LOCH GARTEN - May 2022

I expect the VC will report it.

CC wrote the following post at 1 May 2022 12:12 PM: Good morning! So happy to hear it, such a sentimental sop as I am. SheilaFE said: Radio Chaffinch has tuned in!

Me too !!!

She's been teasing again - she's got up since the snap:

.

Am about to check thru the morning, maybe the intruder was on the nest long enough for a video.

15.53 on, may be well before, a distance cuckoo, my first of the season any where.

A brief resume

1 May 2022

        13.18.22                Intruder nearby, possible skydance

        13.18.36               Axel landed with a fish, but took off immediately – presumably in pursuit

        13.19.42               Blue ringed bird landed on right rim.  Mistle flapped him off.  Poss Blue 235 male

        13.20.12               Intruder calls heard off cam from Axel, seen going in to chase, while Mistle mantled low in the nest.

        13.22                   All over as far as Mistle is concerned.

        13.25                  Mistle calling loudly

        13.27.33            Axel returned with the fish FISH -  hand-over to a noisy Mistle, who takes off with it, to the right

        13.34                Axel calls!  .and flies to the perch.

        13.35                 Mistle returns without the fish!  She must have dropped it.  She calls for more!

        13.55                  Axel flew off and returned to mate, he was chipping and she was calling.  He pecked the back of her neck once.  From the front it looked successful.  Axel departd.

        14.39                  Mistle flew to the perch.  The wind got up.

        15.03                  Mistle flew off to the right, down and round the back of the nest, before I lost sight.

        15.16                  Mistle returned, looking anxiously around before attending to the dried grass.  Someone still around?

        15.30                  Cuckoo calling

        15.34                   She looked up and around – intruder still around?

        16.00                   Started to call again

        16.29                  Prowling and calling.

        16.56                  Climbs to the back rim for a better view

        17.00                  Checking the soft furnishings again, while calling

It could be a lovely evening.  The grey clouds have passed and we have blue sky, clouds and sunshine!

17,44 Mistle took off in a sudden flap, calling. I don't think it was intruder related. ENS

17.46  She is back.  Was it a sudden 'comfort' break?  Did she drop or eat the 13.27 fish delivery?  Surely she couldn't have eaten it all in in such a short space of time (delivered 13.27).

I must think about the Sunday roast now.

Hi all, well some activity today, a fish which is really good, shame she seems to have lost the tail end. I wonder who our inturder was, no doubt we will find out. I thought this morning thst she was going to lay, they way they were both acting, she sure is keeping us all on tenderhooks, hopefully not long now, she says, sigh,

18.59 Mistle left the nest much as she did at 17.44 above.
19.16 she returned, hunched and 'glaring'! Then stood upright and relaxed after scratching her beak, and a wag of the tail.
19.22 she checks her feathers and a quick preen.
Mistle has remained on the perch, alone.

I'd love to know what's been going on out of our sight. Has the VC seen more?

Have I got the fish delivery/non delivery, return, all wrong? If she did drop the fish delivery she hasn't eaten today. She's not calling, so Axel isn't around. Where is he? She doesn't have a shallow chest so she must have eaten something today??

Help!!
21.13 She is still quietly standing on the perch.

I've just heard a/some goose/geese briefly.
As the light is going, one more snip. Mistle is still on the perch, sitting quiety.
Axel hasn't been seen as far as I can tell since 13.55 after he mated and flew.
21.40 whirlygig, so I'm not sure this will post! Time on the cam has stopped.

Edit it's resumed!

21.44 She has flown.

It's possible she saw Axel flying.  She hunched up as though waiting for him to fly in to mate.  Possibly he didn't and she flew after him>

ENS

I'm off now.