Tag Archives: Shadow

Pip/Hatch watch for Sydney WBSE…Sunday in Bird World

9 August 2026

Hello Everyone,

We really hope that you are enjoying the weekend and that instead of being glued to the screens, you are actually outside listening to the birds! I have made it my mission to ensure that outside of sleeping, 50% of our time is spent outside. This includes just relaxing on the deck with Toby, listening to the birds in the trees and at the feeders. Don’s mood is much better, and that makes my life much easier! Tomorrow we are going out to Wildlife Haven for a picnic and to check to see if we can see Milan, the Mississippi Kite who became an ambassador in 2014. Until winter closes in on us, I hope that this routine can continue.

We are on pip/hatch watch at the WBSE in the Olympic Park in Sydney.

On Ferris Akel’s Saturday ‘tour’, he found the Ps on the Cornell Campus squeeing loudly for the adults to bring food. They are, by the way, very well fed! They were so loud!

The Ps are strong flyers. They appear to be in excellent condition.

Dorcha did not migrate from Loch Arkaig, but she did take a 34-hour spa break. Many of the females do this before starting to feed their chicks and themselves up for migration.

If you need to get caught up on the eagles and the eaglets – yes, there are eaglets, check out the videos from SK Hideaways this past week!!!!!!!!!!

SK Hideaways Videos, Week of 2 August 2026

FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA
Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley
Resident male: Shadow (unbanded) since May 2018. Estimated hatch year: 2014
Resident female: Jackie (unbanded) since September 2016. Estimated hatch year: 2012
Sandy hatched 4 April 2026, Luna hatched 5 April 2026
Nest Cam:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE
Wide View Cam (Cam 2):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4
Live Recap & Observations:  https://bit.ly/4wGjwVg

Shadow Shares Twin Pines with Many Visitors ~ Keeps His Distance (2026 Aug 7-8)
Seems lots of the visiting sub-adults want to be wherever Shadow is. Three of them came to Twin Pines while he perched ~ all of them on lower branches. Shadow, the banded sub-adult, and another roosted there overnight. Shadow distanced himself whenever any visitor attempted to perch near him.  When he flew off in the morning, the banded sub-adult followed. 
Keep sending those positive thoughts to Shadow and Jackie in these unsettling times.
Video: https://youtu.be/uWsYElJ_Ph4

Shadow & Sub-Adult on Snag ~ Another Sub-Adult on Nest, Has Shadow’s Snortle (2026 Aug 6)
The drama continues in Jackie and Shadow’s habitat. A banded sub-adult joined Shadow on the Lookout Snag ~ he flew off within a minute. Later, a different sub-adult ~ likely a male ~ visited the nest for over a half-hour. This eagle is about 3 years old and likely male, given the size and higher voice. The visitor practiced his chortle several times while on the nest. He sounded very much like Shadow. 

This is an interesting time in Big Bear as many sub-adults and juveniles pass through the area. Most will likely move on within a couple months.
Video: https://youtu.be/Uh0ObVH6eQs
Shadow Roosts with Sub-Adult Overnight ~ Chats in A.M. Before Departing for the Day (2026 Aug 4-5)
Shadow stopped by the Cactus Snag before retiring to the roost tree. The sub-adult did the same a bit later. They remained there overnight. In the morning, Shadow chortle-snortled good morning and then zipped off to one of his summertime hangouts while the sub-adult remained in the habitat. So grateful for any glimpses of Shadow, though his summertime routine could make him even more elusive. As I view the habitat, I continue to envision Jackie back there ~ strong and healthy. 
Video: https://youtu.be/Zp5ELqUjQm4


Sydney White-Bellied Sea Eagles~ Australia ~ Lady & Dad (mated pair since 2016)
Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park (https://www.sea-eaglecam.org/video.html)
Nest cam also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw4pdgy3-U0

Dad Not Shy About Asking Lady for Egg Time ~  Pip Watch Approaches (8 Aug 2026)
As always, Lady and Dad begin the day with a honking duet. Dad has never been subtle about his desire to incubate and this year has been no exception. With pip watch in progress for SE37 and SE38, both parents are eager to have a front nest seat to the ultimate hatch. 
Video: https://youtu.be/VwZuMcjzEp4

