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 that the beginning of the week has been good to each and every one of you. The weather has certainly cooled off on the Canadian prairies, and it’s wonderful! We seem to have a bit of a spring in our step – at least in the morning before we get too tired!!!!!!!
Ann took Don to Fort Whyte today, and they walked the Buffalo Trail and saw pelicans and Cormorants. Don said, ‘It was a good day!’ That is wonderful. Toby and I are still doing the Swedish death cleaning. We had things from the attic that needed sorting, and we got that done today while Don and Ann were gone. It felt good. Tomorrow is my ‘running around’ day, but for now we are going to enjoy a fresh peach crisp with ice cream and a quick dinner of salad and chicken. Oh, I love these easy end-of-summer meals.
We are all concerned about the environment and the changes that we are seeing. I am profoundly concerned about the impact on wildlife, especially the raptors. Roy Dennis’ the founder of the Roy Dennis Foundation and the individual who reintroduced ospreys to Scotland amongst other places has written an blog that should be of interest to us all.
Past news from Geemeff about the goings on at Loch Arkaig:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 17th August 2026
Garry LV0 is still here, he visited Nest One today, bringing a stick and staying for a minute before flying off, perching on Pole Tree then flying eastward out of sight. A few small feathered visitors investigated the nest but there was no sign of Aurora 536, last seen on the 14th, and Garry didn’t bring any fish so his tally remains at two hundred and one. The Nest Two cam is still out until probably Wednesday, therefore using Steve Quinn’s formula, the adjusted fish total for Nest Two is now four hundred and thirty four. Thanks to LizB and her spotting scope, we know a chick was seen at 15.10 eating on the nest, with attendant Hoodie on the cam post. A chick was also seen at other times in the morning, whether both sisters or the same one, can’t be determined. There was heavy rain in the afternoon and evening and at the time of filing this report (22.30) it’s still raining. Heavy rain is forecast throughout the night with a low of 13°C, changing to light rain showers, a gentle breeze and occasional sunny spells with a high of 16°C tomorrow.
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 16th August 2026 Nest Two cam is still down, Nest One cam is up for two thirds of the day but no one came to the nest today, and no one was observed in the area. Have Garry LV0 and Aurora 536 left? Garry was last seen on nest cam at
17.28.25 on Thursday 13th, and Aurora at 08.55.46 on Friday 14th, however, an Osprey was observed near the nest yesterday 15th, and recorded via long lens from across the loch by LizB, but too far away to identify. She also recorded one of the chicks chasing a Hoodie today, both clips are in the today’s videos section, and observed a fascinating sequence where a chick and a Kestrel chased a White-tailed Eagle! Hyvor no longer allows active links to comments, so scroll to LizB N2 17.08, and you’ll be able to read about the whole episode. Steve Quinn posted his weekly analysis of the fishing stats for Louis, currently being estimated daily until the cam is back on line, and still showing clear differences between years with males and years with females – search for Nest 2 fish summary to week 17 to read the full post. After overnight rain, the weather was mainly settled today and forecast to be cloudy and dry overnight with a low of 12°C, changing to heavy rain with a high of 19°C tomorrow
If you missed it, Jackie made The Guardian. Thanks, ‘B’.
Just announced by Tim Mackrill, here are this season’s Osprey chick ringing details. There are 24 chicks across 12 nests, comprising 14 males and 10 females. All have now fledged successfully.
Ringing date: 19/06/2026
Nest: Site C
Female parent: 25(10)
Male parent: 11(10)
8R4 (F)
Ringing date: 23/06/2026
Nest: Manton Bay
Female parent: Maya
Male parent: 33(11)
8R5 (M)
8R6 (F)
8R7 (M)
Ringing date:25/06/2026
Nest: Site K
Female parent: 00(09)
Male parent: 06(09)
8R8 (F)
Ringing date: 26/06/2026
Nest: Site B
Female parent: HJ8
Male parent: 359(21)
8R9 (F)
9R0 (F)
Ringing date: 29/06/2026
Nest: Site N
Female parent: Metal-ringed
Male parent: 6K(14)
9R1 (M)
9R2 (M)
9R3 (F)
Ringing date: 30/06/2026
Nest: Site L
Female parent: Unringed
Male parent: 3AH(17)
9R4 (M)
Ringing date: 30/06/2026
Nest: Site J
Female parent: 2AF(16)
Male parent: 1K(13)
9R5 (M)
9R6 (M)
Ringing date: 03/07/2026
Nest: Site Z
Female parent: 5H1(22)
Male parent: 3AY(19)
9R7 (M)
9R8 (M)
9R9 (F)
Ringing date: 05/07/2026
Nest: Site O
Female parent: Unringed
Male parent: 093(20)
9S0 (M)
9S1 (F)
9S2 (M)
Ringing date: 06/07/2026
Nest: Site Y
Female parent: Unringed
Male parent: 355(21)
9S3 (F)
9S4 (F)
Ringing date: 06/07/2026
Nest: Site S
Female parent: 30(05)
Male parent: T3(16)
3R9 (M)
Ringing date: 17/07/2026
Nest: Site W
Female parent: 3H9(23)
Male parent: 1H7(22)
9S5 (M)
9S6 (M)
I am happy to report that locals have been to the Osoyoos Osprey Platform and say the chick is big, healthy, and getting fish. Bravo!
