Fish, Darvic rings, and death…Late Saturday in Bird World

4 July 2026

Greetings Everyone,

When I was a child, there was always a family picnic at the park or at my great-grandmother’s house to mark the 4th of July. They were all immigrants from Chur, Switzerland. The day meant a lot to them. The family had prospered and there was and still is family living in the farm and vinegard called ‘Hinterwald’ (Behind the Woods) outside of Chur. It was a wonderful day full of delicious summer food – fresh out of the various gardens – and always homemade ice cream. For those who are celebrating today, I hope that you had a fantastic time with loved ones and friends.

As a child, I loved the fireworks. Today, I know better and am a strong advocate for those funds to go to social programmes that help people, rather than money going up in smoke. I also wish that all the funds that will go into fireworks in the Big Bear Valley area and the nest of Shadow and Jackie had gone into the fund to purchase MoonCamp to safeguard this area for the eagles and all wildlife. Some States are outlawing fireworks altogether. I wish every State would take that enlightened stance.

SK Hideaways has a video of Sandy and Luna flying over this beautiful area – that does not need condos! https://youtu.be/PJYYeCH6kQM?

It was hot today. We had hoped that Toby would enjoy his sprinkler pad. Right now he is curious but a little frightened. We are not pushing him.

There is a heat dome over many parts of North America this weekend endangering the lives of the most vulnerable of the osplets on the nests.

At the nest of Big Red and Arthur, the fledglings are coming to the nest for prey deliveries by Arthur. https://youtu.be/ajyUBPXgxgs?

P1 and P3 are hanging out together on Bradley! Thanks Karel and BOGette. https://youtu.be/LCdQQA_Gv7Y?

A good news story for a change – from Geemeff. thank you.

https://www.quantico.marines.mil/News/Article/4530247/operation-homeward-bound-chesty-the-osprey-reunited-with-mother

One of the big news stories in Bird World is that Lady and Dad have their first egg at the White-bellied Sea Eagles nest in the Olympic Forest in Sydney, Australia. SK Hideaways celebrates this wonderful moment. https://youtu.be/7eusfpBt7ZY?

CJ7 feeds her four daughters at the Carey Secret Garden Osprey nest in Poole Harbour. Imagine – four girls. All requiring much more food to develop than four boys.

At the second osprey nest at Poole, the chicks were deemed to be all male.

Ringing also took place across the UK. The two chicks in the Usk Valley were also ringed.

Normal service has resumed on the Usk Valley nest. Here are some images of our osprey family taken from the live cameras this afternoon: Syfaddan, Clogwyn and their two chicks, Blue 0U0 and Blue 0U1, new rings clearly visible.

This morning (Saturday 4 July) the two UVO osprey chicks were ringed by a skilled team of experienced climbers and licensed ringers.

Chick 1, who is 37 day old, was ringed on its left leg with a BTO metal ring with unique no. 1087337 and on the right leg with a ‘Darvic’ ring, blue with white lettering with unique inscription W0U0.

Chick 2 who is 34 days old, was ringed on the left leg with a BTO metal ring with unique no. 1087338 and on the right leg with a ‘Darvic’ ring, blue with white lettering with unique inscription 0U1.

Young ospreys are ringed well before they fledge the nest to leave on their first migration to Africa. This allows for monitoring of the birds as they grow up, go on their migration journeys, return to the UK as two-year-olds and hopefully, pair up to breed successfully later in life. It will also contribute to the overall national monitoring of the species as they make their return to Britain and more recently Wales.

Take a look to see if you can spot their new rings on the live cameras: https://www.uskvalleyospreys.org/live-video-from-nest-both

UVO would like to thank all those involved with approvals in advance of, the support team during, and those on the ground (and up the tree!) directly contributing to the ringing operation.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 4th July 2026

Today was not nearly as wet as forecast, most of the day was dry with light winds, and Louis took advantage of that, delivering seven fish to Dorcha, raising the Nest Two tally to two hundred and twenty seven. It was a different situation over on Nest One – Garry LV0 was around, bringing moss and taking over when Aurora 536 flew off for a break, but didn’t bring any fish. An intruder was around, not seen on camera, perhaps that had an effect, or perhaps he delivered an early fish during the nest cam down time of approximately 6 hours from 03.15 to 09.10. His tally remains at one hundred and forty nine. Aurora didn’t go hungry though, as she had stashed a large piece of the previous evening’s third fish, and polished that off today. She continues to spend her nights on the nest covering the unviable egg. Tonight’s forecast is for light rain overnight with a low of 12°C, changing to heavy rain tomorrow with a high of 16°C.   

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/O7GV0nWmHvs N2 Early breakfast arrives, it won’t last long 05.27.05https://youtu.be/rVSW7cgdnzw N2 Louis brings a second trout much larger than the first 08.56.09https://youtu.be/IJiOqlpiedE  N2 Louis has a well filled crop when he delivers fish three 

10.01.30https://youtu.be/k6X-v-fhieM N2 Dorcha takes fish four and tells Louis to leave 16.03.00https://youtu.be/s45SuhCekX0 N2 Chick downs the tail – tiny fish five lasted 4 minutes 19.32.31https://youtu.be/NImFgvpp-1c N2 Dark chick downs the tail, number six lasted 2.5 minutes 21.14.59https://youtu.be/JoelSju3lTo N2 Goldie downs the tail, number seven lasted only 2 mins 45 secs! 21.39.17

Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

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Chick number 2 died of starvation at the Chesapeake nest today.

Even though I continue to worry, Little Dewey did well today. Mum did not wait for Dad to show up – these females are really becoming titans! ‘PB’ gives us the low down of all the deliveries to our not so little Dewey.

Oyster Bay: They need food. I hope for three but…’PB’ comments on deliveries: “Oyster Bay 7/4/26….no fish all morning, then mom 12:42 finally delivered a large fish (Menhaden ?) #1 & #2 feeding. #3 could not get in there. Then Dad delivers a whole fish 12:59 and #3 rushes over to dad for food. Dad looked unsure what to do, he wanted to feed and tries one bite to #3. Unfortunately, #2 saw opportunity to get food from Dad and moves in. Dad only fed #2. #3 on Dads right was begging but no bites. Dad left with remaining fish 1:06. #2 gets a couple of scraps from mom. #1 Huge crop. Hope they can get more fish for #3.” And then a final great update from ‘PB’: “Great update to share: dad partial fish 13:37 & mom 13:58 fish, #3 ate well! “

Lamoine State Park: Late fish delivery by the female but the third hatch had nothing to eat. This is another sad nest that needs food. I even wondered if the adults had abandoned the nest.

Sandy Hook: Good deliveries.

Osoyoos: The only surviving osplet of the three has a huge crop.

Went back and caught another fish delivery from Dad at Osoyoos.

Santiam Canyon: Doing well with the fish deliveries.

Cowlitz PUD: Little crops.

OBX: Two lovely feathered osplets who need names. Go to the link at the bottom of the image.

Salmon Idaho: Lots of fish appear to have come in on Saturday.

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: The two feathered chicks are doing well. Dad delivered a fish – their expressions really perked up when they knew a meal was coming!

Charlo, Montana: Chloe feeding C22.

Upper Newport Bay: Ripple and Robinson both had fish.

Boulder County: The trio look good!

Loch Doon: All is good. Heavy rain starts later and Angel returns to the nest to try and cover her chicks – who are large!

Smallwood: Looking good with lots of helicoptering by the osplets. We are close to fledge.

Rutland Manton Bay: Fledge window.

Minneapolis Landscape: Two chicks appear to be doing rather well. I had my doubts initially, but all is looking good.

Blackbush: Number 1 continues to peck on 4 – trying to deny food and injuring that already damaged head. This is one tough little 4 that so many are cheering on but this nest is going to need lots of fish if the dominance power moves by the big siblings on that tiny little one are to stop.

Ah, that’s it for me. Just a quick run-through. Son is coming over tomorrow to help me with a camera for outside – we have gone through two or three. None are perfect, and most require some kind of monthly subscription, which I am trying to avoid. What this means is that I am going to enjoy the day and not look at nests. I will see you on Monday. Take care, everyone.

Thank you so much to Geemeff, to all those who created videos, including SK Hideaways, Karel, and BOGette, to those who posted information on FB, and to PB for keeping me up to date on some nests I didn’t get a chance to check. Once again, thank you to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these incredible birds.

Happy Canada Day!

30 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

It was the 4th of June 1969 that I flew across the border between the US and Canada with my then two-month-old son, Cristofre. As a university student at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, I was been part of various anti-Vietnam War groups as well as others protesting for civil rights and women’s rights. Several of my closest friends died during the early part of the Vietnam War and i was determined that my son was not going to drop bombs or napalm on innocents. I have never looked back. Canada has been our home now for what? Fifty-seven years!!!! I was 20. I have never been more proud to be Canadian than this year. Our system is not perfect but when it is urgent or a sheer emergency, it works! My province has beautiful areas – vast tracts of wildnerness and lakes. I cannot say that the city where I reside is gorgeous. It has its moments. But my little plot and the street I live on make up for all the deficiences.

We have had huge storms. Last night Toby had his Thunder Jacket on all night. The lightning and wind were incredible and our street has lost a lot of tree limbs.

Coming out of Europe. A goshawk attempted to take an osplet off the Polish nest. It clung to the nest and was pushed over, but was not taken by the hawk. The osplet was rescued, and I believe it is in good condition.

Ringing is taking place across the UK. This is a great article by Caroline Woodley on UKOsprey Information FB on the importance of ringing and the three generations that were ringed today – and we know because of the family tree and the Darvic Rings:

Elen and Teifi’s chicks:

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 30th June 2026

As forecast, it was wet today with the occasional dry spell, and set to continue, with drizzle, light  winds and an overnight low of 13°C, changing to heavy rain, gentle breezes and a high of 18°C tomorrow, with the sun breaking through around lunchtime. Louis brought three early fish then after a fourteen hour gap he brought another two, much smaller than the family would have liked and left them competing for scraps. In fact, while Chick1 was struggling to down the tail, Chick2 reached over and pinched it right out of its beak and proceeded to swallow it with aplomb. Those five fish take the Nest Two tally to two hundred and nine, and Garry’s single delivery to Aurora takes the Nest One tally to one hundred and forty-four. Garry and Aurora continue to incubate their unviable egg but are starting to leave the nest for longer periods.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/b4Z-1D_fMmY N2 Early breakfast for the family 04.05.28

https://youtu.be/sMdZ2yhecmc N2 Second breakfast – this one’s so fresh it’s still flapping 04.43.43

https://youtu.be/Jx2eBor5rZch N2 Dorcha and chicks don’t get up when Louis brings fish three 06.02.32

https://youtu.be/8izHPpleTj4 N2 Dorcha & chick remove an offending item 10.06.18

https://youtu.be/rXA7WzQTgQE N2 Let me help you with that – chick steals the tail of fish four 20.16.25

https://youtu.be/UD6KTcpJkGo N2 Another tiny tiddler arrives – fish number five 22.30.30

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

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

Great news coming from ‘PB’ and Achieva:

Screenshot

Some are enlightened.

More about the crisis impacting ospreys in the NE. Today Omega Protein was along the New Jersey shores.

