I’m reading Alan Stewart’s Prelude to Murder. If I hadn’t been so tired, it might have been a book I’d consumed in one long binge read. The combination of a murder and wildlife atrocities – and the people who commit these – boggles my mind. Aberfeldy is the setting, and it is very close to where I would go and fly hawks when I stayed in Scotland at Hospitalfield on an artist’s residency. Stewart also wrote other books on raptor persecution, including The Peregrine Thief, which is excellent.
A handful of ospreys were still hanging about. Cowlitz’s dad is still feeding a chick. Many are concerned or curious about why these two are so late leaving for their migration. It is good to remember that ospreys migrate because their food source is diminished. With climate change and habitat loss, ospreys may begin to stay longer in specific northern regions where fish are plentiful, and the weather is changing. We continue to have ospreys in Manitoba, for example. The geese are now beginning to fly low in the mornings to find grassy areas and fields to forage. In the evenings, I can hear the honking, and they look for a safe place on the water for the night. (They can sleep in the water and not worry about predators!)
Here are some articles on osprey migration that might be of an interest to you:
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care of yourselves and happy autumn!
Thank you to everyone who wrote about osprey migration, for those who posted on FB with information, we are always grateful, and to the owners of the streaming cams, we are so thankful to you for allowing us to watch these families. I am always grateful to Hawk Mountain for their great counters!
My days are the type of routine that underline there is a change but that life goes on, just day by day, not knowing what will happen. Toby and I get up and feed the birds. By the time Toby and Hugo Yugo settle on the old sofa and the cat tree in the conservatory, the Blue Jays are flying in, little squirrels are running along the power lines to then jump into the lilacs and find nuts, while the songbirds begin landing on the leafless limbs of some of the trees. This is the scene we watch every morning while I sip my coffee.
It has always been this way, with the exception that Don was sitting at the table drinking his tea and trying to count the Blue Jays and squirrels or me. His seat is now empty, and I do not know if he will ever join us again.
It is difficult. But more about that another day.
This blog was meant to be about ‘good things’, but ospreys in South Australia are abandoning their eggs, as they have in the NE United States and Eastern Canada (NS, in particular). Today, Mum finally stopped incubating the eggs on the barge at Port Lincoln because of a lack of fish. We also saw the issues related to the lack of food at the Osprey Environmental Centre. This is, sadly, widespread. Fran Solly tells us that Ervie and Giliath are having to travel farther and farther to find fish.
We are witnessing what warming waters, droughts, and overfishing are doing to our feathered friends that depend on the fish. Red Algae blooms are in the area of Port Lincoln, causing havoc.
367 Collins St. Falcons ~ F24 (female) and M24 (male)
F24 and M24 have incubation changeovers down to an art. She is doing the bulk of the incubation and he is doing the bulk of the hunting. After a short incubation stint this morning, we saw M24 doing laps around the building, presumably hunting. Did someone say the fastest animal on earth? Whoosh! Video: https://youtu.be/jwJhbaxKMa4 FOBBV Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow, Sandy, and Luna
Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley | California
Shadow & Kaydee’s Eventful Morning ~ Fish Sharing Not Happening ~2026 Sep 16 Shadow and Kaydee spent another night together on the roost tree ~ Kaydee cozying up a bit at dawn before departing. They went their own ways for a couple hours, then Shadow brought a fish to the nest with Kaydee in hot pursuit. She didn’t have a chance to try to share as Shadow made it crystal clear that this was *his* fish and *his* fish alone. Kaydee remained on the front perch till Shadow gulped down the fish tail. She then cautiously entered the nest, where she and Shadow spent a short time together. Kaydee nipped Shadow’s tail and there was some beaking, but Shadow seemed to want to be on his own today. He departed, while Kaydee remained on the nest for another two hours. Another day, another adventure. Video: https://youtu.be/bvJyHjfo0VA
KAYDEE’S FIRST STICK!She Showers Shadow in Beakies & Nibbles ~ 2026 Sep 12
Kaydee brought the first stick of the season to the nest. When Shadow arrived she seemed excited about her accomplishment and nibbled his beak, then his feathers, which he accepted. It was quite a change in dynamics from the previous day. Video: https://youtu.be/ZA4JA6tfchQ
Lady is Perfect Sun MUMBRELLAfor SE37 & SE38 ~ 2026 Sep 14
Lady deemed it necessary to shade her seaglets, spreading her gorgeous wings over them to do so. SE37 and SE38 were of two minds about it: while the shade was nice, it was pretty toasty under all those beautiful feathers. Also included is some close-up footage of SE38’s glorious crop.
SE38’s Happy Eel Meal Deal ~ Leaves Wee One with HUGE Crop ~ 2026 Sep 12
When SE38 steps up for a good meal, there’s a collective cheer throughout the fan base. This was one of those days. Lady and Dad have brought a few eels to the nest, providing great nutrition for the seaglets. SE37 eats first, then SE38 sometimes, but not always, steps up to eat. This was one of those days in which SE38 ate very well. It was a joy to behold. Video: https://youtu.be/qMUP6PbcjO
Updates from Window to Wildlife updates including Connie and Clive:
And all the way from Berlin, our happy moment for today – a story about Black Robins. Thanks, ‘J’.
Thank you for being with us today. It appears that our dear Iris has now left the Hellgate Canyon are on her migration. This is one of the last, if not the last, image of her on the baseball lights. We will wait anxiously til April for her and Clarke to return.
