Thank you so much for your prayers, your notes, e-mails, and comments. I really appreciate them. Don is very, very ill. At the moment, he has multiple infections, and he is not responding. He remains in a state of delirium, the same as he was Thursday morning when he went into the hospital. He has the best of care and there is someone with him 24/7 and the doctor has asked me to take a day off and take care of myself. I have done everything I possibly can and now we wait. Ann is going to be with him today and she will let me know if he is improving or if I need to grab Toby and get to the hospital fast. Otherwise, I am going to try and recharge my depleted batteries a bit.
The good news (and then the bad) is that Don responded to the antibiotics and had a good visit with Ann. He was ‘bright eyed and bushy tailed’ as my mother would have said. He also had a good visit with his brother. And then – he fell. They are supposed to have someone with him 24/7. That did not happen. He injured his upper right arm, his right ribs, and hit his head on a concrete floor. He knew me and he knew Toby when we got to the hospital but it is clear he is not the same as he had been a few hours earlier. I don’t get ‘worked up’ easily but when I do – watch out. All I can say is that he is monitored at home and has never fallen. When he wandered, he only made it to the neighbour’s house and then we had that fixed so he could be in the garden but not beyond it and sometimes only in the house. So when someone tells me that they are concerned for his safety at home and he needs 24/7 care, is this the best they can do?—–Thank you for letting me vent!
Before the fall, Ann took it. I even talked to him on the phone and it was all good:
The big news for the day in Bird World is that Gabby has returned safely to the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest she shares with Beau (who has already arrived).
I want to thank Geemeff for their wonderful summaries and videos from Loch Arkaig all season. You will see that they are off on their own adventure – migrating away from the UK to enjoy some other climates. Bon Voyage, Geemeff! Likes the ospreys – travel safe, eat well, and come back safely!!!!!
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 29th August 2026
A peaceful calm day with just a little harassment by the Hoodies, but Juniper managed to keep both of Louis’ two deliveries safe from them. The second fish was the season’s first mackerel, polished off by Juniper in under twenty minutes, which took the Nest Two tally to four hundred and seventy three. Will Juniper stick around long enough for the tally to reach five hundred? As always, it’s wait and see but the days are drawing in and warmer climes will start beckoning. The weather was mild and settled but that’s set to change to persistent cloud cover and periodic spells of rain overnight with a low of 12°C, and cool and wet tomorrow with a high of just 16°C.
I’m off on an adventure of my own tomorrow, so I’ll take this opportunity to give my best wishes to everyone until we meet again for Season Eleven, and wish our feathered family fair winds and plenty of fish on their journey south.
Maya and Blue 33 were still enjoying one another’s company at Rutland’s Manton Bay nest after the kids had flown the coop yesterday. I love how they enjoy spending time together. I have only seen Blue 33 today.
Latest report from Usk Valley in Wales – ospreys still hitting the nest.
Some gorgeous images of Wensi – thank you cam operator, again.
Thank you for being with us today. It is a gorgeous evening and Toby and I are off for a walk. He was fantastic at the hospital and proved how good he is at being a therapy dog to everyone who wanted to sit and pat him for awhile.
Take care. See you soon.
Thank you to Geemeff, to the AEF, to everyone who created videos, to Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Information, to those who write newsletters, and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us see these amazing birds. We are grateful.
We are having another cool day. It is fantastic! We hope that you are as well.
Heidi is meticulous in keeping data records for all the osprey nests that she monitors and she has been doing this or the International Osprey Data Project (my long term study in osprey mortality) for the past three/four years. Heidi posted this detailed information about a few of the nests that she has observed and documented this year. You will learn a lot from reading this.
“Keep in mind, there is a great deal of older osprey educational material available in print and online. The older materials present a typical osprey family lifestyle as being similar to old TV shows like Ozzie and Harriet, Father Knows Best, The Donna Reed Show, and Leave It To Beaver. The dads worked, and the moms stayed at home. I have watched dozens of osprey nest cams for a few years, and that has rarely been the case. An osprey nest where the female never fishes is uncommon, in my experience. If you do your research online, artificial intelligence will glean information from the out-dated articles as well as some newer information.
First, we shouldn’t assume that Miles has ‘succumbed’ to anything or became injured or died. That’s a bridge too far. Since we only know what we see on cams, it is important not to go too far in our ‘what if’ theories. We do know that there is a shortage of fish, primarily due to menhaden overfishing.
It is not unusual for both parents to fish. Many females do typically start to fish for the family to supplement the male’s contributions, when the chicks get older. That’s what Hennie did. The females are not necessarily supposed to provide most or all of the fish, but that is what I have been seeing at many nests. However, don’t forget that the males can also become preoccupied at times with defending the nest and surrounding area against intruders, and then they will spend less time fishing. When fishing becomes poor for our on-cam osprey families, it becomes poor for all of the fish-eating birds in the area, like other ospreys and eagles. This may result in a greater chance of one of ‘our’ osprey’s catch being stolen by other hungry birds. It stands to reason, that kleptoparasitism would increase in times of fish shortages. You can imagine for example, Miles spending a lot of time trying to catch a fish, he finally catches one and then it is stolen. He later catches another fish, and he eats it because he is expending a lot of energy and he is starving. Miles (and all the other males and fishing females) may have also had to travel further away to find better fishing than what they were finding at their usual local fishing spot. That would mean more energy expended just to get to the new fishing area, and then to fly home with the fish. The male can try to do this all day long, and the end result may be that the male has brought very few if any fish to the nest that day for his family.
Osprey nest ground monitors have been noticing that many females are abandoning nests earlier in their nesting season than in previous years, and that some males have been leaving early also. From what I have seen on cams, many of the males are leaving before the females. Leaving does not mean migrating. It could mean that they simply have reached their own maximum degree of malnutrition and exhaustion that they can tolerate, and they simply had to become self-focused to save their own lives.
What I have seen on nest cams this season:
For some nests, the ‘food stress’ for the ospreys presented itself early enough in the season that the eggs were abandoned. The male ospreys stopped coming to the nest with fish for the females, so the females had to leave to fish for themselves. This was not the first year we have seen this. We noticed this at the Severna Park, MD nest two years ago, last year the cam was down, and this year Oscar and Olivia abandoned their eggs again due to lack of fish.
Last season at the Forsythe, NJ nest, the male could not support the female by bringing her enough fish, so she abandoned their eggs. This season, the food stress presented itself much later, and two chicks hatched. The male, Oscar, stopped coming to the nest several days prior to the female finally giving up on the chicks. Opal had a long history of being a fishing osprey mom. But, unlike several years in the past, the she did not bring any fish to the nest for her chicks this season. She did however, spend many hours off cam and would return with a crop and empty talons. One would assume that she fished to save her own life, but probably also tried to fish for her family, and she simply wasn’t able to do so. How far did she have to fly to find fish? Opal finally abandoned the chicks and they perished. Both parents were seen at the nest a few times in the days after their chicks died.
Last year at the South Cape May nest, Hera abandoned her eggs when Zeus had been unable to provide enough fish to her. This season, Hera was last seen at the nest when Uno was only 38 days old. There had been a significant slowdown in fish deliveries to the nest. Hera had already been fishing for a couple weeks, and was providing 1/3 to 1/2 of the daily fish totals to the nest. After Hera’s departure, Zeus continued to support Uno for several days by delivering fish, mostly very small menhaden. July 26, was the last day that Zeus was seen at the nest. On 7/28 the cam was turned off and NCNJ began to place fish on the nest for Uno.
The Wetlands nest is a special case. Their only chick would not allow mom to feed it, repeatedly attacking her very severely, and attacking the dad as well. However, the male continued to make fish drops, and Rascal learned to self feed. But, fish counts were down significantly compared to earlier in the season. In the end, both parents abandoned the nest altogether, and Rascal passed away.
At Dewey Beach last year, both parents abandoned their only chick and it died at 50 days old. Dad left several days before Mom did. We did see the mom on the nest a few times after her chick passed. This season they had a new female, and she started fishing when Sassy was young. The last couple weeks of their season, Mom was catching most of the fish, and it was almost entirely small menhaden. Dewey Dad stopped coming to the nest when Sassy was 54 days old. Mom continued to provide for Sassy for four days after Sassy fledged. Mom was last seen on 7/17. We saw Dad again on 7/18 with a fish, Sassy flew in to take the fish, but Dad flew off with it. Mom has not been seen since 7/17, but I continue to see Dad at the nest, guarding against intruders. I last saw him on 7/30. Sassy has not been seen since 7/19.
The Cape Henlopen nest: Miles was last seen at the nest on 7/28 at 10:28 when he delivered a small menhaden. The fish count had been way down from a few days earlier. I believe that Miles had reached a breaking point where his body told him that he had to take care of himself. He was probably exhausted from trying to fish, fighting off kleptos trying to steal his fish, and trying to guard the area from intruders. In addition, Miles may have been flying further away to try to find fish, using up even more energy. He may have only been able to eat a couple tiny menhaden a day, or a dogfish, which wasn’t enough to support his energy requirements. I think it is possible that Miles may have left to find better fishing at a different location, so that he could regain his weight and strength. The adults also know that they have to migrate in a month or so. Starting from a depleted physical state, they know they have to begin to rest and fatten up before undertaking the immense challenges of migration.
