Did Iris deliver the fish to Wensi? And was it Clarke who did the stop-and-go? I thought it was the other way around but I can easily be wrong. It happened very quickly!——-Regardless, all three were at the nest within seconds of one another. Iris is still here. Wensi is still getting fish deliveries. Clarke is home, too. All is good.
We have the first egg of the season for Mum and Dad at the Port Lincoln barge in South Australia. At 07:15:50 but Mum has danced around because of the rain and there was only a split second glimpse to confirm that she had laid that first egg.
Fish fairies: Start gathering the fish funds!
Clyde with a partially eaten trout at the Alyth SS Substation osprey nest that once belonged to Harry and Flora. No sign of Blue NC0 today. Has she departed? or is she fishing for herself? Both at the nest yesterday.
Blue 9L2 enjoying a nice fish delivery while sibling is fish calling at Lyn Brenig.
Massive fish at the Gilestone nest in the Usk Valley in Wales. These juveniles are filling up across the UK.
Wishing for fish at Dunrovin.
Ospreys around the Sandpoint nest. Where is Phoenix?
At OBX, Bandit (chick 2) caught a fish the other day. She is thinking about fishing today but hoping for a delivery.
Dylan and Seren were on the nest together at Llyn Clywedog today.
Geemeff’s latest Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 23rd August 2026 A very quiet day today, just a little Hoodie action with Juniper seeing off a persistent crow, and Louis bringing her a single fish, giving her something to scream about as it wasn’t very big and he didn’t answer her fish calls after that. The Nest Two tally now stands at four hundred and fifty four. Aurora 536 is still in Dorset and photographer Mark Wright took more photos, link in the bonus section. The weather was cloudy and cool which will continue overnight with a low of 8°C, changing to partly sunny and warming up in the afternoon with a high of 19°C. Today’s videos:
More photos from Mark Wright of Aurora taken today at Lytchett Bay in Poole Harbour, Dorset:
Osprey (536 – Aurora)Much more distant todayStill present in Lytchett Bay, Dorset this morning@harbourbirds.bsky.social @ukoi.bsky.social @wtscotsocial.bsky.social
It is a gorgeous Sunday afternoon on the Canadian prairies. The sky is a clear blue and there is a breeze making the 25 C temperatures seem slightly cooler. It was a lovely day for walks with Toby and, because Don slept last night, I woke up feeling like a new person. It is amazing how a good night’s sleep makes all the difference to our lives!!!!!!! Don has been waking up every hour and a half. Normally he is ‘very quiet ‘, but for the past week, he has come to my room and turned on the light, waking up Hugo Yugo, Toby, and me. Of course, he was simply confused about where his room is, but he had also been making a bit of a mess in the kitchen. Last night, I decided to try and tire him out, so he was given the job of sweeping the deck and helping me break up the old cedar feeders. We put them in the thick forest area of the back garden where they will decompose and provide places for insects that the birds enjoy so much. I love that area of the garden. It is completely ‘wild’ – not touched by a human hand except for us placing this wood there. It is full of birds and squirrels enjoying life in the middle of a big Canadian city. It just makes me so happy to provide them with a safe place to rest and eat. In addition to helping with the deck, we gave Toby an ‘extra’ walk and I made certain that Don did not fall asleep until 2100. he woke up once at 2300 and then slept until 0715. (I have cameras watching his every move). He got dressed, got a drink and quietly dosed on and off on the sofa until Toby and I got up at 0900. Magnificent.
As a result, we have rearranged the living room and cleaned it a bit, cleaned out the fridge, and had a couple of walks with Toby, but the real treat was having fresh blueberries in pancakes for breakfast with our local maple syrup. It was delicious and something I rarely get to, since I am usually too tired to be bothered. Don loves pancakes, and he ate them, smiling with every bite. I was so happy.
It is fairly quiet with all of the birds. Fish are (or not) being delivered in preparation for migration which has started. Many of the UK females left at the beginning of August. Blue 35 from Foulshaw Moss left on the 9th of August followed by Blue 717 from another Foulshaw Moss nest on the 14th. Aurora departed and has been photographed fishing at Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour. Geemeff sent me a great photograph of her. – and credits are given in Geemeff’s summary below but this is about Darvic rings.
How would we know that this is Aurora? Well, only by her underwing pattern or the pattern on top of her head. Of course, the Darvic ring on her left leg tells us its distinct number. I am a strong proponent for ringing the osplets in the nest. I am so very grateful that this is common practice in the UK. Some states research osprey, but every day I hope someone has ringed Wensi or the Ps to learn about their dispersal. Of course, I really want every surviving osprey and eaglet to be ringed around age 35 days (or at the appropriate time per species).
We held our breath as it was reported that a fishing line was attached to the back of little SE37 at the Sydney Olympic Park WBSE nest. It was horrible to see – just like the little fluffy ball had been caught by someone fishing, but through the back. Thankfully, a miracle happened, and the hook fell off into the nesting material. Of course, it is still an issue because it’s still there, but let us hope the adults’ experience means they will make sure it is worked into the nest or removed.
All I could think when I heard about the hook was my goodness what else can happen this year?
Locals have an eye on Beau at the NE Florida nest where he has been seen perched a short distance from the nest. Gabby will be arriving soon!
Everyone is still home at Hellgate Canyon. Wensi on the nest fish calling. Clarke arrives with a huge headless fish and then, to our surprise, Iris photobombs!
Sleepy Wensi on the nest hoping for a breakfast fish.
Clarke does a quick drop trying to protect his talons and flies off.
Here comes Mum Iris to check on things.
Iris reminded me of the pilots learning to take off and land – she literally touched the nest and took off again. I hope she found a big fish. Like you, I worry about Iris – she is so loved, and I want to see her often before she departs. We do not know what the next migration will bring, but I hope the winds of late March and April return our beloved Iris to us as well as Clarke.
Wensi had trouble eating the head of the fish and he flew off with it. Did he go to the Owl Pole? Does he need Mum to help? Will he lose his big fish to an intruder?
Not on the Owl Pole.
It is raining at Blackbush Beach Resort in PEI, Canada. No one seen at the nest.