Thank you to SK Hideaways for their videos covering so many nests this week. Please check them out! And to everyone who posted on FB, to ‘J’ for the story of the Black Robin, and to Windows to Wildlife for their update – and all streaming cam owners – we thank you, too.
I am exhausted. Changes to the house continue in case Donald is ever able to come home. If not, they will be there for me or someone else. With the lack of ospreys in Australia, the news is very thin as we wait for hatch at Collins Street and Orange. Please continue to watch the WBSE – they are adorable and growing so fast. How will changes to the water impact these eagles who also depend on fish amongst other prey?
It is very late on Friday night. Toby and I have been at the hospital for most of the late afternoon and very early evening. What a delight it was to talk to Don’s ‘neighbour’, Heidi. Heidi is a walking history book – born in Lubek, Germany in 1942. She told me how, when the wall went up, her mother stuffed food and treats in her pocket because she knew Heidi and her friends were crossing a little ditch into ‘the East’. I told her how I spent time woodfiring pottery in Mecklenberg. The region of Mecklenberg is also home to many, many lakes with ospreys!!!!!!!!!!! We learned something from one another. As for Don, he has been given a drug that appears to have had a dramatic negative impact on his independence. I am hoping that miracles do happen.
Toby just lives his best life at the hospital. He loves everyone and now stops and chats – after three weeks, long-time patients recognise him. A sweet girl starts waving a wand when we come through the locked door to Don’s ward. Toby always loves chatting with her and getting some pets. One of my greatest joys is seeing him bring happiness to others – and I am so thankful that we had him trained to be a therapy dog so he can be shared with them in hospital or in care homes. He is an incredibly ‘good’ dog – he only barks with other dogs. Is it some kind of canine symphony? or when he sees ‘a cat’ out in the garden and it is not one of his sisters. He does not jump or scratch or lick without getting some kind of signal from the person (that signal I have to work out – it is like a silent yes going through some sound wave I cannot here).
Still best friends. This is every morning…if it didn’t happen, I would worry. It is their way of getting to eat breakfast together as long as their waitress brings their plates!
But, enough…is Iris still here?
The latest Iris ever stayed in Missoula was September 11th. She is still there, as far as I can tell! Remember all the comments about Iris looking tired and a bit dishevelled? I am pleased that she is staying later and eating a lot of fish to build up her system so that her migration and return are successful.
A compilation all about Iris:
Charlie is still at Charlo, too!
Missing Idris and Telyn along with their cute kiddos? Dyfi have put together videos like no one else!
Geemeff’s last summary:
Final daily summary for Loch Arkaig Season Ten: Friday 18th September
A few little birds thought about paying a visit then changed their minds – neither nest looks very appealing in the prevailing wet grey conditions. Our Osprey family are well on their way to their wintering grounds after a very successful season. Dorcha returned early on 4th April and both Garry and Aurora returned on the 7th, stopping in first at Nest Two before going to their own home at Nest One. But then we waited, and waited, and Louis didn’t arrive. It was getting tense and people were starting to write him off and then like magic, he turned up on the 17th looking fit and well and ready to start the new season right away. While Garry and Aurora got off to a slow start eventually producing just the one egg which didn’t hatch, Louis and Dorcha produced three eggs and hatched three chicks. Sadly the third chick faded away after only five days, but the other two grew big and strong and fighting fit. Perhaps a bit too much fighting, despite a steady supply of 481 fish from Louis and 5 from Dorcha, however both females went on to fledge and migrate and their feisty natures should stand them in good stead for their future prospects when seeking nests and mates of their own. The season ended on 4th September when Louis paid a final visit to the nest, and we wish them all fair winds and plenty of fish, and look forward to seeing the adults back next spring for Season Eleven.
WTS George will post this season’s highlights video here in due course, and then the comments will close until that glorious day next March when they reopen and we all return for Season Eleven. Meantime, you can join fellow followers of the Arkaig Ospreys on Facebook or over at Adam’s site, and chat about all things Osprey over winter:https://www.facebook.com/groups/829595230542720https://walkingwithdaddy.com/osprey/
Many thanks to Woodland Trust for installing the nest cams and providing us with such a thrilling look at the wild world of the Ospreys while protecting our precious ancient woodland for the generations to come. Thanks also to the People’s Postcode Lottery for sponsoring the nest cams, and to everyone who participates and makes this forum such a friendly and informative space. Farewell until Spring 2027!
Season Ten 2026:
April 4 Dorcha arrives N2 12.21.56
7 Garry LV0 arrives N2 08.56.13
7 Aurora 536 arrives N2 13.38.44
12 Western Arkaig male JJ4 arrives N2 18.50.08
17 Louis returns! N2 17.57.42
18 Louis & Dorcha are reunited 06.37.28
26 First egg for Dorcha & Louis 06.56.29
29 Second egg for Dorcha & Louis 05.34.12
30 First egg for Aurora and first on Nest One in six years 19.18.37
May 2 Third egg for Dorcha & Louis 03.12.24
June 1 First chick hatches! 12.40.39
3 Second chick hatches! 06.21.54
6 Third chick hatches 00.49.09
11 Sad death of little Chick3 10.00+
12 Dorcha disposes of the body in the forest 08.09.00
Heidi would like us all to turn our attention to Mum and Dad at the Port Lincoln osprey barge:
I am saddened by what happened at the nest of Hope and George at the Osprey Environmental Centre, and I hope fish fairies fly in to help Mum, Dad, and the kiddos. I am certain we can all help buy fish from our cookie jar stashes!!!!!!!!