Blue NC0 is still with Clyde at Alyth SS.
How to be an osprey? Some tips from Rutland!!!!!!!! Smile.
Looks like an adult at the Coeur d’ Alene nest in Idaho.
Like Clark, Gimbir has turned out to be a great provider!
We can see the rescue of the two condors in the release cages! Oh, my. You have to love the dedication of the folks from the Ventana Wildlife Society. https://youtu.be/WSb3GKTESh0?
Thank you for being with us today. It is a breezy evening, and it is about 22 C. Gorgeous. We are heading out for our next-to-last walk of the day. Take care of yourself. Take a breath. Send best wishes to all those fledgling ospreys struggling to find fish in the NE US.
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Geemeff, Roy Dennis, Rutland Water, and to all those who contributed on FB, including Jeff Kear and the UK Osprey Info FB Group. Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams and the news groups that are covering the life of our raptors.
What a beautiful day on the Canadian Prairies. We are going on an adventure today to see whether any hawks are migrating over the Pembina Hills. It has been several years since we went to the Crossing to see them. Wish us luck!
I want to start with some fantastic fishing news in the osprey world. Saturday at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn, five very large fish were delivered in under an hour. Yes, you read that right.
At the OBX osprey nest in the US, a kind landowner tossed a fish that had been delivered but fell off the platform back to the awaiting juvie. Well done, whoever you are!
Always looking for returnees. It can be hard even with a Darvic ring. A 2014 male fledgling from Loch Doon, Shalloch, was signing at the Penwhapple Reservoir in Girvan. He was first seen as a returnee in Wales in 2016. Well done Loch Doon.
There is news that Sol has flown from the adoptive nest but has not returned in nearly two days. The adoptive father has been seen with fish but no juvenile. We hope Sol is eating elsewhere. It is always worrying when they do not return to the nest!
Cutie pie Gimbir is delivering lots of prey to Diamond in the scrape.
Sadly, the third hatch of George and Hope at the Osprey Environmental Centre in Griffin, Australia has died of siblicide.
SK Hideaways Videos, Week of 8 August 2026 Today’s update is dedicated to Jackie and Shadow. While we continue to follow other nests, our hearts and minds are with our beloved Big Bear couple. Jackie was the rock solid foundation of Big Bear ~ we naively believed we had many more years to witness her strength, beauty, bravery, and wisdom. Such a loss shakes us to our core. It brings to light realities we’d rather not acknowledge and breaks our hearts. But rather than crumble, we take a page from Jackie’s book. We stand back up, brush ourselves off, and carry on ~ albeit in baby steps. This week has been and combination of profound grief, heartwarming remembrances, and occasional denials. We each have our own grieving process, but one thing we share is that we are, indeed, grieving a most beloved and inspirational eagles, whose life we have had the privilege of watching. Fly high, dear Jackie, and rest in peace. ~ SK Hideaways
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 KD1 & Shadow Visit Nest Together (2026 Aug 13) Shadow & KD1 met on the nest in the afternoon, after KD1’s dawn visit. They both seemed comfortable, but we cannot know what impulses they have or whether they will become a pair when mating season comes toward the end of the year. For now, we observe and learn, as we will our hearts to heal from the hole Jackie left in them Video: https://youtu.be/MkgTQBBC_SI
Morning Serenadesand Afternoon Meet-Up with Friend (2026 August 9) After morning serenades by Shadow and a sub-adult (likely KD1), the eagles left the roost tree and perched separately. Shadow surveyed the habitat from the Lookout Snag before departing for his morning eagle activities. KD1 returned to Twin Pines a few hours later, where Shadow soon joined the sub-adult ~ each on their own branch. They both departed early afternoon. Video: https://youtu.be/XyNnd3p6nLU