Trempealeau Eagles ~ Wisconsin ~ Mrs. T, Mr. T, TE6, and TE7 (hatched early April, fledged July 12)
Courtesy Raptor Resource Project | explore.org
Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bMrSm0Ap20

2nd Movement of TE6 & TE7 Symphony in Squee Major with Breakfish (2026 Aug 4)
As promised, TE6 and TE7 delivered a complete and quite lengthy 2nd movement of their Symphony in Squee Major. We were spellbound as they squee’d flawlessly through fish delivery, mantling, fish stealing, and consumption. They really are the consummate performers. Enjoy.
Video: https://youtu.be/K9MnUOqkGE8

TE6 & TE7 Symphony in Squee Major, 1st Movement w/ Intermission (2026 Aug 3)
TE6 and TE7 promised us music at dawn, but opted for a photo op instead. They promised a complete performance tomorrow. I couldn’t complain, though, as we were all gifted stunning views of these two gorgeous eaglets, thank to the fabulous Raptor Resource Project cam ops pros. Very grateful, indeed. 
Video: https://youtu.be/eAffr2dcQ5k

Sub-Adult Snags a Whopper ~ Adult Looks for Steal ~ Eaglets Explore (2026 Aug 2)
A sub-adult entered the territory and found a big fish on the shore. As s/he flew away with the catch, an adult flew behind and perched just above the sub-adult, apparently waiting for the youngster to present an opportunity for a steal. Scavenging and stealing is not just for juvenile and immature eagles ~ adults also use this survival tactic. The sub-adult did not slip up and the adult flew off, leaving the young eagle to eat in peace. 

Meanwhile, 4-month old eaglets, TE6 and TE7, are acing flight school and exploring their beautiful Trempealeau playground. While one lounged near the camera, the other explored. Cam ops was in top form following that eaglet on its adventure. 
Video:  https://youtu.be/sX9yOLYmj80
Eaglets TE6 & TE7 Get Breakfast ~ One Makes It Grab & Go (2026 Jul 31)


Mr. and Mrs. T’s 2026 eaglets are about 16 weeks old, having hatched on an alternate nest this year ~ one without a camera. They fledged 3 weeks ago and have graced us with their presence on the nest with a camera. On this morning, Mr. T (I think) brought a nice big fish for breakfast. We watch as one eaglet mantles and the other squees wildly, as we’d expect. What we didn’t expect was that the mantling eaglet took off with the fish. Clearly grab and go training is going very well for this little rascal. 
Video: https://youtu.be/k5p6vhUWfN0

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

Cholyn & Chase ~ A Lesson in Not Sweating the Small Stuff (2026 Aug 5)
At 28 years young, Cholyn and Chase have much wisdom to impart. Here are 17 minutes of Channel Islands royalty taking life as it comes ~ being in the moment. 

This was a special day ~ Cholyn and Chase were mostly inseparable and cam ops was right there with them. Hope you enjoy these moments of calm and take a break from whatever drama or trauma may challenge you today. 
Video: https://youtu.be/wpetZNAdRPY
Cholyn & Chase ~ 28 Years Young ~ Joined at the Wing for 23 Years (2026 Aug 2)
Cholyn and Chase spent the day moving from one favorite perch to another. Whether they were perched together or apart, they kept eyes on each other and chatted across the habitat. This beautiful couple of 23 years is full of vitality, spunk, and devotion to one another. Maybe that’s what keeps them young. 
Video: https://youtu.be/0hmn5ixc4WY

The little osprey that was removed from one of the Tweed Valley nest has been rehabilitated, has grown and is strong. He was returned to the nest along with some fish and both of the osplets were ringed.

What about the eaglet Snow whose nest collapsed at Traverse City, Michigan? Here is some news and also the plans to expand North Sky, where Snow was initially cared for: https://youtu.be/NaLfUp0ssG8?

