Toby and I have had a lovely walk today and are preparing to meet our friend, Connie, and her dog, Izzy, for a longer “sniffing meet” tonight at 1800. The weather is not so bad. Yes, I need a light wool coat and a toque, but the sun is shining, and the sky is blue, and we are feeling joyful!
Dylan and Seren (Blue 5F) lost their three chicks this year at the main Llyn Clywedog nest in Wales. Seren appeared to have been frightened and bolted, leaving the chicks uncovered during a cool night. All died from hypothermia. Dylan and Seren recovered, and today, Seren was photographed on her favourite post in The Gambia. She has arrived safely.
There are now only two surviving eyases on the 367 Collins Street ledge. The eldest died of either Trichomoniasis or HPAI, falling off the ledge during the early hours of the morning. I hope that the carcass was found and taken for testing so that the results can be known. The other two chicks appear to be fine. Let us hope it stays that way! These are excellent parents.
Congratulations for SE38 who fledged and returned to the nest several times before being seen on camera on the ground.
Jack and Jill were together at the Achieva nest today.
The Woodland Trust published their video summary of the 2026 Loch Arkaig ospreys. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/jKM7mRL0iaQ?
Thank you so much for being with us today for this quick report. Please take care. We will be back with you at the weekend.
Thank you to everyone who posted images and information on FB, to RT at Raptor Persecution UK for constantly seeking the truth, to Jeff Kear and the group at UK Osprey Info FB, and to everyone else – we are grateful for all the news you share. To the owners of the streaming cams, we owe you a great debt as without your service we would not be able to watch these incredible lives.
Isabella Tree is one of my heroines. I would love to see this – her book. Rewilding reveals the trials and major hurdles Knepp Farm had to overcome to even begin rewilding the land and how it has proven instrumental in saving their farm and creating a home for species like White Storks that had abandoned the region.
If you are in the area
Ah. Very appropriate as we await the hatch in Melbourne and Orange, Cornell Bird Lab has an article on Peregrine Falcons!
JACKIE: Her Remarkable Life from Beginning to End ~ 2012 Feb 1 ~ 2026 Aug 10 Jackie was so many things to so many people. Creating a tribute to her life can only attempt to speak to the effect she had on our lives. Here then are glimpses of Jackie’s life, from beginning to end. I hope it brings comfort, joy, and wonder to all who are kind enough to watch. Video: https://youtu.be/egq0cQDHVi4 Additional gratitude to knarley123 for 2016-2021 footage Finale music “I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman, performed by Keali’i Reichel
Shadow Waits at Nest for Kaydee ~ Tug-o-Stick, Bumping & Beaking Ensue (2026 Sep 25) Shadow arrived at the nest tree and perched for over an hour before Kaydee joined him. It wasn’t till her arrival that Shadow moved to the nest and shuffled a few sticks. In the two minutes that Shadow remained in the nest, he and Kaydee beaked, bumped, and jostled over a stick. It’s still early days and we are hopeless at reading their minds. So we’re grateful to observe, learn, and trust the eagles. Video: https://youtu.be/EtJP9XBJVqY
Shadow & Kaydee Unfazed by Massive Thunderstorm… Mostly (2026 Sep 24) Big Bear never fails to bring dramatic weather. Today’s big thunderstorm was no exception. Shadow and Kaydee perched separately throughout the onslaught ~ Shadow on the Cactus Snag, Kaydee on Twin Pines and then the nest tree. Kaydee decided to try out a few different nest tree perches; as she was trying to regain her balance from one of the high perches, a HUGE clap of thunder erupted. She lost her footing and flew off. No eagles were harmed! Video: https://youtu.be/4AIX1M9dwGI
Shadow Stays Close to HomeAfter Dawn Nest Visit with Kaydee (2026 Sep 23) Shadow and Kaydee sang in the dawn before making a quick stop at the nest and then the Lookout Snag. Kaydee went her way and Shadow went his. Lucky for us, Shadow chose a direction that allowed us to watch his late morning visit back to the nest and then to his now typical perch potato time on Twin Pines. Grateful for this quiet time with him. Video: https://youtu.be/yeQ2E1Uuwr4
F24 Humours SoggyM24 Who’s Determined to Stay on Eggs (2026 Sep 26) Like every male raptor I’ve ever watched, M24 loves incubating his eggs. Is it the warmth? The break from hunting? The paternal instinct? He won’t say. But it’s always a joy to watch him stubbornly stay firm atop their precious cargo. F24 is incredibly patient, letting him come to the realization that, yes, he is going to have to move. Just 4 days till pip watch! Video: https://youtu.be/3Hfr7jAx7v0
SE38’s Funny Antics ~ 1st to Lady’s Beak at Mealtime ~ SE37 Stays Calm (2026 Sep 23) SE38 is like a different sea eaglet from even a week ago. At 40 days old, SE38 it’s wonderful to see the character that he/she’s become and often first to Lady’s beak at mealtime. Similarly, SE37 (41 days old) has become calmer and confident in food security, which Lady and Dad have expertly provided. It’s a joy to see them both thriving. Video: https://youtu.be/7KK-W9bo6uQ
A Mystical OrnithologyDirected by Jeremy Seifert and Benjamin James Roberts, featuring J. Drew Lanham
In this short film, J. Drew Lanham exchanges calls with the birds that stopover at his home in rural South Carolina during their seasonal migrations. For Drew, these creatures are gods, transcendent beings who summon a response of reverence. Reverberating with sound, music, light, and ethereal cinematic expression, A Mystical Ornithology weaves a kinetic texture for the senses and evokes the paradox of love and grief within the changing nature of the seasons.
