ALYTH AUGUST 2023 to end of FEBRUARY 2024

  • Link to season’s opening post here

Link to July 2023 - here

RECAP

FLORA HK0 arrived 30 March 2023

HARRY (unringed) arrived 4 April 2023

 

EGG No.1 laid 15 AprilHatched 21 May (37 days)  Fledged 9 July aged 49 days

EGG No. 2 laid 18 AprilHatched 23 May (36 days)  Fledged 14 July aged 52 days

EGG No. 3 laid 21 AprilHatched 25 May (35 days)  Fledged 20 July aged 56 days

 

Due to the height of this nest, no ringing of the chicks takes place.

 

This has been a dramatic month with chick #1 getting a thin piece of plastic wrapped around its ankle for a few days, (Flora has a love of bringing plastic to the nest) chick #2 turning out to be quite aggressive, especially to chick #3 and chick #3 not getting much to eat on a lot of days. However, the three chicks are still here and seem to be doing okay. The fish brought to the nest can be sporadic and mostly small but each juvenile usually manages to get something to eat. #3 is getting more confident in snatching the fish as they arrive. We’ve had a couple of scares with Flora twice tumbling off the side of the nest with a juvenile but luckily no harm done. Flora wasn’t seen for 3 days (24-26 July) but is thankfully back and providing for the nest. 

#1 has been taking fish off the nest to eat since 17 July (58 days old) so I am expecting this juvenile to be the first to begin migration but who knows! It’s still a few weeks away so hopefully the fish supply will include a few big ones to fatten these young ospreys up for their long journeys ahead. 

Today, 1 August,  the juveniles are 72, 70 and 68 days old. 

The family at the beginning of the month


and now the three juveniles

Flora and Harry delivering fish




All captures and videos ©️ SSEN Transmission

  • Tuesday 1 August

    05.02 Two chicks on the nest and a third calling nearby to which these two are replying.

  • The juveniles are all nearby with only one on the nest.

    07.29 Flora is seen incoming with a fish. The Osprey on the nest is ready to greet Flora when another swoops down and lands and takes the fish.




    The third chick arrived who I believe to be #3.



    I think it was #1 who got the fish. 

  • 11.51 Small flatfish delivery from Harry. #1 got it again.


    Scramble between #1 and #2. The fish got dropped onto the nest.

    #1 spied it and grabbed it from underneath Harry.


    #1 mantling with the fish (back left)


    #1 then took the fish up to the perch


    Harry’s wing can be seen incoming as he returned to the nest to intruder chip


    One of the juveniles flew at #1 so #1 left the perch


    Don’t know if this unsettled Harry but he flew off


    #1 landed back on the nest with the fish. 


    An attempt was made to take the fish again so #1 flew off.

  • 13.50 Another delivery from Harry. A better sized small fish.


    All 3 juveniles go for it.


    As two scramble together, they go over the side of the nest with the fish. This is getting to be a daily occurrence.


    #1 flies back to the perch


    then #2 returns with the fish. Thank goodness it wasn’t dropped.


    #1 flies down from the perch. #2 is mantling over the fish.

    14.34 It was a good meal.

  • 14.57 Flora arrives with a small fish.I’m pretty sure #1 gets this one too. That’s 3 fish today for #1 and #2 still eating the third fish.


    #1 and #3 fight for the fish.  There’s an Osprey flying around in the background. (Magnified)


    With #1 being the victor


    Flora leaves

    15.00   From left #3 (with the goatee), #1, #2

    15.46 #1’s (front) fish is finished and #2 (right) is still eating.

    Intruder(s) have been around a lot today. Harry was chipping at one earlier and at different times, the juveniles have mantled and intruder called.

  • The last fish of the day came at 17.29 from Flora.





    Looks like #1 (left) got this one too.

    #3 missed out today, better luck tomorrow. 


  • 21.14 Lovely sky tonight. #3 waiting.The adults don’t seem to do evening deliveries these days.

    No one sleeping here overnight.

  • Wednesday 2 August

    First fish of the day goes to #1

    06.33 #3 was on the nest, joined by #1 who then got the white flatfish from Harry.




    #1 leaves with the fish

    #3 stays on the nest

  • 12.36 Intruder flies over the nest. Two juveniles defending the nest.


    It lands on the perch



    12.38 #3 flew up and chased it off.


  • Well this was quite a drama!

    14.24 Harry arrived with a flatfish


    All 3 chicks scrambled for it.

    One of the juveniles is standing on top of the one with the fish


    Now standing on top of Harry


    Locked together they took a tumble, Harry underneath



    And down they went. It looked like #1


    Meanwhile, one juvenile had the fish and the other on the nest made a dive for it.



    #1 returned to the nest and got involved

    The chick with the fish got to the side whilst the other two were brawling


    Another tumble off the side of the nest, #1 again 

    One managed to stay on



    It went straight for the fish


    The chick with the fish flew off. #2 I think but with wings and feathers everywhere it’s hard to tell!