As it's nearly that time I suppose it's time to start a new Thread for the Upcoming season.
For 2020 thread click HERE
Richard B
Look who's home! No activity, no company, but s/he'll surely be back
IMAGICAT
022 was on the nest pre-daycam and after, on 'n off a few times and brought some bracken - CJ7 not seen but she's certainly (probably ;) ) been "up there".
Much later he arrived with half a fish, highly indignant due to nearby corvids ???
Checking the live stream, I see that CJ7 is there now, looks like she's been there a while and that she was preceded by 022 but I'll check back properly later.
CJ7 had arrived on the nest @ 09:00.
After half an hour 022 arrived with the tailend of a fish. Of course he couldn't easily mate with fish afoot, and CJ7 didn't seem to want it (we've never yet seen a fish-gift, IIRC), he kept rising and landing until he gave up and flew off/around.
Not edited, so you can see every little nuance ;)
Snap chosen for being a bit different:
09:39 CJ7 flew up to campost.
Shortly after, the mating attempts started, 022 not helped by the wind, CJ7 mostly co-operating - she brought a fine live Mullet in the afternoon. There was a cambump after 22:00 but when I tried to narrow it down it disappeared - I wondered if it was our Nightjar, given the lightness of the touch.
Anyway... many a slip twixt now and then, but if this continues it will be superb preparation for next season. I hope there will be an exchange of fish soon.
(I'm losing count of the edits to correct typos... and there's even a typo in here )
24 May
04:45 022 flew across our screen from the left and landed, pottered for 2 minutes, flew off to our right.
A big fish with 022.
Copyright Birds of Poole Harbour
Just checked the live stream and who should appear but... I don't know!
LIVE snap !!!
I thought that little bird's head was slightly tufted when it tipped forward. Anyway, I'm jjust starting the run-thru for the day (late, cos of hatch @ Clywedog and difficulties @ LoTL).
04:45 022 had been on the campost briefly, I think, and flew around and entered our screen from the left, across and onto the nest from the right, stayed 2 minutes. I think that CJ7 landed on the campost during that time but didn't drop down.
Need to save time and energy, so no visuals of the early-morning appearance.