Hennie had begun fishing fairly early in the season, and her contributions were very significant. There were no fish brought to the nest on 7/29 and 7/30. Hennie arrived in the evening on those days with a crop. The fact that she had eaten but not brought a fish to her youngster was quite shocking to some viewers. It was similar to what Opal had been doing at Forsythe, arriving with a crop but no fish. I believe that Hennie had tried to bring fish to her youngster, but it simply didn’t work out with the challenges of finding fish and surviving fish thieves. Hennie brought three fish to Chick1 on 7/31. On 8/1 Hennie brought a small menhaden to the nest for Chick1 at 11:14. It was approaching too late in the evening to expect another fish, so I knew Chick1 would not have another fish that day. The eagle took Chick1 that evening. We heard Hennie alarming from a nearby tree during the eagle attack. Hennie never abandoned her chick, and Chick1 was not dying. See the videos of the chick being active throughout the day on 8/1. I counted several very good ps’s by Chick1 on 8/1. But, Chick1 needed more fish, and if the eagle predation had not occurred, I don’t know if Hennie would have been able to catch enough fish for herself and her chick, so that Chick1 could fledge. We will never know. I do know the last few days that Hennie was seen on camera, she looked very thin, tired and depleted.
There are those that have said if Hennie or Miles had been at the nest the eagle attack would not have happened. That is not necessarily true. If Hennie had been on the perch, it may have deterred the eagle, or it might not have. In 2021 on an osprey live cam in Washington state, a bald eagle swooped down on an osprey nest and took two osplets at once. The osprey parents were both at the nest at the time.
Fish: I have monitored fish at many regional on-cam nests this season. The catch has overwhelmingly been small menhaden. Menhaden comprise the bulk of an osprey’s diet along the mid-Atlantic coast, and the northeast coast. Large adult menhaden have a very dense caloric content due to their high concentration of omega fatty acids. Small menhaden, while still food, lack the nutritional value of larger menhaden. They are not old enough to have accumulated and stored the high concentrations of omega oils. Other fish I have seen at the nests include lots of bluefish earlier in the season (very few later in the season), a lot of dogfish, a few croaker, scup, spot, mackerel, and even one black sea bass from Miles. Zeus at Cape May, brought several fresh water species to the nest this season (bass, sunfish varieties). We thought that would be a boon for that nest, since Zeus had an alternate location to fish. But, in reality, it pointed to the fact that their primary food source, menhaden, was missing. I have only seen a few large menhaden this season at Wetlands, Dewey Beach, Cape Henlopen, and South Cape May. Due to overfishing by an industrial reduction fishing fleet, the adult menhaden along the east coast have been almost entirely wiped out.
The photo is from June 13.”
In the Tweed Valley in the UK, one of the osplets was being attacked by its older sibling who had made sure the younger one did not eat. It was rescued so that it could survive. This is the latest update:
There is more news from Tweed:
In Australia, George and Hope are raising their three osplets alone this year – without their older sister helping!
People make a difference and this is a marvellous change to a very long standing tradition. This year Gannet chicks will not be clubbed to death.
Please remember that collectively we can make change – and I am hoping that one of those changes will be the absolute elimination of the industrial fishing for Menhaden that is causing an entire ecosystem to collapse and the death of our dear ospreys (amongst other wildlife).
People are helping ospreys in trouble. It warmsmy heart.
Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 4th August 2026 Plenty of drama today – Dorcha saw off a persistent intruder Osprey who kept over-flying Nest Two, then intruded on Nest One herself, and was swiftly chased off by Aurora 536. Less than ten minutes after Aurora drove her away, she returned to Nest Two bringing a fish! Early in the season before Louis returned, Dorcha had brought two fish to the nest. She’s now doubled that total with her delivery of a trout yesterday and another today. The chicks were on and off the nest throughout the day competing for fish, and while attempting to keep her fish away from her sister, Amber accidentally achieved a milestone and flew with her fish for the first time. However, she still needs to perfect the other half of that skill, which is to keep hold of it, as on returning to the nest, she crashed through the branches at the side, and landed with empty talons. Garry brought one fish for Aurora, taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and ninety two, and the Nest Two tally rises to three hundred and seventy five with five fish from Louis and one fish from Dorcha today. As forecast, there were heavy rain showers and strong gusts of wind during the day and the wet weather is set to continue with light rain showers and a low of 14°C overnight, changing to thundery showers and a yellow warning for thunderstorms tomorrow, with a high of 17°C.
There was a fledge this morning at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum nest. Gosh what a good nest to watch this year with new adults!
Heidi reports “Oyster Bay is having a good day. Mom had not been seen for 2 days, but she’s back. Five fish so far (3 Dad, 2 Mom), both chicks have been eating.”
The update on Colonial Beach chick that was electrocuted and taken into care. It is able to stand up but did not eat well yesterday. Send your good wishes, please, to this baby.
At Hellgate Canyon, Wensi is really working his or her wings and well, there could be a fledge any time. Proud Mama Iris watches every move. Iris is looking a little rough. I sure hope she is able to spend the next month fattening up and getting into good condition for migration.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. I will be back with you on Friday. Taking a day off tomorrow (Thursday).
Thank you to everyone who sent me information, to Heidi for that great synopsis of some of the nests she is watching, to Geemeff for her videos and summary, Cornell Bird Lab, all who post on FB and the streaming cam owners who allow us to watch these amazing birds.
What a week it has been! My fear is that we are still seeing the perils our dear osprey will have to deal with as wildfires, drought, and extreme rain are impacting all parts of our planet. That weather is impacting us as well – the heat and what will be food shortages, particularly items made of wheat or cereal crops, that have been impacted. It truly is a difficult time for all.
Thank you to everyone who posted good wishes to Heidi. The loss of CH1 is truly devastating, as there were so few ospreys left in that region and, of course, it is the nest she loved.
There is some good news.
0E5, the first hatched male, at Dunrovin Ranch fledged this morning and returned to the nest!
The chick that was removed from the Fru Rauer nest in Norway has been rehomed in a nest with adults that had one chick about the same size. Sol is being fed and monitored by a team as there is no camera. Here is the YouTube announcement: https://youtu.be/zcYWlWscCMc?
The second hatch at Tweed Valley was removed with the hope that it will thrive away from a nest where there was a very aggressive older chick that would not allow it to eat.
The younger chick at Oyster Bay is staying near the nest and getting the fish being delivered.
Fish is being provided to all four fledglings at Poole Harbour. Blue 022 and CJ7 are exceptional parents. The fledglings seem to be always eating.
I love this image of Blue 33 almost getting his talons pulled off as he delivers two fish at once to the Rutland Manton Bay nest in the UK. Plenty of fish for the ospreys! Amazing Dad.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 1st August 2026
Today was a repeat of yesterday, the chicks slept elsewhere overnight and are really unlikely to sleep on the nest again, preferring to perch in trees which better suits the shape of their feet. They hopped on and off the nest, called very noisily for fish, competed with their mum to get fish from Louis and mantled over their prize, loudly warning the others away. Dorcha might have to go fishing for herself soon as she’s not getting much of Louis’ deliveries but she doesn’t try too hard to get the fish ahead of the chicks. There were a few alarms today, Ravens were heard cronking in the distance but nothing came near enough to be caught on camera. Louis delivered four fish, taking the Nest Two tally to three hundred and sixty one, and nearly lost a toe to Amber in her eagerness to get to the fish. Garry brought one fish for Aurora and stayed to do a little nest tidying – the Nest One tally now stands at one hundred and eight nine. It should be mainly dry overnight and tomorrow with a low of 11°C and a high of 19°C.
This is the last article that University of Florida-Gainsville Intern at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre has written before returning to classes. ‘R’ sent it to me to share with you, and it gives us some hope for a species and maybe for all species. I keep thinking we need young people like Wes taking care of the environment!
FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA Resident Bald Eagle male: Shadow (unbanded) since May 2018. Estimated hatch year: 2014 Resident Bald Eagle female: Jackie (unbanded) since September 2016. Estimated hatch year: 2012 Sandy hatched 4 April 2026, Luna hatched 5 April 2026 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
Shadow Checks In Morning and Night ~ Sub-Adult Stays Close~Critters Clean Up (2026 Jul 30) Shadow continues to spend the night in his usual roost tree, stopping briefly on a favorite perch in the morning. The sub-adult (I think the same one) seems to be in the area whenever Shadow is there. The sub-adult has taken the hint to perch a respectable distance from Shadow, as he’s shown no interest in interacting directly. While the eagles are away during the day, a whole host of critters visit the nest ~ I call them the cleaning crew. Sandy and Luna have not been seen on camera since July 23rd. Enjoy this day in Jackie and Shadow’s habitat. Video: https://youtu.be/wzV_Uf40fP4 Shadow’s Comings and GoingsWhile Awaiting Jackie’s Return (2026 Jul 24) Shadow’s routine has changed since Jackie was taken into care. Sometimes we see him morning and night, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes with a sub-adult bald eagle, sometimes alone. Here’s a day when we saw him both morning and night. This was also the last day faint squees were heard from juvenile eagles, which we hope were Sandy and Luna. It’s a time of wonder, discovery, and hope as we observe this habitat in a different light. Video: https://youtu.be/qfP_F-PEN9k
Jackie is on everyone’s mind! She is improving and was feeding herself. She is in the best care, and this is a reminder not to be sucked into those who keep spreading horrible rumours. No wildlife facility, let alone Ojai Raptor Centre, would keep a raptor in care longer than is needed for donations! Unbelievable.
