Idris is on migration…Saturday in Bird World

12 September 2026

Hello Everyone!

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.

Close-up of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a shiny coat, sitting calmly, showcasing its expressive eyes and distinct fur pattern.

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.

A blue jay perched on a decorative metal hook, displaying its vibrant blue and white feathers against a blurred green background.

Mushrooms are growing all over the neighbourhood. It has been so wet!

A close-up of layered brown and white mushroom growth on a decaying tree stump, surrounded by green leaves.

The Starlings have returned – more and more to fill up on cat and dog kibble!

A blurry image caught with my iphone.

A spotted bird perched on the edge of a birdbath surrounded by green foliage.

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.

An osprey perched on a wooden pole near water, holding a fish, with lush greenery in the background.

Images from Iris’s Cafe!

Interior view of Iris Cafe with a barista smiling behind the counter, showcasing various beverages and a menu board.

Aran was still at Glaslyn, but Idris has left on his migration!

A blurred photo capturing a bird perched on a branch, surrounded by trees and foliage.

Daisy from the Loch Doon nest in the UK is still in France:

A soaring osprey with a brown and white plumage flying against a clear blue sky.

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.

A Facebook post expressing gratitude to individuals for their work on Fishing Ospreys, highlighting a specific observation of an Osprey migration in Vendée, France, on September 8, 2026.
A hawk in mid-flight with outstretched wings against a cloudy sky.

Looking good at the WBSE nest in the Olympic Park Forest in Sydney.

Two white-bellied sea eagle chicks in their nest, with one parent nearby. The scene captures the natural habitat of these birds, featuring leaves and branches in the background.

Osprey House Environmental Centre posted some incredible images of George and Hope’s only surviving chick. Look at those feathers.

Close-up of a young osprey with its beak open, displaying bright yellow eyes and intricate feather patterns in the background.

The Ps are catching their own dinner!

A hawk perched on a tree branch surrounded by lush green leaves.

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”

Two ospreys perched on a wooden post in a green field.

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!

https://raptormonitoring.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Scottish_Raptor_Monitoring_Scheme_Annual_Report_2024.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawUSU45wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4K1RbpD-Jrzjtyj9Ty3y25cFQlQeBPF7hSe-OZLhji1we1rOBW4dXyzlBYFg_aem_ptCbu9YcLYC7Hbzdl14p9Q

Will Bradley get a mate before Ervie?!

Two ospreys on a nest in South Australia, one adult osprey perched on a stand nearby as the sun sets over the ocean.

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!

Facebook post outlining a lawsuit by the Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization against the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to halt industrial harvesting of Atlantic menhaden in Virginia waters.
A map displaying flight paths around the Chesapeake Bay area, with several planes marked and timestamps indicated. One area is highlighted in a red circle, showing grouped flight activity.

More ways to have your voice heard on this matter:

Social media post encouraging public comments about Atlantic menhaden and fisheries management, emphasizing the importance of community voices in environmental decisions.
Illustration of an Atlantic Menhaden fish in water, featured on a document about the Menhaden Draft Addendum II from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Screenshot

Please do not use rodenticide! This happened in an area close to where I live.

A close-up view of a hawk lying on the ground among fallen leaves, with its head resting on the ground.

On a happier note, Hope is doing a great job despite George in Australia.

Two ospreys and a chick in a nest, with one osprey feeding a fish to the chick. Background shows greenery and a body of water.

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.

Two white-bellied sea eagle chicks in a nest, with one parent eagle standing nearby. The nest is surrounded by greenery.

The latest on Shadow and Kaydee by SK Hideaways: https://youtu.be/I3wJZ_a33NM?

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.

Diamond lays third egg…Late Thursday in Bird World

10 September 2026

Greetings Everyone,

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.

A bouquet of pink roses and buds arranged in a white watering can, with greenery blurred in the background.
A wooden tray containing five yellow melons, displayed on a dark surface.

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.

Diamond has now laid her third egg if you missed it! SK Hideaways has it on video: https://youtu.be/51MYA5NH1jg?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t believe Diamond has ever fledged three chicks. This could be a first.

A peregrine falcon sitting in a nesting box, surrounded by small eggs and gravel, with a view of the countryside outside.

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!

Interior of Iris Cafe with staff and customers, showcasing a coffee preparation area and colorful wall art.

Lucille Powell caught Iris:

An Osprey perched on a tree in a rocky landscape, surrounded by evergreen trees, captured by a wildlife camera.