To watch the film, go to emergencemagazine.org
Lady and Dad on high alert at the Olympic Forest WBSE nest in Sydney in the early morning hours.
The first of the returnees to Tairoa Head meant that the bells were ringing last week!
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care! See you in a couple of days!
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Ventana Wildlife, Cornell Bird Lab and everyone who posts info on FB, writes newsletters, and to the owners of the streaing cams, we are always grateful.
It is very late on Friday night. Toby and I have been at the hospital for most of the late afternoon and very early evening. What a delight it was to talk to Don’s ‘neighbour’, Heidi. Heidi is a walking history book – born in Lubek, Germany in 1942. She told me how, when the wall went up, her mother stuffed food and treats in her pocket because she knew Heidi and her friends were crossing a little ditch into ‘the East’. I told her how I spent time woodfiring pottery in Mecklenberg. The region of Mecklenberg is also home to many, many lakes with ospreys!!!!!!!!!!! We learned something from one another. As for Don, he has been given a drug that appears to have had a dramatic negative impact on his independence. I am hoping that miracles do happen.
Toby just lives his best life at the hospital. He loves everyone and now stops and chats – after three weeks, long-time patients recognise him. A sweet girl starts waving a wand when we come through the locked door to Don’s ward. Toby always loves chatting with her and getting some pets. One of my greatest joys is seeing him bring happiness to others – and I am so thankful that we had him trained to be a therapy dog so he can be shared with them in hospital or in care homes. He is an incredibly ‘good’ dog – he only barks with other dogs. Is it some kind of canine symphony? or when he sees ‘a cat’ out in the garden and it is not one of his sisters. He does not jump or scratch or lick without getting some kind of signal from the person (that signal I have to work out – it is like a silent yes going through some sound wave I cannot here).
Still best friends. This is every morning…if it didn’t happen, I would worry. It is their way of getting to eat breakfast together as long as their waitress brings their plates!
But, enough…is Iris still here?
The latest Iris ever stayed in Missoula was September 11th. She is still there, as far as I can tell! Remember all the comments about Iris looking tired and a bit dishevelled? I am pleased that she is staying later and eating a lot of fish to build up her system so that her migration and return are successful.
A compilation all about Iris:
Charlie is still at Charlo, too!
Missing Idris and Telyn along with their cute kiddos? Dyfi have put together videos like no one else!
Geemeff’s last summary:
Final daily summary for Loch Arkaig Season Ten: Friday 18th September
A few little birds thought about paying a visit then changed their minds – neither nest looks very appealing in the prevailing wet grey conditions. Our Osprey family are well on their way to their wintering grounds after a very successful season. Dorcha returned early on 4th April and both Garry and Aurora returned on the 7th, stopping in first at Nest Two before going to their own home at Nest One. But then we waited, and waited, and Louis didn’t arrive. It was getting tense and people were starting to write him off and then like magic, he turned up on the 17th looking fit and well and ready to start the new season right away. While Garry and Aurora got off to a slow start eventually producing just the one egg which didn’t hatch, Louis and Dorcha produced three eggs and hatched three chicks. Sadly the third chick faded away after only five days, but the other two grew big and strong and fighting fit. Perhaps a bit too much fighting, despite a steady supply of 481 fish from Louis and 5 from Dorcha, however both females went on to fledge and migrate and their feisty natures should stand them in good stead for their future prospects when seeking nests and mates of their own. The season ended on 4th September when Louis paid a final visit to the nest, and we wish them all fair winds and plenty of fish, and look forward to seeing the adults back next spring for Season Eleven.
WTS George will post this season’s highlights video here in due course, and then the comments will close until that glorious day next March when they reopen and we all return for Season Eleven. Meantime, you can join fellow followers of the Arkaig Ospreys on Facebook or over at Adam’s site, and chat about all things Osprey over winter:https://www.facebook.com/groups/829595230542720https://walkingwithdaddy.com/osprey/
Many thanks to Woodland Trust for installing the nest cams and providing us with such a thrilling look at the wild world of the Ospreys while protecting our precious ancient woodland for the generations to come. Thanks also to the People’s Postcode Lottery for sponsoring the nest cams, and to everyone who participates and makes this forum such a friendly and informative space. Farewell until Spring 2027!
Season Ten 2026:
April 4 Dorcha arrives N2 12.21.56
7 Garry LV0 arrives N2 08.56.13
7 Aurora 536 arrives N2 13.38.44
12 Western Arkaig male JJ4 arrives N2 18.50.08
17 Louis returns! N2 17.57.42
18 Louis & Dorcha are reunited 06.37.28
26 First egg for Dorcha & Louis 06.56.29
29 Second egg for Dorcha & Louis 05.34.12
30 First egg for Aurora and first on Nest One in six years 19.18.37
May 2 Third egg for Dorcha & Louis 03.12.24
June 1 First chick hatches! 12.40.39
3 Second chick hatches! 06.21.54
6 Third chick hatches 00.49.09
11 Sad death of little Chick3 10.00+
12 Dorcha disposes of the body in the forest 08.09.00
Heidi would like us all to turn our attention to Mum and Dad at the Port Lincoln osprey barge:
I am saddened by what happened at the nest of Hope and George at the Osprey Environmental Centre, and I hope fish fairies fly in to help Mum, Dad, and the kiddos. I am certain we can all help buy fish from our cookie jar stashes!!!!!!!!