The two fledglings at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum are doing so well – fish are being delivered to the nest and they look to be in good condition.
There have been a few updates about Sol, the osplet from the Fru Rauer nest, which was taken in for care and then placed in a foster nest. According to the chat, Sol was seen on the ground and then flew off over the treetops when she noticed humans. It is unknown whether the foster male is feeding her off the nest.
White 63L was on the Fru Rauer nest today.
Another angle. Beautiful osplet.
And then two waiting for fish.
Maya and Blue 33 at Rutland Water today. What a gorgeous couple. They finally get to spend some time together before Maya departs on her migration.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 22nd August 2026
Today’s big news is the sighting of Aurora 536 at Lytchett Bay in Poole Harbour a week after her last appearance on nest cam on the 14th. This is the second year running she’s been sighted there by the photographer Mark Wright, she was seen last year on 18-19th August so this is obviously a familiar route for her and a known place to stock up on food before making the crossing over to Europe and then across to Africa. Link to Mark’s photos in the bonus section. Louis and Juniper are the only family members still around, he brought her three fish today, taking the Nest Two tally to four hundred and fifty three. Steve Quinn published his usual thorough analysis of the fishing stats today, a search for Nest 2 fish summary to week 18 will bring up his post. There was an interesting discussion aroundLizB ‘s theory that Amber’s early departure at a very young age might mean she could be male, and could be Chick One rather than Chick Two. Both are possible but as always, we can only speculate and hope to see or hear of Amber as an adult and perhaps answer one of those questions. The weather was settled, cloudy and cool today, and should continue overnight with a low of 11°C, a chance of light rain showers tomorrow morning then cloudy and dry with a high of 15°C.
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/r4tOzShipbY N2 Juniper takes her breakfast fish with a lot of noise 06.15.55https://youtu.be/6g-Kz9WCG9Y N2 Coal Tits and Blue Tits flit around the nest 12.08.52https://youtu.be/1f_iytCua-I N2 Louis brings a flatfish for Juniper 19.07.25https://youtu.be/3ARP09vhi0g N2 Fish number three is gone in three minutes 19.42.34 Bonus photos – Aurora 536 spotted in Poole Harbour by Mark Wright – she was seen there 18-19 August last year, so she’s taking a familiar route south:
Osprey 536 aka Aurora from Nest 1 at Loch Arkaig, ScotlandSeen today in Lytchett Bay, Dorset, England@harbourbirds.bsky.social @ukoi.bsky.social
Thank you so much for being with us today. It is mid-afternoon. Time for tea and some shortbread and then to discover what I can find to keep Don tired tonight! Wish me luck.
Have a good end to your week, everyone. Take care of yourselves. If you feel overwhelmed, please just stop and take a deep breath. If you can, go for a walk or sit quietly, even for a few minutes, and listen to songbirds. It is easy to reach burnout. It is easy to become so anxious. I suggest stopping watching the news altogether. We do, and while a little filters through with e-mail, most of the time I am oblivious to what is happening outside my little world. It gives me peace. Sometimes that is what we really need. Peace and quiet.
Thank you to Geemeff for those wonderful images, videos, and the summary; to everyone who posts on FB and includes images; and to the owners of the streaming cams who let us share in the good and the bad that happens at the nests!
It is ‘the golden’ time in the garden. The sun is setting and there is a peachy-apricot- with a touch of lilac glow that kisses all of the western branches of the trees and the shrubs in the garden. Mr Crow is cawing. There are gulls, hundreds of them, flying overhead. They have found insects! The feeders are now quiet. Toby is beside me on the bench and like ant toddler, he wants my attention. No more computer!
I cannot wait to take him to the beach next Saturday. I think a lifejacket needs to be purchased, just in case he is not the great swimmer I think he is. Don is going to sit and watch his grandson, Carter, fishing. It is set to be the perfect end of the summer – ospreys included. The family and their chicks are still at their nest! So excited.
Today I am baking a peach kuchen. Every summer I make at least one, usually a plum one, in memory of one of my dearest friends, Rosemarie. We lived in Southern Manitoba, and our children were friends in the 1970s. She was remarkable. Her parents had sent her over the Berlin Wall to freedom – and that is how she came to be in Canada. I treasure all the recipes she taught me and the time we spent together. They moved to BC, where her husband had a position with the CBC. I left for the UK, and we lost touch. Thank goodness for memories!
Prayers for the people and wildlife in the zone of the hurricane.
The Guardian shows how rewilding can help against drought – and that is something many need to consider.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 21st August 2026 No sight of Amber 8P6 again today so it looks like she might have headed south, very young, but then she always was very determined and ahead of her older sister. Juniper 8P7 is very much still here, on and off the nest throughout the day and always announcing her arrival, occupation, and departure. She’s had to contend with several Hoodie invasions today and shows no hesitation lunging at them to drive them off, defending her fish and using a crow voice just like her mum Dorcha did. At one stage she flew off the nest clutching a fish, circled round, landed with it then took off again, possibly to find a place to eat without attendant Hoodies. Louis brought her two new fish, taking the Nest Two tally to four hundred and fifty, and his personal tally to four hundred and forty five, however there was also plenty of leftover fish from yesterday, and the Hoodies managed to get some while Juniper was away. No activity at Nest One bar a couple of songbirds. The weather was settled today and will continue dry but
chilly overnight with a low of 7°C, continuing dry and bright tomorrow with sunny intervals and a high of 15°C. Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/t5D_e4cLKwI N2 Louis brings fish one but several of yesterday’s are still there 06.07.15https://youtu.be/ZawjOTbmSDA N2 Juniper tries to protect her fish from a marauding Hoodie 11.09.48https://youtu.be/HDLYdQM9HkM N2 Fish number two arrives and so does a Hoodie 11.53.37https://youtu.be/tX2bGpkf4FkN2 Juniper flies with fish and aHoodie enjoys the leftovers 16.40.47
Bonus webinar – next Thursday 27th, with analysis by @SteveQuinn of Louis’ fishing performance and other nest activity this season, and an update from @WTScotland on the restoration of Arkaig Community Forest, with a Q&A afterwards:
The birds are on the move. What can you do to help? Turn out your lights! Ask your town and City to turn off their lights. Leave out water and if you can, put out food!