It is the first time I can recall so much attention being placed on the importance of Menhaden. It is wonderful, but is it too late? Anyone reading my blog knows that I abhor any company of any nationality, including my own Canadian ones, wrecking the environment and an entire ecosystem! I really hope gillnet fishing will stop – everywhere.
Sea Eaglets are growing and getting beautiful feathering. SE37 still dominants the meals and sometimes SE38 has to wait but Lady is doing the best she can!
Toby and I can attest that raptors’ eating habits are anything but organised. We have witnessed them plucking on our Japanese arch, on top of the fence, with feathers and fur flying in every direction when the wind blows. Lately, we have sadly been finding grey squirrel heads near the park where we like to walk.
The Reds seem to escape the tyranny.
Lots of sparrows at the feeders.
The island was moved today and I just left the mess so tomorrow is going to be a day of ‘surface cleaning’ til Melissa gets here on Monday. I hope to have a short report for you with the ‘good news’. If not, it will arrive Sunday evening.
In the meantime, get outside. Enjoy the crisp autumn air. Go for a walk if you can. If not, breathe in what feels like really clean air. I love the smell of fallen leaves as you walk over them. They often remind me of my university days, heading off to the football stadium in Norman. It is interesting how scents/odors can transport us to another time and another place.
Thank you so much to Geemeff for that final summary on Loch Arkaig for the Woodland Trust, to those who posted images and information on FB, to the individuals fighting for Menhaden and saving the ospreys, to The Guardian for its environmental and wildlife reporting, and to the owners of the streaming cams – we are grateful.
What a gorgeous fall day. It was 11 C when Toby and I went for our first walk. The sky was blue and there was a gentle breeze. The leaves were dancing down from the trees at the little park at the end of our street. If we go around 1000, Toby gets to see his friend, 17 month-old, Adelina. She claps her little hands when she sees him coming and he begins to go at a much quicker pace. It delights me!
My news will be short today – sorry. I continue to declutter, clean, and modify parts of the house in anticipation of Don returning home – at some point. Toby and I also spent three hours at the hospital. Prior to his admission, Don was mobile; he could feed and toilet himself – like everyone else. Today, he is, more or less, an invalid. The cause of the extreme change mystifies me.
Very sad news coming out of Syracuse University:
Well, the osprey news is rather thin.
At Hellgate Canyon, Wensi and Clarke were last seen about the same time, on the 6th of September. The latest Iris stayed was the 11th of September. This year, however, she has stayed longer. She was photographed eating a fish on the light stand at the baseball park where Louis and Starr have their nest. I understand this is south of Iris’s nest and could indicate the beginning of her migration.
Lin Lawson posted that image. I find it one of the most striking images of Iris – just her profile, eating a fish.
Well, she was still around on the 17th eating another fish on the light stand!!!!!!!!!!
The 18th will be exactly one week after our Queen has stayed. Each of us noticed Iris looking a little ‘worn out’ after raising Wensi. I am glad she is taking her time, getting fit, and putting some fat on. Female ospreys are known to lose at least 30% of their body weight laying eggs, incubating, and raising their chicks. They have to put that back on, plus some, to be truly ready for their long journeys to their winter homes.
It appears that C22 has finally left Montana and headed south. Charlie was seen enjoying eating his own fish without a screaming young one!
Cowlitz seems to be the only Pacific NW nest with an adult and chick still there.
Please note that this is included in the newsletter: “Public comments are being accepted through October 9, 2026. We strongly encourage everyone who cares about Ospreys, the Chesapeake Bay, and the health of our entire Bay ecosystem to participate. Please see the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Public Comment schedule here. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has provided a link so that you can sign onto their document which will be submitted to ASMFC.” Go to https://cbf.quorum.us/campaign/addendum2/?utm_source=action-alert&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=menhaden&utm_content=microsite
You do not have to live in the region. Please, please go to the document and sign it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More on the issue of Menhaden and the rapid decline of the osprey population.
“At some point, the menhaden debate has to become about more than how many fish we can legally remove.
It has to become about whether we should.
Menhaden are not just another commodity. They are forage. They move energy through the ecosystem, feeding redfish, striped bass, birds, sharks, dolphins, and countless other predators.
A school of menhaden entering an estuary isn’t an empty resource waiting to be extracted. It’s already doing something.
It’s feeding the ecosystem.
That’s what gets lost when we talk only about harvest limits.
And here’s the question I keep coming back to:
If we can develop alternatives to wild-caught forage fish, why wouldn’t we use them?
Algae, alternative feed ingredients, invasive species, and other technologies are already being investigated as substitutes for some of the products traditionally made from wild fish.
So why continue putting additional pressure on a foundational forage species when other options are becoming available?
This isn’t anti-fishing.
It isn’t anti-commercial fishing.
It’s a question of priorities.
In the Chesapeake, managers are even considering significant reductions to the menhaden reduction fishery cap. That alone should tell us this conversation deserves more than a simple argument over whether the coast-wide stock is technically “overfished.”
A coast-wide assessment doesn’t automatically tell us what is happening in every bay, marsh, and estuary.
Growing up around the Gulf Coast teaches you something quickly.
Nothing in the water exists by itself.
Take away enough pieces, and eventually you change the system.
We don’t have to wait until something is broken before deciding it’s worth protecting.