It is the first time I can recall so much attention being placed on the importance of Menhaden. It is wonderful, but is it too late? Anyone reading my blog knows that I abhor any company of any nationality, including my own Canadian ones, wrecking the environment and an entire ecosystem! I really hope gillnet fishing will stop – everywhere.
Sea Eaglets are growing and getting beautiful feathering. SE37 still dominants the meals and sometimes SE38 has to wait but Lady is doing the best she can!
Toby and I can attest that raptors’ eating habits are anything but organised. We have witnessed them plucking on our Japanese arch, on top of the fence, with feathers and fur flying in every direction when the wind blows. Lately, we have sadly been finding grey squirrel heads near the park where we like to walk.
The Reds seem to escape the tyranny.
Lots of sparrows at the feeders.
The island was moved today and I just left the mess so tomorrow is going to be a day of ‘surface cleaning’ til Melissa gets here on Monday. I hope to have a short report for you with the ‘good news’. If not, it will arrive Sunday evening.
In the meantime, get outside. Enjoy the crisp autumn air. Go for a walk if you can. If not, breathe in what feels like really clean air. I love the smell of fallen leaves as you walk over them. They often remind me of my university days, heading off to the football stadium in Norman. It is interesting how scents/odors can transport us to another time and another place.
Thank you so much to Geemeff for that final summary on Loch Arkaig for the Woodland Trust, to those who posted images and information on FB, to the individuals fighting for Menhaden and saving the ospreys, to The Guardian for its environmental and wildlife reporting, and to the owners of the streaming cams – we are grateful.
We’ll all have empty nest syndrome soon. Most of the ospreys have flown to their winter homes and left us to watch the peregrine falcons, the WBSE, and the Bald Eagles! I don’t know about you but watching Mum at Port Lincoln incubate eggs isn’t all that exciting but I do love seeing Dad bring her a fish in the morning.
2026 osprey breeding performance was the worst ever recorded for the Chesapeake Bay is published:
More and more organizations and people are supporting the reduction of the amount or the entire stopping of industrial fishing of Menhaden.
I am so pleased.
The takeaway from the report: “The 2026 breeding season was the worst productivity year ever recorded for osprey in the Chesapeake Bay. Average productivity in waters above 5 parts per thousand (ppt) salinity (N = 769) was 0.25 young/pair. On a global scale, the annual breeding performance required to maintain a stable population ranges from 0.8 to 1.3 young/pair. Only pairs nesting within tidal fresh waters (N = 168 nests producing 1.04 young/pair) exceeded the breeding performance threshold required for population maintenance. Eighty-one percent of all pairs nesting in waters above 5 ppt failed to fledge any young. Of pairs that did produce young, 70% were single-chick broods. The 2026 results extend the ongoing trend of productivity decline throughout saltier regions of the Bay.”
Unless something is done, ospreys will go extinct in the region.
A few of the nests that still have ospreys:
C22 and Charlie are still at Charlo with Charlie delivering fish. Mostly at Roger’s Place.
I really haven’t reported on the nest of Bruce and Naha at Seaside much this season. Bruce is still there bringing fish to one of the fledglings.
Wensi has not been seen since 6 September at the Hellgate Canyon nest or owl Pole. Iris still appears to be in the area.
Photo of fledgling Elsi starting her migration from the Dyfi osprey nest. Thanks so much! She is gorgeous.
Aran may still be at Glaslyn today. He was there yesterday. It was raining, not a good day to fly!
Dad was still at Boulder County Fairgrounds.
In Australia, SE38 is still doing well! Look at that crop. SK Hideaways has the feeding on video. It was an eel! https://youtu.be/qMUP6PbcjOg?
We woke up to a rainy, cold 8°C day. We needed to turn on the heating last evening. Toby certainly doesn’t mind going out to do all that ‘business ‘, but I found bundling up to go for a walk a little daunting after such hot weather only a few days ago.
We spent part of our afternoon at the hospital. Don moves so fast in the wheelchair that they are considering putting a seatbelt on him so he doesn’t hit something and fall out. The team at the hospital (his doctor, nurse, physiotherapist and social worker) are starting to formulate a plan for Donald. They are good and quite considerate of everything, including safety, which is paramount. For us, he now requires two strong people to lift him. If that continues, he would not be able to come home and would have to go into long-term care. If, however, he were to need only one person to lift him, they would provide me with a care worker for a 12-hour period, including getting Don to bed and getting him up in the morning, giving medications and giving him a nightly shower. I can sleep and not worry about him! We would also get one of those fancy hospital beds with a warning system that lowers and rises and goes up and down every which way. A nurse would come weekly to check on his bladder issues. This would be ideal. I am prepared for either scenario.
Thank you so much for being with us. Take care. I will be back in a couple of days.
