It is May and the osprey season is in full swing.
EJ and Odin have settled into their old routine and now we can expect a hatching around 14th May. The weather has been changeable and they have had to cope with snow.
Likewise Loch of the Lowes is expecting a hatching in May. Good news too that FR3 from last year is doing well in Africa.
There have been strange goings on at Dyfi where Monty has got two females and two nests. However he now seems to be ignoring the second nest and Blue 24 is discovering what it is like to be a single mum. Not very happy.
At Glaslyn Aran returned on April 12 and quickly settled down to his old routine. Mrs G is now sitting on two eggs, the first laid egg being discarded.
There have been a lot of happenings at Kielder including the pair on nest 1 moving to a new nest. The female on nest 2 did not return but 37 has found a new partner. All going well at nest 3 too except there has been a lot of snow.
The news at Manton Bay Rutland was good in that Maya and Blue 33 arrived back and got down to nesting. and they should lead the way with a hatching around 11th May.
The sad news is that neither 3 (97) or his partner have come back so a great partnership comes to an end.
All the stats to be found at Nest Stat Index.
Since this month is hatching month it is well to explain the maths of hatching
First eggs usually hatch on 37 days
2nd eggs usually hatch on 36 days
3rd Eggs usually hatch on 35 days
EJ is unusual in that her first egg usually hatched on 36 days
ChloeB has countup clocks to keep track of the age of the eggs There are alternative clocks for those people who have not got Flash
I have also got a spreadsheet of dates of first hatch
Tiger Signature
Mary it is amazing! Thank you. I have skipped through but it requires and deserves a full and proper viewing. Great footage.
Birdies LG DU update.
Mike I think it is one of the best programmes featuring Ospreys I have seen, I have it recorded as well so can watch again on the big screen anytime I want LOL....
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023
Mary I watched it and as you say, it was the best osprey coverage I have ever seen. The filming was superb and the male fishing was absolutely spectacular. Looking forward to next week - a must see.
I absolutely loved it Karen, when it ended I felt like watching it all over again LOL.... Can't wait for next week.
But even coverage of the other wildlife MARY was superb - the dolphins swallowing the salmon! and the red squirrels .. I could go on and on. It was just amazing.
I didn't mention it mainly because of not knowing what to expect and past disappointments ie 30(05) not being on Springwatch and then just a glimpse of the Threave ospreys on Countryfile. But this was fantastic and anyone who didn't see it ,... do watch it on the IPlayer, it really is a must see.
Oh but ospreys do not teach their young to fish or all the other things attributed to them.
People often ask about why the ospreys do not stay "safe" in Spain. I prepared a map the other day that gives a bit of a clue
See the size of Spain compared to Africa?
'Oh but ospreys do not teach their young to fish or all the other things attributed to them.'
Do we really know that male ospreys don't teach their young to fish, Tiger? Most of osprey life is still unknown, to my mind. They're very good at staying out of the limelight. They certainly don't take their young to fish farms. Too much competition, I suspect.
The reason I question is that I remember Bynack managing (for once) to get the incoming fish before his sister and taking his time over handing it back after eating a fair share of it. Odin came past the nest calling. Bynack dropped the remaining fish and set off in hot pursuit. Later he came back wet to the nest. His backpack showed that he'd spent some time at a tributary of the Spey.
I can't prove anything. It would never stand up in court. But I have an open mind.
deveronside said:Do we really know that male ospreys don't teach their young to fish, Tiger? Most of osprey life is still unknown, to my mind. They're very good at staying out of the limelight. They certainly don't take their young to fish farms. Too much competition, I suspect.
So when did you last see a chick at Loch Garten catch a fish?
Hazel b said:So when did you last see a chick at Loch Garten catch a fish?
Well, as you would expect, Tiger, never. But that could be due to one or more things. Firstly, we only see what's on the screen.Young tend to leave the nest to eat fish (delivered by their parents) when they're at an age when they might be able to try to fish for themselves so wouldn't, presumably, take a fish that they'd caught back to the nest to eat it.
Also, learning to fish isn't the same as being successful at fishing. I know this for a fact having been taught how to fish but never (yet!) having caught a fish.
As I say, I have an open mind. I did say that I thought they wouldn't go to fish farms but I have since remembered that I visited the Aviemore Ospreys lochan a couple of years ago and Gordon's brother told me that young ospreys visit the lochan with their parents. Whether they're brought there or follow their parents I don't know, but I have no reason to disbelieve him. Larger fish farms might be more intimidating, I suspect.