This is going to be a quick posting. It continues to be hot, and we are inside enjoying the benefits of AC. Toby was exhausted after his walk with Ann, and Don was sound asleep. The heat has made me tired, but it is really helping the garden to become green, and everything feels like summer, not spring. Hydration is the key and please, if you can, leave water for wildlife.
The big news is the Bald Eagle nest that is sliding – Traverse City MI. Send your good wishes to those standing by to rescue Snow, the 6 week old eaglet.
We have the first hatch for Elen and Teifi at the Glaslyn nest but, wait…the second chick decided to hatch later in the evening. Well done on that delayed incubation!
Six week old eaglet Snow is in peril as Traverse City Bald Eagle nest slides when supporting limb breaks.
This is the latest picture that I have as Snow hangs onto the nest that is sliding off. Rescuers are on standby to help. Send positive wishes that Snow escapes injury. The nest is 100 ‘ off the ground.
The smallest osplet that had been attacked and denied food at Patuxent River Park has died.
CJ7 and Blue 022 have three little osplets today.
Three full babies at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn.
Thank you for being with us today for this quick check at a few nests. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to everyone who has posted information and images, and to the owners of the streaming cams where I took my screen captures. I am grateful to everyone in MI who is waiting to help and has permits in hand! Let us hope the outcome is good.
Oh, the rain is gone, the sun is out, and Toby had a walk before the hot weather kicked in after lunch. Don and Toby are now sound asleep on the sofa. I noticed that it is sometimes harder for Don to walk with us. It looks like it is time to get that all-important walker! I am still sick, but the nice weather is giving me some energy!
Later…25 C. Toby hid under the deck when we went outside. It was his way of telling us that it was too hot for a Cavalier to be outside. Geemeff reported it was 27 C in London and we are expecting 32 C this coming week. Our City is wondering what to do about climate change – one big answer is trees. Thankfully, they have replanted every 123 year old tree cut down on our street. Will I live to see them reach 10 metres? I wonder. They certainly aren’t going to be offering shade soon.
Our Province generates electricity by hydroelectric power in the north. What happens if the water dries up? Are these things I should be thinking about insteading of listening to birdsong in the garden.
No, we should all be outside in nature listening for birdsong and enjoying the breeze, if there is one. It heals everything.
Jackie & Shadow Greet Stunning Sunrise ~ Sandy & Luna Listen & Learn (2026 May 21)Jackie and Shadow greet each day with a series of chortles, snortles, and togetherness. 6-week-old Sandy and Luna observe the tradition in hopes of having perfect mates of their own one day. They did take a break in their listening exercise to have something that looked like a PS (poop shot) contest, which definitely added an unexpected element of humor to this otherwise serene slice of the family’s morning. Video: https://youtu.be/gsX35LWeo8U
Fraser Point Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Cruz, Andor, Sasha, Zuma & Ryder Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s Cruz manages the eaglets’ snatch & go shenanigans vs. peregrine mom Hartley doing the same (2026 May 20) A morning in the life of Cruz and Andor, and their 7-week-old eaglets Sasha, Zuma, and Ryder. The Fraser Point nest is often called the “Zen nest” for good reason. We thought it would be interesting to contrast that calm to the mayhem that ensues when peregrine falcon parents bring prey to chicks of the comparatively same age. As such, there is a 2-minute clip of the San Jose City Hall Falcons receiving one of their meals this morning. Do you relate more with Zen or Zany? Video: https://youtu.be/c9rs3z7Rh6c
Meet Jet, Scout, Stewart & Walton ~ Flapping, Bouncing Boys at 4-1/2 Weeks (2026 May 23)Hartley and Monty’s 4-1/2-week old boys are on track to take flight far sooner than we’re ready ~ as soon as next week. Jet, Scout, Stewart, and Walton are flapping, bouncing, and head-tilting exactly as they should be at this age. Their shenanigans are more entertaining by the day. Video: https://youtu.be/EYU0d3IHwSk 4 Week Milestones:Chicks sleep outside nest box, steal prey, perch on ledge and drain (2026 May 18) The chicks are achieving milestones right on schedule. They had many firsts yesterday: sleeping outside the nest box (3 of them), stealing prey from parents, jumping up to the lower ledge (2 of them), and Red perched on the drain. They’re growing up way too fast for my liking. Video: https://youtu.be/GhKpFR5-4Ao