Arthur has been spotted on campus with the Ps who continue to thrive with him and Big Red providing prey.
This is another tragedy. Every White-tail Eagle that has died in Dorset, England has died of rodenticide poisoning.
The two osplets at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum are thriving despite the heat that is covering our region. [Please note this nest never had three chicks – the third did not die, and any information related to that on the Memorial Page has been removed. There was confusion about the name of the nest when an individual sent me information for the Memorial Page].
Mum and Dad on the barge nest at Port Lincoln as they prepare for the 2026 breeding season – mating is certainly on the agenda!
Friends of Osprey Sth Australia have been checking the other platforms in the area as they work to reintroduce the species to the region. They are hopeful for a good year! I will keep you posted.
All four juveniles, including the fledglings, home for fish at Blackbush.
Fish arrived at Cowlitz.
I have no idea what has happened at Osoyoos but the heat has been incredible.
Fish at Sandpoint for only osplet.
Fledglings return to the Salmon, Idaho nest for fish. On occasion you can see the wildfire smoke on the streaming cam that is near.
Lucky osplet at the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho nest just got a huge whole fish from Dad!
These two osprey nests are right in the middle of humans – just look at Sandy Hook!
We hope that each of you are doing well. Please do check the Memorial Page and help me fill in the gaps and send good wishes to all those osplets on nests for a successful fledge and migration – and to the adults who are trying to fatten up for their journey to their winter homes. I can tell you that Seren Blue 5F has made it to her winter home in The Gambia. She has been photographed. I hope that next year is a better season for her and Dylan at Llyn Clywedog.
Hugo Yugo clowning around on the chair. You can see the poor dear has no teeth in front to hold her tongue. She is a real character.
Hope loving Missey.
Toby had his flea and tick treatment and wears his little jacket so none of the liquid will get on the cats.
It has been busy at the bird baths. The raccoon comes at night and even took a bath and a good old drink. Please remember to leave out life-saving water for the birds and other wildlife. It does make a difference.
See you soon!
Thank you to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their dedication, their videos, and nest summaries. Thank you to everyone who wrote to me this week. I am grateful to everyone wo posted on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to view these families. A big shout out to those who rescued osplets in need and who have tried to make their lives better – Fru Rauer and Tweed Valley this week.
We hope that the start to the last weekend in May has been good to you. We are moving into June and the time is passing too quickly. All winter I complained about the cold and ice and the fact that we could not get out and walk as we used to due to the icy sidewalks and trails. Now it is so hot that we have heat warnings and due to Toby’s breed and Don’s medication, we can’t go out if it is too hot!!!!!!!! I hate complaining. On top of this, Don is loving the series Death in Paradise. It is filmed at Deshaines in Guadaloupe, where we stayed on our last big holiday. We recognise so many of the places! Gosh, that was fun, and the weather was beautiful. The hummingbirds would flit around our faces in the morning and evenings, and we spent so much time in the new Botanical Gardens while staying in a small cottage on the grounds of the Old Botanical Gardens. It was magical. I hope you can all go one day – just eat the fish the women cook on the beach. Fresh, grilled, and wrapped in newsprint! Delicious.
We were out early for a Toby walk and then to pick up our little Hyskap plants. Toby and Don waited 45 minutes in line with me – the programme is a success, and yet, most of my neighbours do not know about it. Our little plot of land is almost brimming with trees and shrubs for the birds and animals. We are pleased. We are on a mission to drink lots of homemade ‘sun’ tea (cold tea made with tea bags, not the powdered pre-sugared kind). The key is to keep everyone hydrated, including The Girls, Toby, and the animals outside. I hope you are paying attention, too!!!!!
It is the very last season for the streaming cam for Richmond and his new mate, Wendy. That in itself is a sad occurreance but this morning tragedy struck. The first egg DNH nor did the second. There was one little osplet. Wendy sadly could not figure out how to feed it in time to save that precious baby. She removed her dead chick and the last unviable egg to the edge of the nest this morning.
Richmond sees his baby for the first time – so joyful after losing his long term mate, Rosie, this year, and now, this little one perished.
I wish Golden Gate Audubon would reconsider shutting off the camera. Perhaps a fundraiser? There aren’t to many ospreys! How many do we get to watch in California? And Richmond is still there after all these years – . I wonder if they might change their minds?
At the Usk Valley, the chick has had four fish delivered, including at least one nice Bream that I saw. Syfadden is an excellent isher. Syfadden and Cogwyn are doing excellent!
Looks of activity at the San Jose City Hall. All four have flown and it is a busy time for Hartley, Monty, and BOGs chasing these four characters down. SK Hideaways has some video for us: https://youtu.be/kIcphBp29qU?
Gayle Gordon brings us sad news from the Blue Springs Bald Eagle nest. Did someone rescue this eaglet, I wonder.
Augusta and Samson have two osplets at Border Ospreys! Rosie Shields brings us all the latest news.
It looks like there will only be one hatch at Ranworth this year.
Just look at that baby – on top and right up front at Poole Harbour.
Idris, Telyn, and three little osplets at Dyfi. It is all under control.
Elen and Teifi are doing well with their three at Glaslyn.
It’s hard to see but close by at the Pont Cresor nest, Aeron Z2 and Blue 014 also have three healthy little ones!
The trio at Rutland Water’s Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya are moving out of the Reptile Phase and getting their beautiful juvenile feathers. Just look at them with their beaks wide open!
Now to check on two nests in the US – Dewey Beach because I am concerned about fish deliveries and the impact of when Omega starts trawling and Traverse Bay because of the nest slide.
Dewey Beach: Mum had a small PS. Four feedings for the baby today, according to wicked fish counter-identifier, Heidi. The little one is so cute.
I’d like to think that a miracle is holding up that Traverse City nest. Things are alright. Keep sending positive wishes for both of these nests.
There is a crisis in California. Seabirds are starving to death.
If you see a sick bird and there is someone fishing with a net, get help and scoop them up. Do not cut the line they are attached to. This could kill them. Get them to the nearest wildlife rehabilitation centre!
This reminds me – each of you should be doing some due diligence. In your phone, have the numbers of the local wildlife rescue in your area. Do not be afraid to call them! Do not call the USFWS, call the rescues!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you don’t know the number of the nearest rescue of the streaming cams that you are watching and there is no chat or a moderator, find out what the nearest rescue is and put it in your phone. If you notice something untoward, call and report!
Ever heard of the Dartford Warbler? It has made a comeback. Have a happy read.
Two gorgeous White-tail eaglets on the nest for Milda and Zorro. I note from the chat there is an issue with getting fish to the nest at the weekend – it is the same in many parts of the US and Canada. Humans take over the rivers and the lakes and the raptors cannot feed their families. I really do love some of the regions in the UK that ban human activity during breeding season!
Condensation on the camera lens?
Incubation continues at many Finnish osprey nests, including 2 and 5. The very first Finnish chick hatched in nest 1 on May 26.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 30th May 2026
After many calm days, there were two intrusions by strange Ospreys, or possibly the same Osprey in two locations. An unringed male actually landed on Nest Two when Louis was on incubation duty, and was chased off quickly. The chase continued in the air, and meantime Dorcha tag-teamed back onto the nest to protect the eggs. Over on Nest One the intruder didn’t actually land but came close enough, with Garry chasing, to put Aurora on high alert. The eggs are due to start hatching in a couple of days and the two males performed their protective roles perfectly as did the two females. Garry LV0 delivered one fish for Aurora 536 raising the Nest One tally to eighty nine, and Louis also delivered one fish to Dorcha, raising the Nest Two tally to ninety five. It rained lightly on and off, a damp and misty day today, and tonight’s overnight forecast is light rain showers and light winds with a low of 12°C, changing tomorrow to thundery showers with a gentle breeze and a high of 15°C.
Last but not least – Big Red and a nest full of hawklets and chippies. The babies are not only getting their gorgeous juvenile feathers but they are also working those wings.
Thank you for being with us today. Take care. Stay hydrated. Send good wishes to all the nests and please, if you can, leave water out for wildlife. It could save a life. See you soon!
Thank you so much to everyone who has posted information on FB today, to Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Info, to PB for keeping me informed, and to the owners of the streaming cams and the authors of newsletters and articles. Thank you to Geemeff and SK Hideaways for their videos and daily reports.
We hope this finds each of you well and that you got outside, enjoyed the fresh air, and heard some birdsong! The Bald Eagles are gathering in areas north of me in Manitoba. It is another reminder that spring is just around the corner!
Last year Ping Shen shared his incredible photographs of a Seattle osprey family, Harry and Sally. The couple had three osplets. Sadly, one died, but two flourished. It was a real treat. Thank you, Ping! We are looking forward to Harry and Sally’s 2026 breeding season and all your images and stories.
Ping’s article is inspirational for me, and I think that it will touch each of you. We have all sought refuge in the lives of the raptors for various reasons. We need to cherish our wildlife, recognising how much our ‘souls’ are sustained by nature and how much we have in common.