We now have at least 300 birds eating in the evening. My daughter gave me two triple-tube feeders…we are going through seed as the songbirds make their way south to their winter homes. I am so glad I can help them, along with the ones who live here all winter.
An article about a Snowy Owl – and just to note, the first Snowy Owl, has been photographed in Manitoba this season. Some interesting research – have a short read!
A satellite-tracked female snowy owl in the eastern Canadian Arctic spent 186 days on sea ice, hunting ducks at open water cracks in the pack ice hundreds of miles from land in total winter darkness. The biologists who tagged her expected her to fly south for the winter. She flew north onto the frozen ocean. The finding flabbergasted them. Inuit seal hunters had known about it for centuries.
Jean-François Therrien, a doctoral student at Université Laval working with professor Gilles Gauthier, tagged 12 adult female snowy owls on Bylot Island in Nunavut as part of an International Polar Year research project studying key indicator species of northern ecosystems. When winter came, the tracking data showed something nobody in the academic world had documented with technology. Eight of the 12 owls spent more than 95 percent of their winter locations over sea ice or along the coast. Six adult females spent most of the winter far out on the Arctic sea ice. One stayed there for 186 consecutive days. She was not lost. She was not drifting. She was hunting.
The ocean freezes across the Canadian Arctic every winter but it does not freeze solid. Leads and polynyas, cracks and pools of open water, persist throughout the ice sheet. Sea ducks, particularly eiders, and seabirds concentrate at these openings because the open water is where the food is. The owls found the ducks by finding the water. Gauthier described the hypothesis directly: bird researchers at coastal field sites have observed snowy owls attacking eiders in winter. If the satellite positions of the owls matched the locations of open water leads recorded by other satellite systems, the connection would be confirmed.
The owls were not behaving like the animal most people picture when they hear the words snowy owl. Most people imagine a white bird sitting on a fence post in a farm field somewhere in Minnesota or upstate New York, hunting mice in the snow. That version of the snowy owl is real. It is the owl that shows up on Christmas Bird Counts and birding websites and nature documentaries filmed in places where camera crews can reach. The other version, the one the Inuit have always known, is an owl that flies north when winter starts, lands on sea ice in the Arctic dark, finds a crack in the frozen ocean, and sits beside it killing ducks at temperatures that drop below minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
The isotope data confirmed the diet shift. Stable isotope analysis of feathers showed that marine prey made up a substantial portion of the winter diet for owls that chose the sea ice. A snowy owl that breeds on lemmings in the summer and switches to sea ducks in the winter is not a rodent specialist. It is a predator that changes its entire hunting strategy, its prey base, and its habitat seasonally, moving from tundra grassland to frozen ocean the way a seasonal worker changes job sites.
Project SNOWstorm, a US-based tracking initiative that has followed more than 115 snowy owls with GPS transmitters since 2013, found the same behavior at a smaller scale on the Great Lakes. Snowy owls wintering in the northern United States moved out onto frozen Lake Michigan and Lake Erie for weeks at a time, hunting ducks at the cracks that opened and closed between wind-driven ice sheets. The researchers described the Great Lakes behavior as practice for the full Arctic version: owls learning or maintaining the ice-hunting skills that adult females use on the Arctic Ocean in the years when they stay north.
Source: Therrien et al., Université Laval / Gauthier, Université Laval / ScienceDaily / Project SNOWstorm / Birds of the World, Cornell / Old Farmer’s Almanac / COSEWIC (2025).
Bonding sessions are taking place at the Peregrine Falcon scrape of Gimbir and Diamond on Charles Sturt University in Orange, Australia.
Great news. Aurora from Loch Arkaig nest 1 has been photographed in Poole Harbour fishing! Fantastic.
Viki sends us her latest:
“I am pretty certain Junior brought a live fish back to the north copse overlooking his nest – I haven’t seen either parent all morning!!!!
I AM AS PROUD AS A PARENT !!!!! He’s gonna make it !!!”
“Well, he clearly still needs plenty of fish as do his parents, apparently. And that little snit will NOT dive for a frozen bait fish I throw – but Dad (and I think Mom) will …. But they took 2 or 3 fish before Dad carried one out to Junior – who, btw, whether he stole that live fish out of another’s nest or not, dropped at least half of it —- TEENAGERS !!!
But aside from all that, I am so proud of that crazy, crafty #2 chick and his dad!!!!
Back out to throw some more fish. Dad is hanging around so maybe Junior will get some and SHUT UP!!! LOL”
“Junior had been practicing dragging his feet in the water. When he saw me coming down the deck with the fish bag he returned to nest but flew off his nest when I tossed the fish and must have been thinking about going for it, but flew off the wrong direction and Dad got it and brought it to their other “veranda” -nest. So I threw another. Junior just looked and kept calling. Dad brought the fish he’d had to Junior and then did four or five more dives for the other fish TO SHOW JUNIOR HOW TO DO IT RIGHT BEFORE MY VERY EYES !!!
Amazing. And now that I’ve picked my second tick off for that effort I’ll hit the shower. Sheesh.”
Viki is my heroine. She has kept this single osprey family alive on Indian Creek, Maryland, where there should have been 5- 60 chicks; one survived because of her. My heart beats softer and happier because good people like Viki exist in the world.
I love this family and I am so afraid that Iris will not return next spring. We want them to live forever, don’t we?
Clark has a fish. No one comes. In flies Wensi…Clark returns with the fish!
Ospreys at Charlo at night but during the day it seems they are over at Roger’s Place.
No one is home at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Mum continues to provide fish at Santiam. I am not clear what is happening at Blackbush.
One of my favourites, Blue 33, checking the nest at Rutland. The gulls are moving in – known as the clean-up crews – when they think a nest is just about at the end of the season. Blue 33 will be the last to leave after all the youngsters and Maya.
At Tweed Valley:
Kielder’s Kirknewton was the intruder at Dylan and Seren’s nest at Llyn Clywedog. How grand.
Teifi and Elen fledged their entire clutch of three. Beautiful osplets!
