At the start of last month we were asking "Where are all the ospreys?" There were fears that many would not return.
Well things changed in early April and there was a rush of ospreys arriving.
On 2nd April there was great joy when EJ arrived, a bit late but looking magnificent. Then very unusually early on 6th April Odin arrived in the dark something I do not think we have seen before. Then they were off for another breeding season which initially went smoothly except for a pine marten having dug a hole in the nest.
However late in the month the coupled have been plagued by intruders who have made life difficult for them. The last time that EJ suffered a really bad intrusion was 2004 when she was fiercely attacked each morning. This came to an end with an egg being broken. Fortunately history has not repeated itself yet.
The new female at Loch of the Lowes produced a few surprises and quite a few people were convinced that she was Lady. However with time it became clear that she was most likely to be the female who occupied the nest for a week in 2013.
At Dyfi Blue 24 put in an appearance on April 7. To the great delight of his fans Monty arrived later in the day. Monty was not so keen to entertain Blue 24 this year and when Glesni arrived early on April 9 Blue 24 was seen off quickly.
Glaslyn has been rather sad this year. It is now clear that the legendary 11 (98) is not coming back. The Glaslyn female has had a succession males (including her son Blue 80) but none of them have stayed long. Remarkably she has laid three eggs but it has all been rather strange.
At Kielder the news has been excellent. Three successful nests so far and one (nest 2) is a four egg nest. The two tracked Kielder birds continue to do well.
On 6th April there was the most amazing news from Manton Bay, Rutland. Both Maya and Blue 33 returned. Maya was nearly three weeks late compared to 2014 and many people were very worried for her.
Then later in the month there was news from site B Rutland that the grandson of 3 (97) had attempted to evict grandpa. Well grandpa managed to hold on to his nest but the first clutch of eggs were broken. Remarkably a second clutch has now been laid. A very rare occurrence.
The tracked birds Blue XD, Green J and Beatrice all made it home safely.
The Bassenthwaite chick White 14 has started his migration north. Still no sign that Breagha will do the same but surely he must be on his way soon.
So a greatly transformed situation with lots to look forward to in the coming months.
Tiger Signature
What became of the report that an osprey was sighted with a tracker? No further reports.
So it is now Monday and I can cast aside arguments as to whether the week begins on a Sunday or a Monday.
This week should be the week where there is a hatching at both Loch of The Lowes and Manton Bay Rutland.
I have written a guide to osprey egg hatching. See Osprey Egg Hatching
and I have prepared a sheet of predictions for hatching of the first egg at various nests
Hazel b said: So it is now Monday and I can cast aside arguments as to whether the week begins on a Sunday or a Monday. This week should be the week where there is a hatching at both Loch of The Lowes and Manton Bay Rutland. I have written a guide to osprey egg hatching. See Osprey Egg Hatching and I have prepared a sheet of predictions for hatching of the first egg at various nests
In another place I got what I thought was an odd response to my suggestion that chilling caused the delay of the hatching at Calgary in 2014.This was the response
I am not sure why you infer that, in Calgary, the first two eggs were delayed by chilling. Yes, there may have been 10 inches of snow on the ground, but aren't the eggs under the parents? or is it just the changeovers that are enough to chill the eggs? just wondering
Then I presented the pictures. See Calgary Ospreys 2014
Tiger: You say that there was doubt that the first 2 Calgary eggs would hatch. Was the doubt raised because they were seen to be at risk of chilling or because, like Manton Bay in 2010, they had missed their 'due dates'?
Hilary J
HilaryJ said: Tiger: You say that there was doubt that the first 2 Calgary eggs would hatch. Was the doubt raised because they were seen to be at risk of chilling or because, like Manton Bay in 2010, they had missed their 'due dates'?
Well when eggs are buried in inches of snow they are likely to be at risk of chilling.
This is the interesting case of a bird that flies 40 miles (80 in total) to catch a fish. See friends of Blackwater
The most amazing news from Urdaibai that the first translocated osprey is back. This is something that has not happened to me before. The definite establishment of a new translocation project.
It really is great news Tiger :)
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
Wonderful news
Firstly may I share Tiger's exhilaration in hearing that possibly two translocated birds have returned to Urdaibai.
It is always good news to hear of returning birds and even better to know they have survived the translocation and two years to return to where they have intened them to return.
However I am disappointed in the organisation that can not control the disturbance of ospreys in its own country but make commercial gain from another.
Saying that I also feel that certain areas in England maybe could have benefited from the translocation in preference to Spain but as I am not sure of the full facts it may have been the proposed re-location sites that objected. An area in Dorset springs to mind.
We know there is another 3/4 years of translocation to Urdaibai and let us hope it will flurrish in a similar manner to Rutland - it certainly has got a better start although only 8 birds were translocated that year (2006) and I understand four never fledged because of Salmonella in the pens.
Well despite me not being too happy with the SNH at present I do wish this project success and it only needs a second year 03(97) to make things big or a 07(97) who started the ball rolling in Wales.
It appears Ospreys are striving in Scotland maybe too much so that they are fighting all over for nesting areas. Since returning from Wales I have spent several days around the R Tummel where the ospreys are doing really well.