You’re allowed to want abundant marshes.
You’re allowed to want healthy redfish and trout populations.
You’re allowed to want osprey over the Chesapeake and bait moving through Gulf marshes.
And you’re allowed to ask whether turning a foundational forage fish into an industrial product is really the highest and best use of that resource.
Maybe the real question isn’t how much menhaden can we take?
Maybe it’s:
How much should we leave in the water?
Because sometimes the most valuable fish is the one that never reaches the processing plant.”
Do people need fish to survive? No, we do not. Do ospreys rely on fish as their only food? Yes. What about the others, like albatross?? Climate change, global oceans warming, rivers drying up – all of this spells disaster, and it is impacting wildlife that depend on fish. I am too tired tonight, but this is a very serious issue. Humans can do without supplements and give up eating chicken or salmon (Menhaden are used to make feed for chicken and salmon farms as well as supplements). We would not die. Indeed, eating a more plant-based diet benefits us and the planet. As one Michelin-star chef remarked the other day, eating beans is very healthy, a good choice for the planet, and, in times of escalating food costs, a great way to lower food costs!!
Aran has departed from the Friends’ nest in Anglesey.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 17th September 2026
Another wet and windy day, with night cam switching over shortly after 8pm. The only activity was a Raven perching on Nest One and kronking loudly at others flying nearby
‘R’ sent me a recent article, How to Stop a Murdering Cat, about felines and their devastating impact on songbirds. The number of birds killed by well-fed, or ‘fat cats, ‘ is astonishing. Please spread the word for people to keep their pets inside. We might have 1 billion more birds singing in the trees – or more.
‘J’ sent me some good news articles; I will start a section on my blog tomorrow and include them. You can join in, too. Please do send me amazing stories and their links to share with others.
Thank you, everyone, for being with us today. I hope to post some good news stories later tomorrow, so please send me more than I have so we have a diverse mix. If I do not post my blog tomorrow, they will appear late Saturday. Now take care everyone and get outside and enjoy the autumn nip in the air.
Thank you, as always, to Geemeff and SK Hideaways. Thank you to everyone who posted information on FB – I am so grateful. These days, I don’t always have time to go back and rewind all the videos when I get home from the hospital. To everyone fighting to stop the industrial fishing of Menhaden to save the osprey and an ecosystem- bravo. The people who want this to cease are growing each day. We have a real chance of winning, and winning we must do.
We’ll all have empty nest syndrome soon. Most of the ospreys have flown to their winter homes and left us to watch the peregrine falcons, the WBSE, and the Bald Eagles! I don’t know about you but watching Mum at Port Lincoln incubate eggs isn’t all that exciting but I do love seeing Dad bring her a fish in the morning.
2026 osprey breeding performance was the worst ever recorded for the Chesapeake Bay is published:
More and more organizations and people are supporting the reduction of the amount or the entire stopping of industrial fishing of Menhaden.
I am so pleased.
The takeaway from the report: “The 2026 breeding season was the worst productivity year ever recorded for osprey in the Chesapeake Bay. Average productivity in waters above 5 parts per thousand (ppt) salinity (N = 769) was 0.25 young/pair. On a global scale, the annual breeding performance required to maintain a stable population ranges from 0.8 to 1.3 young/pair. Only pairs nesting within tidal fresh waters (N = 168 nests producing 1.04 young/pair) exceeded the breeding performance threshold required for population maintenance. Eighty-one percent of all pairs nesting in waters above 5 ppt failed to fledge any young. Of pairs that did produce young, 70% were single-chick broods. The 2026 results extend the ongoing trend of productivity decline throughout saltier regions of the Bay.”
Unless something is done, ospreys will go extinct in the region.
A few of the nests that still have ospreys:
C22 and Charlie are still at Charlo with Charlie delivering fish. Mostly at Roger’s Place.
I really haven’t reported on the nest of Bruce and Naha at Seaside much this season. Bruce is still there bringing fish to one of the fledglings.
Wensi has not been seen since 6 September at the Hellgate Canyon nest or owl Pole. Iris still appears to be in the area.
Photo of fledgling Elsi starting her migration from the Dyfi osprey nest. Thanks so much! She is gorgeous.
Aran may still be at Glaslyn today. He was there yesterday. It was raining, not a good day to fly!
Dad was still at Boulder County Fairgrounds.
In Australia, SE38 is still doing well! Look at that crop. SK Hideaways has the feeding on video. It was an eel! https://youtu.be/qMUP6PbcjOg?
We woke up to a rainy, cold 8°C day. We needed to turn on the heating last evening. Toby certainly doesn’t mind going out to do all that ‘business ‘, but I found bundling up to go for a walk a little daunting after such hot weather only a few days ago.
We spent part of our afternoon at the hospital. Don moves so fast in the wheelchair that they are considering putting a seatbelt on him so he doesn’t hit something and fall out. The team at the hospital (his doctor, nurse, physiotherapist and social worker) are starting to formulate a plan for Donald. They are good and quite considerate of everything, including safety, which is paramount. For us, he now requires two strong people to lift him. If that continues, he would not be able to come home and would have to go into long-term care. If, however, he were to need only one person to lift him, they would provide me with a care worker for a 12-hour period, including getting Don to bed and getting him up in the morning, giving medications and giving him a nightly shower. I can sleep and not worry about him! We would also get one of those fancy hospital beds with a warning system that lowers and rises and goes up and down every which way. A nurse would come weekly to check on his bladder issues. This would be ideal. I am prepared for either scenario.