“With noise and sooty exhaust constant backdrops, with a nest built on top of a 1.5 million-gallon storage tank for sewage runoff, these osprey — Harry and Sally, as I came to call them — engaged and persisted in the fraught, delicate dance of raising young. Engaged in my own delicate dance of raising my own young, I found some of the parallels quite humorous — more than once I would return home after watching the young birds demand food, maws agape, and see my own 4-year-old daughter open her mouth in silent command upon seeing me eat something interesting. Beyond humor lay the fortifying recognition of just how much we — human and bird — shared as parents. That parenting is perhaps the most hopeful act of all, that amid and against calamity and tall odds we dance, nurturing and sending forth a little bit of ourselves into an unknown future. A care package of love and hope tucked under a wing is all we leave them.”
‘LE’ sends us news that the first eaglet was born at the Fort Worth Zoo in 117 years! And no, it is not a Bald Eagle but an African Fish eagle! Here is the information:
I am so glad that the NZ DOC and the Kakapo Recovery are keeping us up to date on the 2026 breeding season. These remarkable flightgless green parrots breed only once every four years and 2026 is their year!
Mrs O is at the Tweed Valley nest waiting for a mate. Last year began in a remarkable way and ended in tragedy when two females share the same nest. Once the osplets hatched, the females could not sort out who would provide fish, if they would share duties or what – the male was simply not fit for purpose – and the cute little osplets starved to death.
What a very sad situation.
We are waiting for the first egg for Big Red and Arthur. Poor thing. She now lives in a construction zone.
Heidi writes that the second chick has hatched at the Venice Beach and Golf course osprey platform.
Owls bothered Beau and Gabby’s Kia and Eve Friday night with Eve getting hit.
The triplets at Moorings Park osprey platform are well fed – with beautiful fat little bottoms.
Waiting for White YW and Blue 35. They have raised some incredible chicks at Foulshaw Moss in Cumbria.
The cameras are getting better and better. Thanks, Jeff!
Elen is still waiting at Glaslyn.
A great video of Kai and Eve at the nest of Gabby and Beau in Palm Court, Florida – before the kids depart. It has been a wonderful season for this family! Beau proved all the naysayers wrong and is a good strong mate for Gabby just like she knew. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/CeUxQWwidwY?
There is still time for Maya or Blue 33 to arrive today at Rutland. Birds are arriving.
I would also like to draw your attention to the manner in which the side rails of this nest have been secured. To my knowledge, much of the osprey platforms in the UK are checked, secured, and refurbished before the arrival of the ospreys in the UK. I love what they do at Glaslyn. Why couldn’t someone care this much about the ospreys in the US – such as the nest at Achieva in St Petersburg? How would the owners of that streaming cam like ‘their kids’ to slide through a hole and die? Oh, don’t get me started.
Gentle snow is coming down this morning. The Starlings are waiting for me to put out their kibble while a lone Blue Jay was glad to have the peanuts to itself. Mr Crow is not patiently waiting to get Toby’s leftover meat.
Take care everyone. Check out the wonder that is nature around you, just like Ping Shen you might discover a bird family that you can watch from egg to fledge! I will see you again soon.
Thank you to Ping Shen for sharing their wonderful article with us, to ‘LE’ for letting me know about that African Eagle, to the owners of the streaming cams we are always grateful to be able to watch the lives of our favourite bird families, to SK Hideaways I am always indebted to you for your fantastic videos, and to Jeff Kerr and UK Osprey – thanks. And to all the others who post on FB and take images – bless you!
Heidi reports that Venice Beach and Golf Course ospreys have their first hatch.
At Lake Murray, Lucy and Newmann have their third egg.
Thank you to ‘VV’ for her keen observations on the Achieva nest and sharing them with us: “First, to answer your Achieva query from blog — I do watch them — I rewound yesterday (3/19) and Jack was feeding Jill fine — 2 deliveries of fish in morning and then an afternoon of sharing a big fish back and forth — Jack brings into nest,Jill takes; Jill returns after eating some, Jack takes; Jack returns with some, Jill takes, etc. Her third time w/ fish on this occasion she finished it off.
However, she seems to be alone in chasing an intruder that I caught a glimpse of yesterday on their nest perch, and the day before (?or day before that?) the intruder was trying to land in nest when she shot off the eggs and chased it.”
Thank you for being with us today on this first day of spring. Toby spent most of the day outside with me. Ann took Don to the zoo. The temperature was 4 C.
We cleaned up some of the winter dirt and mushy snow and rejoiced in the bright sunshine.
Take care.
Thank you so much to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to see the lives of our favourite birds and to those who post information and videos so that we can learn and enjoy. I am very grateful. Also, thank you to ‘VV’ for the information on Achieva.
I am too excited and couldn’t wait til tomorrow to share the fantastic news. Gabby and Beau have their first egg at the NE Florida American Eagle Foundation nest! That egg arrived around 18:33. What a way to start the week!
I hope you had a remarkable weekend and spent some time outside, enjoying the crisp air of late autumn/early winter and getting those legs moving! Don went with Anne to the nature centre for a walk in the golden sunlight and to see if there are any geese on Friday. Toby and I have come in from our walk, and all the Girls, including Calico, are napping. Calico is doing well. Thank you for your kind notes. She is a very special girl to me, and I was so afraid we would lose her!
It has been quite warm. 8 or 9 degrees C on Sunday! We had such a lovely walk. The children were outside playing with only light jackets. We could tell which houses had birdfeeders by the song from their gardens, and many were taking the opportunity to put up fairy lights on a day when their fingers wouldn’t freeze. The time is speeding by. It was a blink, and a week disappeared.
Toby is getting his photo taken with Santa on the 29th. I will post it for you. I can’t imagine taking The Girls to the pet store to get their photo taken although it would be so cute and it is an excellent fundraising idea.
As I mentioned in earlier blogs, the raptors are still in Manitoba, along with hundreds of Canada Geese. It is hard to believe. What else is hard to believe is that for the past couple of weeks, we have seen Christmas trees decorated inside the homes as we go for our evening walk. The lights are gorgeous – I do appreciate them – but when did we start getting ready for the holidays (no matter which one/s you celebrate) right after Halloween?
Look what arrived in the post! (Our postal workers are on rotating strikes, and to receive any mail is rather remarkable.) I am so delighted. The Dyfi calendar is full of beautiful images and historical facts and those beanies will come in handy when winter does arrive.
I want to wish all of our readers who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week a very special day to enjoy good food and the companionship of friends and family.
SK Hideaways Videos, week of 16 November 2025
Channel Island Bald Eagles Sauces Bald Eagles, Santa Cruz Island, CA: Jak & Audacity’s Stunning Habitat plus Roosting On the Night Perch (2025 Nov 21) Cam ops treated us to spectacular views of Santa Cruz Island before panning to the night perch, where Jak and Audacity roosted for the night. Video: https://youtu.be/G4Wa_vOuuYQ Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies, explore.org Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnTsOesC6hE
West End Eagles: Haku Scarfs Lunch ~ Meets Akecheta on Tor + Night Perch Rendezvous(2025 Nov 18) After cam ops gave us a glorious tour of the area from the HD camera, they caught Haku devouring a nice, big vermilion rockfish on the nest before setting off to Wray’s Rock and then the far tor, where Akecheta met her. As evening approached, they rendezvoused on the night perch, much to the delight of fans. They don’t tend to spend the night on this perch and this night was no exception. But they did seem to spend much of the day together, and most likely roosted together out of prying camera eyes. Videohttps://youtu.be/dLIlDCq_DO0
West End Eagles: Akecheta on Sentry & Haku on Fish + Island Fox ~ HD Cam New Position (2025 Nov 16) The IWS re-positioned the West End low cam for better visibility of the nest (no more secret hideout), but it also provides excellent views of the tors. Here we see both Akecheta and Haku from the re-positioned vantage point. As a bonus, an island fox makes a cameo appearance. Seeing Haku devour a fish on the nest gave us the view we needed to get our bearings of the re-positioned camera. The cherry on top was seeing Akecheta and Haku meet up on the far tor, this time on the original West End camera (not HD, but a wonderful scene nonetheless). (2025 Nov 16; 7:12-15:02) Video: https://youtu.be/ILrE2CbmkoI Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org Nest Low Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfuqjSNXZ14 Other Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmmAzrAkKqI Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kad6O4nF6bg
Girri Burrows into Diamond for Cute Cuddles (2025 Nov 18) Girri got the cuddles they were craving from super mum Diamond. A mother-child connection at its sweetest. Video: https://youtu.be/aHzjeTDcHcY Girri Tries to Teach Gimbir to Brood ~ Detente is Achieved (2025 Nov 17) 12-day old Girri still likes to be under a parent, where it’s nice and warm. Gimbir, however, hasn’t yet learned how to brood. Despite Girri’s efforts to wedge under Gimbir, it is not to be. A side-by-side arrangement has, however, been achieved. Not to Girri’s full satisfaction, but it’s working. Video: https://youtu.be/vWzj5tnUWOs
FOBBV Eagles, Big Bear Valley, CA Jackie & Shadow Herald the Start of Stick Season ~ with Raven Cameo(2025 Nov 20) It was a 9 stick day in what might have been the beginning of stick season. Jackie and Shadow came and went from the nest throughout the morning with Jackie making a final visit just before dusk. It was all about delivery, but little placement. There’s plenty of time. During the day, Jackie and Shadow rested on Split Pine, a raven visited the nest, and there was a sprinkling of snow at day’s end. Video: https://youtu.be/GNMyJtB-Zbc Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://youtube.com/live/LCGYWfbyBWc LIVE Recap & Observations https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz
Redding Bald Eagles Liberty & Guardian Have Some Branch Management Issues (2025 Nov 19) Liberty and Guardian performed some serious nestorations, some of which involved tricky branch placement. They each had a troublesome branch that we think will require ongoing tweaking before they’re content. Their new nest is coming along beautifully and will be ready for breeding time whenever they are. Video: https://youtu.be/5cl-uDFTq0I Courtesy of Friends of the Redding Eagles, Redding, California Livestream page: https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsoftheReddingEagles/streams
SE35 Attacks Camera Parts ~ Tired of Paparazzi (2025 Nov 22) SE35 has had an ongoing rivalry with the nest camera that we fans cling to, day in and day out. With SE36 out exploring, SE35 has been the sole star of the show. On this day, SE35 put their talon down and went after the camera equipment, tired of being in the spotlight. They succeeded in pausing its operation for about 10 minutes, but when operation resumed, we were right there watching. SE35 has since realized that being the object of so many fans’ affections is really not so bad after all. Video: https://youtu.be/_U_eFdYLgec
SE35’s Quandary ~ Self-Feeding or Being Fed ~ Tricky Fish Skin/Bones (2025 Nov 21) When Dad delivered a fish, SE35 was somewhat conflicted between independence and the comfort of being nurtured. It was a pretty gnarly fish from a skin and bones perspective. Lady knew just what to do. She let SE35 stand on part of the fish while feeding the other part. Then she stood back and watched as SE35 practiced self-feeding before helping again. It was a very long meal with lessons learned along the way. Video: https://youtu.be/h0y6JphCKDY
The Tweed Valley Osprey Project has reason to celebrate and so should we. Blue 722.
