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
SheilaFE said:What emotional nests we have this year! So many roller coasters.
Yes Sheila, it’s been quite a year. There has been a lot of rivalry between chicks on this nest.
18.10 A juvie arrived as Harry was returning with what was left of the fish.
Harry lands and has another bite of fish before it’s taken from him
18.11 the juvie moves in to take the fish. It’s literally just the tail with a tiny piece of flesh left.
4 minutes later the last piece is swallowed. 18.15
I’ve not made up my mind who this is yet!
Friday 25 August
A juvenile visited the nest during the night. Didn’t look like it got much sleep.
01.18
02.44
02.47
02.49
03.21 a bat flies around hunting
04.03
They leave at 05.00
Juvenile on the nest at 07.15
07.17 got a visit from a fast flying insect this time.
A close up of the wing. #2 had a bottom row of brown hearts with a line above which sometimes showed in photos.
#3 had 2 or 3 rows of hearts with some looking like dots.
This wing shows one strong line of hearts with 2 or 3 rows above of faint markings
#2’s wing was cleaner above her strong markings so it seems to be #3 here. The consensus on the live chat is that it’s #3. It’s so much easier to ID the birds when they are together!
13.49 Harry brought a flat fish
#3 took it very quickly
12.53
13.20
13.52 swallowing the tip of the tail.
A half fish from Harry this time, again of the flat variety.
14.19 Harry arrived at the nest
He waited for a minute then left.
14.21 The two birds may have spotted each other as they flew into the nest together
#3 was slower to take the fish this time
Harry dropped it on the nest and moved away
14.22
14.31 #3 flies over the nest with the piece of fish.
This is the wing shot I was waiting for which confirms for me it’s definitely #3
14.33 finally eating
14.42 there goes the tail
#3 came to the nest at 15.46
16.15 He waited for half an hour then left
Harry arrived at 17.18 with a half eaten fish.
17.42 He waited 24 minutes then left again.
18.53 #3 returns to the nest calling as he flies in.
He waits for quite a while, calling for his dad.
I think Harry has eaten the fish and is finished for the night.
20.31#3 leaves
So it looks like #2 has gone, we’ll never know when but #3 is being well looked after by Harry.
Saturday 26 August
Today #3 is 93 days old
06.25. #3 was on the nest early calling for fish
06.48 The mist was rolling in
07.13
08.08 he continued to call
09.17 had a preening session
09.37 he left after a 3 hour stint.
#3 returned, left and returned again. It was 13.21 before Harry brought in a fish. It was a very large flat fish so worth the wait.
11.23
12.23
13.21
13.22. #3 still calls loudly as he mantles over his fish but there are no rivals around to protect it from.
13.42 tucking in
14.21 The rain has started, he’s still eating.