Well folks, its been an exciting day despite the weather. The middle chick increased its wing exercising and almost went this afternoon but no, it was this evening at about 19.37pm that it fledged. Alison posted a link on the main blog. In case anyone missed it , it is: www.youtube.com-watch Its only short but it shows clearly it taking off.
At present we don't know where it is. The eldest and youngest are on the nest with we hope middle one on a tree sheltering from the wind. Only the morning will tell and hopefully when there is a fish delivery it will come back onto the nest
The eldest has had a few forays out into the big wide world also but #3 is still at home but has been practising. What will tomorow bring??
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
#3 has it (only one on nest) then in fly #1 and #2 and #1 pinches it:
Surely #1 can't eat the whole fish by itself ... its huge ... there may be leftovers for the others. Or Odin may deliver too.
Joan - avid bird and nature watcher in Northumberland!
Index Thread
#1 is definitely swallowing some big chunks off that fish.
Unknown said: #1 is definitely swallowing some big chunks off that fish.
How right you are Brenda - at this rate it may finish the fish by itself!
Wonder if EJ will intervene after a while - a fish that large should leave plenty to go around them all.
How loud they can shout & screech!
#1 is showing aggression now.
Linda, I think EJ may have to catch another one and feed the other two !!
Thanks for the kind comments about the video. I have been trying for ages to get a link then I lost my favourites bar with connections. Never mind , sorted.
It looks like its all be happening whilst I've been fumbling around trying to sort links out. At least David says on the main blog they are not sure, so until they do I think we have to say #3 hasn't fledged yet.
All the pics are excellent and the updates.
David on the diary page posted this..............
"Okay, so here is the confirmation from Loch Garten you've all been waiting for, and it is that............we think the third chick might have fledged......maybe......but maybe not......then again.... eh..... it's not easy this you know!!! :) They are so similar. I was showing the new volunteers around our hide when one by one each bird seemed to fly off the nest and then land, unfortunately they didn't all do it at the same time and what with talking to people and trying to watch the nest we can't really be certain what we saw. So yes we think all three have fledged but we cannot yet say for certain..... sorry."
If we see no further empty nest pictures tonight......it could mean a false fledge report. On the other hand if they all go flyabout then we have a fledge for #3 confirmed. ;-)
Also I checked the Oxford Concise Dictionary for 'fledge', no real help there, but in our context, a flight of a few minutes back to the nest, instead of a perch, would do it for me,
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
If No 3 goes for a fly around tonight, it could be it's first flight, not it's second !!
I've been away to tend the saucepans - now there is one GEM eating still, with another sitting behind it, tearing bits off the far end of the huge fish....