(I am having enormous difficulty posting.)
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Foremost in our thoughts and hearts today is the status of Odin, who has been missing since before 08:00 on Tuesday morning. He was last seen taking off from the nest in pursuit of one of two male intruders, either OC (Orange Chest) or BTO (Odin lookalike, for the BTO ring on his left leg).
This is our last look at him, seconds before he flew:
(I need some help with the IDs of the 3 intruders, please correct me and I'll edit accordingly.)
All the while that we desperately worry about unseen Odin, his partner EJ is suffering before our eyes - and yesterday TWO intruders became THREE! We now have OC, BTO or OL (for Odin Lookalike), and Darvic (for the blue Darvic ring on his left leg - let's hope that the Centre can read it).
EJ has not eaten since the large, headless fish provided by Odin early on Tuesday, which she ate in instalments thru the day.
Yesterday evening OC and Darvic both intruded on EJ, sometimes overlapping with each other, and OC landed briefly on EJ's back (thank you, BIRDIE).
We hope and pray that Odin is nursing himself back to fitness and will be back today to tell these intruders where to go (Hell, for instance). But even if he returns in full health, what a difficult time is in store for him.
Besides the personal investment we have in our Gorgeous, Magnificent Odin, the implications for the nest and its osprey family don't bear thinking about - and we are only too conscious of the effect all this is having on the personnel at the Loch Garten Visitor Centre... not forgetting the prosperity of the 2015 season?
Finally - if only we could fathom why, suddenly this season, these male ospreys - three of them, no less - have chosen to invade Loch Garten!
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Please forgive the possibly de trop frames, I find it so therapeutic to concentrate on and agonise over doing them ;-)
IMAGICAT
These attacks happen so fast! I'm not clear if there was one intruder or two!
The first intruder to the right on the nest rim who I suspect would be OC by his behaviour (defensive). EJ stood up and eventually wing flapped him off. And then we see one hovering towards her from the left.
I may be wrong but it seems to me that OC is being defensive and not touching EJ whereas the other intruder is attempting to and earlier he had a talon on EJ's wing as per Moffer's capture.
Was second intruder blue darvic, silver bto, or could oc being stopping Odin from returning
I've noticed a lot that OC is being chased by OL/BTO. He is the more aggressive bird and he chased OC off twice yesterday. Now I can be believe that HE would have been a big threat to Odin. OC wants to be a lover, not a fighter, but saying that he stood his ground against Blue Darvic (which I am going to refer to as BD until we hear differently) What a dilemma :(
Birdie Num Num's brilliant DU summary 2017
Unknown said: Was second intruder blue darvic, silver bto, or could oc being stopping Odin from returning
Lmac - the second was only a blur. I couldn't make out any rings or if indeed it was OC approaching from the left.
Agree Moffer and just realised that OL and BTO are the same bird ie OL/BTO. LOL - Glad I have got that sorted out :-) Yes, BD is good for blue darvic.
Now does anyone know anything about the osprey "LI" mentioned earlier. Established he has been evicted from his nest - could he be one of the intruders?
LI is loch Insh. He just has a bto ring. That was purely me questioning whether he might be looking for a new home, the only person to answer that would be Roy. When I was last at LI there were were bothersome intruders. However the caveat I put on this are that there are probably numerous birds with just a bto ring so purely conjecture Karen On my part
I haven't posted before but have been following EJ & Odin this season. I have not followed osprey before and am captivated and humbled by these magnificent birds. What is the reference to Tesco - is it naïve of me to think raw fish can be put in EJ's vicinity?
Can't wait for Birdie to get home.