Ospreys - Loch Garten (1 Viewer)

[Trossachs]

Loch Garten blog recently updated with details of 3rd egg.

 

[Trossachs]

At last fish delivered so Orange on duty - although he tends to fiddle about a bit - obviously finds incubating a bit boring!

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi,

I got on the site, first click today and "Madam" stood up as if to show me the egg, proud as punch she is the evil lady, I love her to bits (daft old bat I am, check her when I get up and when I get back home). I will even accept Orange now that he is looking after her better but pray somebody somewhere sees Henry soon and he has found another home for himself with a new love, that would be wonderful.

Ann :egghead::flowers:
The Osprey Godmother

P.S. Welcome Osprey Watcher, you will have already discovered we are hooked on this site, enjoy.

 

[Tiger_mz]

Have we seen the last of Henry or will he still surprise us and return?

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Folks,

E J has just left the nest to stretch her wings and left the eggs which can be clearly seen, 6.50 am.

Ann :egghead:
The Osprey Godmother

 

[Tiger_mz]

Hi Folks,

E J has just left the nest to stretch her wings and left the eggs which can be clearly seen, 6.50 am.

Ann :egghead:
The Osprey Godmother

Oh Ann are you not getting concerned for Henry?

 

[Trossachs]

Nice big fish just delivered and EJ has gone off with it - not having ever seen Henry have to say Orange seems to be doing a fine job this time.

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Folks,

Seeing is believing, I have just seen a red squirrel standing right in front of EJ on the nest before it ran to the right across the nest. E J didn't look at all concerned at her visitor, maybe glad of the company.

Ann :egghead:
The Osprey Godmother

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Folks,

About 5 minutes ago Orange arrived on the nest minus fish, after begging for food for some time while he preened ignoring her, E J has gone off to catch her own and Orange is incubating. I think "sitting down on the job" is more to his liking than fishing, I hope things improve when the eggs hatch. Could clearly see all 3 eggs and the last one is still red in colour.

Ann :egghead:
The Osprey Godmother

 

[Osprey Fan]

Don't worry - I saw VS bringing in a fish at about 8.30am this morning. EJ snatched it from him very quickly and was away from the nest for about 40 mins. VS was his usual restless self! When she came back, she looked as though she was pushing him off and he got the message and left quickly, not like yesterday (see below).

He didn't do badly yesterday either. As well as the fish just before midday, he brought one in just before 7.30pm. When she came back after eating it, he stayed sitting on the eggs for ages (maybe 25 mins) with her chirruping in his ear to get him to move off. I was waiting to see how long he would stay, but ended up having to go out, leaving the kids keeping an eye on him.

So maybe there were other fish during the day that we didn't see, but she certainly seems hungry - the speed she snatches them from him!

 

[Trossachs]

After Anne's message EJ saw her come back with a big clump of moss - not sure if she had enough time to catch a fish then too. Wonder if the moss-collecting means she is thinking about laying another egg given prolific output last year - weren't there 4 that Henry kicked out?

 

[Tiger_mz]

After Anne's message EJ saw her come back with a big clump of moss - not sure if she had enough time to catch a fish then too. Wonder if the moss-collecting means she is thinking about laying another egg given prolific output last year - weren't there 4 that Henry kicked out?

Well last year EJ laid two which Henry kicked out. Then EJ laid two eggs in two hours and Henry got rid of those too.

 

[Tiger_mz]

Has the worst happened and Henry is no more??

 

[The Valley Walker]

Is there a 4th Egg ??

I was watching rearly this morning and the bird stood up for a minute...am I seeing things or is there a 4th egg on under the left foot?

 

[Trossachs]

I can only see 3. Orange has just delivered a fish and they have switched over so should get another look soon.

 

[The Valley Walker]

Fish Lunch

Ye, they just swapped - I can only see 3 now too...

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Trossachs,

It is good to hear Orange has delivered a fish today. I was watching a while ago and saw him visit the nest and leave again. I thought EJ was peeping very gently for her when hungry she is a lot louder and she was obviously not moving from the nest. I am wondering if another egg is due soon as I too thought I saw 4 earlier today but she has been moving around a lot since as if she is uncomfortable and she was late last night.

Ann :egghead:
The Osprey Godmother

 

[Trossachs]

Forgot to mention Aberfoyle in my posting above - does anyone know if the ospreys have returned there? ........ Do let us know what you find out if you visit.

Yes - they are back OK and 1st egg was Wednesday. But RSPB staffing not there yet to do web work. Hopefully somebody will arrive soon though, so keep checking.
Ospreys of course are offsite there, so you can't see actual nest or birds at the visitor centre. But excellent widescreen video link to the nest already up and running, and also screening 2007 highlights with 3 chicks.

Yes Anne, I though there was a bit of egg-laying behaviour from EJ as before - but guess it would be happening by about now though if you're to get that 4th egg! Off to watch the nest now - bit of noise as Orange has just landed.

 

[Tiger_mz]

Here is the history of Orange VS

1994: As part of their scientific research both adult and 'sub adult' ospreys were trapped at the fish farm in Aviemore - some 13 km from our nest. In August of that year, an unringed male osprey was caught there and the orange ring VS was applied. He was aged as a 2-year-old bird.

1995: Orange VS was trapped again and a small radio transmitter was attached to one of his tail feathers - this transmitter was designed to fall off after approximately 12 months - after the tail feather moulted. As a result of radio tracking, a new osprey nest was discovered that year in the Aviemore area and Orange VS successfully raised one young.

1996: Orange VS returned to his 1995 nest. His mate laid four eggs, but the nest was robbed by egg thieves.

1997: Orange VS moved and took over an old established nest in the Aviemore area and successfully helped raise two young.

1998: He returned to his 1997 nest, but the nest was again robbed by egg thieves.

1999: He helped to successfully raise three young.

2000: Although eggs were laid, pine martens robbed the nest of eggs.

2001: He attracted a new female - EJ - but yet again pine martens robbed the nest of eggs.

2002: He, and EJ, successfully raised one young.

2003: He mated with EJ, but she was forced off the nest by a green ringed (unidentified) female - EJ arrives on our nest in June.

2004: After being forced off our nest by Henry, he returned to his old nest, mated with Green 7B (Ollie's grand-daughter), but all the young died as Orange VS could not deliver sufficient fish, due to severe rain in June and July

 

[Trossachs]

That's interesting thanks - he's not had much luck either - can see why he likes keeping an eye on the eggs. So he's been involved with EJ 1 way or another since 2001 it seems?