It is the 1st September and the osprey season is all but over. It has gone very quickly.It was a very sad year for Loch Garten. Everything was going very well until Odin disappeared on 18th May. This led to the loss of the chicks. Then on July 14 EJ disappeared too. Her fate is unknown. So there is great uncertainty for next year as it is not known quite what is expected.
Dyfi has been very successful this year with three very healthy juveniles already on the way south.
Glaslyn has got three male juveniles all ready to migrate. Also birds hatched in 2014 (Blue 9C) and 2015 (Blue W0) were spotted back in Britain.
Bassenthwaite has three fledged chicks this year.
Manton Bay had one of its chicks disappear early and it is not clear if it migrated or not.
Kielder has done well with 9 chicks flying south. Two of these are carrying GSM transmitters.
Loch of the Lowes has two juveniles this year.
The high point of the year for me was the translocation of eight young ospreys to Poole harbour.
Tiger Signature
Let's hope they all stay put Tiger!
Birdies LG DU update.
Clare Bailey said: It's a shame that Clarach's third chick was weak when it hatched - I thought she and her mate stood a good chance of raising all three had it been OK.
It's a shame that Clarach's third chick was weak when it hatched - I thought she and her mate stood a good chance of raising all three had it been OK.
Hi Clare, I've followed the Aberfoyle nest since the cam went live this year. My own view is that Clarach's third chick survived (ringed LH1) and it was the first or second chick which died. This would better explain the size difference between the chicks when they were younger. I did see both parents appear to tread on the chicks in the first week but the cam focus was blurred at the time so it was hard to be sure what happened.
Some osprey sightings at RSPB Loch Leven - check out their latest blog.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Sami said: It's a shame that Clarach's third chick was weak when it hatched - I thought she and her mate stood a good chance of raising all three had it been OK.
[/quote]It was only when I visited the Forest Lodge centre in July that the staff there told me about the chick that didn't make it. I generally follow LG and Dyfi, with a quick peek at a few others. I haven't seen enough of the action on the Aberfoyle webcam to say which chick died.
Fingers crossed that Clarach and her mate make it back next season.
I don't mean to cause any controversy or contradict the staff, I'd like to find the best way to support and help the team there. I just wanted to record my observations, and am aware that other watchers were of a similar view with regards to the third chick. It's wonderful, though, that Clarach and her mate were able to raise 2 healthy chicks in their first season together, despite some tough weather conditions. That's a great achievement.
In case people do not know about the Osprey New Bulletin Today has been very busy.
Thank you Tiger. Busy indeed!
Sami said: just wanted to record my observations,
Which are welcomed by me, SAMI - having been unable to watch this nest hardly at all. Just because any of us see things differently doesn't mean we're being argumentative :)
IMAGICAT
scylla said:Just because any of us see things differently doesn't mean we're being argumentative :)
An interesting conference to be held in November - Northern England Raptor Forum (NERF) annual conference 2017 - with some recognisable names!
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/