Menhaden Defenders

roSdnosept25aP 1m8tl5t31iae3d60714uhr08:f46Yes0ay85l 4 a2Mit ·

Navesink River, Monmouth County, New Jersey Osprey Survey

“As founder of Menhaden Defenders, I’m always looking at how healthy forage fish populations support the wildlife we love. One of the best indicators is right above us: ospreys.

On June 15, with Ben Wurst, Senior Wildlife Biologist with the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and leader of New Jersey’s Osprey Project, we surveyed 25 osprey nests on the Navesink River in Monmouth County. In addition to looking at the Osprey around each nest, we used a GoPro camera mounted on a pole to reach up and get a view into each nest to look for signs of use, presence of eggs, chicks, or nothing, all added to the spreadsheet.

We found 19 occupied nests, including 12 active nests with eggs or young. Ten nests held 22 nestlings, ranging from hatchlings to about four weeks old. In some nests with three chicks, we saw asymmetry, or an asymmetric brood, where younger nestlings lag behind older siblings. This can be a sign of food stress. When food is scarce, older chicks often dominate feedings, forcing younger siblings to cower and increasing the risk of brood reduction.

Ben and his team also work each year with volunteers and citizen scientists to monitor nests and remove dangerous litter like fishing line, plastic bags, balloons, and other debris. Ospreys are telling us something about the health of the Navesink and the larger coast. We’ll be going back in a few weeks to survey again, and we are very concerned about the survival rate of the chicks we saw. We are seeing these signs of food stress from Raritan Bay to Cape May in colonies that have been productive for years but may now be struggling to breed at levels needed to sustain the population.

Protecting menhaden and other forage fish helps protect the entire coastal food web. Both organizations survive on donations from people like you to continue working on this serious situation.”

Thank goodness the situation is drastically different in the UK. On Mull Island, they are now seeing ospreys – remember, the UK is reintroducing/re-establishing ospreys that were made extinct by humans!!!!!!!!

All three Ps have now fledged. Big Red and Arthur are busy keeping track of them and feeding.

Video by Cornell Bird Lab: https://youtu.be/5s6IMdmmbak?

The little tiny osplet, #4, at Blackbush in Prince Edward Island is still alive. This chick is determined and the male is doing a good job of getting fish in.

At the NCTC nest, RJ fledged. Congratulations Bella and Scout.

The two osplets at Coeur de’ Alene, Idaho, look great.

There are still two at Osoyoos. It has been hot there.

Iris and Clark’s baby is getting some beautiful feathers.

Clark is very smart. He has been bringing in some large cot rails to keep this rather energetic youngster on the nest.

Dudley becomes a pillow for the only surviving chick at Charlo Montana whose crop is about to burst.

There are still two at Cowlitz PuD but gosh that little one is so thin. Please wish for fish.

The trio at Clark PUD are doing so well.

The only surviving osplet on the nest at Great Bay is doing well. One died and the other fell out of the nest and went to a rehabber. I am unclear of its status.

It is sure hard to tell who the little four is at the Poole Harbour nest of CJ7 and Blue 022. They have yet to be ringed.

Beautiful evening at the Rutland Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya and their trio.

Thank you so much for being with us today. We are doing better than people would think! We are spending the day with our son tomorrow, so you will definitely not be hearing from me until Thursday. Please take care.

Good Night from All of Us:

Hugo Yugo and Missey

Cheeky Hugo Yugo.

Baby Hope and Calico.

Darling Toby.

Thank you to everyone for their contributions to this blog – to Geemeff for her daily summary of Loch Arkaig, to PB and those who write and post information and images on the various FB groups, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these families.

Fledge watch at Cornell…late Wednesday in Bird World

17 June 2026

I am feeling very nostalgic. The very first time I visited Japan was in 1988. It was August. My friend, Ikuhiko, introduced me to the culture, the temples, the gardens, the pickles, and the food in a much condensed two-week period. It was the first of so many trips – most of which centred on Kyoto.

Tuesday night, I watched a gardening show from the UK, Monty Don’s Japanese Gardens on YouTube, that looked at Japanese gardens in both spring and fall. It is a strange thing, but I can close my eyes and walk from the JR Station to the little apartment where I stayed a few blocks from the Kamo River and the old area of Kyoto. The place that I found tranquillity, however, was in Ohara, a the Sanzen-in temple on the mountain. It is a very old site, sacred to the Tendai sect, and famous for its gardens. To get there, I had to take the #11 bus, if I recall correctly. At the beginning of the trek were two shops – one with delicious food and the other with textiles created in various techniques using Indigo. They seemed to specialise in Shibori. Away from the road and up the mountain, artists were drawing and painting at the edge of a field. It was the amazing moss gardens at the top that drew me there. I do not have the proper words for how peaceful it was away from the hussle and bussle of Kyoto.

Ironically, one of the other programmes on the telly that Don enjoys, Death in Paradise, is set in Deshaies, Guadeloupe. There are always one or more images we recognise, including Katherine’s restaurant, which is on the beach in the main town.

Wonderful memories.

Tuesday was a very beautiful day. There was a breeze, and the temperature remained mild. No rain, no hail, and dinner was on the deck with the birds singing their little hearts out. Beautiful. Oh, being outside just brightens one’s soul!

Wednesday is busy. We have Tolu; Toby will stay with Ann while Don goes to his psychiatrist’s appointment; and then there is the first day of our South Osborne Farmers’ Market. Think yummy Chinese dumplings and fresh local honey! So this report is shorter than normal.

The weather has been more than windy in Hellgate Canyon. Clark had trouble bringing in a minnow-sized fish. I became concerned for the little one. He stayed with Iris and his baby and finally came in with a good-sized fish around 1020. Relief

Two ospreys resting in their nest at night, with a dimly lit parking lot in the background.
An osprey standing on a nest made of twigs and branches, overlooking a parking lot in the background.
An adult osprey is feeding a young chick in a nest, surrounded by twigs and leaves.
Osprey feeding a chick in its nest, surrounded by twigs and dry leaves.

It is still very windy at Hellgate Canyon. Clark brought in another fish after 1500 (he might well have brought in more earlier).

An osprey nest with two ospreys, one perched and one standing, surrounded by a parking area and greenery in the background.

Iris feeds the baby while Clark keeps guard. Clark is so protective of his family!

Two ospreys perched on a nest made of sticks, with a parking lot and green areas visible in the background.
Close-up view of an osprey nest with a chick and surrounding twigs, leaves, and nest materials.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 17th June 2026

Today was calm and routine, no upsets, not much in the way of chick aggression, and no intruders. Louis brought three fish for his family, taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and fifty one, and Garry LV0 brought one fish for Aurora 536 taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and twenty one. It rained on and off today and rain will continue through the night with light winds and a low of 12°C, continuing tomorrow with light rain, a gentle breeze and a high of 17°C. 

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/AXFpJ8nfXoU N2 Louis brings his leftovers for breakfast 03.54.38https://youtu.be/Wet3grKylU8 N2 Dorcha’s dulcet tones summon a second fish 06.34.51https://youtu.be/C1actFs_pO8 N2 Louis’ third fish is a magnificent and lively big trout 12.49.59https://youtu.be/rnC3K-WuNTM N

1 Garry remains while Aurora flies off with her fish 17.17.46

Bonus watch – Classic Ospreys series, special moments over the years preserved and set to classical music, quite a few involve sticks!

https://www.youtube.com/@GeemeffGeemeff/playlists

Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 16th June 2026

The chicks threw a strop and fought each other, Dorcha took no notice, Louis got his toe nibbled, Aurora got a fish and Garry didn’t spend much time on the nest. He only brought one fish for Aurora, on camera anyway, he almost certainly is bringing fish during the approximately four hours daily cam down time, and his tally now stands at one hundred and twenty. Louis brought four fish for Dorcha and the Nest Two tally rises to one hundred and forty eight. The chicks fought with the eldest coming out on top but then looked ridiculous attacking the nest itself! The weather forecast for the Inver Mallie area is light rain and winds overnight with a low of 13°C, continuing tomorrow with light rain showers, a gentle breeze and scattered sunshine with a high of 17°C.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/boMblyAoBC4 N2 Louis’ first delivery is a large flapping fish 04.47.56https://youtu.be/4YvuTEwPFYs N2 Louis’ second fish is snack-sized 09.41.49 https://youtu.be/mCbfkDybVic N2 Older chick throws a strop, batters the younger then the nest! 11.33.30https://youtu.be/UIH0JbgLebs N1 Both Garry and Aurora leave when he brings a fish 15.48.25https://youtu.be/efCAsuesBwA N2 Is fish blood why C2 keeps nibbling Louis’ toe? 16.58.26https://youtu.be/WJY4sDQmPIE N2 Louis looks magnificent and well fed bringing a fourth fish 19.05.00

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

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

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Fledge watchers are ready and signs will be going up on the Cornell Campus for Big Red and Arthur’s hawklets.

I love Big Red. She knows when her babies are about ready to fly, and she often chooses to feed them. She is an incredible RTH. The number of chicks she has fledged is unknown, as she has only been on camera with her mate, Ezra, since 2012. She hatched in 2003 and was probably raising babies in 2006. She glows when she has chicks. Positively glows.

Four red-tailed hawk chicks huddled together in a nest on a balcony, with a view of a tree-lined street and buildings in the background.

On the rails.

A red-tailed hawk perched on a nest near the edge of a building, overlooking a tree-lined street below.

This one decided to check out the camera! https://youtu.be/x3kee2NoBCc?

A close-up of a young red-tailed hawk perched on a railing, with a nest visible in the background and trees and a road below.

Big and Little fledged, and Jill, with some help from Jack, is still feeding these two at the Achieva nest. What a wonderful nest this turned out to be this year, thanks to Jill.

A post featuring ospreys Jack and Jill engaging in fishing activities, with Jill holding a headless spadefish and siblings fighting over the catch in their nest.

Big and Little waiting for Mum to deliver an evening meal. They ‘trust’ that she will being food back. What an incredible nest.

Two ospreys are perched in their nest, surrounded by greenery and a view of a residential area in the background.

Mum never disappoints. ‘PB’ thinks it could be a mackerel.

A bird holding a fish in its talons near a nest made of twigs and branches, set against a green background.

Hatch at Sandpoint!

An osprey sits in a nest with a visible egg, surrounded by twigs and branches, overlooking a parking lot with trees and buildings in the background.

Not quite sure what is going on with Bety and Bukachek this year. Will keep monitoring. Gosh, that nest is full of human debris.

A stork standing on a nest filled with twigs and grass, with a village and mountains in the background under a blue sky.

Baby being fed at Cowlitz.

An aerial view of an eagle sitting in its nest made of twigs and branches beside a road.

The trio at Dyfi are fantastic. Telyn and Idris are exceptional.

An adult osprey is perched on a nest surrounded by three young chicks. The nest is made of twigs and is situated in a green, grassy area.

We have a second hatch at Ilomantsin sääkset #2. It is rainy and wet, and I hate that when there are babies in the nest. They get cold and die – let’s hope for sunshine.

An osprey in a nest made of sticks and moss, feeding its chicks near a body of water.

Storks being banded: https://youtu.be/xI-AJgtA6Fc?

A person in a safety harness is interacting with young storks in a nest on top of a structure, with a scenic landscape in the background.
A person in a safety harness is working on a large stork nest on a rooftop, with several chicks visible in the nest. The background shows a lush green landscape and houses.