Cholyn & Chase’s Date Night ~ Seaside Chat & Sunset Stick Wrangling (22 May 2026) Though we can’t follow them every second of the day (unfortunately), on-cam views tell us that Cholyn and Chase spend a lot of time together. Cam ops found them in their seaside hideaway, chortling, beaky kissing, and watching the world go by. Later, they met on the Two Harbors nest, where a pesky Y branch is partially obstructing one of their flight paths and really getting on Chase’s nerves. So far, the branch is winning. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, observing this special couple is always a huge gift. Video: https://youtu.be/PxEikeV79oQ
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 24th May 2026
Today’s report is pretty much the same as yesterday’s – routine fish deliveries and incubation changeovers, and some rain. The only unusual thing was some owl calls heard near Nest Two in daylight, bringing up the possibility that last year’s mimic Jay might be back. Garry LV0 brought one fish on camera for Aurora 536, taking the Nest One tally to seventy nine, and Louis brought two fish for Dorcha, taking the Nest Two tally to eighty four. At the time of posting this report (23.30) night cam is on on both nests and both females are sitting peacefully on the eggs, three eggs for Dorcha and one for first time mum Aurora. The overnight forecast islight clouds with a low of 11°C, changing to light rain showers with sunny spells and a high of 17°C tomorrow.
Bonus watch – With reference to the mimic Jay and the cleverness of Corvids, here’s David Attenborough and the Crows in Japan who’ve learned to use humans to their advantage:
Two cuties for Idris and Telyn so far at Dyfi. Adults did a team feeding on Sunday. Sweet.
Two hungry beaks for CJ7 and her fish!
At Manton Bay, Blue 33 and Maya have a nest of almost three little reptiles as the soft down of the hatchlings gives way to that oily head and coppery feathers at the nape of the neck.
Dylan and Seren have three osplets and after delivering a fish at 1445 on Sunday, Dylan stayed and helped Seren feed the babies.
Two littles for Frankie and Angel at Roundhouse Loch Doon.
The chat at the Falconshire Bald Eagle nest remains shut down to the vulnerability of what is happening on the nest. Scout is still with us! The weather is not great, but a part of a fawn came in on Sunday morning, and Scout had a good feed. The wing is still healing.
No one needs to worry about P3. The third hatch for Big Red and Arthur is doing quite well and is often right up front at meal time.
Big continues to fly and return to the nest for fish at the Achieva Credit Union.
I might have missed it but I have yet to see a fish delivery to Mum and only chick at Dewey Beach. No, I didn’t. Nothing. This is going to be very sad.
A read: ‘Thirty-Two Words for Field’ by the late Manchán Magan, thanks to Emergence Magazine.
If you want to know what is going on at the US osprey nests – I will only touch on a few – then please check out the FB group Joy of Ospreys.
Hatch watch at Glaslyn for both nests!
Thank you for being with us today. It was so hot here, and it is going to get worse. I imagine that no matter where you live, you will see a change in temperatures this summer. Please leave out water for the birds – baths help to cool them off, and bowls of water offer hydration. You also need to make sure that you are getting enough hydration, too.
Got old cat or dog kibble? Birds eat it! It is a great source of protein.
See you soon!
Thank you so much to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their diligence in sending me their weekly videos and daily summaries. I am so terribly grateful to both of them. It allows me to include much more news that I might – and I know you are wondering what is happening at all those nests! I am grateful to everyone who posts information on FaceBook whether it is a newsletter, or the latest news with a photo. Let us all thank the owners of the streaming cams who let us watch these amazing families.
I continue to fight a horrific beginning of spring cold! Thank you for all the various remedies – I am trying them! Lots of honey, lemon, and ginger! Don and Toby have embraced the day since it is raining outside as just another ‘pajama day’. That has been grand.
There continues to be sadness at Western Maryland Shore Old Town Home. The second hatch died six days ago of starvation, and today, the first hatch, a tiny little thing that was not only starving but could not get sufficiently under Mum to keep warm, died of hypothermia in the rain. For whatever reason, Mum decided to incubate the unviable egg instead of her brooding her chick. Perhaps it is a blessing. That sounds horrible, I know. But I cannot stand to see these wee things starve, get a little fish, starve some more, eventually dying a few days before fledge – emaciated.
