This is a new thread for Rutland Ospreys, to cover:
Some links to check
Rutland Ospreys Website
Blog (will be used to report on West Africa trip)
Twitter
Lynda s report on the fledging of 52(11) at Rutland Water:
www.ospreys.org.uk/the-dynamic-duo-strikes-again
Thanks for your kind comments Ruthie - I was on duty in Waderscrape and Alan has just posted the link to my report on the morning; you must have been there to witness some of the proceedings. Pleased you enjoyed yourselves. Say 'Hello' next time.
Webcam is working (at the moment) at MB, and another fledge looks imminent!
Thank you very much Sandy!
Thank you very much Alan!
LINDA - just read your diary update. 52(11) must have flown again as soon as we left the hide! Never mind, we shall see all three flying hopefully next time we visit and we'll make sure we say 'hello'. I'm so glad we chose Wednesday to visit - it was great to feel the excitement and happiness at the fledging. Thanks.
Just back from MB - no further fledge by the time I left.
32 takes to the air!
www.ospreys.org.uk/32-takes-to-the-air
Brilliant Alan. There must be something in the rain today.
Unknown said: 32 takes to the air! www.ospreys.org.uk/32-takes-to-the-air
Thanks for that, Alan - great news!
Didn't have time last night after getting back from MB to do a report. Amazingly, when I got to Shallow Water Hide I was the only one showing any interest in the ospreys - there was a major twitch going on as there was a Spotted Sandpiper in the bay. I don't even class myself as a birdwatcher, let alone a twitcher so I was decidedly underwhelmed at a tiny wader that was so far away that even those with Hubble-type scopes were struggling to ID it.
Both unfledged youngsters were in the nest and 52 was making lots of short flights to and from the French perch, always watched closely by his younger brothers:
Meanwhile Mrs was on the near perch and I assume 5R was away fishing. Suddenly I noticed a bird approaching the far perch and I realised 5R had slipped in under the radar and he landed with a huge fish! He had a good feed for twenty minutes or so and took the remains to the nest. The late dinner meant that another fledge was unlikely at that time of the day but 32 was still doing lots of wing-flapping. Here is 52 on the perch, 32 helicoptering and 22 in the nest. Mrs is on the right finishing the remains of the fish: