Recap:-
LJ2 returned 31 March 2023
LM6 returned 4 April 2023
Egg No. 1 laid 20 April
Egg No. 2 laid 23 April
Egg No. 3 laid 26 April
First hatch date due around 27 May
Link to March/April 2023
17.04 and LM6 reappears at the nest. Surely she’s not lost this fish too? I hope she just gobbled it down really quickly.
She’s quickly back on the eggs.
18.34 and LM6 is fish calling.
18.37 LJ2 flies onto the nest. No fish this time.
LM6 continues fish calling before and during changing places.
LM6 flies off and is back 4 minutes later at 18.41.
She has a job climbing over some of the awkward twigs at the edge of the nest.
She goes back to move some.
Then shuffles back onto the eggs.
19.52 LM6 looks up. A few moments later 3 calls are heard (LJ2 presumably) and he flies onto the nest.
He stays for a minute or two, looking around then flies off.
20.30 LM6 currently still on the nest. The wind is getting a bit blowy by the sound of the microphone.
20.38 LM6 is fish calling as LJ2 lands on the nest.
LM6 continues fish calling then flies offLJ2 incubates for 17 minutes before LM6 returns at 20.55
LM6 resumes incubation as LJ2 flies off.
21.15 LJ2 pops by for another visit.
He stands very close to LM6 looking like he’s going to snuggle in.
He’s there for a few minutes and at one point, puts his talons on LM6’s back
He remains standing there until he leaves around 9 minutes later.
Night cam comes on at 21.34 - LM6 starting her night shift.
Monday 8th May 2023
Good morning A dry night for LM6 until around 04.00 when it started raining lightly, getting heavier. LM6 lay flat on the nest.
05.10 Day cam comes on to reveal LM6 lying with her wings spread.
05.56 She pulls her wings in and sits up.
06.35 LM6 is calling as LJ2 arrives on the nest, that’s late for him.
LM6 doesn’t move and asks for fish
LJ2 flies off again down and through the trees.
Looks like he may have landed on a tree circled.
08.50 LM6 still hunkered down on the eggs.
09.10 She sees LJ2 in the distance and starts calling.
LJ2 appears from behind the trees and flies over the water
He goes around the back of the cam pole and with a couple of contact chips, arrives on the nest with a nice sized headless fish.
LM6 gets up off the eggs to receive the fish.
She secures it in her talons and off she goes.
LJ2 positions himself on the eggs
and begins his incubation period.
09.42 LJ2 stands up, checks the eggs and flies up and away.
Within a minute, LM6 flies onto the nest with her fish.
Seconds later, LJ2 arrives on the nest. He eyes the fish.
LM6 is making soft contact calls
She’s not ready to give her fish up, keeps hold and leaves with it.
LJ2 watches her go then settles down on the eggs again.
10.06 LJ2 looks above as LM6 is seen flying past the nest.
Under 30 seconds later LM6 flies onto the nest holding her fish tail. Gulls are calling.
LM6 looks around then starts to eat the fish tail.
It’s a bit tricky
as she tries to swallow it whole
she struggles and brings it back up
to try again
and again
You could be forgiven for thinking as she pauses and looks at the camera, it’s in despair!
I think I counted 6 attempts of swallowing and regurgitating before she decided to eat a little more of it before another swallowing attempt. (or 3!)
And finally………
it’s about gone, another wee adjustment
And that’s it. Satisfaction at last!
That took 5 or 6 minutes.