapping those wings and looks strong and ready.

Dyfi: A bit of a lonely nest at times. One of the fledglings showed up Sunday morning. It looks a bit dreary and damp. Idris and Telyn will be doing a great job feeding their fledglings. Cennen has been flying for a week!

Time for ‘H’s reports:

Fortis Exshaw – Louise had some minor intruder issues, and she flushed an intruder off the tall perch and out of the area twice.  She also delivered five fish to feed her chicks.  The two 35-day-old osplets are thriving.  Mr. O was not seen on camera Saturday.

Forsythe – There were four fish delivered to the nest, including one by Opal.  The fledglings each had two fish.  Even though the food had increased slightly on Saturday, there was still significant aggression, and the siblings were literally at each other’s throats.  After a few days of very little food, the youngest sibling, Ollie, was the primary aggressor.  The battle at 1438 was quite serious.  I’m hoping the fish deliveries continue to increase so that these two juvies can relax.

Osoyoos – Dad continues to be a great provider for his family.  The 26 and 27-day-old chicks are progressing normally.

Severna Park – Olivia and Oscar continue to deliver fish to the nest for their two fledglings.  I have not seen anyone sleeping at the nest for the last two nights.

Barnegat Light – Oh my goodness, at 53 days of age, ‘Dorsett’ looks so grown up!   Dorsett has been wingercising and practicing self feeding. 

Patuxent Nest 1 – Foster and Sib-B are still hanging out and eating fish at the nest, but are sleeping elsewhere.

Patuxent Nest 2 – The livestream was down for 28 days, and finally returned full time on 7/20.  By that time, all three of the chicks had already fledged.  On 7/22 two of the fledglings were seen in the nest at the same time.  

Thank you so much, ‘H’.

The FB posts in Manitoba are full of individuals finding baby birds in their yards. This is happening everywhere, not just near me. So what do you do? Review the chart below and make certain that you have your nearest wildlife rehab clinics on speed dial on the contact list of your cell phone, please.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Continue to send all that positive energy of yours to the nests including those that are struggling with starvation and nest aggression this season. Take care of yourself. I hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, their comments, postings, tweets, websites, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘Geemeff, H, L, M, PB, PSEG, Audubon, Birdguides.com, Raptor Persecution UK, Deb Stecyk and Bald Eagles 101, IWS, MN Landscape Arboretum, Boulder County Fair Grounds Ospreys, Forsythe Ospreys, Charlo Montana and Owl Research Project, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Steelscape Inc, Cowlitz PUD, Seaside Ospreys, Alyth, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Fortis Exshaw, Forsythe, Osoyoos, Severna Park, Wildlife Conserve Foundation of NJ, Patuxent River Park, and Chirp Nature Centre.

How some Osprey parents avoid siblicide…Thursday in Bird World?

8 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Oh, it has been relatively quiet in the garden. In fact, eerily quiet. There has been no sign of the feral cats that visit this end of the neighbourhood, the birds have seemingly disappeared, and only Dyson and Co. have been coming for peanuts, along with a few Sparrows and Wrens. Is it the heat? I wonder. Lewis and Missey ‘decided’ that they would no longer allow me to trim their nails without putting up a big fuss. Well, guess what? Both carriers out; they went in out of curiosity and zipped up and off to the nail trimmer! They were both in such shock. Lewis howled as if I was pulling those toenails out, and Missey was a darling then, on the way home, they were both angels. No more nails for scratching one another – well, til they grow out.

We will start with some sad news that Alo, 45D, from the Bald Canyon Eagle nest has died. This eaglet swallowed a fish hook and line and underwent surgery under the care of the IWS. Completely unnecessary.

I thought that would be the only death but, no…sadly I woke up to news from ‘H’ and ‘SP’ that Rosie and Richmond have lost their only osplet this season to unknown causes. Our hearts go out to this devoted couple.

And then there are balloons…seriously. This one has a happy ending, thankfully.