The Raptor Resource Project wonders which eagles you are watching at Decorah?
Beautiful condors in heraldic pose captured by Tim Huntington.
Speaking of condors, did you catch the Condor chat with Kelly Sorenson and his team at the Ventana Wildlife Society? If you missed it, here is the link and as always, you will learn so much! https://www.youtube.com/live/XBZIu2i9l5s?
Here is the population update and, of course, it is only one page in the presentation. Please do check this presentation out!
‘A’ sends us her commentary on the Australian nests with a nod to Beau and Gabby:
“Just WONDERFUL news about Wisdom. You know my soft spot for albies – I’ve been watching the returnees at Taiaroa Head finding each other and laying eggs. The announcement of the Royal Cam family for this season is coming any minute now – literally. I will let you know when I hear. The educated money is on LGK and LGL, who are experienced parents and previous Royal Cam parents with a fertile egg this year.
Meanwhile, the WBSE story continues to be a happy one, with the eaglets doing fabulously well. They continue to sleep in or near the nest, with their parents nearby, and they continue to return to the nest to wait for food deliveries or follow their parents in to the nest when they see them returning from a successful hunting trip. Each day, they are bigger and stronger and more confident. We can only hope they are following their parents down to the Parramatta River – they have been spotted near River Roost – and learning to fish for themselves. But at least they are getting that chance this year. What was it, I wonder, that so convinced me that this would be the year? As you will recall, I have been saying this since they were far too young for it to be even an educated guess. This was just a ‘feeling’, a premonition if you like. But I did feel it, and you are my proof! I am SO happy to be right about this. There are no words. There has been so much hope with such beautiful eaglets in previous seasons, only for them to come to a tragic end or disappear altogether. But this is so special and so beautiful to watch. They are operating as a family group, and this is the secret to the success of this year’s fledglings.
Meanwhile, I have no news to report on the Collins Street fledglings, and this is good news. My sister tells me that there have been no fledglings brought into care so far – if there are, her husband will know because he will be the person they are likely to be brought to. So the absence of any word is wonderful. I spoke with her this afternoon, just to check, and so far, so good. I am annoyed that Mirvac turned off the cameras on 16 November, so we have no idea whether the chicks are returning to the ledge for food. I am hopeful that they may be, based on what we saw before the cameras went off. The parents both visited the ledge on that final day of footage – I told you about the behaviour in the scrapes – but we also know that all three did return to the ledge on the day of or the day after fledging, and the returnees foraged for leftovers and self-fed in the gutter. So I remain hopeful that they may be continuing to do so.
At Orange, Gimbir is really taking to the role of dad enthusiastically, but it is also true that the little one adores its dad. Watching it trying to get Gimbir to brood made me laugh so much, because of course despite the best efforts of father and chick, nothing was going to make Gimbir large enough to cover the fluffball. Still, both tried hard. Girri was SO determined. The wee one has also followed dad to the ledge more than once – heart in the mouth stuff – and on one occasion, nipped at his tail and wing feathers (playfully or perhaps thoughtfully might be a better description). But it really does seem like dad is a bit of a favourite with Girri.
As you might remember, I was a huge fan of Beau when he was V3 (I believe there were a total of 13 suitors for Gabby when Samson disappeared), and where all the others were pushy, V3 was quiet and loyal and took his time to respect Gabby’s grieving process and the time she needed to bond to a new male. I was always fond of the way he did his courting (yes, anthropomorphising to the max here but he really was the quiet devoted type when all his rivals were the exact opposite). It felt like Gabby needed to take whatever time it took her to process the loss of a long-term partner, and V3 was the only visiting male to recognise that. But whether or not that was the case, Beau certainly had staying power, and he is certainly doing his job with gusto this season. Just take a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITiCBZwVQys&list=TLPQMjExMTIwMjVp9OEdcQ6I4Q&index=11. What a man!
Update from WBSE:
November 21: Early to wake and away from the nest before 6am. Dad brought a good-sized fish at 8:35, with SE35 in quickly to claim it. Lady followed soon after with the remains of a gull. SE35 was quick to grab that, a little tussle, Lady fed a little, then SE35 self-fed well, Dad calling in for the tail. Then, it was fairly quiet until mid-afternoon, when one eaglet was close by, with currawong swoopers close too, swooping enthusiastically. Late in the afternoon, the parents were seen down on the river. Then at 7pm, just one was there and one eaglet came in to the nest, hoping, and finding a little scrap. At 7:30pm, Lady and one eaglet were above the nest. The other adult joined them shortly after. The second eaglet was not to be seen. A late duet then. Now all settled?
November 22: Early duets and SE35 came to the nest. At 5:30am, Dad flew in apparently with a small fish which SE35 ate on the nest. Both adults were seen on River Roost. Meanwhile our other eaglet was heard and then seen closer to the river, but in the Armory area. Swoopers were chasing it, ravens and currawongs. SE36 was flying strongly and seen in a tree. Has it been fed during the past day or two when not seen? At 11:20am, SE36 was seen again being chased across parklands – both adults were on River Roost. SE35 was seen below the camera at 13:40, still near home.
So one of our eaglets, SE36, is being chased and harrassed but is apparently flying strongly and could, we know, return to the nest if it wanted to do so. Perhaps it is exploring the Armory area and the Parramatta River, watching its parents fish. It is healthy and strong, so we continue to hope both are doing well even if we don’t see both every day – the BOTG at this nest provide wonderful information for us all. As I type, SE35 is playing with the twine holding the microphone above the nest, having finished eating the fish that Lady brought in.
More when there is news at Taiaroa Head.
Much love to you (and a special chin scratch for Calico)”
And more from ‘A’ on Sunday: “There are some concerns about SE36. Last night, SE35 slept in the nest tree, but I saw no sign of SE36. This morning, SE35 was where it had slept, in the branches of the nest tree, and waiting for breakfast. Around 06:28, a parent flew in to the nest with a piece of leftover fish, and SE35 hurried down the branch, squeeing with excitement, to self-feed. Happy eaglet noises! The juvenile seemed to be begging to be fed but Lady (I think it was mum) was having none of that. You’re a grown-up eaglet now! Feed yourself! Eventually, SE35 settled down to eat very proficiently, gripping the chunk of fish tightly in its left talon. The currawongs were swooping but SE35 seemed unconcerned. The parent remained on a branch above the nest while SE35 ate breakfast. The rain was falling and the wind gusted up and Lady flew higher in the nest tree. SE35 responded by doing a bit of flapping of its own, whether to get the water off its wings or whether a burst of energy suddenly overcame the fledgling, I have no idea. But there was jumping and flapping in the rain. At one stage, SE35 took the chunk of fish halfway up the perch branch, where it ate the remainder of its breakfast, still gripping its fish tightly in its left talon. Very well done SE35. But there was no sign of SE36.
It is noteworthy that only one parent slept in the nest tree last night from what I could see. So the other parent could be with SE36. And it is worth remembering that the BOTG have heard SE36 and spotted it in the Armory area. I think it has also been seen and heard around River Roost. The question is whether SE36 is being fed. When it has been spotted, it has been flying strongly.but it has also been pursued by currawongs. So it is not being harrassed to the point that previous fledglings from this nest have been. However, it is critical that SE36 gets fed, wherever it is at the moment, and I have to wonder why it was not sleeping in the nest tree lasts night, if only because the nest and the nest tree have proved to be a reliable family-run restaurant for both juveniles since fledging. So it follows that if SE36 is healthy and hungry, it should be at or near the nest tree. The only reasons for this not being the case would be that it is injured or exhausted or that it is being fed elsewhere. We have to believe that the BOTG will report some sighting or audio of SE36 today (it is a Sunday in Australia so there should be people out there looking for these two today – and yesterday) and remember that when last spotted, SE36 was in good shape.
