It is a windy, seemingly chilly day in the Big Bear Valley. The lake is a beautiful blue as Jackie and Shadow are in their nest waiting for the arrival of the second eaglet, who is working its way out of the shell. Shadow really wants a turn, but Jackie, being Jackie, has put her talons down firmly.
We are watching the action on the big screen.
I hope you are, too. Over 38,000 people are waiting for a glimpse of our Super Star’s little ones.
As for us, we had a good day. We took a break from checking on birds and hatches to take Toby to the park for a nice walk. Then to the pet store to pick up duck hearts and a good pair of scissors. I met a lovely woman there with a Cavalier. We exchanged notes on feeding strategies, each of us knowing that there are serious health concerns with this breed. So far, Toby is clear, and I know my breeder! That means a lot, but that still does not mean that he might not have heart or joint issues, so we are doing everything we can to help ensure that does not happen. The woman and I also agreed that, even though we would never pick another breed, they are too lovable and devoted. That is precisely what I need in my life right now as the husband I had for so long ebbs away.
I am delighted that Aran and Dorcha are home. I am waiting for Louis and for Blue 35 at Foulshaw Moss to return. Fingers crossed.
I also want to recommend a video by Robert Fuller if you are interested in Red Kites, and I hope you are. He erected a large tower to film them on his Yorkshire property. Here are some snaps off the telly:
Oh, what a day it is going to be. Dorcha, the mate of Louis at the Loch Arkaig nest, arrived home earlier than usual this morning. Aran, who also arrived late in 2025 only to lose his nest to Teifi, has arrived home early and as far as I know, Teifi is no where to be seen. Elen is home waiting for ‘someone’ as hormones leading up to osprey breeding season increase.
Aran arrives at 1005 and leaves returning with a fish around noon.
Aran was always one of my favourites and I hope that Elen gets home and this year there are chicks on the Glaslyn nest once again!
Other arrivals are Blue 647 at Kielder Forest, mate to UV. The terrible weather is bringing in the ospreys to their nests quickly this Easter weekend. (They tell me this bad weather is from Canada – sorry folks).
There is other wonderful news – news that we have waited for and seriously get the tissues. Happiness has arrived for Jackie and Shadow. It sounds cold and windy at Big Bear!
There are always conflicting reports now about Jackie and Shadow. Jackie is really chatting with Shadow, who is on the nest, and you can hear the raven in the background. There is a rumour that egg 1 has almost hatched or has hatched. i cannot independently confirm this and there is nothing on chat or the events sheet other than pip began on the 3rd. At the moment Shadow has brought in a nice fish and is eating it next to Jackie. (new restrictions mean I cannot post images – which I personally think is a huge mistake on the part of the owners of the cam – they are wanting donations to save this nest!)
At 0738:12 you can see the egg is almost completely cracked all the way around! We are going to have a baby at Big Bear soon. Get the tissues, pop the champagne!
Thank you for being with me this morning. It is going to be a gorgeous Saturday on the Canadian prairies. It feels ‘warm’ , but I have not even checked the temperature. We hope to see you again soon with more exciting news from Bird World
Thank you to Geemeff for the video of Dorcha’s arrival, and the news of that arrival along with Aran. Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams for letting us view these amazing birds, and to Jeff Kear and Mary Cheadle at UK Osprey Information for keeping us abreast of new arrivals. To Kielder and Usk Valley, your reports are so valuable – thank you.
Thank you so much for your notes, your comments, your likes and well, your caring. I am so touched when there is a little note asking how I am doing, wishing me a good day. It means a lot! Despite having Ann and now another wonderful lady to help me, I feel like I am constantly exhausted. I am hoping it is just the end of the winter blahs because, being outside at Pineridge, really livened my spirits. I felt like a human being again. The key is ‘being outdoors’. Yes, we take Toby on walks but, this is ‘City air’. It is different in the woods. I can’t explain it but those of you that go on grand hikes but live in the city will understand precisely what I am trying to say. So, bring spring on!
A storm from Canada is hitting the UK, bringing with it rain and snow. Not a nice time to arrive home from the Iberian Peninsula or Western Africa. Still, the winds are favourable, and Idris arrived on Thursday. We are now watching for a few more – including Louis and Dorcha, who tend to be later in April. Aran was last year, with Teifi arriving much earlier, but where are they?
In Washington, Ping Shen writes that Sally has returned to her nest in Seattle!
Let’s hope that Harry gets home soon. Can’t wait for Ping’s stories of this amazing couple and their great photographs! It is always a delight to know what is happening on a non-streaming cam nest.
White YW is at Foulshaw Moss but his mate Blue 35 has not arrived. Another female is hanging around in the hope of getting a good nest and mate!