As all of you are aware, Osprey nests can be a feast or famine. One day there will be six or seven fish deliveries and the next day, it might be only one. Weather and intruders contribute to these fluctuations. We remain grateful to the wildlife rehabbers that rescue and give the little ones a second chance (sometimes third and fourth).

One nest that is flourishing with four Osplets on it is PSEG’s Patchogue platform on Long Island. It is remarkable because of the difference in size between the first two hatches and the fourth, little Mini. Somehow I doubt if anyone seeing this nest for the first time believed there was any hope for little Mini and yet, here we are on the 7th of June and little Mini is growing and growing. What is the secret?

As we have seen, osplets get brooded and ‘normally’ have their last fish delivery about an hour before the sun sets. Yes, there are exceptions – the midnight feedings at Moorings Park in Naples, Florida, taught us that this year. But imagine, four osplets full or partially full at bedtime waiting for another 8 or 9 hours before another meal. They are hungry!

On the Patchogue platform on the morning of 7 June 2023, the male delivered four fish before 0850. Those deliveries were at 0545, 0642, 0711, and again at 0850. I do not know how much fish little Mini got at 0545 feeding but at the 0642 feeding, Mini was right up there and there was fish left for Mum. At 0711, Mini is eating alone, a private feeding from Mum. By 0725, Mini has a huge crop and Mum moves the fish over to the other side of the nest to feed the others if they want to eat. Mini is first up at the table at 0850 and is still eating at 0934. Then the others eat some.

0725 and little Mini has a big crop.

Private feeding. Fish 4. Mum has fed chicks for more than three hours with all these deliveries.

At 1004 others eat.

1043. Little Mini is preening.

1114: Little Mini and the bulging crop.

1204. Little Mini in food coma. What a lovely sight.

There has never been an attempt not to feed little Mini despite its small size in relation to the others. Everyone gets fed and Mum makes an extraordinary effort to check and see and moves the fish around the nest to assist in feeding all.

‘M’ sent me two really cute screen shots of Little Mini standing up to one of the big Bobs. My goodness, this fourth hatch has got nerve!

1549. Mini is right up there eating!

1856 and Little Mini is up there with a huge crop! Oh, the haze from the fires burning in Canada. Dreadful for all.

There is another fish at 1936. Little Mini gets itself right up under Mum’s beak and intercepts a piece of fish meant for Big. Now Little Mini already has a big crop – Big took exception and beaked Mini who went into submission. Mini did not need to eat and did not need to create the aggravation. All big ones and Mum enjoyed that nice big trout. Nite Mini!

One thing that is happening is that little Mini is in a period of rapid growth that requires much more food while the older chicks are beginning to taper off. They eat more but less often. This might help little Mini. What does appear to be working is that fish are getting on the nest in plenty early in the morning – perhaps the fishing is easier? – and this appears to have a calming effect on the older siblings causing them to be food secure and less aggressive (not that they have ever been very very aggressive on this nest with all the fish Dad brings in and the equitable feeds by Mum).

A nest that has a problem with differentiation in feeding is Achieva (and Severna). As of Wednesday afternoon Middle has been rescued by Birds in Helping Hands. He was underweight and well…I can only imagine how good that fish is going to taste to him.

Big eating the fish on the nest..Big was very aggressive – the nest lost one chick to siblicide/starvation and Middle was on the verge. So thankful to those people who helped — you know who you are.

Want to thank Birds with Helping Hands? Send them a donation. That is how they manage to stay afloat.

Middle grounded.

Middle in the carrier on the way to rehab and a second chance at life. What a shame it would have been for this beautiful bird to starve to death. It was noted that Middle was not critically endangered of starving to death as so many are and he should be back and fit – having enjoyed meals without having to fight big.

Shelley Vickery contacted me Wednesday evening. Penny, the rehabber, says that Middle “should be just fine”. Isn’t that fantastic news?!