Thank you to SK Hideaways, everyone who posted information and images on FB, and the owners of the streaming cams that let us watch our bird families. I am, as are my readers, forever grateful.
Toby and I have not been home long. We visited with Don’s psychiatrist (what a great doctor) and stopped to give Ann some raincoats for her two dogs, Lucy and Daisy, and Toby’s old stroller. It is too tiny for our big boy – he is long from head to tail and long in the legs and clocks in at 30 lbs. Then we went to the hospital. Ann said that Don had eaten all of his lunch, but Toby and I decided to stop and get him an egg-mayo sandwich and a container of fresh pineapple chunks. Don sucked them up like he was a Dyson vacuum! The nurse was a little put out with me saying he wouldn’t eat his supper, but he only ate 25% of his supper last night. Their lunches are good, but the evening meal is not so much.
Poor Toby needs to go to the groomer.
On the way out, two ladies in wheelchairs spotted Toby in his new stroller. They lit up and wanted to see him. I opened the top so they could pet him – needless to say animals and nature are good therapy.
I don’t like the algorithms that track what I write or search for on the Internet. Or my phone, which tracks everything that I do for someone else (who would care what I do?), but I found a story about what some good tech is doing by a young NZ woman who writes a blog *shit you should care about*. Maybe we can get robots to clear all the plastic from the ocean and find a way to cool it at the same time. German engineers are working!
Autonomous robots are cleaning the seafloor
Luce writes: If we’re gonna be hell-bent on building robots, let them help our oceans! German researchers at the Technical University of Munich built Smart Grapple, a diving robot that uses onboard sensors and cameras to tell trash from marine life on its own, then grips and lifts junk, car seats, tyres, fishing nets, up to 250kg, without a human diver risking their life for it.
I love it.
Dear Aran, formerly Mrs G’s partner then Elen’s at Glaslyn, has a new partner and they raised one chick this year at a private platform of Friends of Osprey in Wales. Kathryn Keir has kept everyone informed, and Aran is still here. Appears Mum and chick have now both departed for their migration. Next year there will be a camera as Aran is sooooo loved and everyone was distraught when Teifi displaced him. But, it worked out! Aran never got along with Z2 Aeron at the Pont Cresor nest which is very close to Glaslyn.
Another place that the lack of Menhaden had a devastating impact:
The trawler fishing must stop! Otherwise, there will be no ospreys in this region. None. Worse than the DDT crisis of the 1970s. That was fixed. Seems no one has the backbone to do the right thing and stop the fishing completely.
News from Tweed Valley:
Our thoughts continue to be with the people living in line of these hurricanes – and, of course, the wildlife.
Iris is still home at Hellgate Canyon! Maybe Clark and Iris will get a chance to fatten up since it appears Wensi has set off for southern locations.
It appears that the latest Iris departed on 11 September 2014. Let’s see what she does this year.
SK Hideaways caught Shadow and Kaydee and the early morning ravens at Big Bear. Don’t you feel like things are getting serious? https://youtu.be/TzJPFak8rnM?
SE38 continues to do well. There were lots of big crops yesterday. 38 is starting off right today.
And the Royal Cam Chick, Awheo has fledged!
Thank you so much for being with us. I hope to have time tomorrow to catch up with the comments! Take care, everyone – and if you have not signed up for the Glaslyn fundraiser being organised by Mary Cheatle, please check it out! (And, yes, I am on the list! – fingers crossed). You can contact Mary via FB Messenger if you want to take part.
Thank you to everyone who posted on FB today with information and messages – I didn’t have the time to check all of the nests. Thank you to those who own the streaming cams that make it possible to watch our bird families, and to SK Hideaways; as always, thank you for your videos.
I hope each of us has found time to relax and enjoy the weekend. These past weeks I have made some ‘resolutions’. The last time that Don was in the hospital at the end of December, I wore myself out going every day because the nurse said that I was the only ‘thing’ that calmed him down. He was quite mobile at the time and would walk up and down the hall with his little bag wanting to come home. It broke my heart so I was there twice a day. This time, things are different. And this is something I want to explore. He is not mobile. So what happened? I learned that wearing yourself out is not helpful either to you or the person you are caring for. Remember to always following the airline directions: put on your oxygen mask first! So, this episode, I have tried to make certain that there is someone to visit and help every other day – I am there on the other days. His visit went well with his friend today and everyone is taking fruit and Ginger Ale – hydration and soething familiar. He drank so much liquids at home and was never dehydrated so this is to help combat that at the hospital!
Toby needed a new stroller. He grew out of the little one. I really do hope he is finished growing. He turned 17 months old yesterday. I think we can even go to the market!
Hope has discovered it is a ‘safe’ place. Hugo Yugo (darn that orange cat) woke everyone up, attacking her around 0300. Toby took great exception to what was going on and probably woke all the neighbours up with his barking. (Toby rarely barks, but when he hears a cat howling in pain or someone is at the door – or always he will bark at the door when we are leaving for a walk).
There are so many tributes to Jackie – some are good, and some aren’t. I am really looking forward to SK Hideaways video highlighting Jackie’s life. I am encouraging a tribute to the Channel Islands eagles, especially Chase & Cholyn. These eagles often get overlooked and we have to remember they have been together for more than two decades!
