Link to July 2023 - here
RECAP
FLORA HK0 arrived 30 March 2023
HARRY (unringed) arrived 4 April 2023
EGG No.1 laid 15 April - Hatched 21 May (37 days) Fledged 9 July aged 49 days
EGG No. 2 laid 18 April - Hatched 23 May (36 days) Fledged 14 July aged 52 days
EGG No. 3 laid 21 April - Hatched 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 leaves15.00 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 involvedThe chick with the fish got to the side whilst the other two were brawlingAnother 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!