Thank you so much for being with us. Take care. I will be back in a couple of days.
Thank you to SK Hideaways, everyone who posted information and images on FB, and the owners of the streaming cams that let us watch our bird families. I am, as are my readers, forever grateful.
Get the tissues out. I have a story from the hospital today. Ann and I always try to be there for at least one meal. She likes to go at noon, and I prefer arriving at 1630. It takes Toby and me about thirty-five minutes to get across town, and added up, the later time means Don will be ‘full’ (he eats well for me, and I always take a green salad and fresh fruit to wind up the hospital meal) till morning. There is no cookie cupboard at the hospital, although there is a box of homemade ginger cookies that Jaine made on his chest of drawers there – he doesn’t remember, so that is good, as he won’t try to get out of bed and fall trying to get one. (Visitors give him one). Toby and I left this evening. I reached over, kissed him goodbye, and told him, ‘I miss you’. He said back immediately, ‘I am always here’. I whispered, ‘I missyou at home’. Don squeezed my hand, raised it to his lips and kissed it. I held it together until Toby and I got home, broke down, and just cried. This has to be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life…We still don’t know the future. It is simply one day at a time, but underneath all of this is a strong foundation of love.
If you have a loved one who has dementia (not talking about Alzheimer’s – they are so different), remember that they ‘know’ things. They might look like they are snoozing, but they are listening… they feel, and they know. The proteins in their brain are changing, but that brain is intact, not dying.
Tomorrow is my youngest grandson’s birthday party, and Toby and I will stop in at the hospital on the way home. I will not be posting tomorrow, but will be back on Monday or Tuesday. I am including the video listing from SK Hideaways. Please take a look at the wonderful work they do! Also, news from Geemeff.
SK Hideaways Videos Week of 6 September 2026
367 Collins Street Falcons ~ Melbourne ~ F24 & M24 Courtesy Victorian Peregrine Project South Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oibsohQ14cY North Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNKk0ivuWe4 M24 Arrived Too Early F24 Sent Him Off to Fetch Breakfast ~ 2026 Sep 10 M24 arrived empty-taloned before sunrise. F24 was rather unimpressed and sent him off. When he returned 2-1/2 hours later with large prey, mum was delighted to see him. We then got to enjoy his egg lullaby as he situated himself for his morning incubation stint. Video: https://youtu.be/jnpk9Y1gLz8
FalconCam Project ~ Diamond (~13 years) & Gimbir (~2 years) Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW (http://www.csu.edu.au/special/falconcam/) ~ Australia Box Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2RtoIMNzA Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuZaWzhXSAI Tower Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQxrTGgNu4M Egg#3for Diamond & Gimbir ~ Pro Parents Make it Look Easy ~ 2026 Sep 10 Relieving Gimbir of egg duty, Diamond arrived with a full crop and had a quick delivery of egg #3. Gimbir returned with prey and dashed (not shown), then returned for his first 3-egg incubation stint. Well done, you two! Video: https://youtu.be/51MYA5NH1jg Diamond Lays Egg #2After Chat with Gimbir ~2026 Sep 7 In my story, Gimbir stopped by the nest box with a huge crop. After some brief bonding, Diamond informed him she felt egg #2 coming soon. She mentioned that it might be nice to have a snack beforehand. Gimbir didn’t quite get the message, found a scrap for himself, and departed. Diamond already had a sufficient crop herself, so was ready to go. She delivered egg #2 at 23:24:32 with minimal fuss. Wishing Diamond and Gimbir successful hatches. Video: https://youtu.be/r1UjuD3pQ2s
Shadow & Kaydee Nest DanceHe Bows Out First ~ 2026 Sep 11 Shadow and Kaydee spent about 8 minutes in the nest together. The changing interactions are fascinating. It is early days. We watch, learn, and trust the eagles. Video: https://youtu.be/I3wJZ_a33NM
Shadow & Kaydee Evening and Morning Rendezvous ~ 2026 Sep 9-10 RememberingJackie on 1 Month Mark of Her Passing❤️🩹 After spending the entire day as a perch potato on Twin Pines, Shadow retired to the Roost Tree. Kaydee came along a bit later and did a nest check before joining him. In the morning, they exchanged greetings and perched on the Lookout Snag for a short time.
In addition to continuing to observe the dynamics between Shadow and Kaydee, I took a moment in this video to honor Jackie on the one-month mark since her passing. Jackie will always be the heart and soul of the Big Bear Valley eagle community, setting the foundation for the resurgence in eagle life that has developed since her birth in 2012. Jackie remains in our hearts today and always. Video: https://youtu.be/QiFZ5UeWe6c
Shadow & Kaydee Meet at Dawn ~ Ravens Wake the Neighborhood ~ 2026 Sep 9 While they roosted separately overnight, Shadow and Kaydee met up at dawn. They watched each other across the habitat before coming together on the Lookout Snag for a half hour. They then resumed their off-season adventures. Video: https://youtu.be/TzJPFak8rnM
Shadow’s Day ~ Stunning Horaltic Poses ~ Rain Shower ~ 2026 Sep 7 After few sightings of Shadow the day before, we were grateful to see him for a good, long time today. He started the morning on the Lookout Snag, then perched on Twin Pines for over 3-1/2 hours. While there, he displayed not one, but two spectacular horaltic poses. Lucky us. Video: https://youtu.be/rbCoC-8tp5s
Cholyn’s Day of Bliss ~ Chase Hillside Haven ~ 2026 Sep 10 Cholyn spent the morning on a favorite oceanfront perch taking in the brilliant, sparkling Pacific. She enjoyed it so much that she returned in the afternoon before visiting the nest. Chase settled on the cactus perch in the afternoon. The lovebirds watched each other across their habitat before departing on their evening escapades. Any view of Cholyn and Chase is a gift. Forever grateful to Two Harbors cam ops. Video: https://youtu.be/Onz4H40gONQ
Iris was still eating fish at the Owl Pole today – this is the latest she has ever stayed. Let us all send our Queen of Ospreys much love and good wishes. May she eat loads of fish, get healthy, migrate, and return to us next April along with Clark.