San Jose City Hall Falcons ~ Monty & Hartley Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam | Predatory Bird Research Group Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBSxPjy5sow Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pp9TisLmLU Roof Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQLhmV6bP6o Monty Lures Hartley to Nest for Bonding ~ Tries 3 More Times Unsuccessfully (2026 Aug 14) Hartley and Monty spent time in the nest area this morning. Monty has a certain technique for luring Hartley into the nest box for bonding. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes, he surprises us. Video: https://youtu.be/_I1zjNkPeaA
SE38 Hatches ~ SE37 Puts Head in Shell ~ Lady & Dad’s Family is Complete (2026 Aug 14) Like SE37, SE38 hatched in the wee hours. SE37 seemed to want to hatch again, sticking their head in SE38’s half shell. Ultimately, they both mugged for the camera, leaving fans weak in the knees with cuteness overload. Video: https://youtu.be/QfxN_k_qH24 Welcome to the World SE37!!! (2026 Aug 13) SE37 toiled for 20+ hours to make a perfect zipper around the middle of its egg to hatch at about 4:08 A.M. Sydney time. While Lady rocked the eggs ~ looking as though she might be trying to help SE37 out ~ Dad “paced” around the nest waiting for the seaglet to arrive. Hoping SE38 joins the party soon! Video: https://youtu.be/iswZi-9VZMU
SE37 HAS PIPPED ~ Beak Seen ~ SE38 Possible Pip (2026 Aug 12)SE37 is working on its grand entrance as it pecks away, showing its beak and making great progress. There is a mark atop SE38, which might also be the beginning of a pip. Good luck SE37 and SE38, hope to see you both soon. Video: https://youtu.be/1gUHaF2o7nc
Beautiful Sub-Adult Brings Breakfast to Nest + Some Channel Islands Eagle History (2026 Aug 9) There have been several sub-adults in the West End territory over the past few months. This day, a real beauty brought a whole fish to the nest for breakfast and returned in the afternoon to finish it. The eagle restoration project on the Channel Islands began in 1980 ~ going from zero eagles on the islands to 14 breeding pairs that hatched at least 16 chicks in 2026. A remarkable success. While enjoying the 4 nests for which the Institute for Wildlife Studies and explore.org sponsor livestreams, we can thank these organization and their partners for their tireless work in bringing such a wealth of eagle life back to these beautiful islands. Video: https://youtu.be/VewZm2uvOkY
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 15th August 2026 The Nest Two cam is still out and a site visit has determined that replacement parts are needed which with luck will arrive in the next few days. Off-cam observations by local resident LizB show chicks were seen on or near the nest and on some occasions were eating fish. Nest One cam is still functioning, barring the usual daily 6+ hour morning outage, but no Ospreys came to the nest when the cam was on line. However, reports from LizB showed an Osprey perched nearby for several hours, at a guess Aurora, but no fish was seen. The Nest One tally remains at two hundred and one, and using Steve Quinn’s formula for estimating Louis’ catch, the Nest Two total moves up to four hundred and twenty four. Nest One did have some feathered visitors, not the big ones we’re hoping for, but some little Coal Tits and Bullfinches. Huge thanks to LizB for her off-cam reports, and to the folk at Woodland Trust and
Wildlife Windows who are doing all they can to get Nest Cam Two up and running again. A reminder of the difficulties of maintaining a livestream in a remote area is in the bonus section. The weather was mainly settled today but at the time of filing this report (midnight) it’s raining and heavy rain is forecast overnight, with a low of 12°C, changing to light rain throughout tomorrow with a high of 17°C.Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/A-jPXC-j5X8 N1 Little visitors arrive – a family of Bullfinches 15.55.06 (zoom)https://youtu.be/ZaS8yA0TFyM N1 More little visitors – Coal Tits this time 16.56.09 Bonus watch – just what it takes to bring us the window into the private lives of our Osprey family:https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/behind-the-scenes/
You’re invited to join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:
Flowers from all over the world are being sent to the entrance of Fawnskin Park in California for Jackie.
All is well with the little sea eaglets 37 and 38 at the Olympic Park WBSE nest in Sydney.