Teifi, mate to Elen at Glaslyn, is still home as is Dinas in the Glaslyn Valley.

Volunteer Gail Edgley observing Ospreys at the Glaslyn estuary, highlighting their identification and behaviors.
An osprey flying over a shallow body of water, holding a fish in its talons.

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’.

Bar chart showing the age of Dyfi Osprey chicks at migration from 2011 to 2026, with blue bars representing average male age and red bars representing average female age.

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.

A hawk is perched on a metal railing at the top of a building under a cloudy sky.

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!

A bird of prey, possibly an osprey, perched on a rooftop under a clear blue sky.

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.

A close-up of a striped bass held by a person, showing visible lesions on its side under a clear blue sky near water.

This isn’t nice.

A series of images depicting dead fish floating in green water, with pieces of debris also on the surface. The lower corner shows a fishing rod and a bucket.

Our local wildlife rehabilitation centre has been busy.

Two Bald Eagles, one juvenile and one adult, at Wildlife Haven in Manitoba, Canada, recovering and gaining strength in a flyway before their release back into the wild.
A spacious aviary with two hawks perched on a branch surrounded by greenery.

A great turn out to Jackie’s Memorial:

A large crowd gathers at Fawn Park for a memorial event, surrounded by flowers and tributes. Attendees are seen taking photos and engaging with one another under a clear blue sky, with trees in the background.

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!

Love at Big Bear? Fledge at Tairoa Head…Late Wednesday in Bird World

9 September 2026

Greetings!

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.

An elderly man in a hospital bed holding a sandwich, with a small dog resting on his lap. A tray with food and drinks is visible in the background.

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.

A close-up image of a white bird, possibly an osprey, perched on a branch in a green landscape. The background features rocky terrain.

Another place that the lack of Menhaden had a devastating impact:

A social media post discussing the failed nesting of ospreys at Severna Park on the Severn River, mentioning the abandonment of three eggs.
Infographic detailing the 2026 Severn River Osprey Breeding Survey findings, including nest inventory and breeding activity statistics from field observations.

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:

A juvenile osprey perched on a branch near a river, with a focus on its distinctive features and band on its leg.
A juvenile osprey flying over Pagham Harbour, showcasing its wings spread wide as it glides in search of food during migration.

Our thoughts continue to be with the people living in line of these hurricanes – and, of course, the wildlife.

A split screen image showing a map of hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific, with one labeled as Category 5 and another as Category 4, along with a person expressing excitement about this unprecedented weather event.

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.

An osprey standing in its nest made of sticks, overlooking a parking lot filled with cars, with train cars visible in the background.
A close-up of an osprey perched on a nest made of twigs, with a parking lot and trees in the background.

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.

A bird feeding three chicks in a nest made of twigs and leaves, set on a tree branch.

And the Royal Cam Chick, Awheo has fledged!

Notification about the fledging of Āwheo, a Northern Royal Albatross chick, which took flight at 225 days old over the Pacific Ocean.
A close-up of an albatross sitting on green grass, with a backdrop of a coastal landscape and ocean.

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.

Announcement for Glaslyn Fundraiser, detailing donor names, corresponding numbers for items, and instructions for participation.
A framed watercolor painting of a hawk with detailed feathers and a focused expression, against a soft background.

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.

M24 returns…Late Tuesday in Bird World

9 September 2026

Good Afternoon Everyone,

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.

https://www.nvbirdalliance.org/news/osprey-population-decline-menhaden?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawUNI0VwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7zO-TXBJnBpM3ouZLGJr5t0ZHfY8RdrdVJP5VdoCE9m90uSNtFlEFCNqf8kw_aem_u_W2FpqkXkXl5ebBmn59dw

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.

M24 missing at Melbourne…late Monday in Bird World

7 September 2026

Good Evening Everyone,

It’s raining – again. We had 114 mm of rain, and some large commercial and apartment buildings near where I live had more than 60 cm of water in their basement. My daughter still does not have power after the storm hit last night. I was lucky. I have power and no water or sewer in my basement (I finally checked). Toby and I went out for a last walk. Toby just amazes me. He is smarter than many humans that I know.

He wanted to be in bed with his ‘daddy’ today. Don is doing well, but he will have to do a lot of physiotherapy to get him strong enough to walk again. Please take a page out of the phrase, ‘If you don’t use it, you will lose it’. Besides nature being good for our mental health, walking is essential to keep us moving!

Thank you for all your good wishes. They keep me going.

