12 September 2026
Hello Everyone!
The weather is much cooler. 15 C. It really feels like fall. The first Starling to return! Toby and I are cleaning up the garden. Ann and I now take turns, alternate days, going to the hospital. Don fell again yesterday. The nurses could not get there in time when the bed alert sounded and found him sitting cross-legged on the floor. It has now been 17 days. He is improving in some ways but his body is giving out. I am preparing myself for the fact that he might not return home. At the moment he needs constant care and watching and it takes 2-3 people to lift him. I am only one! We will do whatever is best for him.
Tobby’s grooming had been neglected. That is all fixed. He is so soft. Don kept rubbing and rubbing him yesterday at the hospital. No more neglecting. Paws and the behind are so important to keep clean. Our vet suggests washing their paws and drying the well (so as not to get anything nasty growing down deep) every time they go out for a walk.
On everyone’s advice, I have returned to a hobby that I love – photography. I love the new R7 camera with the 100-400 mm lens. Just the perfect weight. Let’s see what some of those first images look like!
One of the Blue Jays shot through the conservatory window. I am going to build a hide in the garden. I can only imagine how this might look if it wasn’t shot through glass.
Mushrooms are growing all over the neighbourhood. It has been so wet!
The Starlings have returned – more and more to fill up on cat and dog kibble!
A blurry image caught with my iphone.
Toby and I spend a lot of time sitting on the bench on the deck. I hope the birds and squirrels will get used to us sitting here so I can photograph them.
Iris is still home. If she is still at Hellgate Canyon on Sunday, she has broken her historical record of 11 September being the latest she stayed in Montana.
Images from Iris’s Cafe!
Aran was still at Glaslyn, but Idris has left on his migration!
Daisy from the Loch Doon nest in the UK is still in France:
It feels like only yesterday that we were waiting for all to arrive. Now they are gone on their long journey along the flyway, through France and the Iberian Peninsula, across the Strait of Gibraltar, and down to Senegal and The Gambia.
Sightings are already being reported.
Looking good at the WBSE nest in the Olympic Park Forest in Sydney.
Osprey House Environmental Centre posted some incredible images of George and Hope’s only surviving chick. Look at those feathers.
The Ps are catching their own dinner!
Seasonal news from Dunrovin posted by Sheila Staley on Osprey Friends FB:
9/22/16 Dunrovin
“It looks like the 2026 season is over, although Swoop may still be in the area fueling up, he hasn’t been seen on the cams. This has been a fun year, with very little drama, there was some sibling aggression but it didn’t last long. A couple of highlights was when Swoop feed the chicks and when he caught a fish so heavy he had to swim to the river bank. Winnie was still nervous with some of the ranch activities but seems to have been more comfortable/calmer than in the past. Before her last visit on the nest, Winnie was out of site for a few days, then she made a few appearances a couple of days before she was last seen. Spangle left after Star kept keeping him from the nest. Star owned the nest for the remainder of the season. Swoop provided his girl with plenty of fish. Star was last seen flying toward the river. Hoping for safe travels for all the Dunrovin Ospreys and look forward to seeing Swoop & Winnie in the Spring of 2027.
Stats:
Return Dates:
Swoop – 4/10/26
Winnie – 4/13/26
Eggs laid Hatched Fledged Notes
5/2/26 6/9/26 8/4/26 Star (OE4), female
5/5/26 6/10/26 8/2/26 Spangle (OE5), male
5/8/26 not viable
The chicks were banded on 7/22/26, named on 8/2/26, the gender was determined by the bander.
Last Seen:
Winnie – 8/21/26
Spangle – 8/23/26
Swoop – 9/8/26 *likely around 9/9
Star – 9/9/26 10:05am
Videos of some highlights:
Swoop feeds chicks
Spangle fledges
Star fledges
Video of Swoop’s big catch and swimming to riverbank”
Oh, how I wish every nest would post this information and keep it in an archives.
Raptor Monitoring Scheme in Scotland, Annual Report. Osprey nests are up!
Will Bradley get a mate before Ervie?!
I’m an environmental activist and osprey lover. I am also a Canadian and as everyone knows – I want this Canadian company out of The Bay. Save the ospreys!
More ways to have your voice heard on this matter:
Please do not use rodenticide! This happened in an area close to where I live.
On a happier note, Hope is doing a great job despite George in Australia.
SE38 continues to get nice crops from the feedings by Lady while incubation continues at 367 Collins Street and at Orange with the falcon families and at Port Lincoln with the ospreys.
The latest on Shadow and Kaydee by SK Hideaways: https://youtu.be/I3wJZ_a33NM?
There is a lot more news, but that is it for us today. Take care, everyone. Wish that Ervie finds a mate this season for next year – and that Dad continues to get some fish to Mum at Port Lincoln. Do you ever wonder if the raptors just want to retire from raising families?
A big shout out to SK Hideaways for their Big Bear video! Thank you to everyone for their posts on FB today and for the owners of the streaming cams – we will be forever grateful to you for allowing us the opportunity to witness the lives of our beloved birds.