Boys being boys at San Jose City Hall. https://youtu.be/u0dIuFbxwBs?

It is really raining in Estonia at the nests of the Golden Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle. Both Lesser Spotted chicks have eaten, with the oldest having more – a rat that came in later. Wish them better weather.

Some have been worried about Little Bob at Poole Harbour. He was in a food coma earlier and gets up and eats when he is hungry. Everything looks fine to me.

A bird nest containing three chicks and one adult bird, surrounded by twigs and greenery in a forested area.
An aerial view of an osprey nest, featuring several young chicks and one adult osprey, surrounded by twigs and greenery.

Family portrait at Rutland with swans. Chicks will be ringed soon.

A nest of osprey chicks surrounded by adult ospreys near a body of water, showcasing the birds in their natural habitat.
A group of ducklings resting in a nest made of twigs and branches by a body of water.

Smile. Little Dewey at Dewey Beach has had seven fish so far today.

An adult osprey stands in a nest with two chicks, surrounded by twigs and foliage, overlooking a waterway.

Thank you so much for being with us – there is so much happening, fledges, hatches, and sadly, what looks like pending deaths at some nests. Will try to catch everyone up on the latest tomorrow or Friday. I may take tomorrow off -. Need to enjoy some time with Don in the country! In the meantime, take care! See you soon.

Thank you to Geemeff for those two great reports on Loch Arkaig, PB for alerting me to some nest news, SK Hideaways for their wonderful videos. I am grateful to everyone who posted information and images on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these incredible bird families. Thank you.

Compassionate humans help wildlife, Cornell hawklets anxious to fly…late Tuesday in Bird World

16 June 2026

Good Afternoon Everyone,

We woke up to blue skies and sunshine! And, while sipping our tea and munching on croissants, we counted two Blue Jays at the feeder! Did I tell you about the Cooper’s Hawk hiding in the lilacs that Mr Blue Jay flushed out on Sunday? It was a frightening moment. Mr Blue Jay was screeching at the top of his little lungs. I thought the hawk had his mate or one of their newly hatched chicks BUT maybe Mr Blue Jay just say the hawk loitering in ‘his lilacs’ and wanted him gone. He sure chased him out of the neighbourhood. Imagine.

Ann is taking Don to his annual appointment today and I am going to sit on the deck with Toby and relax. We had an accident yesterday. I know each of us has spilled a cup of water and marvelled at how much there is when you go to clean it up. Well, imagine an extra large mug of hot chocolate. My goodness. Poor Don just couldn’t hold it (early Parkinson’s). The key is like training dogs – nothing negative. Our little Bissell worked overtime after I had scrubbed with a brush. The space is dry but there is still a dark stain in one spot and hopefully after a couple more bouts of cleaning, we can get that out. I bought this big old carpet years ago when wool and silk carpets didn’t cost the price of a car. I love it but, is it time to give it up?

From our monitor, ‘V’, who is writing a book on her twenty-year experience with ospreys living right in front of her. Sadly, life has changed for the birds, but today VV sends us some good news. Please note that I am protecting the location for obvious reasons and the individual.

“Most of my observed nests are a bust again this year. But one of the two nests in front of my house still has at least one chick still alive (bad early bullying, haven’t seen bobble heads in a few days, but someone is still getting fed)— but in the oldest nest, THREE chicks have reached dinosaur stage — first time parents, male an excellent fisher. We’re rigging up a pulley to that nest so we can start adding fish if times get too lean for them. 🤞🏻”

More good news from ‘V’: “It seemed one of the nests up the road also had feeding going on as I drove by. So perhaps there will be a couple fledges from here this year. I can’t imagine we’d be so fortunate.

The fish- pulley apparatus has been “rigged” — waterman vernacular — and we’re going to try to attach it in the morning when the tide is lower. That’s what someone needs to video, the 74 year old woman wading out to the piling for the 83 year old man to haul and attach a bird feeder.   Dodo birds to say the least. Ha!”

V is my hero. Not afraid to save their babies. There are others – I’m like a geisha – I never tell, but there are a number this year that have decided to establish fish ponds to help their ospreys.

There has been questions about Iris’s other two eggs. Egg 2 is 40 days today. Not going to hatch. It is possible that Egg 3 might hatch. Personally, if every osprey nest fledged one very healthy chick, we should feel blessed. I keep thinking about Dewey Beach in the same way. One healthy – not four with 2 or 3 dying of starvation and battering.

Baby One is doing just fine. One nice, strong chick. Yesterday, it disappeared into that bark that was brought in, and many of you became concerned that something had happened. You had to look closely to find its little head.

A close-up of a baby osprey chick interacting with a parent, surrounded by nesting materials.

Another human is helping some storks, with one of the adults in trouble. There are so many compassionate people throughout the world. Sometimes we have to pull away from the news – and just look at the good or we can easily drop ourselves into despair.

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/fp6ZQJJmDbE?

A nest with young storks and an adult stork feeding them, with a view of a village in the background.
Two young storks are being fed in their nest, with a view of a rural area in the background.

“One of the storks with a leg ring has both legs wrapped in long pieces of metal bands. It can’t free itself from the tether. The parent with the ring was in the nest this morning and again this afternoon, and you can see that its legs are still tied. One parent is feeding the young, the other is charred with soot, but it’s not enough food. Yesterday, the storks received a large portion of meat food from a human, and today, the human also threw a large amount of fresh meat into the nest. Storks are afraid of people; it will be difficult to remove the metal band (because it’s not a string) from its tangled legs. Perhaps this stork will be caught on the ground and its legs will be freed.”

‘J’ sends us the latest installment of Kakapo news.

Kakapo Files podcast episode 18:
15 Jun 2026

Six months after this record-breaking kākāpō breeding season began, all 91 living chicks have fledged and left the nest. The chicks remain with their kākāpō mums and are still being fed by them, as well as eating a range of plant material, and as cold wet midwinter weather sets in the chicks are learning to find dry roost sites. The Kākāpō Team’s Daryl Eason and Andrew Digby answer listener questions, including why did Kākāpō cam star Rakiura spend so much time in the nest digging, what can you learn from a piece of egg shell, and could old museum specimens be a source of lost kākāpō genes?

In this episode:
02:06 – Island news with ranger Daniella Whitaker
06:21 – Update on Kākāpō Cam star Rakiura
11:43 – Sick kākāpō
15:19 – Are kākāpō smart?
18:19 – Previous nest cams
20:05 – Why did Rakiura dig so much in her nest?
24:00 – Do kākāpō compete with other species?
25:30 – Kākāpō on Coal Island and at Sanctuary Mountain Mangatautari
30:57 – Museum specimens and lost genes

Learn more:
Follow the Kākāpō Files podcast to keep up to date
Listen to the Voice of the Kākāpō series for a recap of the 2019 breeding season. Also listen to the episodes covering the interim 2022 breeding season, and about how a few male kākāpō have fared in the North Island, in the fenced Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
For more New Zealand science and nature find and follow the Our Changing World podcast, and subscribe to the show’s monthly newsletter

Guests:
Kākāpō ranger, Daniella Whitaker, Kākāpō Recovery Programme
Kākāpō technical advisor, Daryl Eason, Kākāpō Recovery Programme
Kākāpō science advisor, Andrew Digby

Kakapo Files season II:
https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/k%C4%81k%C4%81p%C5%8D-island-diary/id1447593081?i=1000762432199 
https://www.youtube.com/live/UL6P1TdsRXc?list=PLB06qFjAt4VBoq1t-spjkxq6IB5WcEexS 
https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/wild-sounds

Dewey Beach. This must be a female – and continue to send positive wishes to her so that she fledges!

An osprey adult stands near a nest with two chicks, one visible and looking up. The nest is surrounded by sticks and located near a body of water with buildings in the background.

The trio are so fully feathered at Manton Bay and the nest of Blue 33 and Maya.

A closely grouped family of ospreys in a nest made of twigs and sticks, with one adult bird observing the chicks. The background shows a body of water.

‘PB’ reports that Cowlitz has its first hatch today.

A pair of images showing bird eggs in a nest, with one egg hatching and a chick visible next to the eggs.

The reality of not enough fish is spreading through the nests – Forstythe, Field Museum, Farm Field amongst others.

Heidi reports on the loss at Field Farm:

An osprey feeding its chicks in a large nest made of twigs and branches, surrounded by green grass.

Heidi also reports on The Bridge Club osprey nest in NY.

An osprey taking off from its nest with young chicks visible inside the nest, surrounded by a natural landscape during dawn.

‘PB’ reports on Achieva:

Facebook post detailing a fishing report with timestamps and observations of interactions between birds and fish.
A collage of images depicting an osprey nesting area, showing the bird with its wings spread, sitting on a nest made of sticks, and interacting with nestlings or prey.

Charlie and the New Female together on the nest at Charlo Montana feeding their two babies.

Two adult ospreys in a nest with several chicks and remnants of food.

Look at those beautiful juvenile feathers on the Pitkin County Trails Osprey nest in Colorado!

An osprey stands over its chicks in a large nest made of sticks, set against a green landscape with shrubs in the background.

It can be very dangerous being an osprey chick during fish deliveries. We have seen chicks killed, almost smashed…today it was Louis turn at Lock Arkaig 2 to flip a chick. Geemeff has it on video: https://youtu.be/boMblyAoBC4?

A very successful nest is Wolf Bay in Alabama! One of the three chicks has fledged and the live feed has now returned. Aren’t they gorgeous?

Three young ospreys in a nest, surrounded by branches and overlooking a body of water.

At Osoyoos in British Columbia, Canada, the three osplets are still alive. Please send this nest good wishes. They have had trouble with heat and getting fish to the nest for many years.

Two ospreys sitting in their nest surrounded by twigs and branches, with some chicks visible beneath them.

So far it looks like we still have four osplets alive at the Blackbush nest in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Two ospreys in their nest with several chicks at Blackburn Beach Resort.

Two big osplets at the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum osprey nest.

An adult osprey feeding two chick osprey in a nest made of sticks and foliage.
A nest with four young ospreys, sitting on sticks and leaves, while one adult osprey is feeding them.

The Fortis Exshaw streaming cams in Alberta appear not to be working.

We still have two osplets at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. I will try to find any news I can about the woman who was caring for three osplets alone in Minnesota and post it tomorrow. If you happen to know, send me a note!

An aerial view of an osprey nest made of sticks and straw, with two adult ospreys visible near the edge of the nest and a chick resting inside the nest.

At the Red-tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur (one of my favourites) the two older chicks P1 and P2 are preparing to fledge. Cornell did a video of their anxious moments: https://youtu.be/vS44rBVDG_U?

They are so cute. Big Red and Arthur will be showing them where to fly to – and you can count on Arthur for making sure that his babies are well fed after they fly.

A group of red-tailed hawk chicks standing on their nest, preparing to fledge, with greenery and a road visible in the background.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. There is so much happening – it is very difficult to keep up.

It is so nice to have you with us, and I appreciate all your notes, your e-mails, comments, and good wishes. Everyone is so kind, and it means so much to me. I want to add that there is something odd going on with my e-mail at times. Several letters from one of my friends in SF, who supplies us with those wonderful videos, SK Hideaways, were a week late in arriving in my ‘Inbox’, and they all came at once. I could be missing yours, or they might not have arrived – so if you sent me something and I did not respond, please resend. I do try to reply within 48 hours, and normally the same day if things at home are going smoothly.

