Tag Archives: Loch Doon

Big fledges from Achieva nest…early Thursday in Bird World

21 May 2026

Good Morning,

We were expecting it. Big had been flapping her wings in the rain, getting stronger and stronger, and this morning he took off and returned to the nest like a pro. Time: 10:25:41. Thanks ‘PB’ and Heidi.

Proud Mum Jill and Little watched as Big circled around the nest. Congratulations – this is the most well deserved fledge and just wait til Little flies – maybe at the weekend.

Jill did it with a little help from Jack at the start and a lot of help at the end. Now to keep the fish coming for the fledgling.

This is just wonderful…at one point we feared these two would starve to death but Mum Jill literally taloned up and kept her babies fed. I remain astonished at all she did and so proud of her.

An osprey nest with two young chicks and an adult osprey perched on a post nearby, with a view of a residential street in the background.
An osprey nest with two chicks, one flapping its wings, while an adult osprey perches nearby on a pole. Surrounding trees and a residential street are visible.
A bird's nest made of twigs with two birds, one perched on a pole and one resting in the nest, surrounded by trees and a road in the background.
A bird perched on a wooden pole next to a large nest made of twigs, surrounded by trees and a suburban neighborhood in the background.
A bird's nest made of twigs is visible atop a platform, with a large bird standing on a wooden post nearby. The background features a tree-lined street and residential buildings.
An osprey nest with one chick standing inside and two adult ospreys nearby, one perched on a pole and another in flight, surrounded by trees and a residential area in the background.
A hawk nest with two young hawks, one flapping its wings and the other sitting, located on a raised platform surrounded by greenery. A logo for Achieva banking is visible in the lower left corner.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 20th May 2026

Another calm routine day, no alarms or intruders, just rain and fish deliveries and the males taking their turn on the eggs allowing the females to stretch their wings and go off nest to eat. Garry LV0 brought three fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to seventy three, and Louis brought one fish for Dorcha, taking the Nest Two tally to seventy three. The forecast overnight and through tomorrow is more rain, with a low of  7°C and a high of 17°C.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/mpxMBT3zh24 N1 breakfast for Aurora 09.42.45

https://youtu.be/JKXX8V2Vxk0 N2 Louis arrives with today’s first fish, a large headless trout 11.16.04 https://youtu.be/FZb-Wv_pZf0 N1 Aurora leaves with fish two, Garry does a great job as a new dad 18.07.04https://youtu.be/VuhyFuFZzC8 N1 Garry brings a third fish for Aurora 21.14.04 
Bonus guide – the hatching process:

https://www.fayrehalefarm.com/wp-content/uploads/Hatch-1157697_432879363493726_407957231_n.jpg

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/I6EiEJdBMEk N1 Aila’s misty morning flypast 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/GYmMQvGGdbE N1 The eggs are bugged! 2020

https://youtu.be/56srG8Li0pY N1 Two mating attempts by The Stranger and Blue 152 2021

https://youtu.be/Gki0u5vCQg4 N1 Blown away! Comical failed mating attempt 2021

https://youtu.be/eY3vcsWUfmk N2 Very early breakfast for Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/XZMfSUpsMc4 N2 Little bird sings away on the high perch 2023

https://youtu.be/sTZm9BK7okg N1 Affric 152 and LV0 visit Nest One! 2023

https://youtu.be/ROkPADnW6JI N1 Louis brings a fish to Nest One 2023

https://youtu.be/i9K2-HCbD-o   N1 An unexpected visitor arrives – it’s Affric 152! 2024

https://youtu.be/Nrr-H6eK0m4  N2 Pip pip hooray – cam’s been zoomed! 2024

https://youtu.be/5fl9uzsupuY N1 A Jay (Garrulus glandarius) perches on the centre perch 2024

https://youtu.be/4FEYkjXc1fQ  N2 An Owl hoots nearby, a Jay visits as Dorcha returns from flyabout 2025

https://youtu.be/cWw_YGFdmmc  N1 Aurora’s patience is rewarded when Garry brings her a fish 2025

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

More second year returns in the UK. Gosh, I wish they would ring the chicks on the streaming cams in North America!

A female osprey (6J8) stands near her nest in Usk Valley, Powys, surrounded by natural landscape.

Kielder Forest osprey news:

1B1/Fontburn sighting

They could hear the chicks at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn in the microphones overnight! Won’t be long!

An osprey is sitting in a nest surrounded by twigs and grass, while another osprey is perched nearby, with a scenic background of hills and water.

I love this! Jeff Kear says, “SO TODAY COULD BE BUSY.