It is a wonderful day. Viki added a note that I will put here: “Your stamina as a caregiver is extraordinary. I can’t imagine how you get anything else done. Your husband is very fortunate for having been so unfortunate.
Thinking of you – and so you’ll smile –” . And, yes, I did smile at the incredible feat she undertook to keep that osprey family alive. Bravo. In a world when too many ‘count’ the dead, it is a relief that someone dares to feed.
It is exhausting being a caregiver. I am not sure I have any stamina at all. I am busy reading several books, including one that our reader and friend, ‘R ‘, recommended. My goal is to enrich Don’s life as much as possible, try to understand when he has trouble communicating, and recognise that he is also frustrated living in a body where he is not the person he was. Still, we try to make every day a little special. It could be a friend’s visit, a trip to the park, a walk with Toby – it doesn’t need to be much. The trips to the farm are excellent, and we are definitely looking forward to going to the beach next week!
Take care everyone. We will see you soon.
Thank you to all the contributors today – to Geemeff, to the owners of the streaming cams, to those that post information and images on FB – we thank you so very much!
Oh, my goodness. Summer is flying by. We had such a gorgeous day. I don’t want them to end!
We are joining our daughter and family at a beach cottage to take Toby to the dog beach and go swimming. Don is going to love it. He loves the sand and the water – let’s hope the weather is good.
Toby met Ann’s new tiny, tiny dog, Daisy, today. Those two played with Lucy in the garden. Like three old friends. It was a wonderful afternoon away from the house but not being a public place like the zoo – which is full of children attending camp right now.
As for me, I was searching high and low for something interesting to eat. Do you ever just get sick of eating? Things don’t taste good? Takeaway or delivery is often a mix of disgusting food, small portions, cold portions, and service fees, plus taxes and tips. Seriously, two burgers can wind up costing $62. Sorry. We have decided not to do that, so I’m looking for meals prepared locally, like The Greek Market. So Greek it is tonight!
This will be the shortest posting of the week, probably. I left at noon worried about Clark because he had not been seen delivering fish to Wensi. Instead, Iris was taking on this role.
So who delivered this fish first thing this morning? It sure looks like Clark. Am I bonkers?
Wensi came and went from the nest hoping for more fish. at one point he must have seen an adult.
I cannot tell you if this is little 4 at Blackbush or not but whoever it was kept seeing ospreys flying (you could see their shadows) and they were ever hopeful for a delivery.
Please continue to send prayers to those small islands and the Midway Atoll so that Hurricane Lala will pass and head off north.
I have missed commenting on Collin Marsh in Wisconsin. They had three fledglings originally. I cannot tell you if this is the same fledgling or not but it appears healthy. I am very pleased. The Marsh has been drained and the adults would have been fishing the local rivers and inlets.
Eating a nice fish!
Sharon Leigh Miles and friends have put together a family chart for Iris:
We need some really good news and if this doesn’t fit, I don’t know what does. No longer the fire threat to the Big Sur condors and – a condor returning to Big Sur after 21 years? All I can say is, wow. Thanks, Kelly, for your letter.
August 21, 2026
Dear Mary,I have both an update and a genuinely remarkable piece of condor news to share with you today.
The Timber Fire is no longer threatening our facilities or any wild condor nests. That said, it is still burning, and in these rugged landscapes anything can happen, so we continue to monitor conditions closely alongside our fire and agency partners. A huge thank you goes to Big Sur Fire, CALFIRE, and the U.S. Forest Service for the incredible job they’ve done managing this fire so far.
As for Condor (340) and Condor (868), the two birds we released earlier than planned, both have since flown back toward Pinnacles, putting welcome distance between themselves and the fire. It’s exactly the kind of instinct that has helped this species survive in fire-prone country, and we couldn’t be more pleased with how they’re doing.
We’ve also had encouraging news from the field. Early indications suggest the Grimes nest tree survived the fire, and while some of the camera equipment on the ground was lost, the nest cavity itself appears intact. The nest isn’t active right now, but a camera is in place for the upcoming season, and our partners at Explore.orghave already committed to replacing anything that was damaged. We’re grateful for their continued support, and hopeful about what the 2027 season may bring there. Joe will share more at the Condor Chat.
The Grimes nest tree still standing after the Timber Fire. Photo courtesy of Tim Templeton.
Now for the extraordinary part.
An incredible piece of California condor history is unfolding right now. For the first time in 21 years, Condor (161) has returned to the Big Sur coast.
Released into the wild as an eight-month-old chick on December 12, 1997, she became a foundational member of the central California recovery effort. She spent her formative years navigating the rugged cliffs of Big Sur, helping her species push back from the brink of extinction. In 2004, her journey took a dramatic turn when she flew south to join the southern California flock. Over the next two decades, she became a prolific mother, successfully nesting and producing 10 offspring.
Biologists are thrilled but mystified by her sudden homecoming. We’re unsure what prompted her return to her original stomping grounds, or how long she intends to stay. This surprise visit is a powerful reminder of how much we still have to learn about the complex behaviors, memory, and lives of these majestic birds.
You can tune in to see Condor (161) and other condors on our live Condor Cams, and be sure to join us on the Condor Chat Thursday, Aug 27, to hear more about both stories.
Thank you, as always, for following along and for standing with us and the condors.
That is good news to close on. Take care everyone. Send good wishes to all our ospreys as they struggle to get fit for migration!
I will see you again – on Sunday. I am going to take a day off. I really am! I urge all of you to turn off the screens and step back for a few days and just enjoy the end of summer.
My faithful companion who really brings so much joy to my life I cannot even find the words. He loves having a bath – Toby is truly a ‘Spaniel’.
Thank you to everyone who contributed information that I have included in this blog. To R and Kelly Sorenson for their news on Avian Flu (R) and the good news at Big Sur. To everyone who posted on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us watch the birds.
We woke up to a cool morning. It was 10 C. The young man who clears my snow wrote to find out when I wanted him to start. I giggled. I guess when it snows – please, let’s not think about that now!!!!!!!