Thank you to everyone who sent me news, posted information or images on FB, created videos – I am so very, very grateful. To the owners of the streaming cams, we are all so very thankful that you allow us to watch these incredible families.

Late, late Monday edition of Bird World

15 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

It’s the end of the day and I have two great offerings for you.

We have SK Hideaways video of all of Clark’s fish deliveries the other day. My mailbox thought it was ‘Junk’ Mail – geez, what do they know!!!!!!! Ugh.

Clark Answers Iris’s Fish Calls ~ Chick #1 Gets Its First Meal ~ 2026 Jun 11

Hellgate Canyon Ospreys ~ Missoula, MT ~ Iris, Clark, Chick #1

Iris and Clark’s first chick hatched today, but Iris waited some 48 hours for Clark to bring fish. No one knows why he was delayed, but he certainly made up for it with 4 fish deliveries (as of this video). Once Iris refueled, she fed chick #1. Congratulations, Iris and Clark, and welcome to the world #1.

Video: https://youtu.be/Jkv-aKoTUBk

Courtesy CornellLab | Hellgate Osprey Cam | Montana Osprey

Nest cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qvYCbvbeN8

So sorry I missed it but I know that each of you won’t want to miss seeing Clark and all those fish again!!!!!!!!

Clark just keeps bringing those big fish in.

An adult osprey feeds a chick in a nest, with another chick visible nearby. The adult is holding a piece of fish with its beak while the chick eagerly looks up.

Louis delivered a late fish at Loch Arkaig. It is included in the daily summary.

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigMonday 15th June 2026

There was the odd chick fight today but not much, and not too serious so perhaps as both begin to develop the oily look of the reptilian phase, and with Louis bringing plenty of fish, the aggression will taper off completely. It was an otherwise calm day – Garry LV0 delivered two fish taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and nineteen, and he and Aurora continue to incubate their unviable egg. Louis delivered five fish, the first arrived as this season’s earliest shortly after day cam came on, and the last arrived as this season’s latest, with night cam coming on as he landed.The chicks lined up squeaking and will go to bed with full crops. The Nest Two tally rises to one hundred and forty four. The weather today was dry and warm as forecast, but also as forecast, is set to change back to wet with a 70% chance of rain overnight and a low of 11°C, and light rain, light winds, and a high of 18°C tomorrow. Actually, change that 70% to 100% because at the time of filing this report (midnight) it’s started raining and both females are pearled with raindrops.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/SICO1fO_G6U N2 Season’s earliest fish arrives, a feebly flapping trout 03.45.00https://youtu.be/tRcC-7CQYvs N2 Louis brings another lively trout 04.12.32https://youtu.be/1I4mu5_gtoA N1 Garry brings a large trout for Aurora 10.41.48https://youtu.be/ns1e7EHoVBM N2 Louis’ third fish is another frantically flapping trout 12.29.53https://youtu.be/05W6xEO7yfQ N2 Louis’ fourth fish is another whole trouthttps://youtu.be/g64K0qXZQEA N1 Aurora departs as soon as Garry brings fish two 19.11.41https://youtu.be/DyxghGADNlI

N2 Louis’ fifth fish arrives as night cam comes on, and is this season’s latest 23.10.26

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

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

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Thanks so much for being with us! The rain and hail have stopped. The sun is out. Cats are fed along with Toby, and Don is fast asleep. I have a new bird book that I am going to start, but to my shock, it doesn’t contain anything about ospreys. What a disappointment. I was hoping it would be a gem so that it could be the book I donate to the final raffle for the Loch Arkaig group.

See you soon!

Thank you to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their incredible work documenting the lives of our raptors through video and summaries.

Hatches and deaths…Late Monday in Bird World

14 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

Oh, what a day. We are chilly and it has rained heavily with hail! There was even thunder and Toby got to wear his thunder jacket. He did not react to the weather events – not once. He was calm and sleeping. So, thunder or anxiety jackets work for him.

I took videos. WP won’t let me attach them. Says they are private. Really? Missey was scared and her eyes got really big. The hail was not large but it continued to cover the deck and garden.

A fluffy cat sitting on a black table with a window in the background showing a rainy view.
A wooden patio table and chairs covered with hailstones on a rainy day, with a deck and greenery in the background.

Of course, no one believes me when I say this might be the new normal. Geez.

Sadly, the only remaining eaglet out of two has died at the White-tailed eagle nest in Scotland. Its body is being retrieved, and the camera will be down. They want to determine the COD. This is so sad. Each adult and chick is precious. They are being reintroduced to Scotland.

The White-tailed Eagle (also known as the sea eagle) was driven to extinction in the UK by 1918 due to human persecution and habitat loss. Thanks to landmark, multi-phase reintroduction programs that began in 1975, this apex predator has made a remarkable recovery and is now an established breeding species in Scotland.

The successful return of the White-tailed Eagle to Scotland occurred in three distinct phases involving the translocation of young eagles from Norway: 

  • Phase 1 (1975–1985): A partnership between the RSPB and Nature Conservancy Council began translocating Norwegian eaglets to the Isle of Rùm in the Inner Hebrides. This resulted in the first successful wild breeding pair on the Isle of Mull in 1983. 
  • Phase 2 (1993–1998): A second phase of releases took place in Wester Ross to expand the eagle’s geographic distribution across the west coast.
  • Phase 3 (2007–2012): A final set of birds was released on the east coast of Scotland in Fife, successfully establishing a population there. 

Current Status and Ecology

  • Population: There are currently around 150 to 300 breeding pairs established in Scotland. 
  • Habitat: They primarily inhabit coastal areas, sea lochs, and large inland bodies of water, which provide ample fish, waterbirds, and nesting cliffs/tall trees. 
  • Source for England: The Scottish population has been so successful that conservationists have utilized Scottish chicks to help repopulate the species in England (such as on the Isle of Wight).

Ongoing Challenges and Conflicts

While celebrated as a major conservation success, the reintroduction has caused friction with local communities. 

  • Livestock Predation: Farmers and crofters, particularly in Argyll and the West Highlands, have reported significant losses of vulnerable lambs to the eagles.
  • Management Plans: NatureScot has implemented Sea Eagle Management Schemes to help mitigate these impacts, including financial support and scaring tactics for farmers in designated areas. 

The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation became actively involved in the reintroduction of the White-tail eagle. The following is taken from the RDWF Website:

PROJECT START: 2019
EAGLES RELEASED: 45
PAIRS BREEDING IN ENGLAND: 2
CHICKS FLEDGED FROM BREEDING PAIRS IN ENGLAND IN 2025: 3

White-tailed Eagles were once widespread along the whole of the South Coast of England, from Cornwall to Kent, before being driven to extinction by relentless persecution that began in the Middle Ages. The last pair bred on Culver Cliff on the Isle of Wight in 1780. Many parts of southern England remain highly suitable for the species, and following the reintroduction of White-tailed Eagles to Scotland – where there are now approximately 180 breeding pairs – we were granted licences by Natural England and Nature Scot to begin an English reintroduction in partnership with Forestry England, based on the Isle of Wight. A feasibility report was submitted to both Natural England and Nature Scot as part of the licence applications. The initial licence permitted the release of up to 60 young eagles on the Isle of Wight over a five year period, beginning in 2019. It is hoped that a small population of 6-8 breeding pairs will become established within 60km of the Isle of Wight, with birds spreading east and west along the South Coast. In 2026, Natural England issued a further license to release up to 20 White-tailed Eagles over 3 years from Exmoor National Park, to support the expanding population in Southern England.”

Every chick is precious. I hope to have news of the necroscopy for you when it is released. This could take weeks.

More great images from Seattle by Ping Shen of Harry, Sally, and their ‘Only Bob’. Thanks so much, Ping, for sharing these with us. Ping notes, “from the looks of things, an only child. Quite adorable, peeking at mom, and then sleeping at the foot of dad’s talon…”

An osprey perched on a nest made of sticks, looking down at a chick in the nest while surrounded by greenery.
Two ospreys sitting on their nest, with one looking directly at the camera while the other is feeding on a fish.

A beautiful sunset with Clark, Iris, and what might be another ‘Only Bob’. We are on pip/hatch watch for that second egg. We will see if Only has a sibling. I sure hope it is strong as Big Bob is a smart survivor – it has sure been beaten around by fish and nest materials.

Two ospreys are perched on a nest made of twigs and branches, with one parent bird standing close to a chick in the nest. The background shows a parking lot with trees and streetlights.

Make sure to check out the summary – what was it that frightened Louis?

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 14th June 2026

Daily summary Sunday 14th June 2026

Today was mainly about fish – there were many deliveries and both females rejected a fish at the first time of offering then accepted gladly when the male returned with it a bit later. Garry LV0 brought two fish on cam for Aurora 536 and his tally now stands at one hundred and seventeen, while Louis excelled with five deliveries, including his first flatfish this season, taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and thirty nine. The chicks did a bit of fighting but nothing serious, and both decided mum was taking too long dishing up so tried a nibble at the fish she was holding – they’re healthy and developing as expected. There were some intruder alerts, no intruders seen on nest cam apart from a pair of Wood Pigeons who perched on Nest Two for a few moments, but local resident LizB saw two Golden Eagles flying near an Osprey around the time Dorcha was on high alert and shortly before Louis arrived with the flatfish. Later Garry and Aurora were also on alert, perhaps the pair of eagles were still in the area. Only one Eagle has ever been seen on a nest – a juvenile Golden Eagle who touched down for a nano second on Nest Two in April 2023 – but distant eagles have been caught on nest cam on a couple of occasions and Dorcha returned once with a blood injury from an eagle encounter. Both White-tailed Eagles and Golden Eagles share the forest with the Ospreys so perhaps it’s fortunate we haven’t seen them close up too often. The weather was much more settled today and the promised sunshine did materialise. It should continue dry overnight and partly cloudy with a low of 9°C, continuing with a high of 20°C tomorrow and no rain before midnight.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/w7zZRXu3pZ0 N2 Louis’ first fish is small and doesn’t last long 05.29.41

https://youtu.be/XYllXMRX7vA N2 A pair of Wood Pigeons pay a visit in Dorcha’s absence 08.27.59

https://youtu.be/BecPV01-e_E N2 Both chicks don’t wait for Dorcha and have a nibble at fish two 11.22.47 

https://youtu.be/MoOhTnm6YZo N2 Louis’ third fish is his first flatfish 14.39.15

https://youtu.be/grrb8lfBmMs N1 Aurora takes fish one from Garry and they both leave 14.14.51

https://youtu.be/Gmec-mfvgPI N2 Chick2 gets impatient and tries to take bits of fish four from C1’s beak 16.05.00

https://youtu.be/IK7rPRrh6-w N1 Aurora takes fish two the second time Garry brings it 19.13.05

https://youtu.be/VpjzqTKFTYc N2 Dorcha takes fish five the second time Louis brings it 20.36.58

Bonus guide to rapid growth of young Osprey chicks – our two are 13 and 11 days old today (thanks Dyfi)

https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/blog/emyr-mwt/rapid-growth-phase-young-osprey-chicks


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

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

Buddy’s Mum catches D4 at Decorah fledging. https://youtu.be/pFLwncKkHH0?

