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.