There is concern growing for the male mate of the female incubating four eggs at 367 Collins Street in Melbourne. This is the message from Victor Hurley:

C22 is still at Charlo! Then Charlie must still be home, too.

Iris is still home, too! One of the individuals saw her and posted it on the website so we would know she was still around.

Idris continues to deliver to the girls at the nest. I was only able to catch Elsi on the nest today for two fish (flat – flounder?).

Fish are still being delivered to 0U0 by Dad at the Usk Valley nest in Wales.

Frankie and Angel are on migration and a pine marten visits the nest.

Viki sends news on Junior. “After calling and calling last Friday and watching Dad retrieve a fish (two times in the course of the day) to eat himself, but NOT retrieving any fish I threw for him to take to his chick, Junior finally left the nest, and no one has been in it since.

Dad tried with every unretrieved fish I threw to show Junior how to fly over the fish – but Junior wouldn’t get off that nest. Until finally we all gave up and left. Then he did too.

Junior never tried to retrieve a fish that I threw for himself, so I’m not so sure that the live fish I saw him with a couple times didn’t actually come from Mom or Dad. I don’t know.

Dad was still flying about this morning  – Monday – and also the male of the nest next door (Mr. Perfect) is still guarding his territory which is being completely disrupted on shore by new home construction – but no Junior or food calling since Friday. 

So, I am assuming the best !!!”

I think this is good news from Tweed. I worried about Christopher, but both juveniles (his sister is Kirsti) seem to be doing well and fighting like siblings! Both have protected the nest from intruders who want their fish.

A glimpse at what Shadow was doing today by SK Hideaways: https://youtu.be/rbCoC-8tp5s?

Thank you so much for being with us. Toby and I are going to watch a movie and relax. Take care.

Thank you to everyone who posted information and images on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us glimpse into the challenging lives of our raptors. I also want to thank Viki for her great reporting and for keeping an osprey family alive so that their one surviving chick could live and migrate. She is my hero. I am always grateful to SK Hideaways for their great videos.

Nests getting empty, Alan Stewart’s book launch…Late Sunday in Bird World

6 September 2026

Hello Everyone,

I hope each of us has found time to relax and enjoy the weekend. These past weeks I have made some ‘resolutions’. The last time that Don was in the hospital at the end of December, I wore myself out going every day because the nurse said that I was the only ‘thing’ that calmed him down. He was quite mobile at the time and would walk up and down the hall with his little bag wanting to come home. It broke my heart so I was there twice a day. This time, things are different. And this is something I want to explore. He is not mobile. So what happened? I learned that wearing yourself out is not helpful either to you or the person you are caring for. Remember to always following the airline directions: put on your oxygen mask first! So, this episode, I have tried to make certain that there is someone to visit and help every other day – I am there on the other days. His visit went well with his friend today and everyone is taking fruit and Ginger Ale – hydration and soething familiar. He drank so much liquids at home and was never dehydrated so this is to help combat that at the hospital!

Toby needed a new stroller. He grew out of the little one. I really do hope he is finished growing. He turned 17 months old yesterday. I think we can even go to the market!

Hope has discovered it is a ‘safe’ place. Hugo Yugo (darn that orange cat) woke everyone up, attacking her around 0300. Toby took great exception to what was going on and probably woke all the neighbours up with his barking. (Toby rarely barks, but when he hears a cat howling in pain or someone is at the door – or always he will bark at the door when we are leaving for a walk).

There are so many tributes to Jackie – some are good, and some aren’t. I am really looking forward to SK Hideaways video highlighting Jackie’s life. I am encouraging a tribute to the Channel Islands eagles, especially Chase & Cholyn. These eagles often get overlooked and we have to remember they have been together for more than two decades!

SK Hideaways Videos, Week of August 30, 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

Mum Gives Camera “The Look” as She Lays 4th Egg PLUS Dad’s 1st Peek  ~ 
2026 Aug 30
Mum welcomed egg #4 with occasional glances at the camera. We apologized for the intrusion, but extended heartfelt congratulations. Dad arrived in the pre-dawn hour to give mum a break. This should complete their clutch and begin the countdown to hatch, which is typically 30-35 days.
Video: https://youtu.be/3lP6i-JjETw


FalconCam Project ~ Diamond & Gimbir
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

Diamond & Gimbir Welcome First Egg of the Season! 2026 Sep 5
A beautiful rainbow welcomed this auspicious day as Diamond and Gimbir celebrated the arrival of their first egg of the season. We couldn’t help but think of dear Xavier as the rainbow “hugged” the tower. Wishing Diamond and Gimbir a successful season. 
Video: https://youtu.be/sr_i_zVwODg


