DAILY UPDATE ~ Loch Garten nest ~ Sunday, 15 April 2018

It is so difficult Scylla to tell especially with the light changing.

Plus I get so excited when one lands that I cannot pick out details also I don't use VLC - just stills.    I am so glad you are all recording :-)

moffer said:

I think it looks like another male too. Perhaps the third bird?

I thought it was "our" New Male... but you know only too well that I don't see what's there sometimes ;)

I hope your equipment/system is all in order, MOFFER - was hoping for some of your supersnaps.

Here's extracts of his nestcuppy visit:

Perhaps they've gone fishing now - all TEN of them looked hollow-cropped ;-D

I think that was 'our' Newman, but there are two males and BD female around. I'm finding it very hard to post today. S....L....O....W

Wow. Four pages already. I though EJ had finally chosen a mate, laid 3 eggs, reared chicks, and gone back to Africa. Good work capturing all the action folks

As usual, fantastic pics, vids and reporting....Thank you.

You wanted action...well seems today has started off well, and got everyone talking, even if it is to ask.....'who was that just landed?'

Oh deary me! First our lovely girl comes home and has a 3 week wait until Newman arrives, then one day together and she goes away and he potters in and out for a few days and now all this, 3 males and a female, and still no EJ. I can't cope, am away to get ready for church, thanks so much for all the captures, catch up in the afternoon.

I think there is little doubt now that there has been a second male 'interested' in this nest since EJ's encounter with the first male, and quite possibly a 3rd male. I agree, with the changing light it is extremely difficult to conclude just how many 'new' males unless you can compare head markings at the 'same angle.' I assume that at LG they have footage of the male(s) on the camera tree and it should be easier for them to give an authoritative conclusion as to identities. I look forward to the next blog.

I think I remember posting much earlier in the season that I wasn't worried that EJ would not find a male, my worry was that there would be more than one and that it would take them so long to sort out a hierarchy that by the time a male had established himself it would be too late to breed. My fingers are crossed that 1 of these guys will quickly make himself at home, start displaying, lure EJ back from wherever she lurks, that she is impressed by his efforts and concludes that he is a suitable partner and father for her chicks.

CRinger said:

I think I remember posting much earlier in the season that I wasn't worried that EJ would not find a male, my worry was that there would be more than one and that it would take them so long to sort out a hierarchy that by the time a male had established himself it would be too late to breed.

Yes, I remember you saying that, CRinger.  Let's hope it's not prophetic.