‘L’ sent me the link to remind us that the Port Lincoln Osprey barge is now back online for the season !!!!!!!!!! https://www.youtube.com/live/47K1i7qCzaI?

‘L’ also sent me another link. A video of Wisdom’s grand chick getting banded. Oh, have a look!!!!!!!!! Isn’t it adorable?!!!!!! https://youtu.be/ZW8gHzCVBwU?

A young bird standing on sandy ground, surrounded by sparse vegetation and dried branches.
Close-up of a grand-chick with a red identification band on its leg, standing on sandy ground with some grass and strands of dried vegetation around.

I learned something. Maybe you will, too. ‘R’ sent an article on Aquaculture and shorelines. https://sercblog.si.edu/imani-black-sustainable-aquaculture-and-misconceptions/#more-13282

How big a fish can Ospreys bring in? And why can females catch bigger fish?

An osprey perched on a branch holds a mullet fish in its talons, with a lush green landscape in the background.

Is there an Osprey fishing contest going on right now? Louis brought in a whopper to Dorcha and the two surviving chicks.

A mature bird of prey stands over its nest, where several chicks are visible. The adult is holding a fish, preparing to feed the chicks in a natural setting surrounded by greenery.

Two osprey chicks have been observed at Loch Inish.

We wait to see how many chicks Aran fathered this year with his new mate. At least one! Next year, Friends of the Osprey will put a streaming camera on Aran’s nest. This is fabulous news.

It looks like donations to SaveMoonCamp, the land near Jackie and Shadow’s nest, have reached the 1/3 mark. They will need lots more funding by the deadline of 31 July 2026. It is unclear to me the precise amount of funds the group needs to get a loan to continue their fundraising. If you intend to help, please do it now! Go to SaveMoonCamp.org

The baby at Poole Harbour is just starting to get its feathers while the others are really being camouflaged now. CJ7 and Blue 022 making raising four osplets look effortless — and we know, for certain, that it isn’t.

An adult osprey stands near its nest, which contains three young chicks, surrounded by trees and foliage.
An adult osprey feeding its chicks in a nest made of branches, surrounded by a natural forest environment.

Syfadden and Clogwyn are doing fantastic with their two chicks in the Usk Valley in Wales.

A bird sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, with a scenic landscape of fields and hills in the background.

Little Bob is trying to get under Elen at the Glaslyn Osprey nest she shares with her mate, Teifi. The two Big Bobs are napping.

An osprey standing over three fluffy chicks in a nest made of sticks, surrounded by a green landscape.

Closeby at the Friends of the Osprey Nest of Aeron Z2 and Blue 014, there are another three. They have been enjoying some trout today!

An osprey chick sitting in a nest made of sticks, overlooking a scenic landscape with hills and trees in the background.
A bird's nest made of twigs with two chicks and an adult bird on a hillside, overlooking a landscape with mountains and greenery in the background.

The single surviving osplet at Loch of the Lowes seems to be doing alright.

An osprey sitting on a nest made of twigs and branches, with greenery in the background.

This is incredibly compassionate. One of the major killers of chicks/storklets/hawklets/osplets etc in the nest is damp. These two good samaritans are blow drying the storklets so that they will hopefully survive the storms that have come to Europe.

Two people care for four stork chicks in a large nest on a rooftop, using a hairdryer to warm them.

Much better!

A stork stands on a large nest made of sticks and hay, with several baby storks resting inside. The background features a residential area with rooftops and solar panels.

What I wouldn’t give to see this at our osprey nests in North America. The kindness to stork families across Europe warms my heart every year and brings tears to my eyes.

No hatch as yet at Mlade Buky White Stork nest.

A stork standing in its nest, surrounded by sticks and grass, with a scenic view of houses and hills in the background.
Two storks nesting in a large bird's nest on a rooftop, overlooking a residential area with green hills in the background.

UK Parliament has recognized the persecution of raptors – should I add the word ‘finally’.

Second hatch at The Lesser Spotted Eagle nest in Estonia. While this might be cause for celebration, Lesser Spotted Eagles practice obligate siblicide whereby the eldest chick always kills the second. There are rare exceptions.

The following comes from Animal Diversity Web:

A majestic eagle perched on a tree branch, showcasing its brown feathers and sharp beak against a clear blue sky.

Lesser spotted eagles live primarily in patchy woodland areas, meadows, fields, and natural grasslands, often in moist environments. Although forests are not used as primary habitat, they often build nests near forest edges. Lesser spotted eagles have been found in African dry mountain and grassland savanna habitats during their winter migration. Within these dry mountain habitats, their range typically extends to a maximum elevation of 2,200 meters.

Lesser spotted eagles generally hunt by walking along the ground. However, they typically nest and perch in the branches of forest trees. When nesting and perching, lesser spotted eagles often use branches closer to the ground rather than higher in the trees.

Adult lesser spotted eagles also are distinguished by their yellow eyes, whereas adult steppe eagles and greater spotted eagles have brown eyes. Juveniles of all three species have brown eyes. The head and wings of lesser spotted eagles are a lighter shade of brown compared to the rest of its body; in steppe eagles and greater spotted eagles, the entire body is a dark shade of brown. Lesser spotted eagles also have a small head and beak for an eagle. Like other eagles in the genus Aquila , lesser spotted eagles have a white V mark on their rump. Finally, differences in the shape of the wings cause lesser spotted eagles to appear to have a longer tail (96.6 to 123.75 cm) than other closely related species. Lesser spotted eagles have narrower wingspans (145 to 165 cm), whereas greater spotted eagles have broader wingspans.

Lesser spotted eagles are considered monogamous birds. Currently there is no clear evidence of partner fidelity, however most birds return to the same nest every year.

Lesser spotted eagles breed once per year. The pair builds a platform nest, generally in a tall tree. Egg laying begins after the nest is complete in late April to early May. It is believed that males are responsible for defending the immediate vicinity around the nest. Lesser spotted eagles lay one to two eggs, but typically only one survives. The older or stronger sibling usually attacks the weaker one. Eggs are laid in the second half of April and between May 23 and 27. The egg incubation period ranges from 36 to 41 days. Fledglings have been observed in the middle of July, with a fledging period up to eight weeks. Juvenile lesser spotted eagles do not reach reproductive age until they are 3 to 4 years old.

The new babies. In rare cases, when prey is very plentiful, both have survived, but if you are watching this nest, please be advised that when I say rare, I do mean rare. Adults will often withhold prey to get the stronger eaglet to attack the other weaker one. When the kill is done, the prey returns.

A golden eagle parent standing over two fluffy chicks in a nest, surrounded by greenery and tree branches.

Two beauties at nest #5 in Finland.

A pair of ospreys tending to their nest, which contains several fluffy chicks. The nest is built from twigs and branches, with a natural landscape in the background.

At the NCTC nest, Susie fledged this afternoon. Congratulations to Bella and Scout.

I hope that Little Dewey’s crop continues to be filled.

Some fish came to the Santiam Canyon Osprey nest for Mum and the trio. They don’t get much fish. It was nice to see their crops filling.

An osprey stands next to its chicks in a nest made of twigs and moss, with a backdrop of trees and a road.
A mother bird feeding her chicks in a nest made of twigs and moss, with a residential area visible in the background.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care and wish for fish at all nests!

Thank you to ‘R’ for that article on aquaculture. Thank you to ‘L’ for the links to Wisdom’s grandchick and a shout-out to Ping Shen for those great images of Harry and Sally and their baby. To Geemeff, we are always grateful for your daily summaries of all news at Loch Arkaig and your videos. To everyone who posted information on FB and images, to Raptor Persecution UK for telling it the way it is, and to the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and the owners of the streaming cams – we are always thankful to you.

Baby for Louis and Dorcha…Monday in Bird World

1 June 2026

Good Morning Everyone,

It is hazy and will be a little warm today, but not up in the high 30s. Melissa is to arrive in a few minutes, and my house can’t wait to get cleaned!!!!!! You might recall that I was sick for 5 or 6 days and well, there are a few more fingerprints on my espresso black cabinets than I would like but, as Melissa says, ‘If I didn’t have some places to clean, she wouldn’t have a job!’ True.

My son is on his way to Asia for a conference in Singapore. He will first land in Tokyo, and he tells me that there is a typhoon. I am sending positive thoughts to all our Bird World friends in Japan impacted by this big storm.

Map showing the projected path of a hurricane near Japan, with timing indicated for specific locations.

The big news is that the first hatch has taken place at the Loch Arkaig 2 nest of Louis and Dorcha. You could hear this strong chick before it even hatched!!!!!!!! Listen as it uses its egg tooth to pick through the shell.https://youtu.be/oNu1t9PXQlI?

Louis was on hand for the hatch. He is an exceptional dad, and I hope that his health holds out this season.

Geemeff was so excited. They could hardly sleep! Here is their video of this wonderful event: https://youtu.be/5Xt0TjsAeZA?

Look at their faces as they see their little one all curled up.

A pair of ospreys stands on a nest with eggs in a natural environment, surrounded by trees and misty hills.

Still an Only Bob at Ranworth.

An osprey is feeding its chick in a nest surrounded by lush greenery at Ranworth, with a serene morning atmosphere.

I do love this. Three generations all have chicks on live-streamed nests in the UK. Maya is a grandmother!!!!!!!!!! (more than once). There is really good DNA coming out of that Rutland nest. Ah, but now Maya is a great grandmother – Teifi has chicks.

Tiger Mozone always says it is DNA plus luck that gives them longevity and endurance.

Three images of osprey nests featuring adult ospreys feeding their chicks, highlighting three generations of the same family.

In the US Bridge Club has their first hatch reported on FB by Heidi.

Virginia Osprey Foundation has its first chick.

Ospreys in a nest, with one chick hatching, showcasing the moment on June 1, 2026.

Eaglets die in Minnesota. Why?

The cause of death for the baby birds in the post isn’t definitively known yet. However, considering they were panting hard to cool down before passing away, it’s possible that heat stress or heatstroke contributed to their deaths, especially during a stretch of high temperatures. Other potential causes of bird deaths in general include ¹:

  • Common Causes of Bird Deaths:
  • Habitat Loss: Destruction or fragmentation of natural landscapes, which can lead to food scarcity and increased predation.
  • Collisions: Impacts with buildings, windows, vehicles, and power lines.
  • Predation: Hunting by domestic and feral cats, as well as natural predators.
  • Poisoning: Exposure to pesticides, lead, and other toxins.
  • Climate Change: Shifting habitats, extreme weather, and disrupted timing.
  • Disease: Infections and parasitic infestations.

It’s worth noting that Avian Flu was mentioned in one of the comments, but without further information, it’s impossible to say if this was the cause. The Department of Natural Resources visited the scene, so they may have more information on the cause of death once their investigation is complete

Two young birds in a nest, panting in the heat, with a focus on their facial features and surroundings.

Hatching is underway in two of the eggs at Loch of the Lowes.

An osprey sitting on a nest with several eggs, one of which is visibly cracked while another chick's beak can be seen breaking through the shell.

DH23 (Dale Hollow) eaglet, which fell off the nest on Sunday during a prey delivery, has now fledged from the branch where it landed. Congratulations and relief.

A feel good moment.

A close-up of a peregrine falcon standing in a nesting box filled with gravel, with a coastal view in the background.
Screenshot

So how is New Guy2 getting fish for Iris? Here is your answer.

A post discussing the fishing habits of Ospreys near Missoula, highlighting their preference for clearer waters in Rattlesnake Creek and mentioning ancient beach lines on Mount Jumbo formed during the last Ice Age.
Aerial view of Missoula, Montana, highlighting significant geographical features including Rattlesnake Creek, Clark Fork River, beach lines on Mount Jumbo from the last Ice Age, and Hellgate Osprey Nest.
3D aerial view of the Clark Fork River area, highlighting Rattlesnake Creek, Clark Fork River, and the Hellgate Osprey Nest.

At the Achieva nest, Big caught its own fish and brought it back to the nest! Wow. 15:48:15. Thanks, ‘PB’.

A view of an osprey nest located in a tree, with two young osprey chicks visible on the nest. One parent bird is flying nearby, while a street and houses can be seen in the background.
A young osprey standing in a nest made of twigs, with an adult osprey nearby. The background features greenery.

Heavy rains in the Glaslyn Valley have meant tricky fishing and mums needing to keep youngsters dry.

An eagle is feeding its chicks in a nest made of twigs, with a lush green landscape and misty mountains in the background.
A pair of ospreys are in their nest, one is holding a fish while the other is near their chicks, which are visible at the bottom of the nest.

At the Dyfi nest, Telyn is struggling to keep the chicks dry during the heavy rain.

An osprey resting on its nest, surrounded by twigs and grass, with a green blurred background.

It is the same story for Seren at llyn Clywedog.

A bird resting in its nest made of sticks and moss, surrounded by a lush green forest landscape in the background.

So how is it in the Usk Valley? Heavy rain.

A bird standing on a nest made of twigs and branches, with a chick visible inside the nest. The background features green fields and trees.

Chucking down rain at Llyn Brenig.

A blurry live feed image of an osprey nest with one adult osprey sitting on the nest and another standing nearby, taken at night.

Poole Harbour with its four chicks under CJ7 is also getting a large amount of rain!

Close-up view of a bird's back feathers, resting on a nest with twigs and pine needles.

Maya is drenched too – but the rains began to let up at Rutland later in the night.

An osprey resting on a nest made of sticks and branches, with a fish laying beside it, near a body of water.

I wonder what Geemeff will report about Loch Arkaig? The weather is certainly better!

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 1st June 2026

No surprise about today’s main event – the first chick has hatched! After pipping last night and chupping ever more strongly, the little scrap of life made its way out of the eggshell at 12.40.39 and despite falling over backwards and taking a while to right itself, is looking in great shape. Surprisingly, it was Louis on duty at the moment of hatching – he shot upright when he must have felt the chick suddenly emerge from the shell, one of many endearing moments today which included Dorcha trying to feed Louis. All the action was on Nest Two today, except for Garry LV0 delivering one fish for Aurora 536 which takes his tally to ninety one. Louis delivered three fish to Dorcha and the Nest Two tally now stands at one hundred. It was a damp day which will continue with light rain showers, light winds and an overnight low of 12°C and more light rain, light winds and a high of 17°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/PCJX4mMm3EI N2 Dorcha’s in mum mode and tries to feed Louis 05.17.53https://youtu.be/HwDwVw2WvbA BBC Radio 4 Today Programme: Arkaig Forest item 07.24 https://youtu.be/e24C9E4S7kQ N1 Aurora gets a huge fish from Garry 09.37.45https://youtu.be/oNu1t9PXQlI N2 Listen to the chick chupping as it breaks the eggshell 10.22.15 (zoom)https://youtu.be/5Xt0TjsAeZA N2 News news news – first chick has hatched! 12.40.39https://youtu.be/tgRdu3_mmY0 N2 Louis brings fish and covers the chick as Dorcha eats fish 16.24.21https://youtu.be/v456qULiigg N2 Oops! Chick falls over backwards 18.52.22https://youtu.be/XC3x1LnO9Lk N2 Louis delivers fish number one hundred for the season! 22.34.46

Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

A pair of birds of prey in a nest, one standing with wings partially spread, while the other is sitting calmly. The nest is built among sticks and moss, and the background features a lush, green landscape.

Sad news from the UK. Another White-tailed Eagle disappears from a shooting estate! When will this stop? Only when the penalties are such that the extremely wealthy consider the fine and/or jail time ‘too much’.

I like to end with good news.

A peregrine falcon in a nesting box, surrounded by gravel, with a view of a coastal area in the background.
Screenshot

Calico wishes everyone a great beginning to the week.

A calico cat with green eyes lounging on a soft surface near a window, surrounded by greenery.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Wish all of the nests, no matter where they are, better weather and lots of fish tomorrow! Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to everyone. ‘PB’ that is a great image of Big at Achieva! Fantastic news. To all who posted on FB and to Jeff Kear and the UK Osprey Info FB page – I am always grateful. Thank you to Geemeff and to all the owners of the streaming cams and individuals who post information – we appreciate your extraordinary efforts.

Tragedy at SF Golden Gate Audubon…late Saturday in Bird World

30 May 2026

Hello Everyone,

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.

Two ospreys are seen in their nest, handling a fish that is partly visible among sticks and twigs.

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?

A close-up of an osprey in its nest, with surrounding twigs and some remnants of a previous nestling.

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!

Two ospreys perched on their nest made of twigs and branches, with a green landscape and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

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.

Screenshot of a newspaper front page titled 'The Daily Chronicle' from June 18, 1946, reporting breaking news about a bald eagle incident at Blu Springs Missouri. The headline reads 'EXTRA! BREAKING NEWS! OWL STRIKE AT BLUE SPRINGS MISSOURI BALD EAGLE NEST KNOCKS EAGLET OFF NEST BRANCH.' The page includes illustrations of eagles and a nest, and various subheadings discussing eyewitness reports and city council discussions.

Augusta and Samson have two osplets at Border Ospreys! Rosie Shields brings us all the latest news.

Jeff Kerr brings us news at Tweed Valley.

Two ospreys in a nest made of sticks, with two eggs visible nearby. One osprey is eating a fish while the other watches.

It looks like there will only be one hatch at Ranworth this year.

A mother bird feeding her chick in a nest made of sticks, surrounded by greenery.

Just look at that baby – on top and right up front at Poole Harbour.

A close-up view of several baby birds, covered in gray down feathers, huddled together in a nest made of twigs and grass, with an adult bird partially visible in the background.
Aerial view of osprey chicks huddled together in a nest, surrounded by twigs and debris.

Idris, Telyn, and three little osplets at Dyfi. It is all under control.

An osprey perched on a nest made of twigs and sticks, interacting with chicks and feeding them, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and green vegetation.

Elen and Teifi are doing well with their three at Glaslyn.

A bird sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, with two small chicks nearby, on a grassy background.

It’s hard to see but close by at the Pont Cresor nest, Aeron Z2 and Blue 014 also have three healthy little ones!

An osprey nest containing one osprey chick resting, with an adult osprey perched on a nearby branch, against a scenic backdrop of hills and fields during twilight.

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!

A parent bird feeding its chicks in a nest made of twigs, with several young birds visible and a calm water background.
An osprey is feeding its chicks in a nest made of twigs and branches by the water.

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.

An osprey stands over its two chicks in a nest made of twigs and branches, near a body of water with a blue structure and outdoor seating visible in the background.
A close-up view of an osprey standing on its nest made of sticks, with visible water and buildings in the background.
An osprey stands near its nest, which contains a fluffy chick, surrounded by sticks and branches, with a waterfront and buildings in the background.

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.

A bald eagle and its chick perched in a nest overlooking a clear blue lake, with surrounding trees and a sunny sky.

Other quick news:

DH3 has branched.

Heidi reports a pip for Tom and Audrey.

Close-up of an osprey's head near a nest with several eggs, one of which has a crack, indicating a chick may be hatching.

So far, so good at Steelscape.

A mother bird feeding her four chicks in a nest, with three eaglets visible in the foreground and one stretched out in the back, surrounded by natural foliage.

And look at Achieva!

A close-up view of an osprey nest with four young osprey chicks resting among twigs and branches. One chick is standing, while others are sitting in the nest, surrounded by greenery.

There is a crisis in California. Seabirds are starving to death.

A post from the Native Animal Rescue of Santa Cruz County about the rising crisis affecting seabirds in California, highlighting the plight of Brown Pelicans, Cormorants, and Common Murres suffering from starvation and entanglement in fishing lines.
Two pelicans standing side by side, looking weak and malnourished, with text emphasizing their starvation and the plight of seabirds along the coast.

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.

A small bird with a gray head and reddish-brown body perched on green foliage, surrounded by budding flowers.

“Dartford Warbler” by tsbl2000 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

Dartford warbler stages a comeback 60 years after almost vanishing https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/29/dartford-warbler-stages-a-comeback-60-years-after-almost-vanishing?CMP=share_btn_url

The BBC covers the comeback – a 44% increase in numbers!

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?

A close-up view of a nesting site for the sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), featuring a nest made of twigs and branches, with greenery and trees in the background.

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. 

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/FYSl40JJb6s N2 Breakfast for Dorcha 09.10.13

https://youtu.be/TUJEoaQCn3E N2 Louis chases an unringed intruder Osprey off the nest 13.43.22

https://youtu.be/CxaPX74de4g N1 This time, an intruder Osprey is around Aurora’s nest 14.12.27

https://youtu.be/SUYunderRIo N1 As the mist rolls in, Garry brings a fish 19.17.24

Bonus volunteering opportunity – become a citizen scientist for Woodland Trust: 

https://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/careers/?p=8356
https://naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum:

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

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.

A nest of red-tailed hawk chicks resting in a nest made of twigs, atop a building with a view of trees and a street in the background.
View of three red-tailed hawk chicks in a nest made of twigs and leaves, with urban scenery in the background.
A red-tailed hawk perched on a nest with three chicks, surrounded by branches, on a high structure overlooking a city street.

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.

Oyster Bay female hindered by a green rope..late Thursday in Bird World

28 May 2026

Good Day everyone,

It is hot, hot on the Canadian Prairies. We now have a yellow heat warning. This means that we had our breakfast on the deck and watered all the plants before the heat around 1100 set in. We also walked Toby, cleaned all the bird baths and left cool water and dreamed of a fountain for the birds! We are expecting 32 C – direct sun but still cooler than it was in London the other day. Today we are both 28 C.

For the first time in years, the very old crabapple tree in the front of our house is covered in blooms from the top to the bottom, back to front!

We plant trees to remember people and animals. The apple tree was here when we bought the house and we were told that along with the single peony plant and the wild roses, it was from 1902. The tall Blue Spruce to the left was planted in 1999 in memory of our son William. It was only about 2.7 metres high at the time. It is now about 16 metres tall. The Scotch pine to the left of it was planted for Don’s mother when she died. There are three other trees you cannot see – all in memory of cats (Tootie, Melvin, and Honey).

A blooming pink tree surrounded by evergreen trees and a house under a clear blue sky.
Close-up of delicate pink blossoms and buds with green leaves, set against a blurred background of more flowers.
Close-up of pink flowering branches with green leaves and delicate blossoms against a bright background.
A close-up of pink flowering blossoms on a tree, featuring delicate petals and green leaves.