FOBBVCAM Eagles  ~  Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Shadow, Jackie (dec. 9 August 2026), Sandy, and Luna (last seen on camera 23 July 2023)
Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley
Nest Cam:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE
Wide View Cam (Cam 2):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4
Live Recap & Observations:  https://bit.ly/4wGjwVg

Shadow & Kaydee’s Evening Nest Meet-Up & Tug-o-Stick Before Roost Time ~ 2026 Sep 3
Shadow and Kaydee met up for some stick shuffling, a little bumping and beaking, plus tug-o-stick shenanigans. They once again retired to the Roost Tree for the night.
Video: 
https://youtu.be/QYcg4SWqlBM

Kaydee Returns to Nest for 2nd NightShadow Follows ~ Flirty Antics Ensue  ~ 2026 Sep 1
Kaydee returned to the nest for the second night in row, but unlike last night, tonight she had company. Shadow joined Kaydee on the nest, where they shuffled sticks, bumped beaks, and chortled. Kaydee was more flirty than Shadow, but he wasn’t too resistant to her attention. We cannot know what will happen when nesting season begins  toward the end of the year, but watching Shadow and Kaydee during this transitional time in both their lives is a gift and fascinating.
Video:  https://youtu.be/zrLbwsGKqDs

Kaydee Shuffles Nest Sticks Meets Shadow on Roost Tree ~ 2026 Aug31
Kaydee spent some time exploring the nest tree canopy and bowl before meeting up with Shadow on the Roost Tree. They shared a perch briefly, before Kaydee retired to a lower perch overnight.

Video: https://youtu.be/ShIpsT0zyvY


Sydney WB Sea Eagles ~ Australia ~ Lady, Dad, SE37 (hatched 13 August), and SE38 (hatched 14 August)
Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park (https://www.sea-eaglecam.org/video.html)
Nest cam also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw4pdgy3-U0

SE38’s MASSIVE Crop
 3 Days in a Row PLUS A Dual Feeding by Lady & Dad ~ 2026 Sep 4-6
Over the course of 3 days and an increase in food brought to the nest, SE37 grew less aggressive and SE38 grew more confident. There was a marked difference in SE38’s appearance and behavior in this time, not to mention a bulging crop. Cautiously optimistic SE38 has turned the corner. 
Video: https://youtu.be/j4u9wW6l8og

Lady’s Persistence Gets SE38 a BIG Meal ~ Finally ~ 2026 Aug 31
It has been a rough few days for sea eaglet SE38. At 17 days old, the subordinate eaglet has struggled to get food due to sibling SE37’s dominance. But on this evening, SE37 was very full and mum Lady was very persistent. The result was that SE38 got a very good feeding and went to bed with a full crop. Here’s to more days like this one.
Video: https://youtu.be/gjJ01khy2fA


Two Harbors Eagles ~  Catalina Island, CA ~ Cholyn & Chase (28 years old; mated pair for 23 years)
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Two Harbors Eagles Cam Ops
Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ
Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI

Cholyn & Chase Chortle
 & Chill by the Seaside ~ 2026 Sep 3
While Cholyn and Chase have been on summer vacation, we’ve missed seeing them regularly, so today’s sightings were a special treat. In the morning Chase met up with Cholyn on her seaside perch. Later cam ops found her on the cactus perch. Every sighting a gift.
Video: https://youtu.be/pIqjY1b2vDk

I am so pleased that there are videos of the Australian raptor families. SE 38 has had huge crops for the last three days! No worries there.

The last of the chicks at Glaslyn migrated. Teifi got to eat a fish – finally – in peace and quiet.

Beau and Gabby are really finishing off their nest, and it is only the beginning of September! I wonder when the first egg will be laid. Will it be November or earlier, with this being a year of high heat on the planet? Bald Eagle Live Nest Cams has them working hard on video: https://youtu.be/2FM-2ZToL3E?

Idris is still delivering fish at Dyfi. The girls are now 101 days old – the first time that two fledglings have remained at the nest past 100 days before migrating.

At Poole Harbour, Blue 6T8 had really kept her dad, Blue 022 busy with fish. She was last seen early this morning and then poof – gone?

Alan Stewart’s book on a killing of a man walking his dog:

I’m going to say good bye. It is nearly 1700 and we are expecting rain and storms this evening. Toby and I have recycling duty to get finished.

Take care everyone. Have a good start to the week. See you soon.