Little Four is much loved at the Blackbush Beach nest in Prince Edward Island. It is peculiar that he spends so much time on the nest. No fish yesterday but a small headless fish arrived at 0840 this morning. I have not had a chance to check for further deliveries. Some worry that Little Four won’t learn to fish. Remember. Ospreys do not learn to fish. 61 million years of adaptation and they know how to fish – no one has to teach Little Four. Most juveniles do not catch their first fish til they leave the nest on migration. This is why it is so important that the parents feed them up and fatten those bodies because fishing is not easy!
There will be skirmishes at times.
I thought I had a video of Ervie fighting with his siblings, but instead, the only one I have now is Ervie catching a puff. For those who don’t know, Ervie was the third hatch of 2021/22. He learned to fish by catching pufferfish!
We love you, Ervie. Now we wish he would get a mate!
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 18th August 2026
None of the adults were positively ID’d today, but an Osprey was seen eating fish near Nest One this afternoon, and a chick was seen eating fish on Nest Two around the same time. A chick was observed on and near the nest this morning but whether the same chick or her sister could not be determined. The Nest One fish tally remains at two hundred and one, and the Nest Two tally rises to an estimated four hundred and thirty nine. George WTS informed us a part for Nest Cam Two has arrived and someone should be making a site visit tomorrow to fit it. Fingers crossed that will get the cam back on line, but grateful thanks meantime to LizB for her off-cam reports. After a wet night it stayed damp with light to heavy rain and overcast conditions throughout the day, and a high of only
14°C. The rain will continue overnight with a low of 12°C, changing to thundery showers and light winds tomorrow – which might not be the best conditions for a site visit! – and a high of 16°C.
Bonus photos – Aurora 536 was sighted in Poole Harbour 18th August 2025 by Mark Wright:
Osprey (536/Aurora)Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour, Dorset@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @ukoi.bsky.social
Some have worried about Shadow being lonely. Shadow had his chortles answered this morning by KD1, and they have been spending quite a bit of time together. I do not think we need to worry about Shadow. SK Hideaways has the pair on video: https://youtu.be/dRcazZ1Jk3k?
I am so happy for Shadow.
I really hope that Gabby will be returning soon – it is normally in September. Beau is already back at the NE Florida nest awaiting his much loved mate.
At Hellgate Canyon, fish is being delivered elsewhere, it appears. No one slept at the nest. Wensi shows up fish calling once in awhile.
Those last glimpses of this family will be very precious because we do not know when we will last see each one. No crystal ball. But in our hearts, we wish them and all the other ospreys safe journeys and a return next spring.
Please do check out the little sea eaglets. They will grow very fast!
The only surviving osplet at the Chesapeake Conservancy has a name!
The third hatch died from siblicide at the Osprey House Environmental Centre in Australia. I now have serious concerns for the middle chick, chick 2.
Blue NC0 is establishing herself at the Alyth nest for next season and her new mate, Clyde, is in for a learning session. Blue NC0 is one of the best fishers I know!
It is time for us to go to the Farmer’s Market – every day there is at least one outing with me and if Ann is here, the lads get more than one. Doing new things, doing familiar things, being around people, being around animals – it is all good!
Grumpy. Not another photo!
Take care, everyone. Ospreys are winding down their season and I still have so much data to file. I will be back with you later this week when I get a chance to catch up on the work part of why I am watching these amazing birds – their mortality or should I say their life?!
Thank you to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their great videos and summaries, to the people who post on FB including our Heidi, and to the owners of the streaming cams, I am so ever grateful to you for allowing us to watch these raptors. They enrich our lives.
We hope you had a good end of the week and that this weekend you take time to breathe and get outside. The summer is quickly coming to an end, and we can already see a tinge in the leaves across our back lane. Today, the birds were in a big flurry around 1500. The Crow family was all in attendance, along with the six Blue Jays – and hundreds and hundreds of sparrows of various types. We noticed a lactating grey squirrel, but it was not Dyson. Since the disappearance of Brock and the other cat, Charlie, we have also noticed a decline in the number of grey squirrels. Down by half. As I have mentioned previously, there is some concern that someone is using rodenticide. That deadly poison goes through the food chain – it can even kill the hawk that comes several times a week! Please do not use it, and if you know of others who do, don’t attack them but do educate them. So read up – there is lots of information on the dangers of this deadly poison on the Internet.
I want to thank everyone for their notes while you grieve, Jackie. She was so loved, and her influence has touched so many. I am grateful for the excellent care she received, from the first responders to the staff and volunteers at the Ojai Raptor Centre. Jackie died a natural death – and whether she knew it or not, she was surrounded by love. Tributes are still being made, and many want a permanent memorial to her at Big Bear Valley. Flower tributes have been left, and I know from your notes and comments that many people have a big hole in their hearts. Luna and Sandy are fine. I find it very interesting that Jackie stayed strong until they had left the area. As you know, raptors hide their vulnerabilities. Otherwise, others will try to take their position. At some point, however, when one is so very, very sick, that illness cannot be hidden anymore, and that is what happened to our dear Jackie. Shadow will be fine. He misses Jackie. He calls out for her, but no one answers. It is not breeding season, but like M15, he will need a strong mate to help him keep the Big Bear nest. It looks like the one female, nearing five years, KD1, is hoping to fill that spot. We need to send Shadow our best wishes just like we did Bella (NCTC), Connie (Captiva), Gabby (NE Florida) and M15 (SW Florida) – to name a few of the eagles who have lost their mates in the past five years.
I am delighted to report that one female osprey, Blue NC0, whose mate, Laddie LM12, died two years ago, appears to have found another nest and mate. She lost her nest at Loch of the Lowes last year when she failed to bond with the Dark Knight. She has recently been at the Alyth SS Substation nest that previously belonged to Harry and Flora. Harry disappeared, and Flora lost her nest (or that is what it appears). Clyde is the current male, and he has been bringing fish to Blue NC0. Loch of the Lowes and Alyth are approximately 18 km away from one another. I wish Blue NC0 the best.