There are areas in the world where the ospreys did so well this season. Rutland Water was one of those!

We are waiting for the fourth chick at Blackbush Beach Club in Prince Edward Island to fledge – the other three are doing well and fish are plentiful. When so many nests could only struggle to fledge one chick, with so many having no chicks survive if there was any breeding at all, Blackbush is one of the shining stars of the North American osprey 2026 season.

The chicks are amazingly cordial – they know more fish are coming. Food security not food stress.

C22 enjoying a nice fish at Charlo.

At Hellgate Canyon, Iris and Wensi slept at the nest – Iris on the perch and her beloved only osplet, Wensi, in the nest.

They were waiting for the breakfast fish from Clarke and he did not disappoint. No matter the weather or the water conditions, Clarke tends to bring in the fish! What a guy.

Mary Cheadle runs the most amazing fundraisers for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust. This one is for the calendar. The information is below. Postage is higher outside the UK. There will be another ‘grand’ fundraiser with books coming up! I love to donate to help out – I am so impressed how much can be raised when the donations can be as little as 3 GBP!

Geemeff sent me her latest news and it has gone down some deep dark hole in my computer. Apologies to Geemeff and to you. I will send today’s report out later tonight.

Thank you so much for being with me today. We are so anxious to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. Those days of having heat domes and being stuck inside have been inspirational in getting out and enjoying nature.

Please take care! If you have any raptor news, please let me know. You can leave a comment – I do get around to checking those, but not nearly as often these days as I should. Your patience is so appreciated.

Thank you to SK Hideaways for those great videos, Ferris Akel for tracking down the Ps, to everyone else who sent me news or posted information and images on FB, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch the challenges our favourite bird families face daily.

Saturday in Bird World

25 July 2026

Hello Everyone,

It was a wonderful time with out son and daughter-in law as well as our daughter and her partner. A busy week. They took my list of things to do and just go on with it. The Peletron bike now longer haunts me sitting by the dining room table. The box room is cleared up and it has a new home. The attic is 95% cleared out. All the good stuff was kept, lots donated, and some sadly made it to the landfill. They were so organised! My contribution was to ‘stay out of the way’. The kids leave to return to their home in the Caribbean in a couple of hours. Gosh, I miss them already!

I apologise for I have not caught up with answering your e-mails. My inbox has exploded since the funds came through for Moon Camp.

A lot has happened in Bird World.

First of all, everyone knows that the funds needed to purchase the land and put it into a trust – Moon Camp – to preserve the foraging area of Jackie and Shadow and whoever comes after them is secure. They did it with a week to spare. Bravo!

https://friendsofbigbearvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Moon_Camp_funding_press_release_7_24_26.pdf

Every news agency carried this remarkable story. KTLA 5 was one of those. https://youtu.be/R37G4tN1dYE?

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this happen. Now we just need Jackie home —- and she is in the best facility possible to help her, Ojai Raptor Centre!

SK Hideaways might be giving us our last look at Sandy and Luna: https://youtu.be/O32HJ6mozQI?

Sadly, as it happens every year, a White-tail waited til the osprey fledglings get nice and fat for fledge and then struck. AK wrote: “
Sadly, UMU, the #4 nestling in Finland, was taken by a White-tailed Eagle.”

If you follow the images below you will see that the osprey cme to try and get its chick to no avail. The WTE slipped into the forest.

You can see the sequence here, and the osprey flies up to the forest and then turns to the right. So sad. They wait, those eagles and hawks, til the osplets are fat and ready to fledge.

It is fledge watch and Geemeff just sent me the cutest video of Amber flapping her wings and then helicoptering out of view of the camera. Soon! It comes too quickly! We sit and wait for eggs to hatch – that seems to take endless time – and then before we know it they are losing their baby look and turning into ferocious reptiles and then beautiful juveniles. For all those who survived this most tragic year, we salute you and anyone and all who helped.

Amber’s great flapping and helicoptering. https://youtu.be/J6Ki2ZIxvoI?

There are still 4 chicks at Blackbush.

Looks like two at Collins Marsh in WI.