‘B’ sent me a great e-mail with lots of links to videos and information you will enjoy. I am including it in its entirety – thanks so much, B.
“Hi Mary Ann — I thought you might be interested in this 3-minute YouTube video from the local Bay Area ABC station, which covers the story of the rescue/release of the two condors that were trapped in the Ventana Wildlife Society’s condor sanctuary as it was threatened by the Big Sur fire: https://youtu.be/WSb3GKTESh0?
It took a smoky 3-hour drive on dirt roads with scattered fires alongside to rescue the birds. Important work, nicely done.
I’ve still got the Jackie blues. We have lost a number of the birds we watch. (Don’t forget Aila!) It goes with watching birds in the wild, where nature is full of threats. But Jackie was special, and this one hits especially hard.
This video tries to explain why Jackie’s death hurt so many people: She tries to explain why Jackie’s death hurt so many people: https://youtu.be/SKee7r6ZtmA?
What she says is true, but I would still say it all can be summarized by saying Jackie was very, very special for very, very many people for very, very many different reasons.
I’m so thankful for all of the rescuers and all of the caregivers and that Jackie is now out of pain. And hopeful for a positive future for Jackie’s faithful mate Shadow.
Thankful, too, that Moon Camp was saved, which helps that positive future for Shadow and all future Big Bear eagles. I don’t think Moon Camp could have been saved if it weren’t for the community of fans that built around Jackie and Shadow and for all the donations that came from those fans. And very thankful that included in those fans were the Brockmans, whose huge donation took the fund-raising drive over the top.”
One last check in – can’t forget Iris, Wensi, and Clarke.
Wensi fish calling right before the Saturday ends with Iris sleeping on the perch.
Take care, everyone. Did not intend to post today but did – I am promising myself a day off so maybe it will be tomorrow. See you soon.
Thank you to B, SK Hideaways, Geemeff, all the FB contributors with their stories and images. Thank you also to those who write investigative reports and the owners of the streaming cams for without them we would not know what is happening on the nests.
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.
SE37 is white, fuzzy, and adorable. SK Hideaways has the hatch in the Olympic Park in Sydney! https://youtu.be/iswZi-9VZMU?
First feeding. You can also see the pip in the second egg. Come on SE38!
SE38 worked that pip really fast and both sea eaglets hatched within 24 hours. Fantastic.
Patience and Compassion have yet to fledge at the Glacier Gardens Bald Eagle nest in Alaska. They are so close. Just look at those hatch dates and remember the number 77 – a great day for fledging. They are sure gorgeous, fully feathered, and, let’s hope, very healthy! Patience (GG10) hatched on June 2, and Compassion (GG11) hatched on June 4.
Patience is 72 days old today.
Iris and Wensi wait for Clarke to bring breakfast. I didn’t see a delivery (perhaps I missed it). Later the pair flew off.
Waiting for breakfast at Poole Harbour!
‘J’ sent an update on Snow that they found:
‘
Maybe this is the way to stop the killing of the Hen Harriers and other raptors on these estates!!!
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 12th August 2026 Garry LV0 and Aurora 536 are both still here – Garry brought a fish for Aurora which is officially fish number 200 for him, but with the nest cam being down for 6-8 hours daily, his actual total is almost certainly much higher. This time last year Aurora had already left on migration, last seen 28th July, she could go at any time so every sighting is to be treasured. Dorcha didn’t appear on nest cam again today, although an adult Osprey, more than likely Dorcha, was spotted by LizB yesterday perched near Louis so she is probably still in the area. Last year her final sighting was on 7th August but as this season started later than usual due to Louis’ late return, she might stay around for a bit longer. Her two chicks should definitely be here til at least the end of the month, fattening up and competing for food ready for the rigours of migration. Louis brought three fish for them today, and the Nest Two tally now stands at four hundred and eleven. The weather was settled but cloudy so today’s eclipse wasn’t visible, and the forecast is for light rain and an overnight low of 17°C, continuing wet tomorrow with sunny intervals and a high of 23°C. Today’s videos:
Phoenix is doing well in care and enjoyed a ‘bass’ dinner last evening after having flown and been chased and grounded by a Bald Eagle. Thank you to everyone who helped Keke and Kam’s only osplet this year at Sandpoint.Update: Sandpoint Osprey Nest Friends
Phoenix is in strong spirits today. Now that he is stabilised, we will proceed with diagnostics like X-rays and possible surgery to repair a laceration. He is on pain medication and feeling feisty. There are always unknowns when it comes to wild raptors, but we have high hopes. We will be sure to update everyone later this afternoon as we know more. Thank you to everyone for caring for the Osprey and all the local raptors!