This image is from Heidi and ‘PB’ – the little osplet had 17 bites of food at that meal, its last.
Big Red took care of her three chicks brilliantly in what has been a soaking wet day on the Cornell Campus. Fed and warm.
In the UK, there was almost a tragedy when Seren accidentally kicked one of her three chicks out of the egg cup. This is an amazing osplet – I cannot wait to see what they do in their lifetime if they manage this. Geemeff has it on video: https://youtu.be/ByCRVMITshM?
Scout on the Falconshire Bald Eagle nest is alive. There was much concern over this eaglet’s welfare. Let’s hope lots of prey come so that Scout might thrive.
Speaking of prey. Let’s think about this. Agricultural practices have changed around the world. The fields and woods are not full of rodents and gophers because humans don’t like them around. The Raptors would thrive. The rivers are full of toxins like phosphates, are warming, and have fewer and fewer fish. So when someone says it is just ‘nature’, think again. Maybe it is something linked to humans, but less obvious than a fishing line.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 23rd May 2026
Another uneventful day with spells of rain, fish deliveries, and incubation duty changeovers. Louis delivered three fish for Dorcha taking the Nest Two tally to eighty two, and Garry LV0 delivered two fish for Aurora 536, although the second one was really just the tail-end of his dinner.
Garry’s tally now stands at seventy eight. More rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow, along with what’s referred to as a gentle breeze. However, one of last night’s ‘gentle breezes’ completely upended Dorcha, so here’s wishing her an uneventful night on the exposed nest. Temperature spread is a low of 11°C tonight and a high of 16°C tomorrow.
There are two little bobbleheads for CJ7 and Blue 022 – and there are a lot of fish on that nest!
There is a wee baby for Idris and Telyn at the Dyfi nest in Wales along with a pip in the second egg.
Good news story of the day: The eagle nest collapsed. One eaglet went into care. Everyone wondered if the adults would feed the other but then a human-made nest went up and yes, the eagles are caring for their chick!!!!!!!! Humans can do good things. This is wonderful. Thank you!
Everything you wanted to know (or not) about Iris’s eggs.
Look for the NG2 name choices to be posted on the 26th of May.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care everyone. Stay safe and I hope, beyond hope, you do not get this summer cold or flu whatever it is.
Thank you to Geemeff for her report on all things Loch Arkaig, to Heidi and ‘PB’ for drawing my attention to what has happened at WMSOTH, and to all those who created videos or posted on FB; we are grateful. Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch our lovely families.
We were expecting it. Big had been flapping her wings in the rain, getting stronger and stronger, and this morning he took off and returned to the nest like a pro. Time: 10:25:41. Thanks ‘PB’ and Heidi.
Proud Mum Jill and Little watched as Big circled around the nest. Congratulations – this is the most well deserved fledge and just wait til Little flies – maybe at the weekend.
Jill did it with a little help from Jack at the start and a lot of help at the end. Now to keep the fish coming for the fledgling.
This is just wonderful…at one point we feared these two would starve to death but Mum Jill literally taloned up and kept her babies fed. I remain astonished at all she did and so proud of her.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 20th May 2026
Another calm routine day, no alarms or intruders, just rain and fish deliveries and the males taking their turn on the eggs allowing the females to stretch their wings and go off nest to eat. Garry LV0 brought three fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to seventy three, and Louis brought one fish for Dorcha, taking the Nest Two tally to seventy three. The forecast overnight and through tomorrow is more rain, with a low of 7°C and a high of 17°C.
They could hear the chicks at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn in the microphones overnight! Won’t be long!
I love this! Jeff Kear says, “SO TODAY COULD BE BUSY.
With possible hatches at:- DYFI, POOLE HARBOUR, LOCH DOON and KIELDER NEST 7. And the second Chick at Clywedog has already hatched, Egg Number 4 at MANTON BAY as well(forgot that one)”.
Yes, it will be a busy one. Take care everyone. I will see you with the latest on the UK hatches this evening.
Thank you to ‘PB’ and Heidi, to Geemeff for their Loch Arkaig Summary, those who post to FB and the owners of the streaming cams that let us look into the lives of our friends.
