26 April 2026
Good Evening!
We hope that you had a wonderful weekend – and please tell me that you had some time to go outside. It was a tad cooler here today but we sat in the warm sun on the deck and listened to birdsong coming from the feeders. Oh, it made my heart skip happy beats! It was another quiet day – a most welcome one. We did some spring cleaning and celebrated by making strawberry shortcakes. Tomorrow, Toby goes for a much-needed grooming (Monday). I’m hoping for a trip to Fort Whyte for a walk in the forest and a check on the geese that should be laying eggs.
Shadow continues to bring in big fish for Jackie and the kids. The snow is melting.

Isn’t he handsome? Teifi is one of Idris and Telyn’s fledglings – he is Maya’s grandson. How cool is that? I am so glad that the Glaslyn nest has settled down or him and Elen. As you know, I adore Aran and it seems that he has also found a platform and a mate. Smiling. Calm is good.

The Dyfi family tree now has its fledglings at Glaslyn:

Here’s Teifi. It was the first year, 2020, that Idris was bonded with Telyn after Monty:


News from Loch of the Lowes:

SK Hideaways videos for the week – always grateful!
SK Hideaways Videos, Week of 19 April 2026
FOBBVCAM Eagles, Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow, and 2 chicks
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/3Md8TSz
Jackie & Shadow got everything in order as a storm approached ~ The chicks enjoyed meals 7 and 8 ~ They’re tucked and warm under Jackie (2026 Apr 25)
Video: https://youtu.be/ZHZwUvD7SEw
One Chick Escapes Egg Bowl ~ Jackie has a Word with Shadow About It (2026 Apr 19)
Video: https://youtu.be/Af1ZfwYL1bk
Jackie & Shadow Oust Persistent Ravens ~ Eaglets Safe & Sound (2026 Apr 19)
Video: https://youtu.be/BYL7oyiPppo
Fraser Point Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Cruz, Andor, Sasha, Zuma, and Ryder
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s
Ryder’s Rescue and Cuddly Reunion ~ IWS & Erin are Superstars (2026 Apr 24)
Video: https://youtu.be/lKSFIC4irKI
Ryder Fell From Nest ~ Keeping Faith for Rescue (2026 Apr 24)
Video: https://youtu.be/WJ6b7BAztF0
Cruz & Andor Manage Pecking Order of 3 Chicks with Nonstop Fish (2026 Apr 23)
Video: https://youtu.be/5m948gPoCWc
Chicks Shuffle Along on Clown Feet to Reach Endless Fish Deliveries (2026 Apr 20)
Video: https://youtu.be/tqUXCH76InM
John Bunker Sands Eagles ~ Mom, Dad, and JBS24
Courtesy John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Eagle Cam
Eagle Tower Camera 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wdo7BzUU_g
Eagle Tower Camera 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEDb2KqvvyQ
JBS24 Comes Home to Fresh Fish and Clean Fluffs (2026 April 19)
Video: https://youtu.be/x5p0mcPtLEs
San Jose City Hall Falcons, San Jose, CA ~ Hartley, Monty, and 4 Chicks
Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam
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 Really, Really Wanted to Feed Someone ~ Even Hartley (2026 Apr 23)
Video: https://youtu.be/YXbKW2SRKgw
Monty Resumes Role of Super Dad ~ No One’s Going Hungry or Cold (2026 Apr 22)
Video: https://youtu.be/2-GlKlHMlRo
4th Hatch ~ Monty Meets All 4 ~ Hartley Gives 1st Feeding (2026 Apr 21)
Video: https://youtu.be/F9NFVYJCBks
Hartley Welcomes Chicks 1, 2 AND 3 ~ Monty Waits for a Peek (2026 Apr 21)
Video: https://youtu.be/m-LTvHVPKXE
I’m not going to swear but…how many ospreys die because of hooks and fishing line? This one was rescued.

So happy. This time it was a happy ending.

It was a booming year (no pun intended). Kakapo breed every four years. Records broken this year on this critically endangered species, but the species remains in decline from four years ago.

Osprey baby in Italy!


Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 26th April 2026
Today’s momentous news is the arrival of the first egg – around 06.50 Dorcha started making little squeaking sounds and at 06.56.29 she laid the first egg of Season Ten. The nest cup is too deep and there are branches obscuring the view, but it was clear from her behaviour that she is now brooding an egg. Louis came along about an hour later with her breakfast, and we were able to watch his reaction before he happily took over egg duty, allowing her to depart to eat her fish. No sign of eggs yet for Aurora 536 and Garry LV0 but things will take longer with them as they aren’t a long-established pair like Louis & Dorcha. Garry delivered two fish taking his tally to thirty, and Louis delivered three fish, taking the nest tally to twenty five. At the time of this report (23.30), Dorcha is still away after departing with her third fish, and Louis is looking very settled on the nest.
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/gyonJzbicJE N2 First egg! Congratulations Dorcha and Louis! 06.56.29
https://youtu.be/W8-fFs6TBW8 N2 First look for Louis when he brings the first fish 07.59.27
https://youtu.be/ys5b9FxT82k N1 Aurora’s calls are answered with a nice sized fish from Garry 11.06.10
https://youtu.be/yDnzR2DL6OA N2 Dorcha departs with the second fish leaving Louis to egg-sit 19.41.05
https://youtu.be/591ZDgF6gbw N1 Garry flies off with fish two as Aurora doesn’t take it 20.21.05
https://youtu.be/AQXp3vpgAMk N2 Louis brings a substantial late evening supper 21.13.13
Bonus read – hormonal changes in birds during the breeding season (thanks LizB)
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/aDk_oSfFyJA N1 Aila lays egg number two 2019
https://youtu.be/TR0ZAmEuEvU N1 Aila lays egg number two 2020
https://youtu.be/A0Fql5tp3Zw N1 Dad’s turn! Louis is finally on egg duty 2020
https://youtu.be/YWOgNITPfXc N1 Ringed female Blue 152 visits again 2021
https://youtu.be/OZBLR7uszwo N2 Very early breakfast but no more fish for Dorcha 2023
https://youtu.be/kh92z7IRnCw N1 Three Ospreys fighting over the nest 2023 (super slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/r9ckJWn_V3I N1 Aerobatics as Garry LV0’s involved in a chase 2024
https://youtu.be/G-DaqLc2tcE N2 A thirteen second handover of fish number two 2024
https://youtu.be/rMpsosLakXg N2 Dorcha uses her Crow voice to see off a Hoodie 2025
https://youtu.be/uUleqJXiBhw N1 Blue 536’s stick and Garry LV0’s fish fly on and off! 2025 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/o0i-471GSIE N1 A Tawny Owl pays a twilight visit 2025
Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam
It was a good day at Achieva thanks to Jill who is really stepping up to take care of her babies. Jack was late today – last time I checked Jill had delivered a fish and then went out later, at her usual time, to bring in another catfish.

In the image below, you can see the significant size difference between the two chicks. Big is almost fully feathered. Little is just getting its tail. We still see the white stripe on Little.

Alaska and Australia teaming up to help protect the Shearwater!
‘The birds are a global citizen’: Indigenous groups in Australia and Alaska team up to track a feathered adventurer’s epic journey.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourself and have a great end of the weekend and the beginning of the week. See you soon!
Toby loving his Bully Stick.

Thank you so much to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their great contributions – their work takes so much time. I am very grateful to those who post current information on FB and other platforms, to The Guardian for its reporting on wildlife concerns, and to Dyfi Osprey Project for keeping such wonderful historical information. To the owners of the streaming cams, thank you seems too small. We would know about these amazing birds and their environmental challenges if it were not for you.