Please consider a donation – every dollar helps, no matter how small. We must support those that get out there and answer our calls for help.

Go to: birdsinhelpinghands.org

‘H’ sends me word from a view nests that we have been monitoring. At Severna, Big got all of the early fish. Then “The next fish was brought at 1330, and feeding commenced 1333.  Middle was on the other side of Olivia, and Olivia maintained her position for once.  It was a 16 minute feeding and Olivia distributed bites evenly.” Thank heavens! Middle had another good meal at 1438. Oh, keep it up Mum!

At the Patuxent II nest, H reports, “This is the nest of three osplets where there had been some aggression, although no bird has been kept from eating at the feeds I have observed. Feeding from 1316 to 1434.  I observed no aggression at all.  All were very well fed.  #2 had to wait his turn simply because of the strange configuration of that nest bowl.  Mom just couldn’t reach #2.  But at 1341, #2 started to get fed as others dropped out.”

‘H’ sent a good report on some of the changes at Forsythe Osprey nest and the new aggression towards the small osplet during meals – something that has not happened previously. “Fish 0912, feeding 0913 to 0927.  Mini in front row beside Little.  All got bites, no one touched Mini.  Mini ended up in a food coma. 1011 fish, feeding from 1013-1052.  Prior to the start of the feeding, Little beaked Mini and Middle, Mini tucked, Middle beaked back.  Little beaked Big, and Big beaked back.  At the start of the feeding Little beaked Middle again, Mini was still in submission.  Mini had a hard time getting up to the food line through the wall of the three older siblings, went around the other side away from Little and waited.  By 103842 Mini got its first bite, Big and Little dropped out, soon followed by Middle.  So Mini had a private feeding until 1047 when the others started to come back.  By 1048 Mini was in a food coma. 1222 fish, feeding from 1223 to 1232.  When the fish arrived, before the feeding started, Little beaked at Mini pretty roughly.  After the feeding started, Mini stayed back, nevertheless, Little turned around and beaked Mini on 4 different occasions.  Mini never made it to the food line.  After that feeding was over, Little beaked Mini at 1350, 1355, 1358 and 1403.  I don’t know why Mini stayed close to Little and didn’t seek a safe spot beside Big or Middle.”

The feedings really depend on Mini being able to stay away from Little who appears to be a very aggressive third-hatch female. ‘H’ notes that Mini got ’52’ bites on the Thursday morning feed because it was buffered by Big and Middle away form Little.

The latest report from ‘H’ on the Forsythe platform is really interesting. “All lined up  [3,2,4,1], so I thought, good, Mini stay away from Little.  But due to the sheer size of Middle and Big reaching for bites with Mini in between, Mini got squeezed out to the back row (nothing intentional).  When Little saw Mini, Little went on a mission to punish Mini.  Little went to the back row, and beaked Mini intermittently from 1449 to 1454.  Finally Big saw what was going on and reached back and beaked Little, so Little moved away!  Finally at 1500 Mini was up between Big and Middle again and was able to eat.  At 1503, Little tried to get back into the feeding and Big beaked Little, keeping it away, seeming to protect Mini, I kid you not.  So, Mini got fed, and probably ended up with more bites than Little.  If Little had just stayed in the original feeding line and not focused on beaking Mini, she would have been better off.”

Laddie LM12 delivered a whopper of a fish to the Loch of the Lowes Nest – late. Finally Middle gets to eat. Both osplets had full crops at the end of the feeding and even Blue NC0 got some fish.

Only osplet at Cowlitz PUD is still looking good. I sure hope some big fish come to this nest…that water area needs to be stocked!

Needed to check in on Victor and Abby. I think this is Victor screaming for a fish and then chowing down on one…talk about fantastic parents!

Oyster Bay osplets look like they are doing OK.

The trio at Outerbanks also look healthy with clear shiny eyes. I have not been able to ascertain about the equity in feeding but right now, each looks healthy.