SK Hideaways Videos, Week of August 30, 2026 367 Collins Street Falcons ~ Melbourne ~ F24 & M24 Courtesy Victorian Peregrine Project South Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oibsohQ14cY North Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNKk0ivuWe4 Mum Gives Camera “The Look” as She Lays 4th Egg PLUS Dad’s 1st Peek ~ 2026 Aug 30 Mum welcomed egg #4 with occasional glances at the camera. We apologized for the intrusion, but extended heartfelt congratulations. Dad arrived in the pre-dawn hour to give mum a break. This should complete their clutch and begin the countdown to hatch, which is typically 30-35 days. Video: https://youtu.be/3lP6i-JjETw
Shadow & Kaydee’s Evening Nest Meet-Up & Tug-o-Stick Before Roost Time ~ 2026 Sep 3 Shadow and Kaydee met up for some stick shuffling, a little bumping and beaking, plus tug-o-stick shenanigans. They once again retired to the Roost Tree for the night. Video: https://youtu.be/QYcg4SWqlBM
Kaydee Returns to Nest for 2nd Night, Shadow Follows ~ Flirty Antics Ensue ~ 2026 Sep 1 Kaydee returned to the nest for the second night in row, but unlike last night, tonight she had company. Shadow joined Kaydee on the nest, where they shuffled sticks, bumped beaks, and chortled. Kaydee was more flirty than Shadow, but he wasn’t too resistant to her attention. We cannot know what will happen when nesting season begins toward the end of the year, but watching Shadow and Kaydee during this transitional time in both their lives is a gift and fascinating. Video: https://youtu.be/zrLbwsGKqDs
Kaydee Shuffles Nest SticksMeets Shadow on Roost Tree ~ 2026 Aug31 Kaydee spent some time exploring the nest tree canopy and bowl before meeting up with Shadow on the Roost Tree. They shared a perch briefly, before Kaydee retired to a lower perch overnight.
Sydney WB Sea Eagles ~ Australia ~ Lady, Dad, SE37 (hatched 13 August), and SE38 (hatched 14 August) Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park (https://www.sea-eaglecam.org/video.html) Nest cam also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw4pdgy3-U0 SE38’s MASSIVE Crop3 Days in a Row PLUS A Dual Feeding by Lady & Dad ~2026 Sep 4-6 Over the course of 3 days and an increase in food brought to the nest, SE37 grew less aggressive and SE38 grew more confident. There was a marked difference in SE38’s appearance and behavior in this time, not to mention a bulging crop. Cautiously optimistic SE38 has turned the corner. Video: https://youtu.be/j4u9wW6l8og
Lady’s Persistence Gets SE38 a BIG Meal ~ Finally ~ 2026 Aug 31 It has been a rough few days for sea eaglet SE38. At 17 days old, the subordinate eaglet has struggled to get food due to sibling SE37’s dominance. But on this evening, SE37 was very full and mum Lady was very persistent. The result was that SE38 got a very good feeding and went to bed with a full crop. Here’s to more days like this one. Video: https://youtu.be/gjJ01khy2fA
Two Harbors Eagles ~ Catalina Island, CA ~ Cholyn & Chase (28 years old; mated pair for 23 years) Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Two Harbors Eagles Cam Ops Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI Cholyn & Chase Chortle& Chillby the Seaside ~ 2026 Sep 3 While Cholyn and Chase have been on summer vacation, we’ve missed seeing them regularly, so today’s sightings were a special treat. In the morning Chase met up with Cholyn on her seaside perch. Later cam ops found her on the cactus perch. Every sighting a gift. Video: https://youtu.be/pIqjY1b2vDk
I am so pleased that there are videos of the Australian raptor families. SE 38 has had huge crops for the last three days! No worries there.
The last of the chicks at Glaslyn migrated. Teifi got to eat a fish – finally – in peace and quiet.
Beau and Gabby are really finishing off their nest, and it is only the beginning of September! I wonder when the first egg will be laid. Will it be November or earlier, with this being a year of high heat on the planet? Bald Eagle Live Nest Cams has them working hard on video: https://youtu.be/2FM-2ZToL3E?
Idris is still delivering fish at Dyfi. The girls are now 101 days old – the first time that two fledglings have remained at the nest past 100 days before migrating.
At Poole Harbour, Blue 6T8 had really kept her dad, Blue 022 busy with fish. She was last seen early this morning and then poof – gone?
Alan Stewart’s book on a killing of a man walking his dog:
I’m going to say good bye. It is nearly 1700 and we are expecting rain and storms this evening. Toby and I have recycling duty to get finished.
Take care everyone. Have a good start to the week. See you soon.
Thank you to SK Hideaways for those great videos, to the owners of the streaming cams we are always grateful as you allow us to get upset stomachs, buy too many tissues, and jump for joy at the events in the lives of our bird families. Thank you to Raptor Persecution UK for their meticulous reporting on raptor persecution in the UK. I just wrote to Alan Stewart and ordered his book, Prelude to Murder. While it involves a murder of a human, the individual in prison is possibly responsible for the poisoning of raptors on that estate in Scotland.
You can tell the ‘air’ is different. The beautiful emerald colour at the top of the trees is quickly fading into gold, red, and copper. Summer is ending, and fall is here despite the fact that the temperature is 24 C.