We know little or nothing about the dispersal of fledgling sea eagles in this area because there really hasn’t been any recorded, thanks to the damned currawongs. And we have no idea of the genders of these two. So we don’t know whether one or both of the fledglings will instinctively move to establish a territory away from the nest area, though I would be surprised if either has learned to hunt independently as yet. So there remains a concern that if SE36 is not returning to the nest tree, things are not proceeding as smoothly as they have been. I will of course get today’s ranger report to you asap. It should be posted in the next couple of hours, but with daylight savings, it could be as late as 8pm (it’s 5.22pm now and I would expect it by 6.30).
After breakfast, SE35 hung around in the nest tree, drying out its wings once the rain stopped, and occasionally vocalising when a currawong came too close. It was obvious that a number of them were above SE35 in the nest tree, but SE35 seemed confident that it was the boss. SE35 is the most exquisite creature, looking absolutely beautiful with its wings outstretched and the glint of the early morning sunlight on its plumage. After foraging around in the nest for any scraps, SE35 flew off the nest at 08:27.
Shortly after 3:05pm, an eaglet landed on the nest. I am not sure which one but I think it may have been SE36. They’re very hard to tell apart when they’re not together, and I could easily be wrong because the pics of SE35 from this morning were in quite heavy rain and its plumage was therefore looking different. This afternoon visitor was getting dive-bombed by currawongs, swooping low over the nest, and it stood in the centre of the nest, looking up at the currawongs and vocalising as they swooped past. It was definitely an aggressive response, not one of fear and intimidation. But the currawongs are certainly as relentless as they have been in every previous season. Certainly, this prolonged dive-bombing did not occur this morning when SE35 was on the nest, so I wonder whether that also suggests that this afternoon eaglet is SE36. If so, the currawongs are attacking it far more fiercely than they did SE35 this morning, which is concerning, but SE36 (if it is 36) is giving back as much as it can muster and is refusing to be cowed. No parent arrived with food, though the eaglet continued to hang around in the nest tree.
So SE36 has not been seen at the nest for the past two days, so we are starting to worry. SE35 is doing wonderfully well but I am concerned about SE36. “
“There was no ranger’s report for WBSE yesterday, which is why I didn’t send it to you, but I was hoping it would go up later. Not so. I fear they may have decided the season is over and ceased doing daily reports, which is frustrating because now is when we really need them. There has been no sign of SE36 at or near the nest for two days and two nights now, which is very worrying because it represents a sudden change from the routine the fledglings had established since leaving the nest. I can only hope for the best, and rely on the parents to do their job. At least SE35 is doing well and standing its ground against the currawongs. But I am very worried for SE36.
News from Taiaroa Head is that the RoyalCam couple for this year is BOK and WYL, who raised a chick in 2024 at Top Flat Track. These are experienced parents and are incubating a fertile egg.”
Thanks, ‘A’ – so glad there is no news to report on the Collins Street kids. It is as they say: No news is good news!
We are all concerned about what is happening to the osprey and other species due to industrial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay region – I say region because Omega goes out from the Bay since they have taken all of its Menhaden. Heidi found a really informative article from The Washington Post for us on this very subject. Please lobby to protect the ospreys!
Red Kites are one of the most magnificent raptors. The RSPB describes them thus: “This magnificently graceful bird of prey is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world’s longest-running protection programmes. It has now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland. Red Kites are listed under Schedule 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act.” In terms of their conservation status, the RSPB states: “Back in Shakespeare’s day, Red Kites were really common, even in cities, where they acted as clean-up crews, catching rodents and scavenging on the scraps of meat that littered the streets. But attitudes changed and Red Kites became the victims of intense persecution. By the end of the 19th century, they were extinct in Scotland, England and Ireland, and just a few pairs were clinging on in Wales.
Thanks to reintroduction projects led by the RSPB and other organisations, Red Kites have made an astonishing comeback in the UK, with numbers increasing by 2,464% between 1995 and 2023. The UK is now home to about 17% of the world’s population.”
The study intended to shed light on the release of non-native gamebirds in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, which is proving problematic. Thank you, Raptor Persecution UK.
What a stunning image by one of our Manitoba photographers of a Northern Harrier.
Mark Avery brings us up to date in his 21 November blog on Bird Flu in the UK:
“Bird flu: Defra’s most recent update seems to cover the period up to 16 November and has a lot of positive records, especially of wildfowl, with Black Swan, four new duck species and Woodpigeon added to the 2025 list of affected species bringing the total to 52: Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Bewick’s Swan, Black Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Eider, White-tailed Eagle, Red Kite, Buzzard, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel, Curlew, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Kittiwake, Little Gull, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, Gannet, Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Cormorant, Razorbill, Guillemot, Puffin, Black Guillemot, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Grey Heron, Pheasant,Woodpigeon, Greenfinch and Starling. The flaws in the ‘surveillance’ scheme mean that it is difficult to know what this species list means in terms of species affected – click here.
Notice, Woodpigeon is on the list. Maybe it would be helpful to know a bit more about those Woodpigeon movements at this time of year.
In Germany (1000+ birds) and France (maybe 10,000 birds) very large numbers of migrating European Cranes have died of bird flu. “
It’s not a bird or a plane, but just a bit of fun with fashionable dogs and a cat in Country Life! (I do think Toby fits the Spaniel – his ability to track the cats that come to the garden is undeniable!)
Toby has more winter outfits than I do! He loves his red turtleneck.
Adorable friends.
Dear Calico.
Toby and Hugo Yugo caught horsing around.
Thank you so much for being with us today! We hope that you have a marvellous week with lots of birdsong and fresh air – please do get outside if you can! It really does raise your spirits. We look forward to having you with us again next week.
I want to thank SK Hideaways and ‘A’ for their generous contributions to my blog. SK Hideaways’s videos are first-rate and I am so grateful that they create them out of love for the birds and not for subscription numbers. That said, please give them a like and share them with friends and family. I also want to thank ‘A’ for their lively commentary and observations of the Australian raptor families. To the owners of the streaming cams, the blogs and the FB groups that are indicated in bold throughout my blog, my post would not be the same without you, too. I am grateful to all of you!
We are one week away from the autumn solstice. It is a beautiful Saturday on the Canadian prairies. It is 24 C. The sky is a hazy light blue with the sun beating down on the garden. The cranberry bushes are turning flame red, the leaves have been turning for some time, and early in the morning, sitting on the deck with Toby and a coffee, we can hear the geese far above us honking.
Time passes too quickly. Not two blinks ago, the children were getting out of school for the summer holidays, and now they are back. We are even having our annual street party tomorrow. It felt as if the last one was just months ago. Do you ever feel this way? Like time is melting between your fingers? Still, it will feel like aeons until Gabby and Beau have their first egg. Time will drag til the ospreys return, and then it will fly again!
I am happy to report – thank you to all the good energy you sent – that Baby Hope is completely healed and new fur is growing over her injury! I cannot tell you what a relief this is. We worried that she would continue to scratch at the injury so that it wouldn’t heal. Toby is also fine. He is a little ‘stiff’ going down the stairs but he is back to wrestling some with Hugo Yugo. They continue to sleep together in the big dog bed. It is so sweet. Missey and Calico are well, too. I cannot ask for more.
So what is happening in Bird World? For the most part, the ospreys are gone. Tiger Mozone reminds us it is approximately 178 days til they return in the UK. What will we do without them? — Watch Port Lincoln! And the Bald Eagles, right?
We will start with two video offerings by SK Hideaways to get us excited! None other than Monty and Hartley and, of course, our favourite Big Bear Valley Eagles – Jackie and Shadow.
San Jose City Hall Falcons Hartley & Monty (2025 Sep 14)
Monty arrived to tidy up the nest prior to Hartley’s arrival. Their meeting was a veritable beaky kiss fest. Guess three successful broods is the key to a successful relationship.
Heidi reports that the male is still at Field Farm feeding his two juveniles who fledged mid-August.
It has gone quiet at Rutland Manton’s Bay Osprey platform.
Making the departure of Blue 33 and Maya complete, Colin, the Cormorant has moved into the nest!
As I shift the blog to Mondays until the first hatch at Port Lincoln, I hope to fill you in on some of the books that Calico and I have been reading. Yes, it has been more than two years, and we are still having story time – four cats and a dog! Here are our first offerings. Some will make great holiday gifts.
The Naturalist’s Notebook for Tracking Changes in The Natural World around You by Nathaniel T Wheelwright and Bernd Heinrich (2017).
It is a beautifully illustrated book with gilt edges and just the right size to hold and read comfortably. The authors discuss their ancestors and how they learned to observe the changes in the natural world, day by day and month by month. In the back is a five-year calendar divided by the seasons, reminding us to be present in our lives. I am particularly fond of the extensive calendar, which allows me to easily compare the arrival of the Starlings, the fledge of the Blue Jay babies, and the first honks of the geese flying overhead to their winter homes. It would make a lovely gift for someone just beginning to learn about the world around them, or for someone like me who wants to keep track of what is happening in my garden. $24.95 CDN.
The Company of Owls by Polly Atkin.
This is a review on Goodreads – and it is spot on! Atkin, like Wheelwright and Heinrich in The Naturalist’s Notebook for Tracking Changes in the Natural World around You, observes owls that live near her. She doesn’t travel far and wide, and like so many, she is not a professionally trained expert in the behaviour of owls. She is a person, just like all of us, who loves animals and birds and is a keen observer of their lives. That review reads: “Polly Atkin does not profess to be an expert on owls or anything else. This refreshing book brings the love of birds, especially owls, right from her heart to yours. It also brings the sights, sounds, and weather (oh, the weather!) of England’s Lake District right into your sitting room.