Thank you to SK Hideaways for those great videos, to the owners of the streaming cams we are always grateful as you allow us to get upset stomachs, buy too many tissues, and jump for joy at the events in the lives of our bird families. Thank you to Raptor Persecution UK for their meticulous reporting on raptor persecution in the UK. I just wrote to Alan Stewart and ordered his book, Prelude to Murder. While it involves a murder of a human, the individual in prison is possibly responsible for the poisoning of raptors on that estate in Scotland.

Step up for Ospreys! Late Saturday in Bird World

5 September 2026

Good Afternoon,

Toby and I are relaxing after an excellent two-hour visit with ‘his daddy’ at the hospital. I am happy to report that his psychiatrist was chatting with me at nearly 10 pm last evening, concerned about his hydration and electrolyte balance, and giving me tips on how best to care for him in the hospital. What an amazing doctor. Toby and I took fresh fruit, a Ginger Ale (great for the salt and sugar needed), and some chocolate Tim Bits (doughnut holes). Don and I showed them how he works with me, and he was not agitated when I left. I believe the antibiotics are working, but they now understand that he was not an invalid at home, and that I am more than capable of looking after him and keeping him calm. They are going to get a physiotherapist to work with him – and, well, I am feeling so much better. Thank you again for all your letters, your concern, and your support.

Many of you will recognise the name ‘Pam Breci’. She reports on many Osprey nests and loves our fish eaters so much. Please send her warm wishes and virtual hugs. She lost her father today.

The good people trying to defend the cessation of industrial fishing in and around the Chesapeake by a Canadian company are saying this is not a drill. It is time to step up. Read about the plight of the Ospreys from Connecticut to Long Island and step up to help as if their lives depended on it – because that is precisely what is at stake.

https://www.nvbirdalliance.org/news/osprey-population-decline-menhaden?fbclid=IwY2xjawUJA8RwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAGJyaWQRMXFVdjNXemRNNWVVc3hzOG9zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe69uaMML7IfMEop1Sln46MgWN1iFxqBxSTWGvBjEDiBT527yWYif5hOkcep0_aem_nhI6kFlWOsIcsORRiSpLwQ

A heartwarming story I found online this morning. It aligns with stories of resilience in wildlife. This time, with the helping hand of some compassionate humans.

“A captive-bred peregrine falcon released at Point Loma in 1986 could not catch a pigeon. She flew into a wire. Sea gulls attacked her. A falconer named Dan Brimm spent months driving to the coast and feeding her by hand because she recognized his car and came whistling in from over the ocean every time he showed up. She was one of 12 peregrines released at Point Loma between 1982 and 1988 as part of a program to restore the species to Southern California. The other 11 left. She stayed because she could not feed herself.

The female had been released in June 1986 by the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group as part of a joint restoration program with the Peregrine Fund. Five months later she was found injured on Pacific Beach, where gulls were attacking her. According to Brimm, she had flown into a wire badly enough to sever a muscle, and the gull attack left a permanent scar around her right eye. After rehabilitation she was released again in June 1987.

Around that time Brimm and his wife had seen Cats. The battered falcon reminded them of Grizabella, the worn-out character who returns after years away. “We named her Grizabella and resurrected her,” Brimm later told the Los Angeles Times. Keeping her alive after release remained a problem. Brimm said she never managed to catch a pigeon, so he and others continued feeding her for months. When they appeared, she recognized them and sometimes came whistling in from over the ocean.

Brimm began tossing quail for Grizabella to catch. This she learned extremely well. “She’d never miss,” he recalled. The humans then began leaving longer gaps between meals, sometimes withholding food for as long as three days to encourage her to hunt independently. Eventually Grizabella disappeared. Her last known sighting was in September 1987. Nobody reported seeing her again for more than a year and a half.

On April 14, 1989, biologist Mark Pavelka found a peregrine nest beneath the eastern end of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. Four days later he could see four nestlings. San Diego County had gone 39 years without a documented breeding peregrine, after DDT and other organochlorine pesticides had helped drive California’s population down by more than 95 percent. By 1970, only two known nesting pairs remained in the entire state.

Photographs of the bridge female showed three details Pavelka could use to identify her: a federal aluminum band, a dead radio transmitter still attached to her leg, and the scar around her right eye.

Grizabella had made it.

Her mate was an unbanded, unusually pale male. Their nest was not much of a nest at all. It sat about 90 feet above the ground on a bridge support tower, on a ledge only 12 to 14 inches wide. Grizabella had scraped a depression into roughly an inch of pigeon droppings and accumulated dust. After Pavelka brought Brimm to meet with California Department of Transportation officials, the portion of the maintenance catwalk nearest the nest was closed.