It is simply freezing here. We have our first Baltimore Orioles arriving in the garden, and we could even have snow. We went to pick up a few plants (they are horrifically expensive this year) and hoped to plant them, but no…they are in the house. Calico even took some bites out of one of them!
It decided to rain instead. We could use that to clean up the dust storm from the other day.
A male Baltimore Oriole taken with an iPhone – 19 metres away so pixilated.
We are in the middle of this mess. Everyone is getting grumpy oping that spring will please come.
HY and Toby horsing around.
We will start with the sad and end with the wonderful.
Glen Hays eaglet, GH4, hatched on 4 April, was 43 days old when it died this morning. The other eaglet might not survive either. Please note that I am not saying this is Avian Flu. The cause of death can only be determined by a necropsy. I also do not want to start rumours rumming amuk but we should educate ourselves as to the cause of HPAI.
H5N1/Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu. Please listen to the massive impact that this virus has had on wildlife worldwide. Thijs Kuiken, the world expert on H5N1, speaks on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ImFD8sLFfvo?
I am including this because one of my readers and a great lover of wildlife wondered after the passing of the little eagle at Glen Hayes this morning might be stopped. If you listen you will understand how difficult this is. Avian Influenza began several decades ago. Thijs has written extensively on this – some non-scientific articles. I was introduced to him after posting that the two White-tail Eaglets at the Estonian nest had died within minutes with bodies taken for necroscopy and discovered to have Avian Influenza. This was the first known instance of spring nest deaths – til this time it was in the fall. What this means is that the avian influenze was now being spread through migration.
It appears that not enough fish have been delivered to the Old Town Home osprey nest, and at least one of the osplets has perished. This is not a surprise with the lack of fish in the region for ospreys. Many adults have abandoned their nests rather than let the eggs hatch and the chicks starve. Two known nests on streaming cams to have already failed are the Severna Park and VIMS, along with the nests mentioned in an earlier blog, not on camera, by a Virginia monitor.
The weather may take a toll on Iris and New Guy 2’s hope for chicks. In addition to the rushing river causing fishing to be difficult, it is now raining!
Kansas City Bald Eagles are ready to fledge:
It is just such a different story in the UK:
Two years ago, the little one in the clutch of four of CJ7 and Blue 022, was just the cutest little thing. So tiny amongst its big siblings and yet, today, it might have made history as the only 4th hatch ever to return from migration in the UK (or anywhere else for that matter). Known as ‘The Mighty Titch’ by Birds o Poole Harbour.
As Tiger Mozone points out, not all nests with four fledge four. I have not been able to check the returns for Manton Bay but it could be that this is a historial moment when for the first time in the history of UK ospreys, the fourth hatch has returned in year two!
We have the third hatch for Blue 33 and Maya at Rutland’s Manton Bay nest. That baby is quite strong, just like the first hatch.
P3 sleeping on Big Red’s talons.
Achieva Osprey Platform is still doing well. Jack has stepped up in his fishing meaning Jill has only gone out once a day for the past couple of days. Chicks growing and Big could fledge the end of this coming week.
First Fledge at Venice Beach Golf and Country Club osprey nest!
Two new hatchlings at Moraine Park. Let’s hope they have fish.
Do you love the Port Lincoln Ospreys? the idea that individuals are working hard to put up platforms to encourage the population growth of ospreys? It costs $20 AUSTRALIAN a year to join Friends of Osprey Sth Australia. They love donations, too – and look what someone just did: “Thank you to Mr Nev Dowling at Coolangatta for the donation of Electronic WIFI equipment for the upgrading of the WIFI link system for the Camera streaming system on the barge where the Osprey nest is located.”
That is wonderful!