‘PB’ posts that the second baby at Achieva is strong.
That’s it for today. For those celebrating Easter or Passover, happy holidays.
Thank you to Ping Shen for the news and great images of Sally, ‘J’ for her nature chat list, ‘PB’ for that great image of the second hatch at Achieva, and to the FB authors or owners of streaming cams that allow us to watch our great raptor families.
We had a beautiful day. Instead of living in pajamas, we put on our lighter jackets and gum boots and headed to the country – to Pineridge.
We sat by the fire and drank hot chocolate. It was glorious.
While we were away…Idris arrived home at the Dyfi Osprey platform in Wales to his mate Telyn, Blue 5F.
Telyn knew he was arriving. She watched as Idris flew in and landed. The sky dancing began shortly after – this devoted pair, so delighted to see one another! Idris arrived almost a fortnight later than he did in 2025.
And he hardly got home and the snow has started falling…
I wonder what other ospreys came in on those strong winds????
Blue 014, the mate of Aeron Z2, has returned home to the Glaslyn Valley and the Pont Cresor nest.
Only Jackie and Shadow know. Pip watch is on.
Baby Hope is excited about the possibility of an eaglet at Big Bear.
Andor and Cruz now have three eaglets at the Fraser Point nest in the Channel Islands. Sasha, Zuma, and Ryder. No wonder Andor was loading up this nest with prey. A Coot has been added to a whole lot of fish!
There has been a second hatch at the Achieva osprey platform of Jack and Jill. This one is nearly six days younger than the first hatch. I am not a happy camper over this turn of events…There is a problem with fish deliveries at this nest – historically. Is it intruders taking the fish? Who knows?
Thank you for being with us for this very quick check in! There are lots of other hatches and arrivals in the US – it is going to be a very busy weekend. Here is the list from nature chaat:
Thank you to those who are posting information on FB, to the owners and posters on nature chat and to ‘J’ for sending me the latest list, and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow me to rewind and see Daddy Longlegs Idris arrive home to his great love, Telyn! Thank you.
It might be April Fool’s Day but Big Red isn’t fooling around. She laid her fourth egg today! Cornell Bird Lab has it on video: https://youtu.be/JlHxc-bpsQg?
Aeron Z2 has arrived at the Friends of Osprey Pont Cresor nest in Glaslyn. Of course, this could get interesting as Elen is home alone at the other Glaslyn nest and Blue 014 has yet to arrive at Pont Cresor.
Aeron Z2 is handsome, and he did cause a lot of mischief last season. His brother Tegid Z1 (on a private nest) is also equally adorable. Monty’s boys.
Lots happening at Loch of the Lowes but not a couple confirmed as yet. And where is Blue NCO? Does she have another nest and mate? I wonder.
In the garden, lots of action as a Sharp-shinned Hawk (a male) had a Starling lunch right in front of us.
Missing Blue 35 – and females chasing after White YW. I don’t blame them – he’s a great dad at Foulshaw Moss.
USS9 and USS10 are cute.
More fish are needed at Moorings Park. Everyone is fighting with little three, and 2 seems to be the dominant osplet right now. 3 got some fish – finally.
I am always concerned about the Achieva nest, always. For many reasons.
It was quite the day here. Our entire routine went upside down and sideways. The new care helper came at 0830. She is fantastic. Then the delivery man came with two months of birdseed – bags everywhere. Then the installer arrived to wire the house for the alarm, the doorbell, and the fire alarm. Ann arrived and then there were several other deliveries. I don’t need to tell you that Don, The Girls, and Toby are all snoring! It is going to be an early night.
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon – remember. We are waiting for the hatch at Big Bear along with hundreds of thousands of other people.
Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams and those who have posted information and images on FB that I have used in today’s blog.
It was a lovely day on the Canadian prairies. After all the snow, everything began to melt. The sky was a beautiful Azure blue with soft cotton clouds. The garden was full of birds, squirrels, and a Ginger cat that came to visit. Brock was down the street napping after a full dinner at Jane’s and the world seemed right. The Girls and Toby are fine. Ann took Don and Ann for a long walk while I finalised the details of the door alarms and the new doorbell video camera. Hopefully installation will be soon. Those security measures will ease some anxiety.
On the Cornell campus, the rain came down in a fury late in the day. Big Red will do anything to protect those precious eggs!
Shaking off all the rain like Toby does!
It felt pretty quiet in terms of UK osprey arrivals.
If you have not checked out this site, you will find live cams, information on dates of eggs, arrivals, hatches, etc. for many streaming cams around the world.
A young woman using ‘Raptor Stories’ as a handle created a lively little video on YouTube announcing the beginning of pip watch for Jackie and Shadow’s eggs. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/QVZM43Ys00U?