All four chicks reached fledging age, although their first attempts at flight were rough. Two males fledged successfully on May 14. The only female collided with a San Diego trolley but suffered only superficial injuries and was returned beneath the bridge. Two days later another young male missed a landing on the tower, slid down its concrete face and broke a wing. He was sent for rehabilitation. The fourth chick, another male, fledged on May 20. The three youngsters remaining at the bridge were fed by their parents for several weeks and appeared to reach independence.

Source: Mark A. Pavelka, Western Birds, 1990, “Peregrine Falcons Nesting in San Diego, California” / Rich Roberts, Los Angeles Times, December 22, 1990 / Linda Roach Monroe, Los Angeles Times, April 1989.

Our lovely couple at the scrape in Orange:

Great news is coming out of Orange. Diamond laid her first egg of the season at the Charles Sturt falcon cam on Friday! Congratulations, Gimbir and Diamond.

A thorough history of our dear Jackie from hatch to passing: https://youtu.be/sY3U1jYyhLM?

Did you know that 2025 was the first time Jackie and Shadow fledged two chicks? Her first known chick was in 2018. Jackie and Shadow were again successful in 2026, her last year.

Juveniles appear to be heading for migration at Kielder:

These portable barbecues should be banned everywhere. We have certainly had firefighters trying to save entire communities in Canada that were victims of wildfires that were started by humans.

Idris is still delivering fish at Dyfi!

Wensi is at the nest – apparently she is very loud when fish calling, according to the neighbours who live near the river!

Loch Arkaig 2 appears to have gone quiet – Dorcha, Amber (not seen for some time), Jupiter and now Louis are on migration (or so it appears).

SK Hideaways has the video of Diamond and Gimbir’s first egg being laid this season: https://youtu.be/sr_i_zVwODg?

In Australia, Myna birds ride the trains wanting some lunch.

Moveable feast: myna birds on Sydney train looking for food not ‘joyride’ in viral videohttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/04/expert-explains-myna-birds-on-sydney-train-viral-video?CMP=share_btn_url

It’s a gorgeous day, and Toby and I are going to spend some much-needed time working in the garden. We’ve neglected many things over the last two weeks. The rain and the humidity have added to a ‘tropical growth spurt’ in both shrubs and weeds!

Please take care. We hope to be with you again soon.

Thank you to everyone who contributed images and information to the various FB groups that I have shared with you today. Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams, SK Hideaways, The Guardian, and I especially want to thank everyone working so hard to stop the industrial fishing of Menhaden. We need to be diligent everywhere, not just in the NE of the US. Companies are scooping up fish and contributing to the depletion around the world.

Euthanise wounded wildlife? Maybe not…Friday in Bird World

4 September 2026

Hello Everyone,

Toby and I are just back from the hospital – it is late on Thursday. In some ways, Don has improved, but he is still fighting infections, and they have changed his antibiotics. We are all hoping that he responds to the new antibiotic.

Toby was good, and everyone noticed. He sat in the chair by Don’s bed and licked his ‘daddy’s’ hand. If I asked Don to put his hand out for Toby, he responded positively, and he knew that Jaine had visited him yesterday. He said she made ‘good cookies’.

One of the most positive things that happened is that Ann and I were able to communicate with Don’s brother about how wrong the hospital was to assume Don was an ‘invalid’ when he was home! That was the assumption. They now know that he walked no less than 3 km a day. That is the total for Toby’s walks, but there are additional walks at the nature centre and parks. There was also an issue with his normal medications not being given. That is now fixed. Some steps forward. One thing I have learned over the past week is that we have to advocate for our loved ones. Don’t assume doctors and nurses know everything about them; they need to, to provide the best possible care! They have many patients, and there are long-held beliefs about people with Alzheimer’s and dementia that are not always true. I am so fortunate that Don is in a very caring hospital and they listen, think, and advise.

Your continued prayers and good energy are so welcome.

Geemeff is having a marvellous adventure. Still, they are finding things for me to share with you. The former vet at Wildlife Haven was a strong advocate against euthanising animals. She believed, based on her observations, that wildlife can overcome many challenges and live normal lives. Think of a three-legged deer (or dog or cat). Here is a wonderful story about a raptor with a broken wing that has survived for three years in the wild.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crerw2nj81zo

I also received a wonderful article from Connie Dennis, founder of the Nova Scotia Osprey FB group (along with her husband, Dennis) and author of the adorable book, Pickles. This is about the plight of the two osprey nests at the Eastern Passage where construction crews are dismantling old fuel containers (think toxic).

