Our fretting resulted in a kind opinion from Jess Tomes yesterday, who reminded us about the opportunity to view nature through RSPB's "window". Amidst our collective restlessness, speculation ranged from whether George indeed recognized at least one of the eggs was not his, whether the eggs would bear healthy osprey, whether the eggs could be taken and hatched elsewhere (even moved to the LOCH ARKAIG nest where the resident pair suffered a loss of their eggs to a pine marten), to whether EJ's disinterest in mating affected George, to whether the nest might soon belong to another osprey than EJ, who many believe to be getting on in her years, to her apparent accelerated feather moult, and the nature of "crop dropping". Inevitably, we have come up with nothing better than Pandy's poem as we watch, and wait. It will be 7 days since EJ has had a meal. So maybe she will go fishing for herself this weekend.
Here was George on May 1st, as we were cheering him on with hearts full of hope. (Moffer's pic) And below that is the rainy scene now with EJ on the nest.© RSPB - Loch Garten and Carnyx Wild_______________________________________The Daily Update is for recording nest events only, allowing for banter, though—any questions or conversations can happen on the Osprey Chat thread. Thank you!
Imagicat || Tiger's links || 2022 LG Obs
scylla said: Still lying down, but calling :'(
Still lying down, but calling :'(
She's calling now, still lying down, head raised slightly.
IMAGICAT
Little birds are starting up.
Another phrase of calling from EJ, rather quiet.
Cuckoo.
EJ is quiet.
Calling again. Still raining.
A head-shake, a very few more calls.
Apart from lifting her head, or shaking it once or twice, she hasn't moved for a very long time.
DAYCAM 04:32hr:
What a sad sight:
EJ is calling and calling.
GJ is obviously nearby but there's been no sign of him.
I'm off for coffee #1.
Good Morning Scylla, and anyone else who is around, and to all those brave DU'ters who follow.
Thank You CC for putting into words exactly how we all feel in your opening post.
This time last week most of us were still full of hope and prayed that G. would deliver a fish, so when he did on Saturday night we were all jointly elated, but that "up" peak of the roller coaster was the last "up" we and EJ had, it has been all down hill since then.
EJ's instinct is to protect those eggs for as long as she possibly can, just like it was her instinct to keep incubating an egg shell in 2015, and like it was Louis to sit in the nest yesterday, this is sad for humans to see but they are only doing what their instinct tells them. Well my hopes for today is that EJ's instinct tells her its time to give up and look after herself.
To see her sitting on the nest still calling in the rain is harrowing for us. G is probably sitting close by somewhere and that is why she is calling, why he has changed no one will ever know, it harks back to Pandy's poem.... Ospreys keep their secrets.
As much as I hate posting this snip of EJ, it is only for recording purposes, like all the other great DU'ters who do each and every day.
Daycam is on, EJ is still calling now and again.
Edit: Sorry for the long rambling post, it will be my last one for a wee while.
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023