I am truly excited. Those eggs are intact. The Ravens have been kept at bay. Hope reigns in our house for one healthy eaglet in this nest! Send all your positive wishes.
Baiba has Shadow bringing in a nice fish for Jackie as pip approaches. They should be hearing those eaglets. https://youtu.be/F0N83Ivj98o?
Telyn is home at Dyfi, but no Idris. Look closely. She is on Monty’s perch eating a fish.
No one at home for Elen at Glaslyn either. At Loch of the Lowes, Dark Knight shows up, but where is Blue NCO?
Thank goodness CJ7 has her mate Blue 022 home!
Can you see all the fish Andor is bringing in to Cruz and the kids? You’d think there were a dozen little bobble heads being brooded under Cruz’s feathers!!!!!!! Looks like it is big sis, Sasha, and second hatch, Zuma.
In PA, Irvine is going to need lots of prey – US Steel 9 hatched, US Steel 10 has hatched and there is another to go.
Ellie and Harvey at the Kansas City Bald Eagle nest have two lovely eaglets who are getting their feathers.
Just a quick check in. We are doing great and the air even smells like spring. This is a real boost to my spirits. Take care everyone! See you soon.
Thank you to everyone who created videos! Thank you to those that posted on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us see the highs and lows of these amazing raptor families.
Oh, the winds are blowing the UK birds home. There are a lot of watchers on the Dyfi streaming cam in anticipation of Telyn arriving after 2000, which she typically does!
Telyn arrives! Blue 3J is home. Time 1420.
Come on Idris! And for those of you who do not know, Telyn is the daughter of Maya at Rutland Water.
Here is Clogwyn! Last year she arrived on the 18th of April. We are nearly three weeks early this year.
Frankie has landed at Loch Doon this morning to join his mate Angel.
Oh, that third hatch at Dale Hollow is such a tiny one compared to its elder sibling, who is getting pin feathers! Send this tiny third hatch your best wishes.
Elen at the Glaslyn nest waiting for someone, anyone to arrive.
Hatch at US Steel for Irvine and Stella.
Deb and Scout are so excited about babies that they are already tandem feeding. This is beautiful. Deb Stecyk has it own video: https://youtu.be/es6-VUaVnsQ?
Big Red lays her third egg at the Cornell RTH nest with mate, Arthur.
Cruz and Andor welcome Sasha at the Fraser Point nest. SK Hideaways (who is supposed to be on holidays!) gives us the video: https://youtu.be/HTrZlwpDO0I?
I think we have a second eaglet for Andor and Cruz, too.
A lovely article sent to me via SK Hideaways for everyone to enjoy – news about Mr President and Lotus! I hope you can open it. (Spoiler – they have eggs in their alternate nest).
Thank you so much for being with me. Must run. The alarm chap will be here momentarily and then the possible cleaning lady is coming to check us out! It is a packed day. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to SK Hideaways and The Washington Post, to the owners of the streaming cams, and to those who post on FB – I am so grateful for all your work and for owners allowing us to view these amazing raptor families.
It is pitching down rain and Seren, Blue 5F has arrived home. She is now in the trees sheltering from the storm with her mate Dylan. Tears of joy!
And another famous osprey is home – this time a grandfather!
I am writing this late Saturday with the hope and anticipation that Sunday will be a less dramatic day! A call has gone in to the people who installed the locks in our doors. They will be out on Monday with recommendations on how to ‘know’ if Don is getting out of the house. There are locks and devices to go over door knobs, but I have opted to have them tell me my options. An alarm system sounds best. It doesn’t need to be monitored. In Canada, that is often the most costly part. I am also going to get a digital door opener for all the doors. Then I don’t have to worry about keys. One set has already gone ‘walkabout’. My goodness…dear little Toby did get his reward. A nice piece of tenderloin and a bath after our last walk. The sidewalks are flooding and are like a slush cone. He was dirty and wet, so it seemed like a good time to try our first shampoo. (Normally, the groomers do this. He was incredible. He just stood on the mat in the tub and let me shampoo him!!!!!!!!!! He had such fun with the towels and loved being rubbed dry.
I have a feeling that this little puppy is gold-plated underneath all that fur. Whatever power in this universe sent this baby into my life really knew what they were doing. Indispensable.
Toby’s fur is quite long. He has had to wait a month since his last blood event to get groomed. That will be 11 April. He was so good in the bath, I wonder if he will let me trim him??? We have a lovely woman coming to trim his nails on Easter Monday, and she will show me how. Toby is a bit anxious about the groomer since she had to shave the matts off his tummy from when he had to stay at the vet’s for 4 nights in December. Poor baby. He might not look like he is show ring ready if I trim him but if it keeps his anxiety down, it will be worth it!
