Tag Archives: NE31

Egg at Big Bear, Hatch at JBS, late Wednesday in Bird World

22 January 2024

Hello Everyone,

It has been a very emotional week with the arrival of Gabby’s first baby with Beau. Now, just what? 36 hours later or thereabouts we have the first egg for Jackie and Shadow. The news was too good not to share with you immediately. I am all teared up – again! These raptors are all part of the fabric of our daily lives. We share in their happiness and sadness.

Jackie and Shadow. Start sending all the love you can to them. This darling couple. And don’t stop sending it.

One reader wrote ‘Yay’ and another, “Please, any god that will listen, please give this eagle couple one strong healthy eaglet this year!”

Shadow was there!

SK Hideaways sent me the news right away and they immediately set about getting a video ready. Keep your eyes open for it.

I spent Wednesday afternoon doing what three Grey Squirrels are doing – hibernating! Despite warming to -17 C, it felt cold to the bone. The snow crunches underfoot. Even the cats didn’t care if they woke up for food. It was nice.

The first eaglet has hatched at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands nest near Dallas. Congratulations!

Here is the latest posting from the IWS. There will be, as far as I understand, no interference in whatever happened to Akecheta. We must wait til the camera feed returns and hope.

F23 at SW Florida has proven herself to be an amazing mother. https://youtu.be/62TJWWVM4Os?

E25 looks like s/he is self-feeding. https://youtu.be/d2Zub3m1SLg?s

At the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau, miracles continue to happen. A tandem feeding on Wednesday! Seriously. Beau is incredible.

Great video. Can we get enough of 31? https://youtu.be/dEgksFmx1v8?

Tomorrow we learn the names of C12 and C13, Connie and Clive’s little ones at the Captiva Eagle nest. Wasn’t it just yesterday they were tiny like 31?

Chase was observed flying close by the Two Harbours nest on Wednesday. With this cam running, I checked on the West End, but it is still down.

A surprise visitor to the UK in the winter – a chiffchaff.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/22/country-diary-a-chiffchaff-has-swapped-north-africa-for-this-icy-reedbed?CMP=share_btn_url

“Chiffchaff and berries” by Mibby23 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

The RSPB describes the Chiffchaff thusly: “The Chiffchaff is a small olive-brown warbler which flits through trees and shrubs, with a distinctive tail-wagging movement. Chiffchaffs usually (though not always) have dark legs and a pale eye stripe. They’re easily confused for the Willow Warbler which has pale legs and a yellow eye stripe. Listen for the song which gives it its name, no other warbler makes that chiff-chaffing tune. Chiffchaffs eat insects, either picking them out from trees or snapping them up in flight.”

At presentm the Chiffchaff is of Least Concern Environmentally.

The news is wonderful with the exception of concern for Akecheta. There is nothing we can do but send him love and good wishes. If he turns up well, this will be the most incredible week ever in Bird World.

Thank you so much for being with me for this short post. I will see you again on Friday. All the best to each of you. Stay warm, stay safe.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘J, SP’, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, NEFL-AEF, Saunders Real Photography, IWS, IWS/Explore, John Bunker Sands Wetlands Centre, Morningstar, The Guardian, OpenVerse, RSBP, Androcat

Tuesday in Bird World

21 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It was -32 with wind chills making it feel like -44 C on Monday. As I write this Monday night, it is now -29C. I worry about the outdoor animals. How their little bodies manage in this type of extreme cold is beyond me when humans would quickly die. Last night a deer slept in our garden. I wondered all day what the fawn had eaten and then I saw it – or, rather, I didn’t see it. The new seed cylinder with mealworms. It’s gone from the big table feeder. Mystery is solved. Tonight there is Alfalfa Hay and lots of fruits and veg along with peanuts for anyone who shows up. It is too cold to be hungry. Food helps fuel their warmth. The garden is protected from the wind, thankfully.

The little fawn coming to find some food without her mother. This is a problem. I have not seen Mum with the baby for a month. Has she been killed by coyotes? or hit by a car? The two deer that come to the garden regularly are the buck with one antler and this little one.

Will see if she likes the Alfalfa.

All eyes were on the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau on Monday. Beau is going to be an excellent dad. Good for Gabby keeping the faith. They finally have a family and this was one of the most anticipated hatches. Let us all hope that Jackie and Shadow have good luck this year, too.

Gabby flew in with a fish at 1157. Beau had arrived with one shortly after hatch, and then another appeared on the nest. This little one will be spoiled by love and protection.

I am so happy for Gabby. She is a Mum again!

Gabby is all fluffy.

Cute. That neck is pretty strong and you can clearly see the egg tooth that acted as a pick axe to get out of that shell.

No feeding yet, but at least three fish on the nest. Beau brought in a partial one when he flew in.

Bright eyed with his/her egg tooth and that hair style. We are all in love with NE31.

Baby’s first bite!

He or she is strong!!!!!!!!! That head is held up high waiting for some fish dinner.

Nearly a thousand people watched Gabby, Beau, and their baby. It is a miracle and goodness we need these amazing miracles. Guarding the nest and incubating baby.

Beau looks at his baby.

SKHideaways has it all on video: https://youtu.be/yM42fkDJ3WE?

While we celebrate the magic that has happened at the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest of Gabby and Beau, the tragedy that unfolded when an intruder (there appeared to be more than one) returned for several days in what appears to be a nest take over at the West End. We know both males were injured; Akecheta seemed to be more so than the intruder.

They are still showing Highlights on the IWS/Explore cams for Akecheta and Thunder’s nest and Tor. I do not think this is a coincidence. There is no news, and there is a chat if individuals are interested. You have to go to iws.org Then click on Live Cams and then you will find the link to the Live Chat.

I did not watch many other nests – NE Florida was enough. What a glorious day. There is news of incubation at Duke Farms. Hoping that camera will be back on line soon.

There is news about the Menhaden issue which is vital to our ospreys.

Thank you for being with us today. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the NE Florida Bald Eagle Cam and the AEF for their streaming cam where I took my screen captures and to SK Hideaways for their video, IWS/Explore and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.