22 July 2026
Hello Everyone,
What a day it has been – one of those where great things happen and then something else goes sideways. Toby is at the vet. It appears that something has gone wrong with his eyes. Ann has taken Don to the zoo. They are trying to get a glimpse of Lumi, the little lynx. Tomorrow we are having a big curry dinner and the photographer is going to meet us at the park. It is possible it is the last time that we will all be together. So, it will be very special.
Toby update: mild conjunctivitis. Eye drops. Oh, he was so good letting me put them in! I cannot tell you how much I missed him while he was at the vet’s for three hours. With Don and Ann gone and all The Girls sleeping, the house was TOO quiet.
A huge storm swept through the NE of the US impacting osprey nests. Our hero Viki who is feeding a male and his two chicks writes, “Just as both chicks were routinely getting fed, an awful storm last night took out one of them whose remains are a puddle of feathers. I just can’t believe it. I suspect it was the elder chick who died because the remaining chick is not wingercizing and it’s a perfect morning for it. The younger chick was getting food and had pretty much caught up in size to the elder.
Ethel (of course) was on the nest with the chick this morning when I got up and LB (dad) on the nest next door (which in osprey territorial deeds also belongs to LB’s nest with the chick). Apparently, the entire creek has noticed LB’s new fish source.
LB back on his perch waiting for my next pitch. I’m beginning to worry about his expectations. Ha! Those parents in the Australian nest still keep fishing even after the fish fairy deliveries …. Right? Cripes! He is becoming as insistent as a female hollering at him !!!
Dad LB; deceased puddle; last chick standing on Island Creek.”
This is so sad.
But later today Viki writes with some incredible news: “LB had brought a fish home while I was out and filled himself and delivered the rest to the nest. Why do I know he was full? He greeted me but didn’t go after the fish I threw …. Until a gull tried to get it. LB was off that branch, grabbed the fish I’d thrown, delivered it to the nest AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER STARTED FEEDING THE CHICK.
Naturally while standing in the hot mess that was the other chick. Nature is so ugly for being so gorgeous.”
And then..”Ethel is the hero. She has begun showing up on the nest waiting with the chick when I throw a fish to LB. It’s like watching Peyton Place around here – so many alliances and subterfuges !!!!
Maybe other people aren’t as nutty as us. Aren’t we lucky !!!”
More attention is now coming to the plight of the ospreys starving because of the industrial fishing of Menhaden.
They are ringing the chicks at Dunrovin today.
We all hope that Jackie can return home and be reunited with Shadow as soon as possible. SK Hideaways brings us the latest: https://youtu.be/lFjfSoF_-7o?
Update on Snow:
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 22nd July 2026
More intruder action today, but only seen at a distance, and Louis and Dorcha worked together to see off the intruder. Louis had plenty of time to go fishing, and delivered six fish, the first two arriving within eleven minutes of each other, taking the Nest Two tally to three hundred and fifteen. Garry LV0 delivered one fish to Aurora 536, taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and seventy eight. Both he and Aurora are completely ignoring the egg now, it’s hidden under some nest bedding and with luck it will quietly disappear. The chicks on the other hand are more visible and vocal than ever, and boldly seize fish from Louis when he lands. Dorcha often gives way to them letting Juniper and Amber tussle it out for possession of the fish. There was a comical moment today reminiscent of the spaghetti scene in Lady and the Tramp, with Amber on one end and Dorcha on the other end of a long piece of fish skin, and later Juniper and Amber had a tug of fish (spoiler alert – Juniper won).
The weather was settled and continues with thick cloud, light wind and a low of 13°C overnight, and light cloud, light winds and a high of 18°C tomorrow.
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/XLvMt-xOs7I N2 Louis brings a second fish eleven minutes after the first 05.06.10 https://youtu.be/hgTRT8HVSu8 N2 Lady and the Chick: Dorcha and Amber share a fish skin 05.20.42 (zoom)https://youtu.be/PIVM4_91XzI N2 Everyone’s ready for third breakfast 09.49.42https://youtu.be/El3A61Iye1I N2 Dorcha and Louis work together to see off an intruder 10.47.02https://youtu.be/1_3hxjIgCKQ N1 Garry brings a fish for Aurora 14.25.40https://youtu.be/zkxq-UypR4k N2 Juniper tussles with Dorcha for fish four 16.11.17https://youtu.be/gBkrXhv9n0w N2 Amber and Juniper have a tug of fish over fish five 19.29.11https://youtu.be/8y7YeED1noM N2 Despite bulging crops the chicks are eager for fish six 21.24.15
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
Two chicks have fledged at Santiam Canyon. Well done.
Pam Breci reports that the only chick at William & Mary has fledged. Excellent news.
Last, but never least, on a day I didn’t intend to post – Iris and Clark now have a name for their chick. It is Wensi and means dancer in Salish.
Thank you so much for being with me today. I wanted you to know the lovely name of Iris and Clark’s chick and to hear the good news coming from Viki. Take care. I will be back at the weekend.
Thank you to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their videos and summaries, to my hero Viki who stood up for the ospreys, to everyone who posted on FB and included information and images, and to the owners of the streaming cams – we are always grateful to you for if it were not for those cameras we would not know the wonders of these amazing birds.