I hope Sassy is eating.

Ping Shen reports from Seattle: “Hope you are well and the heat and smoke are not too bad. We are getting a bit of both here in Seattle, though nothing like what the midwest and northeast had last week.

Some good news mid-week – a very short visit today and all 3 young continue to look good. Mom delivered a Starry Flounder not five minutes after I arrived and lunch was served. The pecking order is very clearly established – you can see #3 sitting back while the first 2 surround mom, the little one not even trying to get in there and seemingly content to wait. However, since it seems to still be doing well, I guess there has been enough fish for this complacency to work! Fingers crossed they continue to well but so far so good. They are now well past the stage where they lost #3 last season, so an improvement already…”

News from Viki and Indian Creek: “LB seems to have split now that Lily has returned. Lily had no problem getting the first AND the second fish I threw this morning, ate them both, not even stopping by the chick’s nest, and since she was full she let the third one I threw sink and the chick has not been fed. It’s like one step forward, two steps back.

Full blown construction surrounds me in the neighborhood today. I sit out on the porch (second day in a row of lovely weather) with noise canceling headphones on.  Waiting for LB to show up so I can throw a fish to him to bring to the chick.

LMAO – you are right! An osprey from the other side of the creek just now got that fish. Glad to know they float for a long while.

Heading out to give Lily one more chance – I cover up with a Dr. Seuss XL pajama pant and a long sleeve shirt from one of my husband’s political campaigns. Hoping it was LB who took #4 fish. Sheesh. This is becoming stressful!? [Note: Viki is the mother of the chicks.}

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 24th July 2026

More intruder action today but Dorcha made sure they didn’t come near the nest, allowing the chicks to get on with wingercising and stuffing themselves with fish. There was a lot of fish to get through as Louis delivered seven fish taking the Nest Two tally to three hundred and twenty six, and the chicks are in great shape. Both Amber 8P6 and Juniper 8P7 have been exercising their wings, strengthening them ready for fledging, doing little hops, and Amber in particular did some quite high mini-helicopters, when she wasn’t tangling her talons or wings in a stick, as she did on one occasion. Over on Nest One, Aurora and Garry have stopped paying attention to the rotten but still intact egg and Aurora sleeps elsewhere now, but they are still attending the nest, bringing fish and bedding and adjusting the furnishings. This bodes well for next year when with luck they will produce a viable clutch. Garry brought two fish for Aurora, taking his tally to one hundred and eighty one. The ‘gentle breezes’ forecast for today seemed much stronger than that, but of course, exposed nests at the top of tall trees will feel the effects more. Those ‘gentle breezes’ are set to continue tonight and through tomorrow, with heavy rain, a low of 13°C and a high of 17°C. At the time of filing this report (half past midnight) the rain has begun and Dorcha is on the nest next to her chicks.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/H7JrmiDE4Tg N2 Dorcha sees off an intruder Osprey 07.58.40

https://youtu.be/LCWLmremJP4 N2 Amber tries to steal fish one but Dorcha holds on 08.20.27

https://youtu.be/LX1ZgDdr8vw N1 Garry won’t give Aurora his fish and leaves with it 09.01.26

https://youtu.be/Q5_obJoQWXg N2 Fish two arrives with an intruder alarm 11.29.02

https://youtu.be/8i1xMBWv_Ow N2 There’s a bit of a melee when fish three arrives 16.08.17

https://youtu.be/SHVQSNon5QQ N2 Amber gets high! Quite high mini helicopters 16.24.01

https://youtu.be/D5WRZFFvKbo N1 Aurora works to subdue a lively flatfish 17.59.05

https://youtu.be/G4gKH18phBs N2 Fish four makes a substantial trout dinner 17.59.24

https://youtu.be/2ulgVlV0Mu0  N2 Amber does more mini helicopters getting ready for lift-off 19.31.36

https://youtu.be/rbM6Iy4vP3k N2 Dorcha quickly dispatches fish five, a flapping flatfish 20.02.28

https://youtu.be/TtZwJA3W4L4 N2 Tiddler trout fish six is gone in three minutes 21.03.39

https://youtu.be/JZES_gqHRts N2 Another tiddler trout, number seven lasts two minutes  22.14.45

You’re invited to join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

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Wensi is getting flappy with those wings too. https://youtu.be/I6urCTO9eUw?