Two babies at Seaside are looking good, too.

How much food the third hatch is getting at Barnegat Light is unclear. The two big ones did not allow it near to a nice big fish at the late feeding and I have not watched this nest closely but it did eat well at an earlier one.

Oh, just look at that Bob stand up for its fish at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn!

At Glaslyn, Elen is feeding the chicks and Aran is on the branch with another fish!

Two years ago, CJ7 of Poole Harbour only dreamed of having a mate and osplets. Then a very young Blue 022 stopped by the nest. It was too late in the season and everyone hoped he would return. This is their second year for raising chicks and they have three adorable little osplets.

Tucked in tight for the night.

Big Red and Arthur are starting to get the Ms to be interested in self-feeding. M1 took on a chippie today and did well. The others will not go hungry during this period. Big Red will continue to feed them. Very different than an osprey nest!

All done.

San Jose City Halls little falcon sure is loud. Had a nice meal in the morning and – well, I don’t blame it – I didn’t see later prey. Screaming for food at noon! Hopefully a later meal.

Still screaming at 1525.

Locations of Waba and Bonus on 6 June.

Dmitri’s Storklet is growing and doing well…gosh, there is good news out there in Bird World.

Pi, one of the trio at the Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest, was doing so well, she was released back into the wetlands to be fed and trained by her parents, Martin and Rosa. The metal you see around the tree is a raccoon protector.

Angel and Tom’s surviving hawklet now has a name – Deyani (Great and strong). Beautiful. ‘A’ writes: “Great name for RTH5. It was lovely to see Tom feeding Deyani yesterday – as I mentioned, it was more a matter of Tom pulling bits off that squirrel and Deyani grabbing them. Tom looked a little shocked the first time the hawklet grabbed dad’s bite from him, but then Tom continued with his work on the squirrel and eventually actually deliberately gave the hawklet some bites. I felt like a proud auntie.”

Fires are raging. No Arctic ice. Temperatures are rising and the situation at nests such at Achieva who are suffering from a severe drought are set to see this pattern continue. Nests burned, raptors dead…

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/06/too-late-now-to-save-arctic-summer-ice-climate-scientists-find?CMP=share_btn_link

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One of my favourites, Bill McKibben on the haze…Thanks ‘B’!

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Thank you to everyone who has sent e-mails worried about me and the wildfires. That was so sweet and so very kind. We have haze but it is not nearly as bad as other parts of Canada and the US. So far the recent rains have helped.

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care of yourself. Send your good wishes to our nests. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to create my blog today: ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘H’, ‘L’, ‘SP’, IWS, SF Bay Ospreys, Holly Parsons and The New Zealand Herald, PSEG, Achieva Credit Union, Birds in Helping Hands, Severna Ospreys, Forsythe Ospreys, LOTL, Cowlitz PUD, Moorings Park, Outerbans 24/7, Seaside Ospreys, Conservancy Conservation of NJ, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Cornell RTH, SJCH Falcons, Bird Map, Dmitri’s Storklet Cam, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

Featured Image: Chicks being fed by Daisy at Barnegat Light.

Tuesday in Bird World

6 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

The humidex in Winnipeg, Manitoba was 38 degrees C. The temperature on the deck was 39 C at one time in the afternoon – not sure what that does to the figures the weather station is releasing. It is simply hot. There is little movement in the garden – some sparrows flitting in and out to get in the shade and eat some seed. No squirrels. No Blue Jays. No Crows. Not even a single feral cat. It is clearly not the time of day – afternoon – to be going out to check on ducklings and goslings. Someone sent me this photo. Sadly I do not know who took it but it is supposed to be goslings in our City crossing the asphalt. My gosh…those poor feet. Asphalt gets super hot in this heat.

Around 1900 a much anticipated five-minute downpour will make everything more humid, but it was so heavy the plants will appreciate the moisture!

