No time to prepare a detailed synopsis of yesterday's discouraging events, which included matings and intrusions (with support from male) but no fish, despite EJ leaving the nest and her egg for a couple of quite long periods.
This sums up most of our feelings (me having said that I was not worried):
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Edit
A couple of videos added to yesterday's DU, covering EJ's long break during which the male defended, and EJ tending the nestcup followed by a quick fly-around.
IMAGICAT
I am here, Karen, but three days away take a while to do justice to all the wonderful but tragic posts. To watch her standing so close, but bot over the egg breaks my sensitive human heart! She has so gently removed twigs from the cup, and seems to 'defend' the cup when the male approaches.
EJ returned to the nest at 10.03 having flown off in a fairly determined manner a couple of minutes earlier. Was she desperate for a poop? She's done that from the nest on many an occasion this year. She returned a couple of minute later and had a good shake. Had she had a quick bathe in the Loch?The male landed at 10.34, and EJ immediately food solicited. The male mated at 10.37 and EJ was up for it, tail high. He flew and returned, and there was another mating followed by more food soliciting by EJ. The male flew off at 10.42 and EJ has remained near the egg, closing her nictitating membrane, possibly to keep the wind and dust out of her eyes.
10.37
OK, you've had nooky, now I want fish
10.42 Male flies off
11.52 EJ stands in the same position
Do I take it this male is the third, if not the fourth male to have been around. It's not Newman, nor I think Fishman. He looks a bit like the one I though reminded me at times of Odin (beautiful) and at times not (OK, but not beautiful!) I have not been able to read all the posts nor definitely watch all the vids over the past three days, so would appreciate some guidance.
Edit: 12.00 sorry, while I have been 'creating' this post, I see lots has been done, which may answer my questions. I'll go back!
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
I'm dedicating this song to our most beautiful EJ as she could increasingly do with the arrival of a suitable white knight!
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
scylla said: Q: Is "Twiggy" the first male who turned up? He was the one who brought her a good headless fish but got it back when she dropped it.
Q: Is "Twiggy" the first male who turned up? He was the one who brought her a good headless fish but got it back when she dropped it.
Here's the video of the male's last visit with his strange cargo.
moffer said:No Scylla.
Thanks, Moffer - but oh sugar! I meant to wait until I'd got an answer before uploading with the title text. Never mind, it's still a question rather than a statement :)
He's back with something afoot but not a fish, I fear :(
He's back with summat, but it ain't fish
Male has landed, with something in his talons. EJ started calling before he landed.
This male, to me anyway, seems to have quite an orangy chest ??
Edit: and such dark streaks!
He is looking around, was he followed to the nest. EJ is calling. Male has released his talons on whatever he brought in. EJ is calling, he looks around! I still can't see what he brought in!