I will have more news on Monday. I am still trying to rest up from that wonderful visit! This morning we went to the English Gardens with Toby. Don is doing well after I adjusted his medication four days ago. The change has been rather phenomenal and I am delighted.

Toby checks out all the flowers.

My gorgeous granddaughter, Elysha, who long time readers will know – on her wedding day in Australia.

My family wishes you a good weekend.

See you on Monday!

Thank you to SK Hideaways, Ping Shen, and Geemeff for their great contributions, to those who posted on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams and YouTube stations.

It’s a Pip at Cal Falcons, a Young Shadow, and other news in Bird World

5 May 2022

It is 8 degrees C and will be 18 Celsius today in Winnipeg. Our City is a bit of an island with areas north and south flooded and communities being evacuated. It is also the height of bird migration. So we truly did go from winter to summer. Crazy.

News of the morning. We have a pip at Cal Falcons for Annie, Alden, and Grinnell!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, fantastic.

Baby Steps! USS4 took its first baby steps. How sweet. Just look at those strong legs!

If you missed it, Spirit branched! Jackie and Shadow have done a fantastic job raising this super ‘spirited’ eaglet. What a joy it has been to watch her grow from that first pip to now.

Many of you watched the satellite/GPS tracking of Karl II as he returned from his winter home in the Chad and Sudan areas of African. Karl II arrived at his nest n the Karula National Forest in Estonia on 8 April 8. His mate, Kaia, arrived on April 12th. This couple – who fledged three last year – have four eggs this year. They were laid on 24, 26, and 29 April and on 1 May.

The image below is of Kaia aerating around the eggs. You can distinguish Kaia from Karl II not only because Karl is bigger but also he is banded and also has his satellite tracker on his leg.

Nancy was in the nest with E1 last evening. She is doing a great job at being an only parent.

We all love Shadow and Jackie. Here is an interesting story from yesterday but more interesting is the image of a young Shadow on the bottom right!

It was a foggy morning at the nest of Big Red and Arthur. Gosh I love that dark morph of Big Red’s plumage. She is so gorgeous.

L4 continues to delight. Here he is climbing over the gang from the back to get some breakfast. L4 was also seen having two crop drops by Cornell staff this morning. Way to go little buddie. No worries ever about Big Red and Arthur being able to handle four!!!!!!!!

It is not entirely clear what has gone on at the UFlorida-Gainesville Osprey nest this morning. Mom was on the nest and there was a fish delivery. Was it Dad returning? or was it the intruder and the Middle wanted to be fed?

The chicks are standing and walking better. They are also growing with all the good fish that has come in. Just look at the size of that wing!

It is really a beautiful morning with the sun rising over the nest. This is Mum with the chicks.

There is what appears to be a remnant of prey but that is not Mum and that bird is not feeding the little ones. Note the design on the back of its head.

Is this Dad? I admit to not having looked at his plumage as carefully as I should have. The kids would like some fish. It is going to get hot on that nest this morning.

There you can see that design better. I wonder who this is? And where is Mum? Has she gone fishing? I will check back later to see how these two are.

I wanted to let everyone know about the pip at Cal Falcons. This is so exciting. Annie and Alden can hear the cheep-cheep of Grinnell’s chick and the egg tooth pecking away. Tears.

Bird World needs some good news and it is happening. Here is the link to their camera:

Thank you for joining me this morning. I will be back tonight with check ins on your favourite nests! Until then, I will be watching this pip while I ready the garden for summer today. Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams and/or FB pages where I took my screen captures: Cal Falcons, Cornell Bird Lab RTH, UFlorida-Gainesville Ospreys, Big Bear Bald Eagles, Pix Cams, MN-DNR, USSteel Eagles, and The Estonian Eagle Club.