Good news coming from Tweed Valley. Remember the second osplet was removed due to aggression and potential siblicide. It was returned when strong enough to fight off the older sibling. So far, so good!
At Blackbush. This is hilarious. Please read.
Black stork news from Estonia.
Switzerland has long to have ospreys and their translocation project paid off this year with the first hatches!
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care – there is lots and lots of news coming in – it is hard to keep up some days! I will be back with you on Saturday evening. I am taking a day off! We were at the farm today to get eggs and veggies along with some beautiful flowers.
It was a wonderful day.
Thank you to Geemeff and SK Hideaways for their great work in providing videos and daily summaries; to those who post images and news on FB, we are grateful. Thank you to those who write about and track persecution against raptors, and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us look into the lives of raptors.
The tributes to Jackie continue to pour in and your wonderful, heartfelt words have meant so much to me. I hope to include them in a short tribute to The Queen of Big Bear Valley once the aching goes away. She meant so much to us and motivated so many people. It is still hard to put it into words.
Celebrating in the Olympic Park as SE37 has its beak out and by the time I send this tomorrow, it will have fully hatched. Congratulations Dad and Lady! SK Hideaways has the video: https://youtu.be/1gUHaF2o7nc?
Lady can hear her babies wanting to hatch:
Migration is starting and Hawk Mountain has put out its first count. “The wait is almost over! Autumn migration returns to the Mountain this Saturday, August 15. As raptors begin their journey south, Hawk Mountain comes alive with opportunities to observe, learn, and explore. Enjoy the Autumn Lecture Series, free weekend programs, time at the lookout, or a peaceful walk on the trails. See what’s coming up and plan your trip!
As always, thank you for your support, and you can stay up to date on all Hawk Mountain programs and happenings at hawkmountain.org/events.”
If you live near Hawk Mountain, why not participate? Here are the details:
Autumn Migration Hawkwatch Begins
Daily, August 15-December 15 9 am to 5 pm Trail fee required for Non-Members
The Annual Autumn Hawk Watch begins August 15 at the Sanctuary’s famed North Lookout and is conducted daily, weather permitting, through December 15.
An average 18,000 birds of prey will soar over the Sanctuary’s rocky North Lookout, a 1,500-foot outcropping on the Kittatinny Ridge or “Blue Mountain.” Each year we tally the number and type of birds that pass. An official counter and interpreters are on hand to point out and identify birds.
Visitors should bring binoculars (or rent them at the Visitor Center), something soft to sit on, and a daypack with water and snacks. Plan to relax at the lookout and spend at least an hour. Many people spend the morning, afternoon or even the entire day!
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn more about hawk migration and enjoy this spectacle of nature!
Date & Time
August, 2026
15
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Daily through Dec 15
Location
North Lookout
We had a great Tuesday. Ann helped me with Don and together with Toby we went out to Wildlife Haven in search of a mystery. Lately there has been a Mississippi Kite in one of our parks. As it turns out, in 2014, a pair of kites made a nest and fledged young. One unlucky chick found its way to Wildlife Haven where it has been an ambassador ever since – Milan. Was Milan still alive? I had been at the rehab centre oodles of times, taking in birds, making donations, attending open house but I could never recall Milan. The cage was empty today but Milan is still very much alive. Inside away from the heat. We will double check on Open House!
Two Great Horned Owls were out, along with Majestic, and the two goofy Turkey Vultures – Gus and Leo. Gus and Leo will make you fall in love with Turkey Vultures, I promise. They are such characters.
Majestic.
Geese!
On our way home, we stopped in one of the developments just outside the City. I had been told by a former student, Selena Panchoo, that there was an amazing Latino bakery there. Her recommendation did not disappoint! Made on-premises- we could watch – the desserts were divine. A big plus was that, unlike most City cafes, Toby was allowed! The owner had owned a Cavalier at one time and fell in love with Toby immediately. They will certainly have our business.
