I also wonder about Mr Rutland next year as he was almost evicted by 2 younger males 51(11) The nest failed this year as a result although the female did lay second clutch of eggs but they later abandoned then.The first clutch was destroyed by intruder.Hope for better luck for them next year.I just wonder if the intruder knew that Mr Rutland is getting on a bit and a bit of an easy target?
Heres a couple of pics that Keith might enjoy! This was an outing we had with my Dad in Devon at the weekend.
Off to bed now. Good night all :)
GARDENBIRDER - JUNE - WILLOW - Reference the posting regarding Dai Dot.
Emyr reported a successful 11 fledgings from his monitered nests so assume that with two in Glaslyn that there was three in the other three monitered nests including that of Dai Dot.
I visited the nest of Dai Dot on the reservoir in Mid Wales last year. I believe it was constructed there to attaract ospreys but had been vacant for a number of years. Dai Dot preferred the nest at Dyfi if he could obtain it. I do believe he would have visited the nest in Mid Wales previous and probably knew about it so when he paired off last season and not being able to utilise the nest at Dyfi he settled for this nest.
Roy quotes that he has built many eyries that remained vacant for years but visited. I was involved at Lochter from the start and the nest that was built there remained vacant a few years with visits - then re-located a few hundred meters to a more suitable location and it became a used eyrie.
58 WILLOW - I think I may recognise your railway.
I am going for what I used to call THE DART VALLEY RAILWAY from Buckfastleigh to Totness (May now be extended).
We used to go to Devon for our family holidays in the sixties and roam around Dartmoor including several rides and visits to this railway.
The new Borders Rail runs its first timetabled train Monday. For six weeks from Thursday they are running the steam train Union of South Africa and have booked an excursion later in September.
It will be busy this week as The Queen is visiting the railway Wednesday - (She is at Balmoral for September).
YES - All gone at Dyfi - Maybe monty waited until his girlfriend Blue 24 had left him.
Interesting next year again if she gets home first. Emyr wrote a very interesting blog on her if some have not yet read.
BLUE 24 at DYFI
Regarding Vacant Nests - Yes there are plenty of vacant nests around and many more are being constructed each year as the intrusions and number of unattached ospreys increases.
One recent addition that is vacant is Nest 2 at Strathallan - a tender point.
However as Gardenbirder pointed out a premium post coded nest complete with partner is much more desireable.
Up to Spey valley GC for my annual September match on Wednesday so will probably see my last ospreys in UK for this year. Still around on the River Spey which meanders through the GC and a particular hole favourite with ospreys more probably because the river stalls here and the fish gather rater than the stroke index of the hole. The Cairngorms in the backdrop makes for a great walk 1 to 18.
Many thanks, Keith. Very interesting about Dai Dot, Lochter and Roy's other nests. Fingers crossed that more nest sites are used next year. I especially hope that the Ospreys who visited at Abberton in Essex over last and this summer decide to nest there on the newly constructed platform next season. We visit friends over there once or twice a year so we would have a prayer of seeing Ospreys there in person. Lucky you, to have so many nests in visiting distance!
Kind regards, Ann
"re-located a few hundred meters to a more suitable location " In what way was the new location "more suitable"? Or is this simply one of the mysteries of nature?