(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
Hi Dougie. A very warm welcome :)
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
True CHOCO. There was an osprey sky dancing when OC was on the nest and nest defence by both EJ and OC at the same time.
Unknown said: I wonder if we are down to just one intruder now.
I wonder if we are down to just one intruder now.
"Birds are, quite simply, little miracles - and as such they require care and consideration."
Magnus Ullman
My Flickr account is here
Hey Dougie, I think a lot of us would quite like to catapult a nice fresh trout in the direction of the nest for EJ right now!
But I don't think human intervention is warranted - it really needs to be an extreme situation for that - this is a battle between ospreys for a nest. It's just part of the natural order of things, and should be allowed to take its own course, hard as it is for us to watch...
Chocoholix shiny new 2018 Interactive Osprey & Chick Chart! (with clickable links!)
Well, I've just read another whole load of pages and still the drama goes on with super captures. Poor EJ must be ravenous by now and it is a worry as to what has happened to Odin. From all your accounts it looks like this particular male is very inexperienced in what he has to do.
Thanks for all updates etc.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Hiya. I fully understand your words but it still sticks in my throat that's humans we have caused all this, it may be many years ago but it is still the fault of man. Look at the Strathallan mess, just feels that we have not learned our lesson as a race and are still intent on persecution regardless. Sorry, my heart is working and not my brain :-(
Dougie please also feel free to contribute with your lotl knowledge to that thread also. Poor Badgie has been pretty mu h deserted over there
Off to LG tomorrow with a heavy heart.
This happens in nature everywhere everyday but we have chosen to watch it in all its ups and sadly it's downs.
I choose now to read rather than watch.
In case anyone is wondering about human intervention then I do not see what would be possible?
Tiger Signature
The worst thing about this whole situation is that if it had happened early in the season (before eggs), it would be possible to come to terms with another male deposing Odin, so long as there was a successful season. The main aim is the procreation of the Ospreys.
As for Odin making a triumphant return. I'd love to see that happen but its with a very heavy heart that I have my doubts. The chances of him coming back are getting less by the hour. Sorry to be so negative.