LOCH GARTEN - May 2022

Axel flew in before 05:00 this morning and took over.  He moved the blocking stick but not enough:

On Mistle's return to the nest she grabbed at a branch but failed to break it off - you could see it was very flexible:

I'm not quite up to date, hope Axel's gone fishing.

Something about Mistle reminds me of Lassie RIP - only a b/w snap to hand but am in a hurry:

Lots of ins 'n outs this morning, including flyabouts by Mistle while she was incubating.

Axel brought fistfuls of dirt and a small straightish stick, then this gurt slab of bark, which is impossible to get a clear snap of - and see the state of his wing feathers !!!

09:08 a small fish:

Off she flew with it:

Back she came @ 09:21 with a stick!  That fish couldn't have touched the sides

I'm off now - and KAREN is out for the day - so if anyone felt they could keep an eye on due-to-hatch Manton Bay, that would be nice

Good morning.  10.40 Axel comes in with a stick, heart in mouth as he toddles through the eggs.  Sorry about the size and black border it is my first attempt with the repaired iPad.

Shared with permission of Alison, who you probably know used to post here regularly some years ago.  It was posted on a closed FB group, so I cannot provide a link.   Very sad news, but an interesting outcome.

Fish 13.48, looks whole.

Checked chat to see Mistle came back with fish and was seen practice feeding. Reminds me of Dyfi...

How magical. I did watch that footage, but I didn't think of that practice procedure, I thought she was just feeding herself!! I must take another look.

13.55 Mistle returned with the fish. Axel was reluctant to get up so she ate some more of the fish.  -  Was this when she appeared to be practicing to feed a chick, mentioned by CC?
13.57 She tucked into the fish with gusto, beakful after beakful!
13.58 Mistle took off with the fish. Axel remained incubating.
14.06 Mistle returned with the fish again. Axel got up and cheeped before flying off 14.07
14.08 I think she shook her talons free of the remaining fish, tidied up the cup of loose matter, and settled on the eggs
14.50 Axel returned and Mistle stood up and food solicited!
14.51 Mistle took off and immediately Axel crept down into the cup, with talons tightly curled, and settled on the eggs. How wonderful it is to be able to say that!
14.53 Mistle is back with a gentle cheep and stands along side him, moving sticks and lichen. Every closer – usual female ploy to make the male move. It is successful
14.55 Axel takes flight. Mistle incubates. It's windy.
16.09 Mistle gets up for a stretch and attending to tickles, a long legged stretch, a preen and settles again

Mistle has remained on the eggs since then.