Mango cheesecake – mango through and through and you can’t beat a Jarritos soda on a warm day.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 11th August 2026 Some aggression was shown by the chicks today, especially over Louis’ first delivery, which was just a scrap of fish, but as the day went on and Louis kept delivering a steady stream of fish, the aggression died down. Louis brought eight fish, taking the Nest Two tally to four hundred and eight, and there was so much fish that even the marauding Hoodies got a share. They were out in force today, probably the same pair throughout the day, and even Louis had to put up with one at close range, while a bold Hoodie flew down next to Amber and grabbed a big fish from right beside her. However, as she had just received the eighth fish from Louis and both she and Juniper had bulging crops, it wasn’t the disaster it would have been yesterday. Garry LV0 brought three fish for Aurora 536 and the Nest One tally rises to one hundred and ninety nine. Noisy RAF jets caught on both nest cams disturbed Aurora and she left her perch on Pole Tree and flew over to the nest.
It looks like Dorcha is still in the area, just not coming to the nest, as LizB spotted an adult Osprey perching near Louis behind the nest. Although it would be great to see her, with the chicks’ current aggro due to hyperphagia, that’s probably a wise move. The weather was settled and forecast to continue, with an overnight low of 14°C and a high tomorrow of 24°C. Today’s videos:
The Black Storks in northern Europe appear to have fledged.
My friend, Sassa Bird brings me news from Lativa about the birds in that area:
That is wonderful news. I have been following some nests in Estonia – and so happy that Urmas is feeding the storklets, as it appears the parents are gone.
Wensi is, to me, very special. I don’t know if Iris, who is at a minimum of thirty years, will return next year to be reunited with Clarke and have other chicks. So I am treasuring every moment of them on the nest. They are on the big screen at our house -. I do adore this family.
Fledglings doing well at Clark PUD. Showing up for fish!
We have news that the only surviving osplet on the Osoyoos platform in Osoyoos, British Columbia is doing well and getting fish from the parents. The camera is down.
The osplet that was removed from the Tweed Valley nest due to thrashings and its old sibling not allowing it to it has been returned to the nest. Lots of fish gifts were left and observations show that the two are getting along and feedings are going smoothly. Well done, Tweed Valley and Forestry England.
Documentaries about a murder do not often have a connection with our raptors but in the case of the Edradymate Estate, they certainly do!
I was going to check on the status of the condors and the Big Sur fire and ‘B’ sent me the latest link. This is what he writes, “Hi Mary Ann,
I’ve pasted at the bottom of this email the link to a San Francisco Chronicle article about the Big Sur fire, which is dated yesterday and appeared in the print edition of the paper today. (I might be one of the last people who actually buys and reads the print edition of the Chronicle each day.)
It is only the last two paragraphs of the article that address the condor issue. To summarize those paragraphs, the article mentions that the fire has disrupted road access to the condor sanctuary, that Kelly Sorenson says the two condors confined there have gone four days without fresh food or water, and that Kelly is working with firefighters to open access to the sanctuary. But what I like best is the final quote from Kelly: “If for some reason they (the firefighters) are not able to do that (that is, open the access road to Kelly), then we’re prepared to hike up if need be.” Yeah, you go, Kelly!
Signing off. Don is out with Ann and Toby and I are going to go for a nice walk in the coolish breeze. It is such a gorgeous day. Tomorrow we are going to the farm to get produce and on the weekend, I am hoping we will have one of those mystery car tours. The goal is to get Don out every day and for me to get out, even if it is a walk with Toby and then a nice cuppa sitting in the sunshine. We have – Toby and I – decided no housework today! Melissa is coming Monday and she will have her work cut out for her.
You will notice that I have not included any of the thousands of tributes to Jackie. I am hoping that you will continue to send me a note about what Jackie meant to you so that I can include it on her Memorial Wall and here in the blog. I hope to do that next week, so please send a comment about Jackie or an e-mail. The address is maryannsteggles@icloud.com I will only use your initial!
Take care, everyone.
Thank you to Geemeff for her daily summary and videos, B for the latest on the Ventana Wildlife Society’s Sanctuary in Big Sur, to Raptor Persecution UK for following the most horrendous crimes against wildlife, to Sassa Bird for her notes about the NE European ospreys and storks, to Hawk Mountain for their great tracking of the migrating birds, and to all the streaming cams and individuals who put information on FB and images. I am grateful.
I know that we are all still taking in a world without ‘Jackie and Shadow’. I know that many of you were very attached to M15 and Harriet – everyone had their favourites but Jackie and Shadow symbolised persistence, resilence, and hope to me. Every year they struggled with their eggs and we sat and watched Jackie encrusted in snow and ice praying that the eggs would hatch – just please, let them hatch one more time. I was lucky enough to see Spirit, Sunny and Gizmo, and Sandy and Luna hatch at the Big Bear nest – with Shadow and his sticks and Jackie a devoted mother. Jackie will never be forgotten. She is loved by so many people around the world who, today, are still feeling lost and gutted.
