ALYTH JULY 2023

19.38 It’s good to see #3 with a full crop. He’s the last on the nest tonight and flies off at 19.39. 

No one returns to the nest. For the first time, the nest is empty and no chicks are sleeping there tonight.

Sunday 23 July

04.40 Beautiful sky as #3 is first to arrive at the nest

Quickly followed on by the other two

Today the young ospreys are 64, 62 and 60 days old.

Fish delivery from Harry at 06.13. A flatfish.

#3 was alone on the nest and took it.

#1 arrived 06.13

Harry left, #3 mantling over his fish


#2 arrives 06.27

#3 continues eating at the back of the nest

07.30  #3 got a bit distracted, lifting his head looking around.

#2 (back left) saw the opportunity and ran in for the steal

#2 now mantling over the fish

#2 ate the rest of the fish.

#3 has good tactics. Once everyone has gone, he returns to the nest and settles in the middle. He’s ready and alone when the next fish arrives.

09.54 Harry with a very small fish in his left talon

10.01.  #3 is still eating his fish when Harry arrives again with a larger fish

#3 passes on the larger fish to defend the one he’s got.

Harry waits and soon incoming calling is heard. It’s #1

That’s great because #1 still hasn’t eaten yet this morning and took the fish very quickly 

10.02 Once Harry got his leg back from #1’s grasp, he was able to fly off

#1 mantled over the fish, calling excitedly 

#1 ate for a few minutes. 10.09

Then flew off with the fish to eat elsewhere. 10.11 

After eating, #1 returned to the nest, sharing the same tactics as #3!

12.16 Flora arrives with a slim headless fish, possibly pike.

#3 (left) grabs the fish first

but #1 challenges and gets a better grip

and #1 takes the fish

After a few minutes, #1 flies off with it.

13.28.  #3 is back on the nest when Harry arrives with a half eaten flatfish.

#3 takes the fish then #2 arrives a few seconds after.

#1 arrives a few seconds later and moves into the centre position

#3 enjoys the fish

#2 squeezes in beside #3

14.18.  #3 finds it difficult to break off the skin

14.20 the skin is lying on the nest, #2 sneaks from beside #3 and grabs it, pulling the skin away 

#3 still had a hold of the fish tail and had to let go as #2 pulled

#2 had control of the fish now and broke the skin off the tail and had several attempts at trying to swallow it.

Finally, the skin goes down.

There was then the tail to eat. There was some flesh here too.

#2 swallowed the tail at 14.57

I always think #3 looks grumpy/angry with the dark mask over his eyes! ️ So cute! 

15.16.  #2 lands on the nest and starts trying to eat a thick piece of plastic. Mistaking it for fish skin I guess. 

Luckily an intruder is in the area and #2 concentrates on that instead

#1 flies in to help defend

All three on the nest now defending together. The intruder is unringed, slim and mostly white so I’d say a male.

It hovered over the nest for a few seconds





It briefly landed 

It seemed to go after this.

#3 had been alone on the nest then #1 joined him. A minute later, Harry flew in with a small fish. 18.10

Harry landed at the side of #1 so they got the fish.

18.14. As is their practice, #1 flew off with the fish.