This tree is amazing and it makes me so hopeful even in this heat. There are little birds, Red-eyed Vireos that have their nest in this apple tree. By the middle of June, I am expecting that 3/4 of my property will be a canopy of cool for all the birds and animals that come to us – and for us, too.

Please plant trees if you can.

I am going to start with a nest that needs your help. Oyster Bay. You will see another post that there were people at the nest cleaning up. Go to the live stream, and you will see that the green rope appears to be wrapped around the female. The nest is owned by PSEG, the electric company on Long Island. The same company that ran the camera on the Patchogue osprey nest. Thank you.

Call PSEG: Customer Service1-800-490-0025. They are open until 2000 local time.

There is a baby on that nest – at least one. Here are the images of that green twine.

An osprey sitting in its nest made of twigs, overlooking Oyster Bay with boats visible in the background. A weather widget shows the current conditions.
Two ospreys in a nest made of twigs overlooking a bay with boats in the background, captured from a webcam.
An osprey perched on its nest made of sticks, overlooking a calm body of water with boats in the background. The scene is captured from a webcam located in Oyster Bay, NY, showing a partly cloudy sky.

Rescue and Rehabilitation in the area: If you encounter an injured or distressed raptor (such as an osprey, owl, or hawk) in the Oyster Bay area, immediately contact the Wildlife Centre of Long Island via their Wildlife Hotline at (516) 674-0982 or email info@wildlifecenterli.org. 

I did not know last night but the smallest peregrine falcon fludged and flew at the San Jose City Hall nest. Everyone was worried. No sightings. This is the latest news.

Facebook post from The San Jose City Hall Falcons updating on Walton, mentioning the rainy weather and observing Walton with Hartley's assistance.
Screenshot of a Facebook comment discussing the challenges faced by a juvenile peregrine falcon learning to fly from a high nest, with insights from The San Jose City Hall Falcons.

Send this little one your most positive wishes. I am going to be saying this a lot today as we need to continue to ‘support’ Snow’s nest and hope that the heat on Dewey Beach doesn’t kill the only osplet….so just, please, keep our raptors in your hearts and minds as they go through various challenges.

‘MP’ sent me a note. Do you know this nest? I do but I have not been following it so I appreciate the update. This is disturbing.

“There is a nest on Long Island that needs some hope. She laid three eggs and is now brooding one chick. An intruder startled the female during the nighttime hours when the camera is off, causing her to kick the chick and one egg out of the nest bowl killing the chick. The third egg hatched and she is brooding her now.

This nest is always dirty with trash the two adults obviously find precious. They do need support. The quote below is from the conservation biologist, Michael Farina, at the site.

“The incident happened during the nighttime hours when the camera is shut down to conserve battery life. We hypothesise that the female sleeping during the night after the first chick hatched (5/8/26) was violently startled, causing her to kick the chick and an egg out of the nest, leaving only one egg left. Possibly by a Great Horned Owl or another osprey in the area.  The 3rd egg hatched on 5/12/26.” Michael Farina wrote.”

The surviving chick is 16 days old today. They need to do something about that owl – just like every other streaming cam needs to protect their ospreys from owls because we have the red strobe technology that can help.

An osprey standing near its nest with two chicks, surrounded by sticks and grass, against a backdrop of water.

Eggs being incubated at Landscape Arboretum in Minnesota. Dad stays close.

Two ospreys perched in their nest atop a wooden platform, surrounded by greenery and distant farmland.

A nest clean up has taken place. If you see ospreys in dire straits due to human garbage, flood the owners of the streaming cams and local rescue. You can just Goggle the location of the nest and ask for contact information on local raptor rescues.

A close-up of an osprey nest containing an osprey with green rope and white tape wrapped around its body, along with various nesting materials.

After cleaning:

An osprey standing on its nest made of twigs and branches near water.

RSPB Loch Garten have now declared that Blue KL5, mate to Myrtle, and osprey who kicked out three eggs, has met his demise. He has been missing for too long during a critical period of the breeding season.

Update on Ospreys at RSPB Loch Garten, Abernethy, discussing the situation of Myrtle and a new male Osprey that has taken over the nest.

KL5 kicking out the eggs.

An osprey in a nest made of twigs and branches, overlooking a forested landscape with mountains in the background and cloudy skies.

The Traverse City nest seems to be holding at about a 45 degree angle. Adult was in the nest feeding Snow earlier today! Please, please, keep sending positive energy. Snow is only 47 days old and we need a good 2-3 weeks for this eagle to get its wing strength and coordination to fly and then it needs to return to the nest for a good month to be fed by the parents while it perfects its flying.

A bald eagle tending to its nest, surrounded by branches and trees, with a view of water in the background. The image shows a sunny scene and includes weather information.
A close-up view of a bird's nest made of twigs and branches, with a young bird resting inside, surrounded by a lush green environment near a body of water.

DH3 is older than Snow and is making itself comortable higher and higher on the branches of the nest tree.

Clogwyn and Syfaddan have their first chick as of 28 May 2026 in the Usk Valley. You can’t see it but there is a tiny baby there!

An osprey perched in its nest made of twigs, surrounded by lush greenery and fields in the background.

It is Teifi’s birthday today – and he is now a dad to at least two wiggly little osplets with Elen at Glaslyn.

Close-up of an osprey bird with striking yellow eyes and a white and brown plumage, set against a blurred natural background.

Reports of first hatch at Esthwaite.

A great article on Iris in Birds & Blooms. https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/bird-species/birds-of-prey/iris-osprey/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSFbfJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeOoNW1tWIFKyZuQRftVzdZute4OgAk0nVjxIqkdwWxMaUifDCQh9AjPg5a4A_aem_N8w5fT_YKH21WV2jF4YEZw

First hatch at Carova Beach for Frederick and Betsy.

An osprey on its nest, feeding its chick with fish remnants, surrounded by twigs and branches near a water body.

Oh, my heart skips a beat every time I see a little osplet being fed fish. Here is Poole Harbour – looks like egg 4 could be a Dudley.

Four fluffy owlets huddled together in a nest made of twigs and straw, with one unhatched egg visible among them.
An aerial view of an osprey nest featuring two fluffy chick ospreys being fed by an adult osprey. The nest is surrounded by twigs and natural debris.

Pitkin County has two osplets. Here is the info below the cam, but it doesn’t include the second hatch. Do you know?

🥚Osplet #1 Laid: 12.4.26, Hatched around 3.36 am 21.5.26
🥚Osplet #2 Laid: 15.4.26
🥚Osplet #3 Laid: 18.4.26

Two chicks at PSEG’s Oyster Bay nest.

An Osprey nest situated in Oyster Bay, NY, featuring one adult Osprey perched on the edge and another Osprey on the nest, surrounded by a view of the water and boats in the distance.

I want to draw everyone’s attention to Gayle Gordon’s FB page. Many of you might have read her posts. I am including some of her recent posts because they are hugely important. I respect the research she does and the corrections she makes to false information circulating on social media. I have written to her and have received permission to cut and paste her posts. Instead, she is sending me links to them. Please read and get involved in the conversation. We need to save our wildlife – and we definitely do not need false information stirring the pot. Chaos makes us tired. We need our energy, instead, to help.

Thank you, Gayle, for allowing me to share your work with my readers.

Here is the link to Gayle Gordon’s FB: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=gayle%20gordon

Everything you need to know about the Cyanide Bombs written by Gayle Gordon -this is such a huge thread to the entire food chain that I am shocked anyone would even consider using cyanide bombs in 2026.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=gayle%20gordon

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JKzCR63pc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ESB93orcA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Big and Little enjoying a fish snack mid-afternoon at the Achieva Credit Union nest in St Petersburg, Florida.

A live view from the Achieva Osprey Cam showing an osprey nest with two young chicks and an adult osprey, surrounded by trees and a residential area in the background.

Audubon Florida is very disappointed in the state’s budget cuts towards protecting wildlife.

We have talked about how people in various European countries care for storks. The retired man in Croatia, who for years cared for a White Stork around the clock and then fished so she and her mate, who still migrated, has continued to warm my heart years after she died and Klepatan stopped coming. ‘LC’ sent me this today – it is a historic reminder of that decade and a half of devotion. There are some remarkable human beings.

Two storks interacting, one male and one female, in a natural setting.

The historyofcoolkids included this history on the chat:

“In 1993, retired Croatian school janitor Stjepan Vokić found a wounded female stork named Malena after she had been injured by hunters and left unable to migrate.

He rescued her and cared for her at his home in the village of Brodski Varoš, where she spent winters indoors because she could no longer survive the long journey south.

In 2001, a male stork named Klepetan began visiting her nest. Every spring, Klepetan migrated nearly 13,000 kilometers from South Africa back to Croatia to reunite with Malena, always returning to the same rooftop nest. Because Malena could not hunt or fly long distances, Vokić helped feed the pair and care for their young. Over the years, they raised 66 chicks together.

In 2021, Malena passed away of old age after 28 years under Vokić’s care, reportedly with Klepetan beside her.

Klepetan still visits Malena’s grave beneath an apple tree whenever he returns to the village, something considered highly unusual behavior for a stork.

Why didn’t he stay with her? When she could survive in that location alone, then he also could have had! He just migrated each time to avoid the hardships of the harsh season and went back during the mating season.”

If you are interested, search for Malena and Klepetan on YouTube. There is also a book about their love story. It is a great insight into avian behaviour.

I will post Geemeff’s daily report on Loch Arkaig tomorrow. I am hoping that some of you will call the Wildlife Centre on Long Island to try and get help to Oyster Bay. PSEG owns the platform, and as a utility company, they have the equipment. It is a human-made problem, so permits should not be an issue. Thank you for caring.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please check out Gayle Gordon’s FB page and sign up to join the conversation. Here is the information again:

Here is the link to Gayle Gordon’s FB: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=gayle%20gordon

Thank you to those who sent me notes today including ‘PB, SP, LC’, to the authors of FB posts that are both educational and informative, the authors of newsletters, and the owners of streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these extraordinary creatures. Thank you also to Gayle Gordon for letting me share her posts today.

First hatch at Pont Cresor and Kielder Forest…late Monday in Bird World

25 May 2026

Hello,

It’s hot. We were out early with Toby and now we are inside, drapes drawn and AC on. Cavaliers are susceptible to many ailments (I don’t care, I will take good care of Toby forever) so that Toby cannot be out in the heat of the day. He has a ‘chill’ coat that is soaked in cold water and a chill mat and I have made ice lollies for him with bone broth. Interestingly, Don has a medicine that restricts him from being out in the heat, too. So I guess summer is going to be interesting!

The first hatch has happened in the Glaslyn Valley and it is at the Pont Cresor nest of Z2 Aeron and Blue 014.

There are still two at the nest of CJ7 and Blue 022 at Poole Harbour although I almost caught myself thinking there were three.

An aerial view of an ospreys' nest containing two chicks and three eggs, surrounded by twigs and nesting materials.
Aerial view of an osprey nest with three chicks and one egg among twigs and nesting material.
A close-up of a bird's nest containing two newly hatched chicks, with one chick facing upwards and opening its beak, while an adult bird is positioned nearby.

