DYFI OSPREY PROJECT – MAY 2017

Has there been any updates from Dyfi about yesterday's intruder?

Hi Karen. I read that it was a large unringed female. probably a 2 year old, back for the first time, and cought Monty and Glesnie of guard. She will be formidable as a breeding adult.

Hi Karen there is a FB post about unringed female who completely took them by surprise. Lucky for them wasn't an eagle or some other predator says Ems. She flew low and fast and rose quickly at the nest

Yesterday's Intruder: A massive female osprey, unringed (what a shame!), thick legged and dark chested. We can see evidence of the same secondary feather moulting on both wings (flight feathers usually moult in symmetrical pairs), but all the other feathers look in pristine condition. Maybe this is a two-year-old bird just returning back to the UK for the first time as an adult? The time window is exactly right for 2015 returnees.

This huge female caught both Monty and Glesni by surprise. Ospreys build relatively flat nests so they can see intruders and predators approaching, even when sat down incubating - if this intruder were a goshawk or eagle, the outcome could easily have been very different. This female flew low and fast from the south, gaining height at the very last minute; in a second it was over, she was on her way.

It is extremely unusual for two experienced ospreys, both situated on or around a nest, not to see another large bird approaching like this. We saw something new and for the first time yesterday.

Clarach: We've seen increasingly strong pair bonding between Clarach and her new unringed mate. We don't see him much, but he may well be perching just off camera and out of view. He's been bringing Clarach fish back and incubating while she flies off to eat.

A second egg late on this afternoon will be significant for several reasons. More later

Copyright  DOP.

Thanks Moffer and Lmac for the updates.  

I have always thought of Glesni as being big but that female is huge!   Thankfully no damage and that she moved on!  

Good Morning All

Glesni incubating at the moment.... being lit up by the early morning sun..... nice to see a lot of sunshine of all the incubating females.

© DOP MONTGOMERYSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

Monty incubatig and he's feeling rather hot

Glesni on lower perch

(c)DOP

(c)DOP

(c)DOP