There are several nests with healthy active bobbleheads which we will be watching with interest this summer. We expect a fine show of fledglings during late June & July, with many strong beautiful juvenile osprey migrating to their winter homes in Africa come August and September.
I do hope you will still find this a place to share any news of the osprey world that is of interest to you as well as other matters of interest. If anything pops up on Facebook I'll post it here.
The Hellgate Osprey nest in Missoula, Montana, USA has just suffered a situation very similar to ours at Loch Garten.
I have followed Hellgate Osprey cam only periodically this spring, but as I understand it FOUR healthy chicks were hatched this spring. Watchers were delighted as the nest had been unsuccessful for several years. Then came the rains, several days of storms and heavy downpour. The rains continued. The rivers rose, became wild and muddy.
As we know, fishing is impossible in such circumstances. The inevitable happened. The 4 chicks died this weekend.
They do still have both adult birds, if only the rivers calm down soon enough for them to feed themselves.
Up in Aberdeenshire visiting quite a few nests between the Ythan Estuary at Newburgh South West towards Deeside at Banchory.
A disappointing show from the nests with many only having one chick.
I will disclose one of the nests on way which is reported.
Only one chick surviving at Lochter despite three hatched.
They have not searched footage but usual that Buzzards took the other two.
The chicks head is just visible above the nest.
Again the head appeared as a fish came in.
At another nest along the River Ythan I awaited hours and saw no chicks but the female was standing at the side of the nest so assumed chicks around until the male came in with a fish. The female fed a chick in the same position so assumed only 1 chick.
I think many chicks in Scotland have been lost when we had a very wet and cold spell a few weeks ago.
KEITH,
I am happy to see that you have been able to spend some time observing osprey. I really appreciate your comprehensive report and pictures.
Now the single chicks, assuming they survive the rest of this season, still have to manage the tough migration south, 2 more years, then the migration north. Then the hazardous life of intruding and trying to establish nest, mate & offspring. Notice I did not humanize! :) All just demonstrations of the tough life of being a wild osprey.
THANKS ONCE AGAIN.
EJ on her nest half an hour or so ago.
Good evening all. Thank you for the photos and reports of nests you have visited. Seems like there have been very mixed fortunes and many losses. It shows just how harsh an ospreys life is. I have just read about Loch of the Lowes FR3 may have come to an end although Im really hoping its a tracker malfunction. I was looking forward to his return. Last heard from in Bulok so appears not to have begun his Northward journey.
So good to see EJ pottering around her nest but seems lost without dear beautiful Odin. Very much missed and wonder what became of him :(
Somebody on a nearby tree.
JUNE - EJ was in the tree during the afternoon so assume it is her.
Have you captured any sightings of the male(s) courting her.