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 17th May 2026
Both nests enjoyed a peaceful day today, no alarms or intruders. Garry LV0 brought only one fish for Aurora 536, while Dorcha received three from Louis. The tally for both nests now stands at sixty seven, except Garry is still ahead by two as two of Nest Two’s fish were brought by Dorcha, and possibly more as only fish seen on camera count towards the total and Nest One cam still remains down for a few hours each morning. The forecasted rain didn’t last as long as expected today and it should be dry tonight with a low of 3°C, and remain dry tomorrow until after lunch, with a high of 15°C.Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/BLGGKD34qIA N2 Better late than never – first fish for Dorcha 12.15.15 https://youtu.be/U7-A1r7oD3Y N1 Aurora’s one and only fish today 14.13.53https://youtu.be/KzuLFblS-Zk N2 Fish & chirps! Second fish from Louis 15.10.40https://youtu.be/Cgf1kMyQWnQ N2 Late evening fish for Dorcha 22.00.34Bonus advice – what to do if you find a chick out of the nest:https://www.popsci.com/environment/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-baby-bird/
Wild Bird Scoop posted this. Have you read The Serviceberry? By Robin Wall Kimmerer? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it.
Thank you so much for being with us today. We had a slow, calm Sunday! I loved every second of it. Tomorrow, Melissa comes to clean – what a blessing she is. Along with Ann, they make my life much easier. Take care of yourself. See you soon!
Thank you to every contributor who added information on FB and to ‘PB’, who has helped post information for herself and Heidi. I am grateful to Geemeff, who has now posted more than 5000 videos for the Woodland Trust! That is a great accomplishment. To the owners of the streaming cams, we are grateful for allowing us to witness the lives of these amazing birds.
There is news later about Aran. He does have a nest and he does have a female at that nest with him. Perhaps it is Elen? That would be wonderful. Or it could be the other female. We wait and wonder.
At the Glaslyn nest, Teifi is skydancing and courting Blue 432/Eschells.
Dorcha continues to wait for Louis at Loch Arkaig 2. It is extremely windy. Will Louis blow in?
Jean-marie Dupart has reported the youngsters are still in Senegal but also some older birds that are either migrating late or not leaving their winter homes.
In Nova Scotia, Oscar continues to wait for Ethel at Russell Lake.
Again, thank you so much for your kind notes. I am feeling much better. Much better, indeed. It was 7 C on Friday, and I got to spend almost all of the day outside with Toby and Don. It was glorious. In the afternoon, Ann took Don to the zoo, where they watched polar bears rolling on their backs in the crisp air and bright sunshine.
Today is the 11th of April. It is the latest day that the male osprey, Louis, of Loch Arkaig, has returned from migration. I hope that by the end of the day he has returned. I have to admit that my stomach has been slipping down into my toes over the past week in fear that we will not see this amazing osprey ever again. For many of you, Louis was your favourite osprey on streaming cam during the pandemic. More than 400,000 watched him and his precious Aila raise their triplets – Vera, Doddie, and Little Captain.
The image shows the three chicks with Louis on the far right.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 10th April 2026
Today ended with our key character not here – Louis has not yet returned. There is still time and fingers and talons are firmly crossed for his arrival soon. Dorcha spent the day on and off the nest, constantly looking around even when dealing with a troublesome branch she was unable to shift. Things on Nest One are looking much more positive, with Garry LV0 bringing two fish and huge clumps of moss and spending time nestorising when he wasn’t engaged with Aurora 536, who also looks really at home. They both worked together to see off a blue ringed intruder Osprey who flew right overhead but didn’t allow her ring to be read. As it’s on her left leg, she’s Scottish, and it wasn’t Affric 152, so we’ll have to wait and see if she returns to give us a better look before an ID can be made. Tomorrow’s forecast for Inver Mallie which covers the nest area is light rain and a moderate breeze, so nothing there to impede the progress of returning Ospreys. Weather link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2646094 .
https://youtu.be/N7vj8r9pWpY N1 Aurora flies off with the fish, Garry does housekeeping 16.10.50Bonus watch – the importance of the UK’s temperate rainforests, like Loch Arkaig:
I adore Aran and am heartbroken that he lost his Glaslyn nest last season due to a late return that he had shared with Mrs G and Elen. Elen has not been seen for a week. No one knows her status. Thankfully, individuals are keeping track of Aran as Teifi continues to reign over the Glaslyn nest.
I love this screen capture and information by Jenny Powell. Iris can out-fish any of the local ‘Masters’ or male ospreys! She is really quite amazing – at least thirty years old.
European ospreys arriving.
Seems to be very windy at all the nests in the UK. This is Telyn waiting for Idris and a fish at Dyfi where the camera has been on and off.
