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
I hope she doesn't 'accept' him. She can do much better for herself!
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EJ is back - no fish
EJ is back.
Birdie Num Num's brilliant DU summary 2017
I've seen 22 May being suggested as the last opportunity for egg laying. Oh, EJ is back, without a chirrup :(
I am sure animals live much more in the present than we do, but I can't help but think she is holding out for Odin. It was interesting to me how she chose those small twigs to be placed in the nest cup. (Kind of like our old traditional "X marks the spot" at the end of the season?)
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Oh 'eck, I've made a silly mistake in my comment, saying the Weds fish was 0705 instead of 1905. Oh well :-/
And without a fish, SHEILA, I was really hoping she might have gone fishing when she was away for more than a couple of minutes :-(
:(
Hello back from my visit to the centre. Was there from about 1 till 2. Really you just want to wrap all the team into a huge big soft hug. I wanted to cry as Jen courageously told the packed visitor centre the upto date situation at the nest how she managed no idea I had to turn my back to look out the window.
Whilst there EJ sat incubating nothing until she flew to the camera tree for two or three minutes before returning to her nest. OC then flew in as EJ called and clumsily tried to mate. He had previously been absent for over an hour after leaving to chase an intruder (as he sees them). Forgetting he is one himself. After his failed mating attempt EJ food solicited and OC flew high circling and out over the top of the centre.
as Jen says in her blog it is a very sombre atmosphere but that has not stopped them meeting each visitor and explaining the situation and heartbreakingly have to tell them why there are two eggs lying at the front on the nest.
I hope to go back in a couple of weeks where hopefully a better situation will greet me. Ps no female intruders yesterday just male and really OC - EJ does give intruder calls as he approaches and obviously neither are sure of each other.
Apologies for having nothing positive to report.
Not sure in Scotland we would want late eggs. September is really when the need to be gone as fish go low in the water. October fledging and leaving is precarious but not totally unfeasible.
Thanks Lmac. Was this morning's smashed egg discussed at all only it's not mentioned in the blog?
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