So the team at Loch Garten has been left with a Mairi Cowan-shaped hole in our lives, and it appears that we also now have an EJ-shaped hole. As we are trying to come to terms with life without the lovely Mairi, it seems EJ has decided there is no point hanging around now she has gone too.
EJ has been bringing fish to the nest each morning recently (apart from the one day last week when we thought she’d gone!) but did not do so this morning. In fact we haven’t seen her at all since around 8.30 yesterday morning. She left on this day last year (19th) and despite there being a southerly breeze for much of the day yesterday, there is a good chance she has set off on her long journey south. Of course, we’ll keep you updated if she reappears!
Both juvenile birds were together on the nest when we arrived at the Centre this morning, making an absolute racket, in a hearty attempt to drag one of their parents back to the nest with food, perhaps unaware that one of them may well be hundreds of miles away by now. All this squawking and screeching was in vain and they soon decided that their energies would be better spent flying, perhaps attempting to fish for themselves.
Odin made a brief appearance at lunchtime today. He sat with a fish on a dead tree not far from the nest, giving us and the visitors some nice views in the sunshine. However, as there were no takers for the fishy treat, he didn’t hang around for long.
So we have had confirmed sightings of three of the family today. Each time we see them we wonder if it will be the last...