Harry is doing a good job for Flora at SS Alyth.
As reported earlier, all is well in the Usk Valley in Wales where both ospreys have returned.
Blue 022 doesn’t mind the strong winds when it comes to mating with CJ7 at Poole. Watching for eggs!
Thank you so much for being with us today. Unless there is news about Louis, I will be taking a wee break for a few days. I really want to get ahead on the spring cleaning of the garden. It is going slowly this year – wish me luck!
Thank you so much to the individuals who created videos, to Geemeff for all the daily news from Loch Arkaig, and to those who have posted wonderful screen captures and information on FB. I am always grateful to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to look into the lives of these bird families.
Heidi reports that a GHO is taking interest in the Farm Field nest. This is not good.
Beau and Gabby’s second hatch, Kai, fledged yesterday and returned to the nest. Remember males often fledge earlier than females!
If I failed to mention it, Louis’s mate, Starr, returned to the Baseball Park osprey platform in Missoula, Montana. She is a good Mum – and well, we know about Louis.
Our daughter and grandson are coming today so I will not be checking in on the birds again until either late or Friday morning. Some of our regular contributors are travelling to see birds – enjoy those of you that are! And for the rest of us, take care. I will see you soon.
Thank you to Geemeff for the video of Blue 022 and CJ7, to Heidi for her report as well as Erick Greene. Always grateful for osprey news!
Not only did this super mum land on the same day as last year but she arrived within one minute of her time in 2025. I don’t even know if trains and planes have that kind of timely accuracy! The time was 18:29:44.
She’s landing!
The latest Blue 022, her mate, has arrived is the 26th of March in 2023. In 2025, he arrived on 22 March. So come on Blue 022 – you are the most amazing Dad. CJ7 waited a long time for you and together you have produced numerous clutches of four chicks going to fledge – you are a super couple.
At the Big Bear nest of Jackie and Shadow, Jackie had to literally protect her eggs and fight of Ravens who were attacking her as she incubated. It was horrible to watch. They were very careful coming on and off and taking breaks on Wednesday.
Emma is at the Pitkin County nest in Colorado. I don’t think Charlie is home yet.
Geese are taking over Captain Mac’s osprey platform on Fenwick Island. I am pleased. Let the geese take the platforms where osplets were abandoned because there was a lack of food, and they starved right in front of our eyes just days before fledging – like this nest! And I do love my ospreys.
It’s nearing 1800 and Toby is going to start thinking it is time for a meal. He had a fun day with Lucy, Ann’s dog and Ann, at their house while Don and I went for his doctor’s appointment. Spring wants to arrive but it isn’t yet. The light is different and we are getting hopeful.
Thank you for being with us today. Take care.
Thank you to ‘J’ for her note about what is happening and the links from nature chat, to those who post on FB including Heidi, and to those who make videos and own streaming cams that allow us to watch our favourite bird families.
Our family knows this truth all too well. You never know when you say ‘Goodbye, I love you’ if it will be the last. I will never forget the morning that our son walked out the door on his way to his summer job, and his employer phoning me two and a half hours later, wondering where Will was – because he was never late. I am so grateful that our morning was spent having breakfast together in the warm breeze of a Canadian summer. It was calm and it was beautiful. Twenty-six years later, I still miss that amazing kid. We have learned that you must treasure every moment – live life as if it is the last day, always. Never leave with a harsh word, never have to say you are sorry to someone. Surround yourself with love. And that brings us to this post…We generally do not know when the moment will come when we will see a person, a pet, or a treasured ‘bird’. We do not realise it until it is past.
Today as I drove out to Oak Knoll Farm to pick up the week’s produce and eggs, skeins of Canada Geese filled the skies. Others have photographed the Bald Eagles gathering on the river. The great migration has really begun in earnest as our temperatures dropped from 30 C two days ago to 8 C today. Fall is here, not by the calendar but by the movement of the wildlife.
And so, we must treasure all the years we have spent with these amazing birds and hope that those who are departing, or have departed, on their great fall migration will return to us in the spring.
Iris stood and posed on the nest on Tuesday 2 September as if she was ready to depart. Iris has outlived all other female ospreys that I know about and if this is her last visit to the nest and the last time we will see her this year, I hope that her migration is safe, full of huge fish, and that she returns safely to raise yet another nest of checks with New Guy in 2026.