Thank you again for all your amazing letters and your support. I can tell you that I really need all that positive energy. Each of you has asked for an update, so this is a snapshot of the past two days. Don was moved into a private room with a window. The doctors felt that he was not progressing because of the overstimulation of the brain in the emergency room. I fed him his lunch yesterday – he was ravenous. Today Jaine and Carter (daughter and oldest grandson) went at lunch to feed him and give him some homemade cookies. His appetite is good. Unfortunately, after they left, he fell. (He was not in his bed but in a wheelchair in the hall – a nice change from staring at the walls. I was told I could not get him a telly because it clamps to the rails on the bed and he could injure himself). Then he got agitated and was up again. This time it took five people to get him back, and they had to sedate him. All the nurse kept saying when she called was ‘he is big and strong’. He has a security guard with him now! I keep wondering what else in the world is going to happen? Something is certainly wrong, and as far as I can tell, it is one of the percolating infections he is trying to fight.
There are so many things, but if you have loved ones who are dehydrated, it can appear they have memory issues when they don’t. Infections cause sudden changes in behaviour and great agitation, sometimes violence. Please remember these two things because not everything is as it seems.
Bird World is pretty quiet.
The Royal Cam chick is 222 days old today. In about two weeks, Awoheh will be at the average for flight. The albatrosses return to Tairora Head when they are approximately five or six years old after foraging off the coast of Chile.
Blue 33 was still at Rutland but everyone else appears to be gone.
Beautiful fish for Wensi at Hellgate Canyon.
Idris is delivering some big ones to the Dyfi nest in Wales!
Teifi remains busy at Glaslyn.
Blue 8P7 is screaming for fish and Louis does not disappoint at Loch Arkaig.
No activity at Blackbush that I could see.
Fish still coming into the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum nest for the two juveniles that have not left.
No prey for 37 and 38 at the Olympic Park WBSE nest so far today. Adults have arrived twice empty taloned.
Incubation continues at 367 Collins Street. Four beautiful peregrine falcon eggs!
Gorgeous Mum at Port Lincoln Osprey barge hoping for a breakfast fish from Dad soon!
More osprey nest news from South Australia:
Maria Marika gives us news of the black storks.
Lin Lawson brings us news from Charlo, Montana.
Remember to get your purple out to honour Jackie on the 4th! That is this Friday.
Thank you for being with us today. I hope to be back with you tomorrow but it could be Friday or Saturday depending on what is happening at the hospital. In the meantime, please take care of yourself. See you soon!
Thank you to all the owners of the streaming cams who let us watch these amazing birds, and to those who posted information and images on FB. I am terribly grateful.
It is windy, and you would think, by looking at the low dark clouds, that we were going to have a storm. It rained solidly last night – the proof I have is that there were puddles everywhere. Toby and I went to bed early and slept through it all, from 9-9. Yes, I was exhausted. On our walk this afternoon, we saw the first golden copper leaves scattered about the boulevard. Fall is really here and it is just the end of August. Temperatures remain in the mid-twenties despite the ‘autumn feel’.
I did not go to the hospital today. Last Christmas, I went every day and wore myself out. I said I would go every other day, making sure someone is there on my days off. Today, Ann was there to feed Don his lunch, and his oldest friend, Andrew, went up at 3. Despite eating his lunch, something is a ‘bit off’. He talked with his eyes closed and knew his friend, but he also went in and out of a very deep sleep. I know that in late stage Lewy Body Dementia, the person sleeps much of the time. Again, it is a day at a time. Thank you for your kind notes and all your good wishes.
Geemeff has arrived at their adventure destination safely. I hope they have a fantastic adventure!
SK Hideaways has sent their complete video listing, but I am adding one- SE38 finally gets a big meal. Lady persisted. Thank goodness. Everyone is worried, and many have stopped watching the nest because they fear 38 won’t make it. So here is this video by SK Hideaways: https://youtu.be/gjJ01khy2fA?