I want to begin with Geemeff’s summaries and videos from Loch Arkaig:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 14th August 2026
Today’s big story is the Nest Two camera being taken out by an electrical storm. Unfortunately, as it’s in a remote area, it’s going to take a while to restore service but it is being worked on, and luckily Nest One cam is still streaming live. Garry LV0 wasn’t seen today so his fish tally remains at two hundred and one, but Aurora 536 came to the nest and preened quietly for a few minutes before departing. Thanks to off-nest reports from local resident LizB, we know the chicks were around today both on and off the nest, and Louis was seen delivering fish. Fishing stats guru Steve Quinn has worked out a formula for estimating deliveries by Louis during the cam outage and the Nest Two tally has been raised to four hundred and nineteen. Dorcha has not been seen on cam since Saturday 8th and off-cam on Tuesday 11th. Meanwhile, all the main events of Season Ten are available on Woodland Trust’s playlist, details in the bonus section. After a stormy night, the weather was reasonably settled today but at the time of this report, midnight, it’s raining and due to continue overnight with a low of 12°C, changing to light showers with sunny intervals and a high of 18°C tomorrow. Today’s videos:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 13th August 2026
Garry LV0 and Aurora spent time on Nest One today, and he brought her one fish, taking his tally to two hundred and one. The two chicks were on and off Nest Two being very competitive, squaring up to each other, slapping wings, pushing each other off the nest and chasing, and generally doing their best to get as much fish as possible. Louis only brought three fish, all flatfish, and Amber got the first two and Juniper the third. The Nest Two tally now stands at four hundred and fourteen. Dorcha wasn’t seen today, either on or off the nest, and it looks like she might have headed south – we wish her fair winds and plenty of fish and look forward to seeing her safely back next year for Season Eleven. The weather was damp and overcast, with Nest One shrouded in mist at times, and the damp weather is set to continue with thundery showers and light winds and a low of 16°C overnight, continuing tomorrow with light rain, a gentle breeze, occasional sunny spells and a high of 19°C.
Individuals throughout the UK (and elsewhere like myself) are fed up with the medieval practice on the shooting estates BECAUSE it leads to the gamekeepers poisoning, beating, and killing in the most bizarre ways the raptors that come and take a grouse for food. No one tells them they crossed a boundary – and to be honest the pheasants imported, the monies exchanged, never warrant the brutal killing of the raptors.
As you are aware, I am a big fan of Knepp Farms and their Rewilding campaign. In their latest newsletter, they tell of the most recent introduction: “In our latest episode of the Knepp Wilding Podcast, butterfly expert and old friend Neil Hulme joins us to talk about the Knepp Wildland Foundation’s most recent reintroduction project – the black-veined white butterfly.
Absent from Britain for more than a century, Neil discusses the specialist task of reintroducing a species that vanished this long ago and why we’re hopeful that this rare, striking insect will once again become a UK resident.”
The newsletter also brings up other issues such as the failure of national parks to provide safe environments for wildlife. There are other stories. Have a read.
Oh, you want cute. They look like miniature fuzzy snow persons! SE37 and 38 are adorable.
SK Hideaways has a cute video of the little sea eaglets. You also get to hear the duet! : https://youtu.be/QfxN_k_qH24?
Sadly, it appears that we will not have any Ervie babies this year. We saw him at the nest, but no female! Oh, let’s hope a female comes around. We love Ervie – and I can’t wait til he is a Dad.
Phoenix, from the Sandpoint nest, is doing well in rehab. He is said to be very, very feisty! He won’t leave his wing protector on…but this is good. He will be strong when he leaves care and goes back into the world. (A Bald Eagle injured Phoenix when he flew off the nest).
The females are starting to migrate in the UK. Blue 014 from the Pont Cresor nest in Glaslyn has not been seen since she had a fish on the Glaslyn nest on the 10th. Other females are helping the males fill up the chicks!
Take care everyone. Thanks for being with us. I keep saying I am going to take a day off. Maybe it will be tomorrow. I am hoping to get us on a little road trip if it isn’t raining all day.
Thank you to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their videos and summaries of nest activities, to Knepp Farms for giving me hope for the future, to everyone who posted information and images on FB, to Ruth T for chasing down the latest raptor persecution news in the UK, and to everyone who owns a camera or posts news somewhere so that we know what is happening in the nests. A big thank you to CBS LA for a lovely tribute to Jackie.
Friday was a busy day. The plumbers have almost finished making our main bath ‘accessible’ in case Don needs mobility aids. They were working hard today, and it was often loud, so Don went with Ann to our Zoo, and he got to see Lumi, the little lynx that was rehabilitated by Wildlife Haven. It was exciting, as they had missed seeing Lumi on three previous occasions. This evening, Don’s second cousin, a budding Vancouver photographer, was here visiting her Mum, and Susan agreed to do some photos for us at King’s Park. It was ideal, and there was more – we had some photos taken near a waterfall and pool where Toby had his first swim!!!!!!! I am going to get him a kiddie pool. You would have thought that he went swimming every day – Toby is a real duck.
Susan will edit the images but she did send us one.
As you are aware, Jackie’s latest red blood count has dropped below 10%. She has returned to the critical care unit and has to have oxygen. I feel for this beloved eagle. Without asking you, I am pretty certain that each of us would love to see her fly back to the nest to be with Shadow. The truth is – she is hanging on to life. I have seen the craziest comments – like let her fly up to Shadow, give her another transfusion. First of all, she can’t fly. Secondly, a second blood transfusion is very dangerous. I believe that, at this point, we have to trust the highly qualified vet team and Jackie to know whether she has the strength to continue fighting. Some of you will recall that at the end of June, Jackie’s behaviour was a bit off. She had a fight with Shadow over a fish. She had to have been sick then. The team are desperately seeking answers and getting more clues daily but our girl is more than extremely sick.