The Rod Stewart look! And he’s getting his Grinch feet.
White YW is one of my favourite UK ospreys. He and his mate, Blue 35, are at the Foulshaw Moss nest in Cumbria.
Samson also returned to the Borders Osprey platform. Rosie Shields writes,
A very quick note as it’s late and I’m not long back home but I had to share the good news that Samson arrived back today, some 2 weeks earlier than last year. He’s already brought sticks to the nest and has engaged in some crow bashing. I don’t have any photos as yet because the camera is throwing a small temper tantrum but, if I throw enough money at the system I’m sure it will work eventually!!
Luckily, we had just finished doing some repairs to the nest following the severe battering it and the tree got during the various winter storms but Samson will no doubt not be satisfied and will furnish it himself in his own inimitable style.
I’m delighted and relieved that he’s back. All eyes to the skies for Augusta now.
Windy and cold at Poole. Beautiful CJ7.
Blue 33 and Maya are already thinking about babies even in the cold wind.
This wind might blow in more ospreys to the UK. Let’s hope.
Fru Rauer, the Norwegian osprey of some renown, is on her way home. She has a sat pak and her location will be announced the beginning of the week.
Everyone saw the pip at Fraser Point for Cruz and Andor. It is now 2128, and there is some concern about activities at 1922 at the nest. It is unclear whether the chick has hatched or if there was a problem. We will find out in the morning. Fuzzy head now seen.
We are on pip watch for Irwin and Stella at the US Steel nest in PA.
JBS24 at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands is getting a lot of air under those beautiful wings. The eaglet looks really good. Do you remember worrying about whether or not 24 would survive after 25 suddenly died? I do. So happy for the parents that they have one splendid eaglet nearing fledge.
I am delighted that Richmond’s new mate has been named Wendy after the ‘Wendy Welders’ at the Richmond Shipping Yard. In World War II, my mother was one of those women!
There are ospreys – two of them – at Steelscape in WA.
Thank you for being with us. Keep your eyes os the screens! Second hatch at Decorah Hatchery and first for Irv and Stella. My reporting of the US Bald Eagles will slow as the UK and European ospreys arrive. Even with everything going on in the house at times, I am going to try and see if Heidi and I can get back near our record of monitoring 500 osprey eggs this season. So take care, let me know of any sightings!
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Thank you to everyone who posted images and information on FB groups and to the owners of the streaming cams, we are forever in your debt. We would not be able to enjoy these amazing bird families without you.
It is a gorgeous day on the Canadian Prairies. We went for a walk and had a nice chat with one of our neighbours who has two very cute Cavaliers. It was wonderful to feel warm! And the temperature was only +1 but the sun was shining and there was no wind.
Dear Toby saved the day today. At 7:58 he alerted me. He jumped on my head and began scratching. I knew immediately something was wrong. And yes. Don had gone out of the house – albeit with his winter coat on, one winter boot and a dress shoe – . He left the house, checked the mailbox, went to the gate, and walked towards a busy street a block and a half away. Thanks to Toby, I was able to yell at him to ‘come home’. This was the event I most worried about. The locksmith will be here on Monday but I feel as if the house is no longer safe for him. It is amazing how one thing can cause a huge ripple effect. AirTags don’t really work. I could put the GPS tracker o him and set up the satellite subscription that I had for Calico, but it is more than that. He could leave the door open and all the animals would run out including Toby. I felt like no one was safe.
There is news in Bird World. The winds coming from Africa might be changing. I understand that there still remain a large number of ospreys waiting to leave. Fingers crossed for all of them to make that long journey home safely.
Dylan arrived at Llyn Clywedog Saturday afternoon late. He looks good! And true to form he went to the reservoir and caught a huge fish dinner.
Oh, he’s handsome and he is such a good provider. His mate, Blue 5F Seren, should be arriving right away – their arrival times are normally within one day of one another.
Elen (Glaslyn nest) likes to visit the Pont Cresor nest of Z2 Aeron and Blue 014. Today she had a visitor there.
The Barneghat Light Osprey cam that is at the nest of Duke and Daisy (or a new couple now) needs to be replaced. Here is the appeal.
Tensions still at the Moorings Park over fish. Third hatch did get some at the feeding mid-day that I saw.
Cute little one at Achieva. I sure hope Jack hauls in a lot of fish….
Bell and Scout had their first hatch yesterday at the NCTC nest. Difficult to get a screen capture.
Hatch at Decorah Eagle cam and a pip in the second egg there today.
Take care everyone!
Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams and those that posted information on FB – all appreciated!