SK Hideaways Videos, Week of 23 August 2026
367 Collins Street Falcons ~ Melbourne ~ F24, M24 (maybe) Courtesy Victorian Peregrine Project South Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oibsohQ14cY North Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNKk0ivuWe4 Mum Lays Egg #3 in a Hurry ~ Dad Works Out the Incubation Fit ~ 2026 Aug 28 Congrats to mum and dad on egg #3. The delivery seemed almost effortless for mum. But dad puzzled a bit to get himself on top of all 3 eggs. He got there in the end and has plenty of time to practice. Video: https://youtu.be/INETWMjvFjo Mum Delivers Egg #2 ~ The Pushes & Proof 367 Collins St. Falcons 🪽 Melbourne, Australia ~ 2026 Aug 25Mum laid egg 2 in just a few minutes in the evening, bringing this one in what seems quick succession to the first. Dad will be excited come morning. Video: https://youtu.be/kRjyyXG3krA
Welcome Egg #1 ~ A Tidied Nest with Mom and Dad 367 Collins St. Falcons 🪽 Melbourne, Australia ~ 2026 Aug 25 As 367 Collins Street begins the 2026 season, we see mom and dad with egg #1, which apparently was laid yesterday (24 August). Let the gutter stomping countdown begin! Video: https://youtu.be/1m7TM399Xc0
FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Shadow, Jackie (dec. 9 August 2026), Sandy, and Luna (last seen on camera 23 July 2023) Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4 Live Recap & Observations: https://bit.ly/4wGjwVg Shadow & Kaydee’s Rock-Star Quality Morning Duets ~ Introduced by Fiona ~ 2026 Aug 26 Shadow and Kaydee woke the valley in the wee hours of the morning with stunning duets before heading out from the roost tree for the day. They made a quick stop on the Lookout Snag along the way. Video: https://youtu.be/YULMHzwlwJk Shadow’s Stunning Close-Ups on NestAfter Brief Meetup with Kaydee ~ 2026 Aug 25 Shadow and Kaydee gave us a great fly-by as they headed to the Lookout Snag for a brief chortle-snortle. They then spent the rest of the afternoon doing their own thing. Shadow gifted us with a long visit to the nest. FOBBVCAM double-gifted us with some stunning close-ups of gorgeous Shadow. Beyond grateful. Video: https://youtu.be/doOEAyr4Jzo
Shadow OK with Stick Shuffling on Nest ~ Not Ready for Kaydee’s Beaky Kisses ~ 2026 Aug 23 Shadow and Kaydee met on the nest before dusk. Kaydee practiced branch management while Shadow mostly watched. He joined her for awhile, but when she extended beaky kisses, Shadow was not receptive. His hormones are not in a bonding phase, so his withdrawal from Kaydee is not surprising. I’m trying to leave it there (ignoring every human impulse to describe it otherwise). At evening’s end, Shadow and Kaydee once again roosted together in the Roost Tree. Video: https://youtu.be/6BVc4os6MOU
Sydney WB Sea Eagles ~ Australia ~ Lady, Dad, SE37 (hatched 13 August), and SE38 (hatched 14 August) Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park (https://www.sea-eaglecam.org/video.html) Nest cam also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw4pdgy3-U0 Sydney WB Sea Eagles SE38 Struggles to Find Courage to Eat ~ Lady’s Encouragement Helps ~ 2026 Aug 26With SE37 firmly established as the alpha sea eaglet, SE38 has become fearful of any beaks coming their way, including a parent offering food. This video is a fascinating display of the behaviors resulting from the hierarchy of these eaglets. I am pleased to report that due to Lady’s persistence and gentle encouragement, SE38 ultimately got a good meal during this feeding. We watch and learn ~ always. Video: https://youtu.be/ugAnJczXunw
Wensi says her parents are still home so where are the fish?????
Blue 33 and Maya still home at Rutland.
C22 was at Roger’s Place but no sign of Charlie.
Juvenile still at Dyfi. When will Idris get to fish for himself?
Teifi is still delivering at Glaslyn! Beautiful fish. Elen was also seen today.
Juveniles still fish calling at Lyn Brenig.
And Louis is still fishing at Loch Arkaig!
Blue 6T9 got the prize at Poole Harbour…fish still being delivered.
The garden is just bursting with birds wanting seed and water!
Hugo Yugo watching the crows.
Beautiful Hope.
The three baby Crows this year.
Thanks so much for being with us today! Please take care. I won’t promise to send out a blog on Tuesday as I intend to spend most of my time at the hospital but definitely Wednesday.
Thank you, SK Hideaways, for the great video list! Thank you to Wings of Whimsy, everyone who posted on FB, and the owners of the streaming cams where I peeked at our juvenile ospreys and eagles. We are so very grateful to all of you.
The sea eaglets are doing well after the scare with the fish hook at the Olympic Park WBSE nest in Sydney.
We are waiting for Gimbir and Diamond.
Beautiful Diamond.
Opreys are trying to fatten up in the Northern Hemisphere to make their migration to their winter homes. Storks are on the move as well as all the other raptors and songbirds.
Shadow and Kaydee are becoming more familiar. It’s stick-moving time, captured by SK Hideaways. https://youtu.be/6BVc4os6MOU?
That is just a morning glimpse of what is happening in Bird World. SW Florida should be seeing its first egg and hatch by Christmas! Wonder what will happen at Big Bear? And when will Gabby arrive? And then we have the Channel Islands!
Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to all the owners of the streaming cams and to SK Hideaways for their videos. Check out the others by SK Hideaways – there are some beautiful chortels between Shadow and Kaydee.
We hope that the beginning of the week has been good to each and every one of you. The weather has certainly cooled off on the Canadian prairies, and it’s wonderful! We seem to have a bit of a spring in our step – at least in the morning before we get too tired!!!!!!!
Ann took Don to Fort Whyte today, and they walked the Buffalo Trail and saw pelicans and Cormorants. Don said, ‘It was a good day!’ That is wonderful. Toby and I are still doing the Swedish death cleaning. We had things from the attic that needed sorting, and we got that done today while Don and Ann were gone. It felt good. Tomorrow is my ‘running around’ day, but for now we are going to enjoy a fresh peach crisp with ice cream and a quick dinner of salad and chicken. Oh, I love these easy end-of-summer meals.
We are all concerned about the environment and the changes that we are seeing. I am profoundly concerned about the impact on wildlife, especially the raptors. Roy Dennis’ the founder of the Roy Dennis Foundation and the individual who reintroduced ospreys to Scotland amongst other places has written an blog that should be of interest to us all.