Advocates keep eye on ospreys as DND removes old fuel tanks in Eastern Passage – Halifax Examiner https://share.google/33SRa31FyUGf96b7o

‘So much more than beautiful birds’: Advocates keep eye on ospreys as DND removes old fuel tanks in Eastern Passage – Halifax Examiner

Halifax Examiner

Thanks, Connie. Everyone needs to step up in our quickly changing environment to help the ospreys (and all wildlife). They are often targets at the whim of people who are in too much of a hurry to do something.

At the Osprey Environment Centre, Hope has already lost two of her three chicks this year because of her mate, George. George takes the fish that Hope catches for the surviving chick, and Hope is struggling to feed herself and the chick. I have not seen this in the time I have been researching ospreys. Has anyone else?

In stark contrast to what is happening to Hope, Iris has had a magnificent year with her new mate, Clark. Their only hatch, Wensi, is big and strong! But, the question on everyone’s mind is: when will Iris depart for her migration? Lucille Powell posted the dates supplied by the Montana Osprey Project’s files:

She is still in Missoula. Because it is early September, she is nearing the time when she typically departs for her annual southward migration to warmer winter climates. You can watch live updates and check her current status on the Cornell Lab Hellgate Ospreys page.

Clark is delivering fish to a screaming Wensi! The cam operator is giving us some great images of this miracle chick.

There is an excellent update on Snow, the Traverse City eaglet, whose nest slipped and it fell.

Ospreys are now fishing in the ocean at the Outer Banks. With the Super El Niño coming for 2027 and droughts in areas that they migrate to (Central and South America), let us hope that they adapt quickly.

Dads still hanging with their kids in Wales.

At Glacier Gardens, eaglet Compassion has fledged.

Smile. Lady kept feeding 38 til it had a crop so big observors wondered if it would pop! Wonderful.

News coming out of Cornell: Suzanne Arnold Horning writes:

“Last nite we had a very strong line of storms pass through NY state. We did spot one of the Ps on the antenna at Barton Hall but I forgot to share last nite.

Tonite we were quite relieved to find both Ps on campus. One was on the hillside on a pole beyond the smoke stacks. The other P was perched on top of Sage, calling away and giving us a Big Red stare.

I love that the Ps are still on campus and have not left the parental territory!

It’s a hot and humid day on the Canadian prairies. I wonder what is in store for us with the Super El-Nino coming. I am having to fill all of the water sources for the birds (and change and clean them) several times a day.

Now that a toxic spray is approved for use on US peanut plants, I wonder what I will wind up feeding the squirrels and the Corvids??? Currently the Corvids are enjoying some juicy cheesy dogs that Ann sent home with me for them!

Here’s the link and make sure you get a tissue: https://youtu.be/Iww4OzdMNFg?

We have our purple on – Jackie was so loved.

Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to Geemeff and Connie Dennis for sharing great links to stories that should mean a lot to all of us. Thank you to Bald Eagles Live Web Cams & News for the tribute to Jackie, and to all who posted stories and images on FB, and to the owners of the cams that allow us to see these incredible birds.

Late Wednesday in Bird World

2 September 2026

Hello Everyone,

You can tell the ‘air’ is different. The beautiful emerald colour at the top of the trees is quickly fading into gold, red, and copper. Summer is ending, and fall is here despite the fact that the temperature is 24 C.

Thank you again for all your amazing letters and your support. I can tell you that I really need all that positive energy. Each of you has asked for an update, so this is a snapshot of the past two days. Don was moved into a private room with a window. The doctors felt that he was not progressing because of the overstimulation of the brain in the emergency room. I fed him his lunch yesterday – he was ravenous. Today Jaine and Carter (daughter and oldest grandson) went at lunch to feed him and give him some homemade cookies. His appetite is good. Unfortunately, after they left, he fell. (He was not in his bed but in a wheelchair in the hall – a nice change from staring at the walls. I was told I could not get him a telly because it clamps to the rails on the bed and he could injure himself). Then he got agitated and was up again. This time it took five people to get him back, and they had to sedate him. All the nurse kept saying when she called was ‘he is big and strong’. He has a security guard with him now! I keep wondering what else in the world is going to happen? Something is certainly wrong, and as far as I can tell, it is one of the percolating infections he is trying to fight.