The garden has been virtually empty. A few House Sparrows, a couple of squirrels came out around 1700 and a single Blue Jay. The heat impacts all of us even if there is fresh water and food waiting.

I am finishing off the newsletter for Tuesday late Monday but will check through my mail for any news and on a few of the nests…it is convocation for the granddaughter tomorrow morning. A nice day to celebrate and take the gang for a lunch before our lives return to normal.

On the radar! I am astounded when anyone takes a saw to a tree during breeding season. Every country should regulate the cutting down of trees and that means small ones, too that have nests of song birds. Mr Woodpecker no longer comes to the feeder because my neighbour cut down the ‘dead tree’. Gracious. It could have waited. Woodpeckers love dead trees – and this person even feeds the birds.

Oh, don’t we love those times when the Eagles take the little RTHs for lunch and wind up raising them as their own. I am sure you have all seen the nest that is now raising two RT hawklets. Precious. Look at its big sibling! Bald Eagle parents are doing well with these two…so interesting.

I have been watching the Patchogue nest closely as well as Loch of the Lowes. Laddie LM12 has not been seen since he brought in a small goldfish Sunday evening. The chicks are hungry and I am wondering if Blue NC0 will go and fish. She is a good fisher but her hormones are still in the brooding stage. Something has been going sideways at this nest and it could be intruders. No fish all day on Monday. Send your warm wishes.

Here is the weekly report from The Scottish Wildlife Trust on LOTL. Gives some good insight into how well the nest was doing and now another hiccup.

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At the Glacier Gardens nest of Liberty and Freedom, little Hope is growing.

There is growing concern that the male, A59, at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest is missing and presumed injured or deceased. He was banded in NJ in 2000 making him 23 years old.

That sweet little eaglet at the Decorah Hatchery nest in Iowa is grown into a beautiful eaglet waiting for its turn to fly.

The Patchogue Osprey platform sponsored by PSEG on Long Island continues to astound me. That said, I want to say that this nest could turn. Mini was shut out of the last two feedings on Monday evening – at 1801 and 2022 because Big attacked.

Mini was eating at 0900, eating again at 1106 and had an enormous crop from a fish delivered around noon – which he was fed for approximately 30 minutes! When you have a male that delivers fish almost every 2 hours that are a good size with no visible intruders – wow…even a tiny fourth hatch has hope. And so should we even if Big, on occasion, rears its head.

1230. Most of the fish remains – Mini has a huge -huge -crop and Mum will get some nice fish, too.

Siesta time.

Right now Mini is doing just fine. The Dad is a Daddy Door Dash with those fish. Mini had several private feedings once the big ones were full. Around 1426 one of the Big ones ‘looked’ at Mini and I wondered but Mini stayed fixed by the fish. It was mostly gone when it was his turn but he did get some and then at 15:17ish Dad hauls in another big one. Mini is eating at 1542 and has a crop, still fish…what a nest!

Mini is going to look ‘thin’ – he is eating. It is the stage of development the little one is in. He is growing like a bad weed, thankfully. Those wings are more than twice the size they were a week ago. Still tiny compared to the big siblings but if these parents can keep this up – well, Mini…you just might helicopter and fly!

1425:

1428:

1542

Big intimidating Mini. He has to walk over…this is not good. The rule is: Never look the older sibling directly in the eyes. It sets them off. You can see that Mini has a crop from the earlier feedings. Right now, all is good. He has eaten, and crop dropped and eaten some more—one day on this nest, one day at a time.

Middle was having a rough time of it at the Severna Osprey nest on Monday. Big reminds me of Zoe because she can just consume fish like she is Dyson the squirrel sucking it up and never getting full. Middle finally did get some morsels around 1504. If another fish would come on quickly, a big one, he could get some more food…this nest is like night and day to Patchogue where the osplets top eating when they re full and the others can get some fish.

‘H’ notes that Middle got a few bites at another feeding. Middle will be very hungry today. let us hope that the fish start returning to this nest.