With possible hatches at:- DYFI, POOLE HARBOUR, LOCH DOON and KIELDER NEST 7. And the second Chick at Clywedog has already hatched, Egg Number 4 at MANTON BAY as well(forgot that one)”.

Yes, it will be a busy one. Take care everyone. I will see you with the latest on the UK hatches this evening.

Thank you to ‘PB’ and Heidi, to Geemeff for their Loch Arkaig Summary, those who post to FB and the owners of the streaming cams that let us look into the lives of our friends.

Eve fledges, Big Red lays 2nd egg, hatches happening…

27 March 2026

Good Afternoon Everyone,

It’s a bit chilly at -7 C this morning but there is a beautiful blue sky and bright sunshine to make us feel warm. The birds are all over the garden looking for seed through the fresh snow that we woke up to. Spring will come. There will be lots of moisture in the ground. That will be a blessing. I see Mr Blue Jay has arrived along with the Starlings, Dark-eyed Juncos, and various types of sparrows. Those Blue Jays are so gorgeous against the white snow.

We had a lovely visit with our daughter and grandson yesterday. Jaine came with a homemade Opera cake that could win any Bake Off prize in the world.

This little red squirrel is keeping everyone curious. It darts in and out of the woodbox and under the deck, caching nuts. Hugo Yugo is completely intrigued and sits at the window watching for hours. Isn’t it cute?

Oh, I love this Red-tailed Hawk. For many, Big Red was one of the first raptors they watched on a streaming cam. There is a great Facebook group, along with a live chat from hatch to fledge. This chat will blow you away for one specific reason – each of the moderators is so knowledgeable. Laura Culley used to be one of them. There are set times when chat is open, and historical data and new science are always being added. You could not find a better place if you want to learn about hawks! I will let you know when chat is open and how to find it.

At the nest of Beau and Gabby, the oldest eaglet, Eve, fledged! She really manted to join Kai who earned his wings the day prior.

Lisa Russo posted Gretchen’s post on FB. Thank you, Lisa.

Screenshot

Heidi reports a pip at Brevard County Osprey platform and she was right – there is a chick at Brevard this morning.

Four eggs for Elaine and Newmann at Spirit Bluff scrape.

I was delighted to hear from Lisa, one of our great Bird World members and a daily reader, who also is key at the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey. An article has been published about her work there. Have a read! Lisa is a real inspiration. I am so proud of her – and her award as Volunteer of the Year in 2024.

Maybe someone reading this article about Lisa might be motivated to volunteer locally.

A Creative, Behavior-Focused Approach to Bird Enrichment | AudubonDownload

One of the eagles at the Audubon Centre that is benefiting from the devotion of many like Lisa is River.

At the Winter Park Bald Eagle nest Peanut has branched. That is wonderful. Peanut’s older sibling, Brutus, is also at the Audubon Centre after being knocked off the nest by a GHO.

So where is Quinn? Diane Lambertson posted a FB message that might hold that answer.

The IWS has given a beautiful name to the female at the West End Bald Eagle nest in the Channel Islands.

Angel has returned to her nest at Loch Doon and they say Frankie is coming in behind her.

Wildlife Windows caught her arrival on video: https://www.youtube.com/live/a7Aocq3fybM?

A great presentation by Dr Tim McKrill on osprey migration for us and the Osprey Leadership Foundation: https://youtu.be/wlJoNyKapfc?

Watching for Idris and Telyn to arrive at Dyfi.

SK Hideaways is on a mission to a faraway place. They sent one video this morning. Thank you! Safe and wonderful travels.

West End Eagles ~ Catalina Island, CA
F & Lee Inseparable on Flirty Pre-Naming Day ~ Must Be Love😍 (2026 Mar 23)
F’s name should be announced tomorrow! She and Lee were celebrating together all morning as they repeatedly soared from nest to tor to secret hideout. They were inseparable and had much to chortle-snortle about. There was no interest in mating, but there sure were a lot of goo-goo eyes between them plus one of the sweetest beaky kisses I’ve ever seen. 
Video: https://youtu.be/PYNBCu8Tw0o
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | West End Eagles Cam Ops 
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

This female is now Isla.

Two ospreys at Pitkin County this morning.

There is a hatch underway for Bella and Scout at the NCTC Bald Eagle nest. Let’s send this family our best wishes. They lost their beautiful eaglets last year in a nest collapse. It was so sad for everyone.

Despite some deaths, it appears that the Kakapo breeding season is going to be a success.

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. Have a marvellous weekend. We will be back soon – too much happening. We are on pip watch for Andor and Cruz at Fraser Point.

Thank you to Lisa Ferguson for sending me that great article. Congratulations! I am grateful to everyone who supplied videos, to those who posted on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us watch our bird families.