Osprey at Hilton Head right now
Thanks STARLING Some really lovely pictures
Starling, Thanks for the link to the Tweed Valley blog. Has interesting Osprey news and a few lovely Osprey photos and a short discussion by the photographer of his camera, settings and procedures.
Kind regards, Ann
Some very sad developments at the Hellgate nest in Montana over the last few days. Fishing has been difficult because of water and weather conditions, and the nest came under siege this weekend by very aggressive osprey intruders. At one point, Louis even did a back flip off the edge of the nest to get an intruder talons up. But unable to get fish, all 3 chicks have now died (a 4th died last week). So sad to see this heartbreaking scenario happen at another nest, too. Some unanswered questions: whether Louis has been injured, and whether he caught fish but was robbed by intruders before reaching the nest. Tiger, do you have any more information?
Yes Pandy, I went to bed last night with a heavy heart hoping for better news this morning, sadly there is none. Such a run of bad luck at Hellgate last few years.
© Scottish Wildlife Trust - Loch of the Lowes
Pandy said: Some very sad developments at the Hellgate nest in Montana over the last few days. Fishing has been difficult because of water and weather conditions, and the nest came under siege this weekend by very aggressive osprey intruders. At one point, Louis even did a back flip off the edge of the nest to get an intruder talons up. But unable to get fish, all 3 chicks have now died (a 4th died last week). So sad to see this heartbreaking scenario happen at another nest, too. Some unanswered questions: whether Louis has been injured, and whether he caught fish but was robbed by intruders before reaching the nest. Tiger, do you have any more information?
Some people think Louis is injured but I am not sure there is any evidence of that. He has been attacked violently by the intruder who presumably wants to displace him.
Tiger Signature
So sorry to read this sad news.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Tweed Valley update
Latest from Brian Morrell at Caerlaverock
"Afternoon osprey watchers, as I type the 3 chicks are being fed once again, they really are growing well and the male is doing a fantastic job keeping the fish coming in. It is usually about 8 weeks from hatching until the first flight attempt give or take a few days either way, so still a while until we see any wing stretching or flight preparations. They will need to grow some proper flight feathers too."
Thanks ALAN A case of "watch this space"
Roudsea Wood update
"ROUDSEA WOOD OSPREY UPDATE 21.6.17
Well, finally we have confirmation of at least one chick in the nest! There could be more, but today we saw the first signs of movement with some stumpy wing flapping and fluffing of down on at least one youngster!
The adults have made observation of the nest contents much more difficult by contructing a high parapet on the edge of the nest, behind which our young bird(s) have been hiding!
The parents are clearly proud of the contents of the nest, as they spend most of the time (when they are not feeding or fishing) peering down at their brood.
The birds are becoming easily watchable now, and the next few weeks will be very entertaining for we observers."