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
EJ continues to stand on one leg and preen.
Birdie Num Num's brilliant DU summary 2017
EJ is more relaxed with OC now, and no longer incubating eggshells, thank goodness. Perhaps things can move on now, if he gets the message "Get me FISH!!!"
She walks in to the nest cup and then checks out the broken eggs on the rim.
EJ moves a couple of small sticks, adjusts her bedding and settles in the cup again :(
EJ waits.
I can hear rain. I really wish for a big fish for EJ.
I have to go for a while. BBL.
The rain hasn't taken hold, thank goodness.
She's looking phenomenal now :-*
New blog
Link http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/lochgartenospreys/b/lochgartenospreys/archive/2015/05/09/new-male-kicks-out-eggs.aspx
Hello! I've been here off and on, but the reading and video/pics watching has taken an age, and had almost reduced me to tears. Why do we get so involved, and put ourselves thru it?
To see EJ remove the shell, and yet still have the urge to incubate an empty cup is heartbreaking. OC is going to have to do a lot to endear himself to me, at the moment, if indeed he sticks around.
I noticed a comment by Shelagh7Y (welcome Shelagh) when she said she was watching EJ yesterday evening (whether live at the Centre or on here I'm not sure) and she felt that EJ was coming under attack, rather than 'mere' intrusion, which in her opinion suggested a female. I am not sure whether we have commented on a female landing on the nest, so perhaps there is one in the 'wings'.
EJ has been 'incubating' with a spot of quiet preening. How long will it be before she goes fishing, I wonder.
Excellent coverage once more by everyone, particularly dear Scylla and Moffer, for which I thank you both. It can't have been easy.
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Thank you Karen, I'm off to read it.