There are so many things, but if you have loved ones who are dehydrated, it can appear they have memory issues when they don’t. Infections cause sudden changes in behaviour and great agitation, sometimes violence. Please remember these two things because not everything is as it seems.

Bird World is pretty quiet.

The Royal Cam chick is 222 days old today. In about two weeks, Awoheh will be at the average for flight. The albatrosses return to Tairora Head when they are approximately five or six years old after foraging off the coast of Chile.

Blue 33 was still at Rutland but everyone else appears to be gone.

Beautiful fish for Wensi at Hellgate Canyon.

Idris is delivering some big ones to the Dyfi nest in Wales!

Teifi remains busy at Glaslyn.

Blue 8P7 is screaming for fish and Louis does not disappoint at Loch Arkaig.

No activity at Blackbush that I could see.

Fish still coming into the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum nest for the two juveniles that have not left.

No prey for 37 and 38 at the Olympic Park WBSE nest so far today. Adults have arrived twice empty taloned.

Incubation continues at 367 Collins Street. Four beautiful peregrine falcon eggs!

Gorgeous Mum at Port Lincoln Osprey barge hoping for a breakfast fish from Dad soon!

More osprey nest news from South Australia:

Maria Marika gives us news of the black storks.

Lin Lawson brings us news from Charlo, Montana.

Remember to get your purple out to honour Jackie on the 4th! That is this Friday.

Thank you for being with us today. I hope to be back with you tomorrow but it could be Friday or Saturday depending on what is happening at the hospital. In the meantime, please take care of yourself. See you soon!

Thank you to all the owners of the streaming cams who let us watch these amazing birds, and to those who posted information and images on FB. I am terribly grateful.

Wensi gets a late night snack…Late, late Monday in Bird World

31 August 2026

Hello Everyone,

Thank you so much for your prayers, for keeping us in your thoughts and your love. As MicPark said in the comments, Toby and I will survive this. We will, but I do not know how I would have survived this time without him and ‘The Girls’. We have been through challenging times like all families, especially when our youngest son was killed in a road accident. I can do this! There are millions of families dealing with someone who has dementia or Alzheimer’s. It is a horrible, horrible disease that truly robs that person of their identity.

I am trying to focus on the positive and the fun things that we did. One of those was making a snack late at night – tonight, Toby and I made a little pizza in honour of all those thousands of pizzas over the years made at midnight. It was delicious and brought back such fond times. I saved half and will take it to the hospital tomorrow.

Did I tell you that we don’t use pizza dough anymore? We used to make it from scratch. I use flour tortilla shells. They make the best thin crust pizza – if that is what you like. We would take a large one and put it in an 8 or 9 inch cake pan. It curls the edges up so you can have a deep dish style if you want. Put on the sauce and toppings and bake for 13 minutes at 410 F. Easy for kids to make – young and old. Make sure you get good pizza cheese, at least 25 % MF.

As osprey season really winds down, the Bald Eagles are returning to our delight. I did jump up and down with joy when I saw Gabby – she looks in terrific shape. Ron and Rose, as reported on Monday, have returned and I am sure looking forward to see if anyone will take up residence in the West End nest in the Channel Islands.

Recently, the clubbing of gannets was outlawed (at least for this year) on one of the Scottish islands (reported in a former blog). Here is a hopeful article on these seabirds.

Gorgeous gannets!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/31/country-diary-for-the-gannets-of-bass-rock-its-a-slow-road-to-recovery?CMP=share_btn_url

The Port Lincoln osprey barge. Wind and rain hitting Mum as she covers her precious eggs. It looks like the weather is keeping Dad from getting any fish to the nest. As I keep thinking and saying, fish fairies, get ready. If you’ve donated to the fish fund before, start saving those pennies so these babies have a chance of survival.

Nicer weather for 37 and 38 in Sydney.

37 ate first and then there was fish left for 38. Lady did a good job feeding both.

Look at that crop on Diamond! Incredible.

With four eggs, the 367 Collins Street falcons are into full incubation mode.

Wensi got a late night snack, too – 20:27!

It was a big fish. Still eating in the dark – more than an hour after the delivery. Wensi will sleep with a full crop.

Thank you so much for being such a supportive community. Please keep an eye on Wensi. It will not be long before they fly to their winter homes, and then we’ll anxiously await seeing who returns next year. Let us hope they’re all in good health.

I will see you again in a few days.

Thank you to The Guardian for the article on the Gannets and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us look at these incredible raptor families. What would we do without them?