Past news from Geemeff about the goings on at Loch Arkaig:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 17th August 2026
Garry LV0 is still here, he visited Nest One today, bringing a stick and staying for a minute before flying off, perching on Pole Tree then flying eastward out of sight. A few small feathered visitors investigated the nest but there was no sign of Aurora 536, last seen on the 14th, and Garry didn’t bring any fish so his tally remains at two hundred and one. The Nest Two cam is still out until probably Wednesday, therefore using Steve Quinn’s formula, the adjusted fish total for Nest Two is now four hundred and thirty four. Thanks to LizB and her spotting scope, we know a chick was seen at 15.10 eating on the nest, with attendant Hoodie on the cam post. A chick was also seen at other times in the morning, whether both sisters or the same one, can’t be determined. There was heavy rain in the afternoon and evening and at the time of filing this report (22.30) it’s still raining. Heavy rain is forecast throughout the night with a low of 13°C, changing to light rain showers, a gentle breeze and occasional sunny spells with a high of 16°C tomorrow.
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 16th August 2026 Nest Two cam is still down, Nest One cam is up for two thirds of the day but no one came to the nest today, and no one was observed in the area. Have Garry LV0 and Aurora 536 left? Garry was last seen on nest cam at
17.28.25 on Thursday 13th, and Aurora at 08.55.46 on Friday 14th, however, an Osprey was observed near the nest yesterday 15th, and recorded via long lens from across the loch by LizB, but too far away to identify. She also recorded one of the chicks chasing a Hoodie today, both clips are in the today’s videos section, and observed a fascinating sequence where a chick and a Kestrel chased a White-tailed Eagle! Hyvor no longer allows active links to comments, so scroll to LizB N2 17.08, and you’ll be able to read about the whole episode. Steve Quinn posted his weekly analysis of the fishing stats for Louis, currently being estimated daily until the cam is back on line, and still showing clear differences between years with males and years with females – search for Nest 2 fish summary to week 17 to read the full post. After overnight rain, the weather was mainly settled today and forecast to be cloudy and dry overnight with a low of 12°C, changing to heavy rain with a high of 19°C tomorrow
If you missed it, Jackie made The Guardian. Thanks, ‘B’.
Just announced by Tim Mackrill, here are this season’s Osprey chick ringing details. There are 24 chicks across 12 nests, comprising 14 males and 10 females. All have now fledged successfully.
Ringing date: 19/06/2026
Nest: Site C
Female parent: 25(10)
Male parent: 11(10)
8R4 (F)
Ringing date: 23/06/2026
Nest: Manton Bay
Female parent: Maya
Male parent: 33(11)
8R5 (M)
8R6 (F)
8R7 (M)
Ringing date:25/06/2026
Nest: Site K
Female parent: 00(09)
Male parent: 06(09)
8R8 (F)
Ringing date: 26/06/2026
Nest: Site B
Female parent: HJ8
Male parent: 359(21)
8R9 (F)
9R0 (F)
Ringing date: 29/06/2026
Nest: Site N
Female parent: Metal-ringed
Male parent: 6K(14)
9R1 (M)
9R2 (M)
9R3 (F)
Ringing date: 30/06/2026
Nest: Site L
Female parent: Unringed
Male parent: 3AH(17)
9R4 (M)
Ringing date: 30/06/2026
Nest: Site J
Female parent: 2AF(16)
Male parent: 1K(13)
9R5 (M)
9R6 (M)
Ringing date: 03/07/2026
Nest: Site Z
Female parent: 5H1(22)
Male parent: 3AY(19)
9R7 (M)
9R8 (M)
9R9 (F)
Ringing date: 05/07/2026
Nest: Site O
Female parent: Unringed
Male parent: 093(20)
9S0 (M)
9S1 (F)
9S2 (M)
Ringing date: 06/07/2026
Nest: Site Y
Female parent: Unringed
Male parent: 355(21)
9S3 (F)
9S4 (F)
Ringing date: 06/07/2026
Nest: Site S
Female parent: 30(05)
Male parent: T3(16)
3R9 (M)
Ringing date: 17/07/2026
Nest: Site W
Female parent: 3H9(23)
Male parent: 1H7(22)
9S5 (M)
9S6 (M)
I am happy to report that locals have been to the Osoyoos Osprey Platform and say the chick is big, healthy, and getting fish. Bravo!
Blue NC0 is still with Clyde at Alyth SS.
How to be an osprey? Some tips from Rutland!!!!!!!! Smile.
Looks like an adult at the Coeur d’ Alene nest in Idaho.
Like Clark, Gimbir has turned out to be a great provider!
We can see the rescue of the two condors in the release cages! Oh, my. You have to love the dedication of the folks from the Ventana Wildlife Society. https://youtu.be/WSb3GKTESh0?
Thank you for being with us today. It is a breezy evening, and it is about 22 C. Gorgeous. We are heading out for our next-to-last walk of the day. Take care of yourself. Take a breath. Send best wishes to all those fledgling ospreys struggling to find fish in the NE US.
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Geemeff, Roy Dennis, Rutland Water, and to all those who contributed on FB, including Jeff Kear and the UK Osprey Info FB Group. Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams and the news groups that are covering the life of our raptors.