Things are just fine at the Outerbanks 24/7 nest. Everyone gets fed.

Still looking alright at Cowlitz PUD.

It is hard to say what is happening at Oyster Bay PSEG because Mum loves to block the view when a fish is delivered. Babies are tiny and she gets back to brooding them right away. Temperature at the nest is 65 F.

The two tiny osplets at Seaside appear to be doing alright. Lots of heat shimmer coming on that camera.

All appears well with Duke and Daisy at Barnegat Light in NJ.

‘R’ sent me the forecast for Florida and there is no rain predicted for the St Petersburg and the Achieva Nest. It has to be dire there with the drought. Big and Middle waiting on the nest for a delivery…waiting and waiting. Will the osprey have to migrate north if the droughts in Florida continue along the SW coast?

Blue 022 watches his chicks as CJ7 feeds them.

Lots of fish and fat little Bobs at the Dyfi Osprey nest in Wales of Idris and Telyn.

Aran is an excellent provider. The two little Bobs are doing well for his first season with new mate, Elen.

Louis has been breaking all manner of breakfast fish arrival records for Dorcha and their Only Bob at Loch Arkaig.

As the sun sets in western Scotland, Louis has another fish on the nest just in case anyone is famished.

Dorcha was hit by the Tawny owl last night. The osplet is alright! Thanks Geemeff.

We always need a giggle…this time it is thanks to Richmond at the SF Whirley crane nest he shares with Rosie.

Blinked and the Llyn Clywedog Bobs grew up! What a beautiful place to hatch and a reservoir that gets stocked with 40,000 fish every year.

Lou and Annie tried to have some private time but…they got interrupted.

Both Hartley and Monty delivered prey to a very loud eyas! What a crop. Now smile. This scrape has had a complete turnaround. That is Monty’s shadow with Hartley feeding the chick.

If someone tells me that they are absolutely 100% certain that the third hatch at the Evergy Topeka Falcon Cam is ‘healthy’, I will scream.

The feather development is entirely delayed. Will the feathers coming in caught in the sheaths ever break loose? Will the eyas get help if they don’t.

Lots of chatter about who is feeding Dale Hollow 17. It does look like a male that showed up after Obey disappeared has been providing fish. At the end of the day, it is just good that this eaglet is eating well. Hopefully River will have another mate. Maybe she will rebuild this nest, maybe not. DH17 looks good.

Black storks growing big and strong.

The Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest of Martin and Rosa has completely collapsed. It fell down completely during a food delivery to Flora who slipped and fell and took it down with her. She could be heard. Parents are calling her. She has fledged. Send good wishes.

The Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey continues to take in raptors caught in glue traps. This post explains what must be done to release the poor birds caught in these traps – the behind-the-scenes work that the rehabbers do—thinking of a donation? How about a case of Dawn?

Ospreys like nests with a clear view – on top of dead trees, on power poles, on light stands. They have adapted to humans taking over their territory. Sunnie Day posted a great article on a solution to the issue of nests on lighting platforms. Have a look! I think a lot of places and, in particular, ball parks and university athletic fields, could learn from this story.

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Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care all – continue to send your best wishes off to all the birds. Nests are like being on a carnival ride this year – joy, fear, up and down and sideways. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped to make up my newsletter today: ‘H’,Geemeff, ‘R’, ‘SP’, Sydney Wells and Bald Eagles 101, Nick Beres NC5, LOTL, The Scottish Wildlife Trust, Glacier Gardens, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, PSEG, Severna Ospreys, Outerbanks 24/7, Cowlitz PUD, Seaside ospreys, Barnegat Light and Conservancy Wildlife of NJ, Tampa Bay 168 Hour Forecast, Achieva Credit Union, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Geemeff and Friends of Lock Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, SF Bay Ospreys, CarnyXWild, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall Falcons, DHEC, Maria Marika and Black Stork Ciconia Nigra FB, Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle Nest, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, and Seattle Parks and Recreation.