Most people are asking if Shadow will get a new mate. Just pause for a moment. How many mates has Connie had at Captiva? M15 at SW Florida was Harriet’s mate and then F23, etc. That should answer the question.
This subadult eagle, KD1, nearly five years old, has been spending time. She is on the nest and then on the perch later.
The news that I hoped to announce on Monday is that Harry and Sally, the Seattle osprey couple followed by Ping Shen, have fledged three osplets!
“Here in Seattle, we have liftoff! I’m sure they’ve been flying for a day or two but I saw two of the three take lovely practice flights circling around the nest today. Seems fairly certain the third has also flown though I didn’t witness it today. Harry and Sally fledged all three this year! So wonderful to see, and to see this pair once more, after following so closely last year. I’ll continue to check in until they leave, but all good out here in the Northwest…”
There is some good news. In Cumbria, at RSPB Campfield Marsh, three osplets fledged. This is the very first time that ospreys have bred and the first time that osplets have flown from a nest at Campfield Marsh. This is fantastic news.
At the NE Florida nest of Beau and Gabby, Beau has returned. All of the cameras are now operational.
Waiting for hatch for the Olympic Park White-bellied Sea Eagles, Dad and Lady. I keep checking and I am not very patient. Judy Harrington has noticed a possible small pip through the membrane.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 10th August 2026 Today’s main talking point is the extreme aggression shown by the two chicks as they competed for food, particularly with the first fish where Juniper suffered a sustained attack by Amber, being divebombed and struck repeatedly and then forced overboard. Both are ravenous, in the grip of hyperphagia, and while we can expect to see more of this behaviour, at later fish deliveries both chicks were on the nest without attacking each other. Louis brought four fish today, Juniper got the first and Amber the other three, so perhaps he will step up his fishing and have more six- and eight-fish days. The Nest Two tally now stands at four hundred. Dorcha wasn’t seen today, her last sighting was at 16.18
on Saturday, but both Garry LV0 and Aurora 536 were around, Garry brought her a fish taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and ninety six. The weather was settled and should remain so, with light cloud, light winds, an overnight low of 11°C and a high tomorrow of 21°C.Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/0gDaRa0Tt2o N2 Huge fight breaks out as Juniper gets the first fish 1142.40(slo-mo zoom repeat) https://youtu.be/iX41WsaOYlY N2 Amber’s waiting and gets fish two 11.56.22https://youtu.be/CrwvZ97vsBc N2 Amber gets the third fish 13.03.14https://youtu.be/X2A7PszFOp4 N2 Amber gets the fourth fish, Juniper loses out again 14.50.38https://youtu.be/E57ODE9Ou8w N1 Garry brings a fish for Aurora 15.17.58
You’re invited to join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:
There is concern growing for the Big Sur Condor Release area as wildfires are encroaching. From Kelly Sorenson:
August 10, 2026
Dear Mary,On Saturday, the Timber Fire began burning in the mountains above Big Sur and has already closed access to our California Condor Sanctuary. Firefighters continue to battle the blaze in extremely rugged terrain, and we are monitoring conditions closely.
Although our staff cannot currently reach the Sanctuary, we’ve immediately shifted into the emergency response plans we’ve developed over many years of working in fire-prone landscapes. Our team is actively evaluating conditions and preparing, if necessary, to safely release California Condors 868 and 340, who are currently recovering from lead poisoning in our on-site release facility.
At this time, neither condor is in immediate danger, and any decision to release them will be based on conditions at the Sanctuary and what is safest for the birds. We have planned for situations like this, and our staff is in close communication with fire officials and our agency partners should conditions change.
Wildfire is one of the realities of conserving wildlife in the rugged landscapes of California. While we can’t control the fire, we can prepare for it, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re grateful for the firefighters and first responders working to protect Big Sur, and we’ll continue to closely monitor the situation.
We’ll keep you informed as the situation develops. In the meantime, you can watch the Sanctuary and follow the condors through our live Condor Cams.Read Condor (340) and Condor 868’s full bios California Condors 340 and 868 recuperating from lead poisoning inside our Big Sur Release Facility on August 10, 2026.
Thank you for your concern. We appreciate your support and will share another update as soon as we know more.
