LOCH GARTEN - END FEBRUARY 2024

Link to July 2023 thread

July proved to be a less nail-biting month than June. Brodie re-appeared early on the 1st and delivered fish (including flounder) to the nest every day bar 1 thereafter, with a record count of 7 on the 21st. Asha also fished and delivered a salmon on the 3rd, as well as quite a few sticks, not least one to replace the sticky-up stick on the nest that got removed on ringing day - 12th July. We have 2 boys, as only 7% of those surveyed had predicted. 2C5 (oldest) became Sid (Vicious) and 2C4 (youngest) is Harry (Nilsson). We had some cracking snaps particularly from the PTZ camera, a 2am fish, self-feeding started, and wing-flapping and helicoptering. Bets are on for a fledge or two very early in August. Sid is 58 days and Harry 56 days on the 1st of August

  • 09.08  Both are keeping an eye around and up

    Harry/2C4 suddenly looking very grown up

    A smaller bird (I think) has been flying around.  Harry keeps a wary eye on it.

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • I'm off now, but will pop in during the day. It is amazing to see the confidence that 0C4 has gained since the attack y'day. Bless him!

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • SheilaFE said:
    I think it was Brodie who brought the fish in.  Long thin legs, and no sign of her pretty dot markings on her petticoat.

    I didn't dare caption the deliverers, thank goodness!  Wasn't it reassuring to see Harry get such a good start to the day?

    I thought that fish #1 was a bit small for an Asha offering:

    SheilaFE said:
    Has anyone noticed what looks like an egg on the left side of the nest?

    I kept some footage in case of queries - this is the 8th, when the egg was already there - but yes, it's an egg, I reckon Blush

    Harry, flexing in preparation for flying off - he doesn't look restricted:

    Empty nest now.

  • SheilaFE said:
    A smaller bird (I think) has been flying around.  Harry keeps a wary eye on it.

    You nipped in with 2 more posts while I faffed interminably!  I thought about trying to snap that bird or those birdies, one was on the perch and they flew around the nest - but the ones I saw were tiny!

    Thank you for everything, SHEILA Green heart

    I'm off to get fooddd !

    Oh, someone's preening on the nest now = can't stop to find out who.

  • I'm not sure who that is Scylla. I think it is Sid, but I can't read the ring, despite it showing well.  

    On the PTZ  Sid left 0947 and I think returned at 09.56 having perhaps had a bathe, and landed to preen.  He left at 10.08 flying down to the left and round the back of the nest to the right.

    10.30 cam looked around and found an osprey on a tree in the middle of a number of similar trees in the bog

    10.59  Cam nest:  Sid arrived, calling.  I'm not sure whether it is the light, but he looks very dark and female like today!!

    The osprey flew off at 11.04.  Brodie, perhaps??

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • SheilaFE said:
    I'm not sure who that is

    I don't know about back then, but just now !!!

    Definitely KL5 - gone now.  One of ours is now lying on the nest.

    I'm off for a nap.

  • KL5 was on the move, 2 defenders mantled on the nest.  Hiatus.  I'm kinda packing up.

  • Looking at that footage of Brodie flying off, I wonder whether he was after an intruder.

    11.08 PTZ went back to the nest, having scanned the skies.  It looks like Sid on the nest, lying down.  I think he was shaken by last night's events and seems very nervous, very quick to go down.

    12.17 Sid/0C5 lying in the nest again.

    He got up, and flew to the left at 12.18 having looked around first.

    12.35 PTZ KL5 again, no wonder everyone is upset

    12.37 Brodie and Harry landed, joined by Sid, all defending the nest.  Brodie took off and the boys mantled and intruder called.

    12.45 having been quiet, and just watching, the boys start calling again.  Brodie must be out chasing KL5 again.

    12.49  Harry's bloodied feathers are showing.  He needs a bathe, or (dare I suggest it) some more rain!!

    Neither Brodie or KL5 is showing on the PTZ.  Sid and Harry continue to call from the nest

    Edt  12.47  KL5 is preening on the bare topped pine/conifer

    12.49

    He flew from the flat topped pine to the top of the dead tree, and the juvies called and called.

    13.13

    The boys could see him now, which is why they are calling.  KL5 is on the dead tree, and from there is causing no real problem other than they don't like him around!

    13.29

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • 13.32 KL5 took off, and tried to land on the nest which was stoutly refuted by 2C5 and 2C4. Well done boys.
    13.33 PTZ is still showing the dead tree. KL5 hasn't returned to that part of the tree, but the boys are looking that way and still calling intermittently. He's not in our view, but must be over that way.

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • Excellent reporting thank you Sheila. Good to know the 3 musketeers are acting as a team defending their patch