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

  • Sandra P said:

    Hi Glider,
    I had a very quick peak of the cam at around midday. On chat, it was said that #2 received the first fish of the day at 10:51 and that Harry had possibly been followed by an intruder. So it appears that your ID of both juveniles was correct!

    Hoping that Flora and #1 are ok...

    —————————————————————————————————

    Sandra, I’ve scrolled and scrolled but can’t find the first fish delivery! 

    Anyway, here’s a small flatfish delivery from Harry to #3 at 12.24



    12.25 #2 arrived


    12.42 #3 quickly finished the fish


    then flew at #2 to chase her off the nest. 12.43 


    This is such a role reversal as #2 used to boss #3 about something terrible. 

  • Hi Glider,

    My comment re the first fish delivery was regarding the 10:51 one yesterday, which you had already covered (apologies for any confusion) - I wrote my post very late last night  Wink

  • Ah haha, I didn’t twig! Thanks Sandra. Thumbsup
  • Another delivery from Harry at 14.23. #3 is on the nest again. 


    #2 flies in just too late 


    14.41 #3 at the back

    15.02 #3 still eating, #2 calling

    15.11 #2 leaves the nest


    and lands on the perch


    15.55 #3 with the tail


    #2 lands back on the nest,  #3 chases #2 off. 15.55

    #3 stands up with wings outstretched as #2 flies in from above

    #3 has to suddenly dive down



    as #2 dive bombs him. #3 falls down off the side of the nest taking some sticks as he goes.



    15.56 Both birds in the air.

  • I didn’t see any more fish deliveries today, just more of this.

    17.35 



    17.38 

    Good swooping practice for catching a fish I guess! 

  • Tuesday 8 August

    04.37 Early morning visit to the nest.


    04.56

    06.06

    06.14

    08.34

    What will today bring?! 

  • 11.09 #2 flies onto the nest


    11.15 Harry arrives with a fish



    Harry starts intruder chipping




    11.17 He flies off and #2 is mantling and vocalising too


    She then gets on with eating the fish
    11.41


    #2 starts flapping and calling. Is the intruder still around?


    A bird swoops over the nest, #2 ducks. It looks like a juvenile’s colouring so probably #3. Here we go again.
    11.43

    #2 left the nest in pursuit, taking the remainder of the fish with her. 

  • 12.39 #2 returns to the nest


    13.04 Harry arrives with another small fish.



    The fish is collected and Harry quickly leaves.


    13.05 #3 arrives just too late



    13.05 He mantles back to back with #2 who’s protecting her fish.

    13.19Looks like #2 has finished the fish.


    #3 suddenly flies at #2 and pushes her off the nest.

  • 13.20 Looks like #3 on the nest now. Soon dive bombed by #2.

  • 13.31 And again



    13.51


    14.05 




    These young birds must be exhausted with this constant harrying of each other.