Yesterday afternoon (according to those on the scene - it was among a lot of detail that we missed due to severe cam problems), the orange-chested male intruder "OC" dropped a fish onto the nest, and after a starving EJ took it away to eat it the carnage began.
In brief!
Anyone looking?
The orange-eyed destroyer. (I have to say, unfairly I know, that he has none of the "gorgeousness" of Odin the Magnificent.)
EJ returned with the tail-end of the fish, which she continued to eat despite the scene that greeted her:
EJ cleared the ground and proceeded to incubate the one egg that appears to be left intact:
The threat to the surviving egg is great:
OC won't have it easy, he may not even prevail in the longer term - the other intruders are still on the case:
To cap it all after a long and harrowing day, it seemed that EJ was disturbed, probably by the pine marten, just before midnight:
IMAGICAT
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Ah no no no this is just awful. Took the dog out and thankfully missed it. Did watch your video Scylla. Heartbreaking poor EJ. I know this is all natural behaviour but why does it have to happen at our nest.
He seems to be nestcupping now!!
Birdies LG DU update.
Well I have been ignoring my friends for too long already this morning (am on weekend away in Cotswolds) so have to tear myself away from the cam now and rejoin the party!
Thanks to all of you posting updates and videos as the saga continues to unfold today.
Perhaps EJ will just go fishing for herself now...
The Monster Among Us!
This is totally left field, and with no evidence whatsoever (don't know how to find the relevant threads on the forum), but looking at OC clearly on the cam, he does remind me in some ways of Alba. I seem to remember she had very dark and distinctive head markings, and was certainly large, confident and very aggressive. Has Blue XD had any unringed progeny, do we know?
Standing in the cup, wonder where EJ has gone?Another kick, just to be sure.
Birdie Num Num's brilliant DU summary 2017
Oh I say, she's brought a thin twig and put it in the nestcup.
EDIT - just checked, in case it was something she picked up on the nest, but she definitely brought it with her. What's that all about?
She brought this thin, squiggly twig and placed it in the nest:
Then shifted a thin straight one:
Then she shifted some of the nest material kicked out by OC, and settled down in the nestcup.
She is still bonded to her nursery :-*
My stream is really stuttering today.
EJ returns briefly and appears to eat some kicked egg shell.
Back again with OC in hot pursuit.She doesn't hang around.