Isn’t she amazing. Look at that size of fish! Go, girl!
Geemeff writes: “Woodland Trust forum member CraigB made this tribute to Louis via chatGBP, and is happy for it to be shared:”
Geemeff says: Greetings from Komodo! Interrupting my Dragon watching to tell you Loch Arkaig’s 2024’s lone survivor 1JW has returned to his translocated home in Valencia and has been seen nesting!
WTS George posted: I received a message from Itziar on the Spanish team regarding 1JW, our 2024 chick who was translocated to Valencia: “He has been seen on many occasions at Pego Oliva Marsh, interacting with this year’s birds and spending time on one of the artificial nests that we have built. Unfortunately, the nest that he has been using is far away from any areas of public access so is impossible to get any photos. We haven’t seen him for a few days so maybe he has begun his migration, in which case we await his return next year, and hopefully he’ll find a mate! As it’s still early September, we’re all still watching out in case he’s still around.”
Geemeff says: That is such great news after the disastrous year of 2024 that was Season Eight – the weather was foul, chick3 didn’t last long and the other two nearly died of starvation and hypothermia as Louis wasn’t able to fish in the unrelenting cold and rain plus got ill as well, and the chicks were too big for Dorcha to cover properly. Then Woodland Trust sought and received permission from Nature Scot first to try hand feeding at the nest, and when that wasn’t enough, for the remaining two to be given to Roy Dennis to join that year’s cohort of Scottish translocatees to go to Spain as part of the reintroduction programme that’s been running successfully for some years. The chicks were ringed in Spain, Yellow 1JR and 1JW, but 1JR succumbed to a heart condition leaving only 1JW. Who went on to fledge and it seems, go roaring on to return from migration as a two year old and claim a nest! What a survivor he is. Another example of the benefits of ringing, or banding as it’s called across the pond – we would never have known of his success without his Darvic ring giving an incontestable identification.
Geemeff has had a great adventure, and maybe they will allow me to share a couple of images – life is for living; always remember that. I wish I could have gone on this trip with them.
Take care, everyone. I will be back in a few days.
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Geemeff, and The Woodland Trust for the great news. I am always grateful, as you are, to the owners of the streaming cams for letting us see our birds and their lives.
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!
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:
Screenshot
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.
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.
I want to wish all my readers who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah starting tomorrow a very happy New Year’s celebration.
It was hot for September. 27 C today with a gentle breeze now and again. The children are all back to school as of Tuesday, the day after Labour Day. The Blue Jays are currently enjoying a late-day feed on peanuts. I can see Junior at the big table feeder right now, with a grey cat walking around the lilacs. Toby will take care of that. He always allowed Brock once he was trained, but he gets rid of the others. I am always afraid they will attack the birds – all are well-fed pets!!!!!!!
Toby and I were home today. Ann was at the hospital, and Don continues with physiotherapy and occupational therapy. It is a long road ahead before he’s strong enough to come home. I am going up tomorrow and Toby is going to the groomer. Poor little guy. He loves to run outside but he gets burrs in his lovely long feathering. He likes his baths and his feet soaks but he really is due for a clipping.
We lucked out today. One of our neighbours gave us some lemon cucumbers and there is a beautiful bouquet from Oak Knoll Farms. Both put a smile on my face. Have you ever tried a lemon cucumber? If not, you are really missing something delicious.
Oh, we know that the world has turned upside down in terms of raptors when we get to hear from our friend ‘A’ who writes to us out of Melbourne. This news sadly found its way to the Junk Mail folder and I only found it today. We will be looking for more lively commentary as the season progresses.
“The top news is that dad arrived on the ledge at the Collins Street scrape, looking perfectly healthy, just before 6pm Melbourne time (8 September). This is of course a huge relief to everybody.
Not sure whether you caught this piece of news but our albatross chick is on his way to Chile. He was a strong healthy lad and should have a good chance and we wish him godspeed and lots of fish.
Of course, being me, I’ve spent a lot of time watching the Olympic Park nest and counting the bites SE38 is getting. As if I wouldn’t be! SE37 really is a Zoe. I can handle a bit of sibling rivalry, but this is so vicious and occurs even when SE37 can barely reach over her crop to attack her younger brother. Lady is the only reason the little one is still alive.She has been wonderful, taking so much time and effort to try and feed her younger hatch. He is terrified of SE37, and it is sad to watch him cowering as Lady tries to coax him to lift his head and eat.
He has learnt to creep up the nest to mum, where he sometimes arrives in time for some bites but often does not. He has had a few good days followed by two or three bad days and I’m wondering whether things will improve or get worse as SE37 gets more and more gigantic. It really is hard to watch. I find myself skimming over the footage and studying the feedings but it’s a depressing watch most days.