In The Company of Owls, we are treated to the author’s observations of the owls that choose to live near her. This nips off to other places she’s lived and visited, which adds richness to her descriptions, but it is her ‘home’ birds, and particularly one year in their lives, that is the primary focus.
The author has wonderful descriptive powers, and it is no surprise to glean her interest in poetry from her tale. Her description of the bog habitat where she went looking for short-eared owls is superb, although given the daily walks that provide the basis for her writing about her local owl family as they grow, it is amazing that there is no hint of repetitiveness.
Atkins supports her story with solid research, comparing owl numbers now with the records since Victorian times. These details tend to slip in as anecdotes, and more narrative quotes combine to give a really good picture of how owls have fared over the last century or so.
It’s a very personal record, and she isn’t afraid to reveal her own mistakes, which brought me back after a slight dip in attention in the middle of the book. On the whole, I think this is a really good book for the cosy bird lover, and people who like to know all the birds on their patch, rather than the twitching variety. I’m a patcher, of course.”
Both of these books take a very personal look at the natural world that is around them. They are inspirational to each of us to look just outside our back door – we don’t have to travel the world checking off lists – great things are happening beside us – now.
The power couples of Florida’s Bald Eagle streaming cams are returning to their nests and restoring them for the new season.
M15 and F23 have been home at SW Florida working on their nest.
Beau was absolutely delighted when Gabby arrived home to their nest in NE Florida early.
Ron and Rose are at the WRDC nest near Miami.
Now what is going on with Connie and Clive at Captiva?
In California, Andor and Cruz are at Fraser Point.
‘A’ is keeping a close eye on the Royal Cam chick for us as well as the others in Australia.
“Dad came in a couple of hours ago and fed his big girl breakfast. She was very excited to see him, and watched him closely as he took off after the feeding. It is hard to think this may be the last time they see each other. We (the viewers) hope not because Miss SS Trig still has what the viewers are calling a belly mohawk, with quite a bit of tummy fluff we would like to see gone before she leaves. Her feather development when compared with dad’s this morning was obviously still a week or so away from being ready, so we do hope she doesn’t get overexcited (or caught in a storm Lillibet style). Miss SS Trig is 229 days old today (Lillibet fledged at 219 days, the second youngest ever, the youngest being 218 days old a few years ago). And that number I was trying to read the other day wasn’t 555 at all – her number is YE55 (so the E looked like a five and the Y was further around her leg and not readily visible). This may become important later on, as she will lose the GPS device with her first moult, I presume. I did read something about this being a better GPS device but can’t remember what it was.”
Wow. Doesn’t SE35’s feather development over the last few days astonishing? So much more advanced than SE36, who is still a fluffball with few discernible black lines along its wings. This afternoon, the pair have been left alone on the nest in the dappled sunshine, working as hard as they can at converting fish into eaglet feathers. The effort is obvious, as they are flat out like a lizard drinking (sorry – old Australian saying). SE36 has a huge crop so has obviously eaten well today. SE35 is never hungry so there’s no need to update you there! Oh they are exquisite at this age, are they not? Every bit as gorgeous as they were last week and probably just as beautiful as they will be next week when their plumage will be completely different to what we see today. (In other words, they are absolutely lovely every single day of their growth, from the moment they hatch to the day they fledge, and even then, their plumage has many stages to go through before (hopefully) they finish up looking like Lady and Dad.
I did mention to you that the juvenile red wattlebird in my garden has breast plumage that reminds me of the young falcons but from doing a bit of reading, I think those vertical striations (in either greys or caramels with cream) must be common to many (perhaps most) young birds – the red-tailed hawks have a similar pattern. Obviously, it is an excellent camouflage because it is very similar to the way objects appear when struck by the rays of the sun glinting through leaves.
But I digress. I came here to Olympic Park to say that the littles are doing fabulously well, as usual. Lady is such a devoted mum, and Dad, despite or perhaps because of his advancing years, is an incredibly reliable provider, even in difficult conditions. I have to believe that is the result of his experience – he must know exactly where he can fish when the winds are coming from a particular direction or when there is prolonged rain or whatever the prevailing conditions are. These are the advantages of old age I suppose. And Lady is no slouch herself – she often brings in a late afternoon fish when she has the chance to stretch her wings. It’s easy to forget how old these two actually are. Their fertility appears stable – two fertile eggs per year.”
Incubation continues at Port Lincoln Osprey barge.
It has been a wonderful year at the Osprey House Environment Centre. If you didn’t follow the nest, the fledgling from 2024, helped the parents to care for the little ones in 2025. It turned out marvellous. The babies thrived and now the first one has fledged.
Incubation is still going well for the falcons in the CBD of Melbourne at 367 Collins Street.
Little Gimbir is winning hearts and minds as he has proven to be an exceptional hunter and provider for Diamond at the Charles Sturt Falcon scrape in Orange.
The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the largest in Australia. This is a short film, 18 minutes by Filming Wildlife, of this large raptor hunting! https://youtu.be/TEJ7gSYUOek?
Meldrs, the Golden Eagle fledgling of Spilve and Grislis, no longer comes to the nest in Latvia but is out following the adults, learning to hunt.
‘L’ from South Carolina sends me the most gorgeous images of a Cooper’s Hawk that visits their garden often, drinking at the bird bath. It is a reminder that we should all put out water for the birds that stay and those, so thirsty, that are passing through on migration. (The hawk is enjoying a Shrike lunch).
Emergence Magazine is launching its next volume, Seasons. I am attaching a link to a film, Crying Glacier by Lutz Stautner. The author says, “In the trickling, creaking, and gurgling heard through hydrophones and contact microphones, sound artist and composer Ludwig Berger listens for the voice of Switzerland’s dying Morteratsch Glacier. Directed by Lutz Stautner, this short film follows Ludwig on one of his many visits to the glacier, where he gathers its hidden sounds, the pop of centuries-old air bubbles and the groan of ice, inviting us into the intimacy of listening to more-than-human voices. One hundred years from now, we may only be able to hear the sounds of glaciers through recordings like these.”
Dedicated individuals continue to fight to end the industrial fishing of Menhaden if the osprey and other species are to survive in the Chesapeake Bay and region.
It’s migration. Please encourage everyone to turn off their lights!
One lucky little gosling.
Your smile for the week comes from Toby who is busy excavating peanuts in the flower pots where the squirrels have hidden them!
Very pleased with himself.
Toby had his operation on Tuesday. He can’t have a bath for another week and a half! He is so dirty and stinky!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for being with us today. We hope that you had a lovely weekend and were able to get outside and enjoy lots of fresh air and bird song. Take care. We will be back with you again on Monday the 22 of September. Fall will have officially begun!
I want to thank our notable contributor, ‘SK Hideaways’ for their videos highlighting the nests we are following, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos and the authors of posts such as Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all others, often too many to name but whom I have tried to cite in bold. I am very grateful to you and to the newspapers and journals that still cover environmental issues as they relate to our precious feathered friends. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.
I can see the lights from the Toronto airport. It was snowing and blowing in Winnipeg and now raining here. Strange to see everything ‘brown’ instead of ‘white’. It is quite ‘strange’ being in an airport! One word of advice: if you can travel with a small carry on, do so. It is a nightmare at the larger airports with the new self-baggage check in. Huge line ups and the same for security. But, I feel privileged to be able to have a short holiday in a wonderfully warm and beautiful place with birds and see my son and daughter in law. It has been far too long!
Speaking of ‘white’, before I go any further, have you ever seen a white eagle? Well, the folks in Oklahoma, where I grew up, are certainly checking their eye sight!
I want to thank everyone that sent me notes so I had them when I landed. First up was ‘H’ and ‘S’ with the good news that Rita has had her surgery and she is standing up!!!!!!!! Now seriously. Standing up. What a strong eagle she is! I am sure we can all shed a few little tears or break out into a huge smile. By, gosh, we need some good news in Bird World. She is still in guarded condition but the surgery itself went well.
The Orthopaedic surgeon said the surgery could not have gone any better. Tears. This is fantastic news at a time when we sure need it!
Tonya Irwin has been keeping a log and it seems that Louisiana is still ahead of Florida in terms of Bald Eagle eggs laid. Today, Anna added to that list with the first of the season’s eggs at the E-1 nest in the Kisatchie national Forest near Alexandria. Congratulations!
At the time of writing this blog, this is the latest news on Samson from the AEF.
There has been no sighting of Alden either but, there is other good news. Annie and Grinnell’s daughter, Sequoia, has a mate at the San Jose City Hall and guess what? They have a streaming cam. Is it possible that we will get to see Annie and Grinnell’s ‘grandeyases’ hatch and fledge? Wouldn’t that just be amazing? When everything seems so dark, there is always light trying to get through.
There is a lot of news coming in but, before I go any further, there has been a question from a very worried watcher of the SWFlorida nest of Harriet and M15. ‘R’ would like to know why Harriet is not incubating her egg? That is such a great question. What Harriet is doing is called delayed incubation. She will lay her second egg in 3 days from the first. If she started ‘hard’ incubation immediately when the first egg was laid, the first hatch would have an enormous advantage over the second hatch. By waiting to start hard incubation until the second egg is laid, the eaglets will hatch much closer together in time – sometimes within an hour or two of one another -and while they will bop one another, it is not usually deadly. They hatch and are closer in size.