No matter what happens, I will be forever grateful that Jackie used all the energy she had to bring two beautiful eaglets into the world, Sandy and Luna, with Shadow this year. I suspect she was ill at the time, and that must have really taken its toll on her body. Poor thing. If it is to be, then I hope she soars into the ether with Sandy Speers, who loved Jackie so much, and that Shadow, like M15, finds another very good mate. Until then, I continue to hope for Jackie’s full recovery.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 7th August 2026
Today was heavy with fish deliveries but light on key players – neither Dorcha nor Garry LV0 turned up today. Aurora spent a little time on Nest One but on her last appearance this evening just perched silently before flying away, clearly Garry wasn’t in the neighbourhood. The Nest One fish total remains at one hundred and ninety four. Louis however was very much in evidence, delivering eight fish to his two chicks who were stuffed so full, neither turned up for the eighth fish and he took it away again. The Nest Two total now stands at three hundred and eighty nine, four of which were brought by Dorcha. Has she left on migration? It would be an early departure for her, she usually waits until the chicks are around seventy five days old, and today Juniper and Amber are sixty seven and sixty five days old respectively. She has been known to stay away from the nest for a day or two before leaving, popping in occasionally, so perhaps we’ll see her tomorrow. It was very wet today with heavy rain showers throughout the day, and the rain will continue lightly overnight with a low of 13°C, then heavy again tomorrow with a high of 17°C.
I love Blue 33 – everyone knows that – and his mate Maya. A lovely image of two of the fledglings from this year.
I am so proud of the individuals who are stepping up to stop the gill net fishing of Menhaden. There will be a survey that can be sent in to a meeting in November. I will send that link, but please educate yourself on the impact of this vacuuming of fish and the use of spotter planes has had on the entire ecosystem, including our dear ospreys dying before our eyes. Many have lost their businesses as well to save 196 jobs at Reedsville, Virginia.
Viki is still feeding three ospreys including that fledgling! She writes, “Indeed, your language is nothing compared to my anger language. ONE flipping living chick in 3 flipping years. Fed this morning. On the search for another box of bait to keep it up. Good to know that they learn to fish at migration.”
Viki was worried that the chick would not be taught to fish so I sent her a couple of articles. There are no fish for the ospreys – the nests were in sight of her porch. She is distraught but determined – like those fighting against a 0- 50% reduction because no one knows how many fish Omega are taking. It is the most frustrated I have been in years. So when the time comes to step up and speak, I hope you will join me.
George and Hope are at the Osprey House Environmental Centre in Griffins, Australia. They have three lovely osplets this year. All very healthy!
The West Midlands (no streaming cams) had a very good year for ospreys. Congratulations. Here is the total for the 2026 class:
Good news out of Rutland – chick wasn’t lost, just looking over the territory!
C22 slept on the nest at Charlo and has been flying around Saturday morning with Chloe – always heading back to the nest in hope of fish! Doing well.
The fledglings are all eating at Blackbush Beach Resort in Prince Edward Island, Canada.
I was very distressed this morning to see that there are proposals for an upgrade at the park near where I live. Our mayor doesn’t like geese, apparently. So this year they culled the eggs and greased others to get rid of the population. I think they don’t know much about geese or ducks. People bring their families to see the wildlife. Why not hire a few high school students during the season to power-spray the sidewalks? It would allow the families to continue to enjoy the ducks and geese; paths would be cleaner, and the wildlife would have the right to their nesting spots they have used for aeons. 3.4 million is the cost. We have lots of crime now, lots of people who are homeless with drug issues…our City is rapidly becoming not a great place to live. Many blame it on the current group of suits that are at City Hall, not just the mayor.
I agree. We need to be outside more and not on our screens. One artist is hand-drawing 1,000 birds to try and get us to do just that. But how would an app keep us off our phones? Please read.
“Hansen, a renowned ornithological illustrator and author, has a monumental task – a hand-painted compendium of every one of the roughly 1,000 bird species ever recorded from the US and Canada, including those found in waters up to 200 miles from shore, Hawaiian birds not included. When finished, it will complete the visual backbone of an app called Flock, whose mission, compared with that of most apps, is quietly subversive.
For rather than seeking to monopolize and monetize its users’ attention, it deftly employs elements of computer gaming and social networking to draw people outward, into the world of birding, with the broader aim of cultivating a community of conservationists.”
The ornithological artist drawing 1,000 birds by hand – all for an app that wants you off your phone
am signing off. We are going outside today. Rain is predicted for the beginning of the week and today the temperatures will go up to a wonderful 23 C. Take care all. I hope you are well.
Thank you to Geemeff for their wonderful summary and videos from Loch Arkaig, the UK Osprey Info with Jeff Kear, to all those who post on FB, to Susan Thompson for the great photos at King’s Park yesterday, and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch our bird families. We are so very grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you as always to The Guardian for including interesting wildlife stories every day.
It is cold and rainy in the Canadian prairies. The leaves are trying to burst open. Not very many little birds out at the feeders today.
Oh, the most amazing news. Bonus, the black stork, foster/step-son of the famous Karl II was at the nest in Estonia on 1 May. Bonus hatched in 2022.
Bonus was brought by wildlife conservationists (led by Urmas Sellis of the Eagle Club Estonia) from another nest and placed into the Karula National Park nest to be raised by the resident adult black storks, Karl II and Kaia. Despite not being his biological offspring, Karl II raised and fed Bonus as his own
Karl II was the most amazing Black Stork dad. Karl II, the world-famous black stork from Estonia’s Karula National Park, was electrocuted in Turkey between the night of 1-2 October 2023. His tracking data showed he landed on an unshielded electric pylon to roost near the Yazıbelen solar power plant in the Konya province of central Turkey, where he tragically perished. We were all shaken. He had been flying with a flock southward including his mate.
URMAS (birdmap) Karl II breeds successfully in season 2023. There grow up three chicks of four eggs. Last is Karl II to leave for autumn migration. He doesn’t know that it will be his last one. Between 1st and 2nd October Karl II lands on electric pylon for night, but got electrocuted. Turkish colleagues searched and found dead body, took away the transmitter.
After more than 82 hours without fish, Myrtle, the female at Loch Garten RSPB, left her nest but it did not appear to me that she went fishing. There did not seem to be enough time. We wonder if she is even strong enough to catch a fish. She has been incubating the last two of five eggs. The first three were kicked out of the nest by KL5, who has not been seen for over 86 hours.
GH3 has died at the Glen-Hayes Bald Eagle nest in PA. The female is not looking well. I recall that when the two eaglets died in Estonia, those who retrieved the bodies of the babies spent much time cleaning the nest of any old prey including bones so as to try and remediate harm to the adults. Will this happen at Glen Hayes?