With gratitude,
Kelly Sorenson Executive Director
Please keep everyone in the area of wildfires and all the wildlife in your prayers and send them positive energy. We have fires burning in Canada and they are growing in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.
This image has been circulating all evening. I do not know who to thank as it was shared by so many, but it is an image of Jackie as an eaglet in the Big Bear nest with her parents.
Good advice.
Breakfast has not arrived. Is Clarke having trouble finding fish today?
In Estonia, Urmas is feeding the storklets fish baskets on the nest. Urmas ringed the male down at the stream with the fish baskets but the adults have had trouble foraging and he is being the fish fairy to their storklets.
Blue NC0 from the Loch of the Lowes, who lost her nest when her mate Laddlie LM12, died is on the Alyth SS osprey platform with Clyde. Now this is interesting. I am hoping for a pair bond before migration.
Thank you so much for being with us today. We are heading out to Wildlife Haven in about twenty minutes. It is part of the ‘get outside move’ for the remainder of the summer when the temperature cooperates. Please continue to take care of yourself. Jackie’s death has impacted each and every one of us in ways that we might not recognise. So take it easy.
Thank you to Geemeff and Ping Shen for their great contributions today. To those who post on FB with images and information, I am grateful. Also, a big thanks to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to follow the lives of our raptor families.
We had a fabulous day at the English Gardens – ice creams and a pup cup, too! The weather cooperated fully – blue skies, nice temperatures, and a sweet breeze. Everyone was hoping to catch a glimpse of hummingbirds.
Geemeff kindly sent me yesterday’s summary and videos from Loch Arkaig that went MIA on my computer. Thank you, Geemeff.
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigSaturday 8th August 2026 Both of yesterday’s missing key characters turned up today, and both brought fish – Garry LV0 delivered one fish for Aurora 536 on Nest One, taking his tally to one hundred and ninety five, and Dorcha delivered a fish to Nest Two where both of her chicks were waiting, taking her season’s tally to five. Louis also brought fish, he delivered three fish to the nest, getting his toes bitten in the process and taking his season’s tally to three hundred and eighty eight. The Nest Two total now stands at three hundred and ninety three. It was wet and windy today, with strong gusts of wind that caused Louis on one occasion to have to come around again to land with his fish, but that didn’t stop a pair of Hooded Crows from invading the nest in the chicks’ absence, rooting around looking for fish scraps. They didn’t find much, those hungry chicks don’t leave a lot. The rain is forecast to continue, heavy overnight with a gentle breeze and a low of 12°C, changing to light rain tomorrow and a high of 17°C, with more ‘gentle breezes’ which tend to roar through the branches and shake the nests.
The Stellar’s Eagle, who is a long distance from its home in Siberia, has been hanging around Newfoundland and Maine for a few years.
Screenshot
We must take every day at a time. Jackie’s red blood count has now risen from 6% to 9%. This is not the 30% it should be so she remains critical. Please keep sending her the best energy you have and the best wishes for her team to find the underlying cause of her anemia.
The baby at Blackbush Beach Osprey Platform in Prince Edward Island has fledged – congratulations to Mum and Dad who have done the impossible in a year of tragedy. They fledged four!!!!!!!!!
Now the siblings are not being friends (were they ever?) – as competition for fish arrivals result in some scrappy fights. It is all good. They will need these skills – the taking of the fish from another – in the world beyond the nest.
All four are really healthy – or so it appears.
Fish continue to arrive for Wensi at the Hellgate Canyon nest of Iris and Clarke.
Blackbush and Hellgate Canyon thrived. Clarke was able to overcome some adverse fishing conditions – thankfully- to provide for Iris and Wensi and himself. Other areas have human-caused issues that are killing all the osprey – namely the industrial vacuuming up of Menhaden.
There is the first egg for the Redcliffe Peregrine Falcons.
We will be looking for a hatch with the White-bellied Sea Eagles and in the coming weeks eggs at Port Lincoln and at Orange. And don’t forget – 367 Collins Street! We already have three little osplets at the Osprey Environmental Centre. The focus is shifting to the Southern Hemisphere.
Take care everyone.
Thank you to Geemeff for resending her report from yesterday at Loch Arkaig, to all those who posted information and images on FB, and the owners of the cameras where we view the lives of these birds.
California Condors 340 and 868 recuperating from lead poisoning inside our Big Sur Release Facility on August 10, 2026. 
