Hi bloggers! Just a quick blog to keep you all updated!

Since Fergus wrote a few days back to let you know we suspect EJ has started her migration to wintering grounds early this season, we still haven't caught a glimpse of our favourite feathered friend! She was last seen on Friday 14 of July, so she'll have herself a nice long winter sunning it up in warmer climes, leaving us tentatively waiting for her return. So, for the last two weeks we have mainly been seeing intruding male ospreys. We've seen males sky dancing over the nest, sometimes with fish in their talons! An/some unringed male(s) have also been landing on the nest, mainly in the early hours, and have been bringing in some rather large twigs, spending time trying to embed them into the already impressive eyrie. 

The last two days have been particularly interesting however as CT6 has returned to the nest. CT6, a female with a blue leg ring, first showed up towards the end of May. At first she caused a little bit of confusion, as she is rather slender for a female and her chest plumage isn't as dark as some other females, such as the heavy brown we are used to with EJ. Therefore, she was originally thought by some to be a male...Chris even tried to name her after himself with them sharing the same initials! After receiving a confirmation email from the person who ringed her, we now know that she in fact is a she and was ringed as a chick in 2014 in Aberdeenshire. The email did state however that she was thought to be female at the time of ringing because of her weight, but they weren't quite sure even back then. Quite an enigma, our CT6. 

CT6 at the nest by Chris Tilbury.

Back when she first showed up towards the end of May, her behaviour also suggested she was female, with her aggressively dive bombing EJ on the nest. On and off for the next few weeks, EJ managed to hold on to her nest and keep CT6 from sinking her eager talons into the Loch Garten eyrie. Within that time however, CT6 was still regularly seen with an unringed male at  the nest in the early hours of the morning, acting as if the nest was her own. I personally suspect that maybe her and her fellow clocked onto the fact that EJ favours the early morning fishing slot down at Aviemore, and were having fun playing house in her absence!

Love's young dream? by Chris Tilbury.

On Friday 14 July, EJ was seen sitting side by side an unringed male on one of her favourite perch trees, with a fish in her talons. The peace was soon shattered however with the arrival of CT6 to the nest. EJ was quick to the nest to see her off, dropping the tail end of her fish on the nest whilst doing so. CT6 briefly returned to the nest that evening and up until two days ago, that was the last we saw of her. 

So, for the last two days we have been seeing CT6 back at the nest. Wednesday she landed on the eyrie, looking skywards at a male skydancing high above her, a headless fish in his talons! We suspect she has partnered with this unringed male and in  the early hours of this morning she was seen on the nest with him. Yesterday evening he brought a fish in for her which she readily accepted. The male has also been bringing in twigs to the nest and has thus been temporarily christened 'twiggy' by our bloggers who keep a close eye of this entertaining nest site. 

The unringed male, 'twiggy' by Chris Tilbury.

So, it will be interesting to see if this pair continues to play house at our nest for the rest of the season, as it may very well indicate that they'll be back at the beginning of next season with thoughts of raising their own young.

Of course EJ is an amazing osprey. Without Odin at her side she has successfully held this nest all by herself for the past nine weeks. We have every faith that EJ will return as early as ever next season ready to raise yet another brood of young with hopefully a hunky new man!

Speak soon,

Alice!