Gimbir is absolutely adorable and is making a wonderful dad in this, his second season. He is devoted to Diamond and very keen to participate in all things paternal, which is so cute.”
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t believe Diamond has ever fledged three chicks. This could be a first.
Iris is still at Hellgate Canyon. There is even an Iris coffee shop now run by the students. According to Dr Greene, Iris flew by the window along the river during the opening!
Lucille Powell caught Iris:
Teifi, mate to Elen at Glaslyn, is still home as is Dinas in the Glaslyn Valley.
Jeff Kear carried the latest Dyfi migration report. Note that Idris remains enjoying his fish dinners to himself. No doubt these males get tired and out of shape, just like the females, and need some ‘me time’.
So grateful to Suzanne Arnold Horning for keeping up with the Ps, where at least one is still on the Cornell Campus with Big Red and Arthur.
We still have ospreys in Manitoba. Why would they leave – the water is still open and there are plenty of fish in Lake Winnipeg and various other ponds around the City of Winnipeg – some people even stock places with fish for them!
Hearings are currently underway about the lack of Menhaden. As you know, I am a Canadian, and I am not happy that it is a Canadian company (or any other international company, even one from the US) sucking Menhaden out of the Bay. Let’s hope people finally stand up for wildlife and shut down industrial trawler-based fishing! Save the Ospreys.
This isn’t nice.
Our local wildlife rehabilitation centre has been busy.
A great turn out to Jackie’s Memorial:
Take care, everyone. We will see you again soon!
Thank you to everyone who contributed images and information on FB – and a big shout out to ‘A’ from Melbourne. Lovely to have your commentary back. We, of course, are grateful to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these bird families!
Toby and I have not been home long. We visited with Don’s psychiatrist (what a great doctor) and stopped to give Ann some raincoats for her two dogs, Lucy and Daisy, and Toby’s old stroller. It is too tiny for our big boy – he is long from head to tail and long in the legs and clocks in at 30 lbs. Then we went to the hospital. Ann said that Don had eaten all of his lunch, but Toby and I decided to stop and get him an egg-mayo sandwich and a container of fresh pineapple chunks. Don sucked them up like he was a Dyson vacuum! The nurse was a little put out with me saying he wouldn’t eat his supper, but he only ate 25% of his supper last night. Their lunches are good, but the evening meal is not so much.
Poor Toby needs to go to the groomer.
On the way out, two ladies in wheelchairs spotted Toby in his new stroller. They lit up and wanted to see him. I opened the top so they could pet him – needless to say animals and nature are good therapy.
I don’t like the algorithms that track what I write or search for on the Internet. Or my phone, which tracks everything that I do for someone else (who would care what I do?), but I found a story about what some good tech is doing by a young NZ woman who writes a blog *shit you should care about*. Maybe we can get robots to clear all the plastic from the ocean and find a way to cool it at the same time. German engineers are working!
Autonomous robots are cleaning the seafloor
Luce writes: If we’re gonna be hell-bent on building robots, let them help our oceans! German researchers at the Technical University of Munich built Smart Grapple, a diving robot that uses onboard sensors and cameras to tell trash from marine life on its own, then grips and lifts junk, car seats, tyres, fishing nets, up to 250kg, without a human diver risking their life for it.
I love it.
Dear Aran, formerly Mrs G’s partner then Elen’s at Glaslyn, has a new partner and they raised one chick this year at a private platform of Friends of Osprey in Wales. Kathryn Keir has kept everyone informed, and Aran is still here. Appears Mum and chick have now both departed for their migration. Next year there will be a camera as Aran is sooooo loved and everyone was distraught when Teifi displaced him. But, it worked out! Aran never got along with Z2 Aeron at the Pont Cresor nest which is very close to Glaslyn.
Another place that the lack of Menhaden had a devastating impact:
The trawler fishing must stop! Otherwise, there will be no ospreys in this region. None. Worse than the DDT crisis of the 1970s. That was fixed. Seems no one has the backbone to do the right thing and stop the fishing completely.
News from Tweed Valley:
Our thoughts continue to be with the people living in line of these hurricanes – and, of course, the wildlife.
Iris is still home at Hellgate Canyon! Maybe Clark and Iris will get a chance to fatten up since it appears Wensi has set off for southern locations.
It appears that the latest Iris departed on 11 September 2014. Let’s see what she does this year.
SK Hideaways caught Shadow and Kaydee and the early morning ravens at Big Bear. Don’t you feel like things are getting serious? https://youtu.be/TzJPFak8rnM?
SE38 continues to do well. There were lots of big crops yesterday. 38 is starting off right today.
And the Royal Cam Chick, Awheo has fledged!
Thank you so much for being with us. I hope to have time tomorrow to catch up with the comments! Take care, everyone – and if you have not signed up for the Glaslyn fundraiser being organised by Mary Cheatle, please check it out! (And, yes, I am on the list! – fingers crossed). You can contact Mary via FB Messenger if you want to take part.
Thank you to everyone who posted on FB today with information and messages – I didn’t have the time to check all of the nests. Thank you to those who own the streaming cams that make it possible to watch our bird families, and to SK Hideaways; as always, thank you for your videos.
It is a beautiful day! It is my day ‘off’ from hospital visits. toby and I are supposed to clear out the winter coats today. We will see. The weather is so nice. The sun is shining through cotton-ball clouds, and a brisk breeze is blowing.
