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
No mention of the smashed egg and EJ's disposal of the piece of shell and whatever else.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
EJ is incubating the phantom egg, and Radio Chaffinch is serenading her.
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
EJ has flown.
EJ flown
I wonder how much we will see of her once she realises she has no eggs to incubate. It really will be a case of ENS. I guess she will be near-by to see off any intruders, but there will be no reason to stay on the nest. She will be much more comfortable on a perch.
SheilaFE said:the phantom egg
Imagicat || Tiger's links || 2022 LG Obs
Hhmmm how do I know whether the cam has stuck with no EJ around! Oh, I know, insects crossing the screen and Radio Chaffinch in the background.
If EJ decides to accept the young male, she may stay near the nest for another time of bonding. He will have to do more than he has already to win over her acceptance, though. I tend to think it is late in the season to be mating, another ~10 days until laying and then another ~38 days to hatching. Puts us into July.
Has she gone fishing at last? 15.37 and been gone for six minutes.
I expect you're right Sheila, I don't expect she'll hang about too much on the nest.
I wonder if she has taken herself off fishing ..... I hope so.