Tiger Mozone told me years ago that it is, in part, good DNA and luck that allows some adults to thrive as long as Iris has. She will be at least 30 when she returns next year, if not 31. She has definitely had luck on her side. We have no idea where she spends her winters, but she would have honed the trip over the years, landing at the same tree and making the same stopovers. We have learned these things from the ringed birds from the UK spotted in The Gambia and Senegal.
We didn’t know when Xavier delivered that yummy parrot to Diamond five days ago, that it would be the last prey delivery. Xavier was a ‘real’ character. He always seemed so small compared to Diamond, and the poor little guy often got scolded for only being able to find a Starling. It will be Xavier’s acute desire to help incubate the eggs, brood the babies, and his sneak attempts to try and feed his children that will remain with me. He was a good provider, and we will not forget him. He takes a little piece of our heart, just like Annie and all her mates, beginning with Grinnell, when they did not return.
Life in the wild goes on. Diamond will hopefully have chicks this year. She is no youngster and has now outlived two mates. Let us hope that this new chap will warm our hearts by his intense caring for her.
At the falcon scrape on the grounds of Charles Sturt University in Orange, Australia, Diamond is bonding with the young male who has been delivering prey to her on the tower. https://youtu.be/uwc9J40eGps?
Cilla has named him Gimbir. Dr Kinross posted this:
From the Box Cam live stream info in Youtube:
GENERAL INFORMATION This site is about a family of peregrine falcons using a nest box since 2008 in a water tower at Charles Sturt Unversity, Orange, Australia. The adult female is Diamond and the new male (just arrived 31/8) is called Gimbir (Wiradjuri for spring or fountain, pronounced more like Kimber, not Jimbeer). The previous male, Xavier, disappeared on 27/8 and is assumed dead, probably from a hunting accident. He had been with Diamond since 2016 and is sorely missed.
NEWS 2nd September 2025 We don’t know yet whether Gimbir will be accepted as a new mate but there have been at least three bonding session and we know he is a good hunter as brought two large prey to the tower yesterday. I’ve made several videos of him already. He still has to prove that he can provide for a family by giving his catch to Diamond so we shall see.
Tributes to Xavier are filling FB and YouTube. I will have those for Friday. In the UK: Brianne is getting ready to break the Dyfi record for being the longest remaining fledgling. Idris is there with her, delivering fish, and he is set to beat Monty’s time between arrival and departure, which was 166 days in 2013. Idris arrived back at Dyfi on 21 March 2025 (earliest ever for any Dyfi osprey). Harry is delivering fish to Forest at Alyth. The entire family is reportedly still at Llyn Brenig. Heather saw two ospreys at Glaslyn in the distance – too far away to identify. 8 remains at the Rutland Manton Bay Nest with Blue 33 and Maya. At Poole Harbour, Blue 022 is still home but hasn’t been seen at the nest today.
Thank you to the Montana Osprey Project, Charles Stuart Falcon Cam Project, and Orange, Australia Peregrine Falcons FB for the streaming cams, videos, and posts, and Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn for their streaming cam and Emyr Evans for his reminders.
Sad news has come in this morning. As you were aware, it appeared that only one sea eaglet was seen around the parents. WBSE34 found itself far, far from home and blinded. We have also received word that WBSE33 is in care. This could be very good news if her condition is good. Oh, these poor babies. Thanks, Heidi.
Hugo Yugo is fine. It could, however, have ended badly. She ate a shoelace with a knot at one end! I will spare you the details, but suffice it to say that the ‘evidence’ arrived in the middle of dinner with my ‘bestie’. Hugo Yugo is back to her cheeky self and is now cuddled under my left arm, making it difficult for me to keyboard. Her sisters might well wish she was still under the weather as they had quite a bit of peace while she was under the weather. We are all relieved, and to think we thought she was trying to pass a fur ball!!!!!!! Not our girl. Where in the world she found this shoestring is beyond me; none seem to be missing. Gracious. I thought only dogs did things like this!!!!!!
Quickly skipping to our birds…
As anticipated, the second egg arrived for M15 and F23 around 6:15 PM. F23 experienced some intense contractions, which made me feel uncomfortable! I don’t expect a third egg, so we should be entering the hard incubation phase. A hatch is expected in mid-December.