Toby and I had a long, gentle walk. He loves to go to the little park at the end of the street in the mornings. A lady is always doing Tai Chi, and another is with her toddler. Toby loves toddlers!!!!!!!! It seems that the little girl also anticipates Toby’s arrival. It is so sweet. She always starts clapping her tiny little hands when she sees him crossing the street.
The Blue Jays are so busy – along with the squirrels – caching peanuts. I love that the Blue Jays call when they fly into the feeder, announcing their arrival. I am watching them from the conservatory – there is nothing like the garden animals to lift one’s spirits!
Hopefully, in a week or so, I will have some really good images of them for you. Last year I sold my professional camera and five telephoto lenses. The D850 was simply too heavy, and adding an 800 mm lens on top of that, well…you get the picture. I thought the P1100 would work well, but I am finding I have to use a tripod to capture the fine detail in the feathers, and it is not always convenient to carry a heavy tripod. Well, at least it isn’t for me as I always have Toby and Don with me. I am hoping to change that, so I take one of Ann’s days and use it to go photograph wildlife. I am realising how much self-care is important since the last time Don was in the hospital. So another hint to everyone out there caring for someone – and I know many of you are – you must take time to do something fun for yourself. Whatever that is, you need to do it. You cannot take care of another person and not become resentful if you do not also care for yourself. that means special little treats – they could simply be a visit to a local dessert shop, the most luscious-smelling shower gel, allowing yourself to have someone clean your house (here it is a necessity with four cats and Toby), flowers, chocolates, or used camera equipment to get you outside looking at the flora and fauna. One day I mean to write a post simply on what I have learned, in the hope that it is of value to you at some time or another. I knew nothing when I started this journey with Don – nothing. We have learned together by the seat of our pants, and it has paid off. I do not know when he will be strong enough to come home – remember, the hospital thought he was an invalid! He is now getting physiotherapy and is really being hydrated. You also have to watch that. If we are not properly hydrated, we can present as delusional when we definitely aren’t. Of course, you need to do this at home, too. I found something nice: sparkling water mixed with watermelon juice and apple juice. It’s been very refreshing on days when our days have decided to stay hot.
The good news is that Don was in a wheelchair today, using his feet to go up and down the hall. He heard Ann and started waving and saying, ‘Hi, Ann.’ Ann telephoned me and put the phone on speakerphone, and Don and I had a full conversation for ten minutes. I cannot tell you the last time that happened. We recorded that conversation and sent it to his doctor. I will see him tomorrow- I am wondering if blood thinners help??? I think it is the only change in his medications. We will see. But the news is good – one day at a time.
I put the word out to a camera company in Canada that sells excellent used equipment and found a used Canon R7 with fewer than 8000 shutter clicks. In other words, it is like new. The cost of the camera and the telephoto lens (also used but like new) is less than a new camera body. I am very pleased. I always recommend checking with reputable shops or even the companies themselves for refurbished, like-new, previously owned equipment. Canon Canada does that, and I am certain it is the same everywhere.
So, little M24 at the 367 Collins Street scrape flew in late yesterday like he hadn’t been away, causing everyone to worry beyond belief! I wonder if he is dealing with intruders?
Well, that is a huge relief.
Viki has updated news for us on the only osprey to fledge from St. George’s Island in Maryland. I want to add that this single family, out of a possible 20+ nests, survived ONLY because they were fed by a compassionate human.
“I believe Junior stopped by this morning and called and retrieved the fish I threw!!! He started to eat on the nearby branch but by the time I returned from putting the fish bag to the freezer he’d headed out somewhere with it. It might be him still sleeping in the very few remaining green boughs in the loblolly copse to my north (where New House 1 is being built).
Mr. Perfect is still in the copse as well, since I don’t see him securing the nest for the winter, I feel he remains so to watch over the construction diminishing his copse. But these are the only two I’ve heard or saw on my walk this morning.
I’m convinced the trawlers need to stop to save the osprey. And believe humans have harmed the Chesapeake watershed to the tipping point. I moved to this island in 1986 and see a tremendous loss of trees, land, turtles, birds, ducks, otters, foxes …. the list goes on. I believe the heron rookery is gone.”
Connie Dennis, the founder of the Nova Scotia Osprey FB group, posted this article this morning. Thanks, Connie. Please note the area at the bottom. Please send a comment asking them to stop the gillnet and industrial trawling of ospreys. Tell them about the osprey nests you have watched that have failed! We have to fight this – I am embarrassed that they are a Canadian company, but that might work in our favour in protecting the ospreys right now, speaking as a Canadian.
Elsie is the only juvenile still at Dyfi and Idris is being a fantastic dad, as usual.
Will Elsi break a record? She is 105 days old. The record appears to be 110. See data chart below – thank you Emyr Evans and team.
This is only part of their data and I wish we had this for every live-streaming nest!
Look at these images of her. She is gorgeous.
Mary Kerr has posted some amazing images from the Pont Cresor nest at Glaslyn. There are many more on their FB page. Have a look.
SE38 continues to do well – look at that crop!
Now this is interesting!
Toby is rubbing my arm, wanting attention. Just like a toddler.
Thank you for being with us. Please take care – see you soon.
Thank you to everyone who posted information on FB along with those great images, to the owners of the streaming cams we are very grateful. If not for them, we would not know anything about these amazing raptors. I am so grateful to Viki for keeping an eye on her osprey family and helping them survive.