There are three osplets at the Moraine Preservation Fund Osprey Platform. Little is so tiny! I hope they get lots of fish and this baby survives.

An osprey nest with several chicks being fed by an adult osprey, surrounded by twigs, pine cones, and some debris.

Clark PUD in Washington State has three babies and no shade!

A close-up view of an owl nest containing several young owlets, surrounded by twigs and natural materials, with a background showing train tracks and green grass.

Newport Bay Conservany has two osplets that are getting their juvenile feathers.

A close-up view of an osprey resting in its nest made of sticks, with a scenic background of grassy wetlands and a winding river.

Three babies at Smallwood…

A bird sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, with two chicks visible nearby.

Beautiful babies with Mum at Brevard in Florida.

Two osprey chicks sitting in their nest with a view of the water and a dock in the background.

Incubation continues in the Usk Valley in Wales.

Two birds sitting in a nest made of twigs on a tree branch, with a green landscape in the background.

Two little scrappers at Port of Ridgefield in Washington.

A bird standing on a nest with three chicks, surrounded by twigs and grass.

Please send the Dewey Beach every ounce of energy you can. One little osplet. Please, please let them have enough fish to keep this baby to fledge. Two small fish have come to the nest. Dad is trying but the adults have to be so hungry. This whole lack of fish ‘thing’ that is human caused is simply driving me to the brink.

An osprey perched on its nest, which is made of twigs and contains two small chicks, with a calm body of water and buildings in the background.

Incubation continues at Loch of the Lowes in Scotland.

An osprey standing on its nest overlooking a calm body of water surrounded by trees.

First fish from Jack at the Achieva nest came at 0832. The family was waiting. Mum got it and fed everyone.

An osprey nest with two chicks and one adult osprey perched on the edge, surrounded by branches. In the background, there are residential buildings and trees.
Two ospreys sitting on a nest made of twigs, with trees and a road in the background. A logo for Achieva Banking for Good is visible in the corner.

Chick 2 has hatched for Idris and Telyn at Dyfi.

An osprey standing near its nest, with three hatchlings visible on the ground among twigs and debris.
Two osprey chicks sitting in a nest made of twigs, with a scenic view of a grassy landscape and distant hills in the background.
A close-up view of a nest with several young osprey chicks and an unhatched egg, surrounded by twigs and nesting materials.

There are still three chicks at Rutland’s Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya.

Close-up of an osprey sitting in its nest with three chicks, near Manton Bay, with calm water in the background.

Three eggs being incubated at Lyn Brenig in Wales.

A bird perched on a nest against a backdrop of a river and trees, with the nest made of sticks and twigs.

One beautiful baby so far for White YW and Blue 35 at Foulshaw Moss.

An osprey sitting on its nest, surrounded by twigs and sticks, with a vast grassy field and distant hills in the background under a clear blue sky.

Frankie and Angel and their two darling osplets at Loch Doon.

An osprey standing on a nest made of twigs and moss, with two chicks visible nearby, set against a backdrop of trees and a distant landscape.

Dylan loves delivering Brown Trout to his family at Lyn Clywedog in Wales.

A close-up view of a nest containing several newly hatched chicks, with an adult bird standing nearby on the edge of the nest.

Life in the osprey world appears to be going well at these nests. There are, of course, many others, and we must check in on Iris. Tomorrow is the first day to vote on the name for NewGuy2. Please take part.

These two are hilarious.

An osprey is taking off from its nest, which is made of twigs and located on a raised platform. Another osprey is resting in the nest. The background shows a parking lot and greenery.
A close-up view of an osprey nest containing two juvenile ospreys, with one adult osprey sitting nearby, overlooking a parking lot and greenery in the background.

Rosie Shields brings us the latest news from Border Ospreys.

I am excited that Aran and his new mate will have chicks in a few days. He was the mate to Mrs G, then Elen (who is now with Teifi), and it is just great that there was a platform and a female for this dedicated dad.

A pair of osprey birds perched on a nest made of twigs and branches, located on a wooden platform. In the background, a blurred view of a grassy landscape with logs and a grazing animal.

Mary Kerr posted a YouTube video of Teifi and his brother Tywi in 2020. Teifi will be a dad in a few days when his and Elen’s eggs begin to hatch. Teifi is the son of Idris and Telyn. https://youtu.be/x1ewvCXqql8?

Close-up of two juvenile ospreys resting on a nest, one looking directly at the camera with a serious expression, and the other partially visible with its head turned.

It appears that Richmond and Wendy’s first egg is not viable at 41 days.

A chart titled 'Hatch Watch 2026' showing incubation projections for osprey eggs, with highlighted dates indicating possible hatching periods based on past incubation data.

Kielder Forest news – and there is a hatch at nest 1A.

Dale Hollow Eagle cam is frozen on 24 May.

A young eagle perched on a nest surrounded by lush green leaves and branches.

The livestream has been turned off of the Falconshire Bald Eagle nest where Scout eats crumbs and picks at his injured wing. Will he survive? We will never know what happened because they chose to intervene to band the chicks but not to keep Scout in rehab. Banding is, in my mind, a good thing but it is an intervention on the nest. Why not help Scout? Instead of hiding what is happening just because they are overwhelmed by people who care? Caring people should motivate for good!!!!!!

The last screen:

Two young birds in a nest surrounded by green foliage, with text wishing them a safe path toward fledging.

Good night from Missey.

A fluffy cat lounging on a soft surface near a window, looking relaxed and content.

First egg of the 2026 Loon Preservation Society has been laid!

Bird flu has been detected in a pair of goshawks in the UK.

The heat on the Canadian Prairies has kept us inside. Don sleeps more as his disease progresses. Sometimes Toby ‘allows’ me to check on the bird nests. Toby is a bit like a toddler when their mother is on the telephone and they want attention!!!!!!! And how can I refuse?

Close-up of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with black, white, and tan fur, featuring expressive eyes and a curious expression, sitting on a couch.

If you are living in the UK, I know it is HOT, with temperatures of 35°C. Geemeff told me. Unbelievable. Mark Avery, head of RSPB for 25 years, has included paragraphs on a hotter Britain. I have included those thoughts in their entirety. “A hotter UK: a report published a couple of days ago – click here – by the  Climate Change Committee contained the slightly chilling phrase ‘The UK was built for a climate that no longer exists today and will be increasingly distant in years to come.‘. That focuses our minds on what we need to do to adapt to the climate-mediated changes that are heading down the road anyway, such as increasing summer temperatures and increasing length of periods of what are currently abnormally high summer temperatures. 

It won’t be me who is living in my current late-Victorian semi-detached brick-built, no cavity wall house in 25 years’ time but whoever does will need to do a bit more than know which curtains to shut, which doors to shut (and when to leave them wide open) to cope with high temperatures. Our house has quite a lot of roof that faces south (which is why solar panels work pretty well) but only one small window that faces south so the sun doesn’t beat down into rooms in the middle of the day. And the front door, and largest windows face west (whence the wind often comes) and the back door faces east, so it is possible to flush hot air from the house when temperatures drop in the evening. Even so, sitting quietly, reading a book, with one’s feet in a bowl of cold water is still an option applied even in these times.

There is much food for thought on flooding, the viability of farming, wildlife and infrastructure in this report. Read it and please never, ever, consider voting for Reform or the Conservatives whilst they have their current policies of scrapping net-zero measures. “

It is not just Britain that is hot. And the water that holds the fish for our beloved ospreys will be warming. Life will be difficult. How can we help? Remember: Put a bowl of water outside. There will be someone who needs it, and you might not know. It could be Mama Raccoon, the Sparrow, the homeless cat or dog, that comes in the middle of the night. Water is life.

It isn’t about raptors but if you happen to be near Mumbai, head over to see the art show and listen to a talk by my friend Pherozah Godrej.

Invitation to the 46th Monsoon Art Show at Jehangir Art Gallery, showcasing final year art students from various colleges in Maharashtra. Chief guest: Dr. Pheroza J. Godrej. Inauguration on June 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM, exhibition runs until June 29, 2026.

Beautiful Big Red and her babies. The oldest is just becoming steady standing.

A red-tailed hawk perched in its nest, overlooking two chicks among twigs and greenery.
Three red-tailed hawk chicks sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, with a blurred background of trees and an elevated structure.

Ruth and Oren’s two hawklets are older at Syracuse University. Look at their juvenile feathers coming in and how good they are at standing.

Two juvenile hawks sitting in their nest surrounded by twigs and foliage.

Love White Storks? Knepp Farm’s Rewilding has brought them back to Britain and you can watch on their life stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/s0liN8AzykQ?

Two stork chicks interacting in a nest made of twigs, with greenery and a landscape visible in the background.

Geemeff’s The calm routine of the previous days changed today when Louis was kept busy keeping intruders away from the nest – while Dorcha protected the eggs, Louis chased away first a crow and later in the day an intruder Osprey. Neither got close enough to be a threat and Louis still had plenty of time to deliver two fish, taking the nest tally to eighty six. No intruders troubled the occupants of Nest One, and Garry LV0’s tally rises to eighty one after he delivered two fish to Aurora 536. The Inver Mallie forecast for the nest area is dry overnight with light cloud and light winds and a low of 9°C, continuing tomorrow with sunny intervals and a high of 20°C.
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/XHVSJOXvl6U N2 Breakfast arrives for Dorcha on a damp grey morning 05.03.41 https://youtu.be/mt9KV0TNvi0 N2 Dorcha guards the eggs while Louis chases a crow 08.35.48https://youtu.be/wabw_lSDNBc N1 Aurora departs with her fish dangling precariously 12.41.19https://youtu.be/0U_yPezarMI N2 Louis is already on the eggs as Dorcha departs 13.47.12https://youtu.be/0JiykpnVbVI N2 Louis chases an intruder Osprey whileDorcha protects the eggs 18.45.56https://youtu.be/GYNsA8GWU84 N1 Garry’s in charge when Aurora departs with fish two 18.58.

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

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


The Amersfoort Tower that has falcons in The Netherlands has another little one, Little Prince. He is doing so much better than Smallie that we worried so much about years ago!

A close-up of baby birds in a nest, surrounded by feathers and bedding material.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum – new couple? two eggs? three? hard to see. I did not see any fish brought on to the nest for the female. I hope I just missed the delivery. Looks like intruders about, too.

Two Ospreys resting in their nest made of twigs and branches, with a green landscape and pathways visible in the background.
Two osprey birds in their nest made of sticks and twigs, with green fields in the background.

Remember. Names for NewGuy2 posted tomorrow!

Thank you for being with us. I expect many more osprey babies to enter the world over the next couple of days. It is marvellous. I don’t believe I have ever worried about fish coming on a nest, save for the year that Aran was injured. What a contrast to the concerns in the NE US. Send wishes to all those nests, please – if the eggs hatch we need fish!

I have just learned that California has passed a law that would protect endangered species. I will find out more and report in a day or two. If this is true, it is wonderful – a real change from what is happening in Florida.

Take care. Stay cool. Remember to drink lots of water! Stay hydrated. See you soon.

Thank you to all of today’s contributors, whether it be videos, FB announcements, newsletters, or invites. We are grateful for all the camera owners who allow us to watch the lives of the birds, and we would be very grateful to know what has happened to Scout.