We might have at least one fledge at Collins Street when you read this. The eyases are hungry, the parents are teasing them, and they can fly – they don’t know it yet! https://youtu.be/lauS5ZxHfaw?
Still there, but not for long.
Gosh, they are cute. SK Hideaways caught two on the perch and beaky kisses, too. We are so going to miss these three! https://youtu.be/xTzR2lhGCh8?
The family is waiting for breakfast at Port Lincoln. One fish arrived at 0924, and another at 1018. Mum brought them both to the nest, but as you will see from the images, she is not wet, so it is assumed that she picked them up from Dad. Unless, of course, she dried really quickly before returning to the nest.
Yesterday, Dad delivered four fish. He will probably do that again today. He is off to a good start! Kasse and Wilko can eat all the fish that comes to the nest – guaranteed.
.These fish counts and observations are absolutely critical in understanding osprey behaviour and the fish demands of a nest. I am still collecting data for the people working in Virginia to end the commercial fishing of menhaden. Yesterday, I received a fish count from ‘SD’ who counted 579 deliveries at Glaslyn. Counts vary due to the weather, the nests close proximity to good fishing, competition from other ospreys, eagles, gulls, etc. (More about the overfishing of Menhaden and need for accurate counts like they do at Port Lincoln below).
Morning images from the scrape of Diamond and Xavier. They might not have the runway that the Collins Street triplets have, but there is a whole lot of flapping going on with downy feathers flying everywhere! These two are more than adorable. Diamond and Xavier are demonstrating their flying skills and showing the kids how much fun it is to be a bird outside the window of the scrape.
Lots of food at Orange. The down is disappearing with only a few dandelions left. This year I have spent more time watching this scrape than Melbourne. Oh, how I hope that Yira and Garrama triumph without any issues soaring high above the tower chasing Diamond and Xavier for prey and getting it! With no bad weather when they fledge. Yes, let’s wish – all of us for sunny days and no rain!
Lots of activity at the nest of Gabby and Beau on Monday.
In migration news, Blue 511 appears to have flown with the good winds south out of Poole Harbour Monday morning. There is news of an osprey still in The Netherlands that has not left on its migration.
If you missed part 1 of the five part series on what CJ7 and Blue 022 got up to in raising four osplets to fledge in 2024, then here it is. There is a new release every Friday so do subscribe. (It’s free). The first episode is ‘The Arrival’. https://youtu.be/IlySzcfTh3c?
Isn’t it about time that all power companies need to be respectful of wildlife and amend and erect new poles or place them underground so no bird gets fried? Eighteen swans found dead. Please read about their unnecessary deaths here: https://bbc.com/news/articles/cew2nzvdyklo
The posting below addresses Stripped Bass; if you look closely, you will see that this was over a year ago. Never mind the date – everything still applies. I want to add that the osprey chicks and some adults starved to death because of Omega’s industrial fishing of Menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. Not just a few, nearly every chick hatched and not just in Virginia! This has to stop. For precious little Cobey and all the Cobeys that hatch in the future, please help. If you do not live in Virginia, write to their Governor. Let’s flood his office from around the world. You can get a digital form by searching for Governor Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia and clicking the ‘Contact’ link at the top.
Wild Justice has just sent out its report on the Rodenticide Stewardship Report. Did the efforts to create less harm to wildlife work? Have a read – you can really educate yourself on these commercial killers and the harm that they do.
So that you know, I will no longer be posting on X but will be moving the blog to Bluesky this week. The best way to receive the blog is by e-mail subscription. There is no fee, and I have vowed that there never will be a charge for my blog or ads. You can unsubscribe at any time quickly.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please stop and go outside and be near plants and birds. Each of us needs to take care of ourselves. It is an anxious time. Tomorrow I will have some images of the geese and ducks that remain at my local pond for you. It was soothing – yes, soothing is a good word – to spend time with them on a crisp sunny day.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J, MP’, SWFlorida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, Port Lincoln Ospreys, NEFL-AEF, Birds of Poole Harbour, CBCN, Wild Justice, BTO, Facts that will Blow Your Mind FB, livescience.com