If this is HPAI, the source and the cause is ‘human’. Does this not qualify then for intervention?
The individuals raising funds for MoonCamp, the area of land around Jackie and Shadow’s nest, have reached 3 million. School children are now taking part in parts of the Valley – wouldn’t it be wonderful as a way to learn how to protect nature if every elementary school took part in the fundraiser? Wonder how quick they could reach the 10 million?
Big Red and Arthur’s trio are doing well.
Iris is like Myrtle. She has not eaten in awhile. NG2 is not bringing fish and this could be because the river remains rapid.
According to the daily readout on X under Hellgate Osprey, NG2 gave Iris a break at 8:03am but she returned quickly.
I saw him return around 9:10 am and he pestered Iris to take a break and let him incubate but that time she wouldn’t budge, and used some colorful language towards him. She must know the fishing isn’t good yet, and no further visits the rest of today.
Beau was seen at the NE Florida nest yesterday. Gabby has already left on migration and will return in September.
Dewey Beach had a hatch. This is where that 50-day-old chick starved to death. Wish them only one and some fish!
Oh it’s cold here!
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon.
Thank you to Looduskalender and Maria Marika for keeping us informed about Bonus, to ‘PB’ for adding in my conversation with them that Bonus was seen, to all those who post on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these incredible birds. Please send your good thoughts to all nests. Some are struggling.
What a great day. First, it was Louis returning to Loch Arkaig 2. His latest previous date was the 11th.
At Russell Lake, Oscar never took up with the intruding female. He must have known something. Ethel, his mate, was late. BUT she returned home today. So my goodness, there is cause for celebration on both sides of the pond.
I could not be more delighted.
‘PB’ sent me a great interview about Lola at Charlo Montana and why she might have been on the ground.
‘PB’ writes: “Good interview by Denver Holt gives more in depth view of finding Lola. Why would she be in the grass so long? She then flew up a tree? I hope she can fish? Anyway, its a short 9 minute interview. ” https://youtu.be/ymbeVxJOrAI?si=gE1u-kZCsynlTwOz
Just good news all around and what a way to start the weekend.
Take care everyone. See you soon!
Thank you to Connie Dennis, ‘PB’, and the owners of the streaming cams that allowed us to witness the return of these much-loved ospreys.
We woke up to snow. I almost cried. By the afternoon, the temperature had risen to 6 C. Tomorrow is to be much warmer before we are plunged into the deep freeze again. Talk about a roller coaster ride to spring!
So many Osprey eggs were laid today that I do not know if I can keep up with them –
Frankie and Angel at Roundhouse Loch Doon have their first egg.
Maya and Blue 33 have their fourth egg. Yes, you read that right. Our super couple are aiming for four again!
Nest 7 at Kielder Forest where Mum KX7 laid her first egg of the 2026 season.
CJ7 and Blue 022 have their first egg at Poole Harbour. Will they go for four?
CJ7 Lays Her First Egg!First egg! – Carey Osprey Tours Begin – Osprey Diary 2026 – Spring Safaris – Heathland Bird ID – Seabird FundraiserCJ7 with her first egg of the seasonWe are excited to announce that at 12:56 this afternoon, in rather drizzly conditions, CJ7 laid her first egg at the Carey’s Secret Garden nest! This is brilliant news and 1 day later than last year, due to 022’s delayed arrival. Eggs tend to be laid 3 days apart, this means we’ll expect the second egg on Friday. Delayed incubation until the second or third egg is laid is not uncommon. This can bring the hatching times closer together, sometimes resulting in a less significant size and development difference between the chicks.
Idris and Telyn have their first egg at the Dyfi nest.
I have probably missed some, apologies! Will catch up.
At Glaslyn, it appears that Elen is still the reigning female. Teifi has been feeding her some fish. People have asked if Aran has a ‘nest’. To my knowledge, the answer is no. He does have a tree in an area that he seems to be claiming as his territory. Perhaps someone will put up a platform there! Hey, Darren Moore!!!!!!
We are expecting an egg any time at the Pont Cresor nest of Aeron Z2 and Blue 14.
Geemeff gives us the latest knews from the Woodland Trust:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 14th April 2026After yesterday’s constant nest swapping, today was very much quieter. Everybody stayed on their own nests, Garry LV0 brought Aurora 536 two fish, taking his tally to thirteen, and Dorcha had an unusual visitor in the form of a Carrion Crow, a species not seen in this area before. JJ4, the male from the western nest who’s visited twice before did not make it three days in a row and sadly neither did our lovable Louis put in a much longed for appearance. While hopes for his return are fading, his nine years in Loch Arkaig have given us many wonderful moments to cherish, and he leaves a legacy of fourteen fledged chicks, six with Aila and eight with Dorcha – not bad for the inept youngster who turned up in 2017.
In the world of eagles, Jackie and Shadow have had to work hard to protect their babies! SK Hideaways has it on video: https://youtu.be/as3C9WW-3ho?si
Suzanne Arnold Horning reminds us of the dates of Big Red and Arthur’s eggs: Big Red and Arthur welcomed their egg#1 of 2026 at 804pm on 3/23, egg #2 appeared at 203pm on 3/26, egg#3 around 11am on 3/29 and egg#4 around 11am on 4/1. This is only the 3rd time the clutch as been 4 eggs (2022 and 2024 as well).
Today seems like a long day and I am ready for a big mug of tea and a chat with The Girls. Toby has been out helping me in the garden and he desperately needs a bath!
I have sadly added two new entries to the Memorial Wall: Louis from Loch Arkaig and Ethel from Russell Lake, Nova Scotia. Neither returned from migration this year. Basic information only at present. Will be filled in within a week, I hope.
Thank you for being with us. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to Geemeff for their great summary and videos, SK Hideaways for capturing how challenging life can be for dear Jackie and Shadow, to all the streaming cam owners and people who post information on FB – we are terribly grateful to you!
CJ7 with her first egg of the seasonWe are excited to announce that at 12:56 this afternoon, in rather drizzly conditions, CJ7 laid her first egg at the 