In addition, Harriet and M15 do not have to worry about the egg freezing in the Florida sunshine and they have a stocked pond for prey and it appears that there has not been a time of food scarcity at this nest (please correct me if I am wrong).
There are advantages to starting incubation immediately. David Hancock of Hancock Wildlife in British Columbia, Canada has consistently given two reasons why immediate incubation might be practiced. They are: 1) to protect eggs from predators such as Crows, Ravens, Raccoons, etc.; and 2) the eagles want to ensure that at least there is a chance of one surviving during a time of food scarcity. The idea Hancock says is that it is much better for the eagles to have one chick survive than no eaglets at all.
Do not worry. Harriet and M15 know precisely what they are doing. As I said, their eaglets will cause us great grief during the ‘rock ’em, sock ’em’ days but, in the end, the pair normally develop into best buddies. In fact, most of us will grieve for their going off to find their own way in the world probably to never see one another again.
That amazing fledgling Osprey from the Tweed Valley, Glen, is just getting more and more news coverage. If you are trying to figure out where you have heard his name, well, let me remind you that Glen also landed on two different cargo ships and took rides, he flew through a large area of hydro lines and landed on a the roof of a fruit factory in Portugal where he was believed to be dead. But, nope. Not Glen. He flew out over the Atlantic Ocean for 36 hours solid flapping his wings until he found a small island to land on. He is now in Morocco. Glen deserves all the news coverage he can get. What an adventurous life this young man has had and he isn’t even near a year old!
If you do not know about Glen’s adventures on the two fishing trawlers, please start your reading here. You will be delighted you did!
So grateful for all the coverage of this amazing young Osprey. Sacha Dench is going to have to add more segments to her programme, Flight of the Osprey, for the BBC. This chap might even deserve his own show! I honestly don’t think I have gotten so excited about the migration of a male Osprey since Ervie didn’t migrate!
At the Port Lincoln Osprey nest, Dad brought Zoe a nice little fish at 10:00:13. ‘A’ says that she can always tell when Dad is coming because Mum ‘does her talon dance’. I watched for that – she does, back and forth on the talons, wings flapping, moving out of the way so Dad can land. Well, Zoe is perfecting or has already perfected that talon dance along with her fish prey screaming. My goodness she is loud. I bet Fran Solly can hear her across the lagoon without having the sound on the streaming cam. Zoe start about a minute and a half before Dad lands with the fish.
We will continue to grieve for little one, Rubus. At the same time, we must also celebrate the falcon fledgling that Xavier and Diamond are working so hard to train so it can have a full and productive life like Sequoia.
Indigo certainly as a ‘voice’! He flew in and chased Xavier out of the scrape a few minutes before returning with his breakfast. Here is a short video clip of Indigo coming into the scrape with prey at 0700.
This is the latest update from Cilla re Rubus. So very sad but, reassuring that the little fella did not suffer.
Thank you so very much for being with me. Send all your good wishes out to Rita as she recovers, to Ron who may or may not know what is going on, to Gabby who waits for Samson and to Annie who might not yet know Alden is missing. So much is happening — and here I thought there might be a lull until eaglets start to hatch at the end of the month. Bird World is always full of surprises. Take care everyone. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their messages, posts, videos, and streaming cams where I took my screen captures and video clip: ‘S’, ‘H’, ‘G’, Port Lincoln Osprey, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, Conservation without Borders, BBC, Raptors without Borders, Sharon Pollock and SWFlorida Bald Eagles and D Pritchett, Tonya Irwin and Kistachie National Forest Eagle Cam Fans, Gretchen-AEF, Salsa Bird and Bald Eagles Live Nest Cams and Birds, Holly Parsons and Orange Australia Falcons, and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
I want to thank everyone who sent an e-mail or who made a comment about the loss of Orange’s dear darling Rubus. It was extremely difficult for everyone not least of all those wonderful people at Orange. We all loved the feisty little eyas. What joy he brought!
It would be helpful if there were an international protocol in place that everyone agreed on and knew. If a raptor is grounded and does not flee when a human approaches, it should be placed in care for an examination. No guessing, no regrets. Just a clear protocol. If the raptor requires care, it can receive it. If it doesn’t, it is released where it was found or at its nest, if known. Perhaps protocols could be put in place in memory of Rubus.
Meanwhile, Indigo is doing very well and thriving. Wonderful news. This is him yesterday eating a huge prey item! So glad he is visiting the scrape.
It is not about raptors but, after the week we have had and now with Harriet having an injury from the GHOW hit last night, we need a laugh. We seriously need a laugh just to take us away even for a few minutes. This Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo will certainly help.
“G’ sent me a great article on Glen, the only surviving Tweed Valley osprey fledgling. It is a great article and you realise how miraculous this bird’s adventure has been – almost blown out to sea, having to flap its wings for 36 hours over the ocean! And finally finding a small piece of land to rest for 11 hours. Thanks, ‘G’. Glen deserves a long and safe life.
Congratulations to M15 and to Harriet for their first egg of the 2022 season! The time was 18:09:34. M15 was there with Harriet during her labour.
Sharon Pollock posted a video of the happy moment:
At the nest of Pa Berry and Missy, Pa has had to deal with a GHOW strike like Harriet did the night before she laid her egg.
Many of you will have seen Tiger Mozone’s name on the PLO chat. Tiger runs a FB group re Ospreys and is encyclopaedic when it comes to the history of UK Ospreys. Tiger and Chloe Baker have a web site with much information on the UK Ospreys – magicats. He also has a Twitter account. Check him out.
Tiger and I have been chatting today about the state of the fish at Port Lincoln. I have been – well, almost, pulling my hair out over the lack of fish. Is it because of commercial fishing? flooding and silt? changing water temperatures due to climate change? Dad’s age? You have probably asked yourself the same thing. So far no one seems to have come up with an answer but Tiger and I talked about practical or possible solutions. I have always maintained that fish must be provided. But how do you provide fish? Well, large commercial-like tanks such as the ones that the Ospreys in South America steal from is one solution. Tiger thinks a fish pond or stocking the lagoon where the barge is located. I wonder how many regulations there are for doing this? Are there any more than all of the permissions required for intervention?
Zoe is wide awake and wanting fish. Dad will deliver early today. I wonder if she spotted him flying off.
Did you know that there is a river that was created and stocked just so photographers could take images of Osprey fishing? Yes. It is the River Gwash and Tiger told me about it today. So if you can build a river in the UK and stock it so Ospreys can fish and charge people to photograph them in a hide doing just that then, why not stock the lagoon where the barge is and – from a safe distance – allow people for a charge to photograph them? Why not? It might bring more tourism to the area, too! That along with Osprey Excursions.
The Gwash River runs through Rutland, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire.
Other places stock ponds and lochs for the osprey such as Rutland and Keider. It is time that everyone considered this as humans have mismanaged our planet so much. We owe it to these beautiful birds.
Alden has still not been seen. A video clip of Annie reacting to the visiting male.
Dear Gabby waits for Samson’s return. If you did not see my correction, Samson was not injured. There was a posting on FB showing what appeared to be an injury to Samson’s head; I carried that information in a blog. The AEF wishes for everyone to know that he was not seen injured when he was at the nest. I had posted the update in a later blog but it seems some did not see it. Apologies for any confusion.
This is the latest announcement from the AEF on FB at the time of writing this blog:
We know that Bella returned to her nest after three weeks and there is a story surfacing out of Hanover of the resident female returning to her nest after being absent for a week. It gives me hope that Samson will return!
Jackie and Shadow always put a smile on my face and here they are working on their nest at Big Bear. Adorable. I received a note that Shadow had been away since the 24th returning today, 5 days later (the information is second hand but comes from a trusted source). So, let us all take a deep breath and believe that Samson just took a wee break before it all begins, too.
The Southern Royal Osprey are a delight to watch and I know that many of enjoyed watching Lillibet, the 2022 Royal Cam chick grow and fledge and the marvelous care that YRK gave to her daughter after OGK went missing in May. There is a new Royal family and Dad, GLY, is incubating that precious egg. Sharon Dunne (aka Lady Hawk) has published a video of the new family and some visitors.
Migration News:
Waba is still in the Sudan.
Bonus is still in Turkey but he has started moving South! Well done, Bonus.
There is a silver lining in today’s news with the arrival of the first egg at the Bald Eagle nest of M15 and Harriet in Fort Myers, Florida.
Please send your best wishes to Rita so that she is strong enough for her operation. ‘H’ wrote this morning to tell me it is scheduled for 1500 Eastern time today. Send good wishes to Alden and Samson wherever they are please come home if you can, and to everyone at Orange and all those who loved little Rubus. He is much missed.
Thank you for being with me. This is not a very long blog but I hope there is something good in there for everyone. I am now ready to try and start packing! Take care of yourselves. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their posts, videos, and streaming cams where I took my screen captures: ‘H’ and ‘G’ for their notes, SWFlorida Eagle Cam and S Pollock, Berry College, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Cal Falcons, NEFL-AEF, River Gwash Ospreys, abc.net.au, York Dispatch, FOBBV, NZ DOC and Sharon Dunne, and Looduskalender Forum.
