(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
"Birds are, quite simply, little miracles - and as such they require care and consideration."
Magnus Ullman
My Flickr account is here
This OC has misread the job ad. EJ is not looking for a housekeeper thanks very much, she would like a chief cook and occasional babysitter. Other ospreys need not apply.
Chocoholix shiny new 2018 Interactive Osprey & Chick Chart! (with clickable links!)
Was it OC who dropped the fish on the nest ?
Yes Brenda, and he brought her one last night but she didn't get up and take it.
Birdie Num Num's brilliant DU summary 2017
OC the young pretender
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
Another attempted mating
I thought so Moffer, Thank you. I must be getting tired, I forgot about last night's fish. So he obviously knows where to go for the fish.
Now that's EJ's normal fish begging. He's back again. Go get fish you idiot.
First landing.Fly around second landing.
He's flown. Lets hope he brings a fish.
GERROFF!
No fish, no frisk. Them's the rules. Get used to it OC, and pull your talons out!