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
I think this is 22 on the nest at RW:
Been to Manton Bay again today - our second visit. We are about 60 miles away so can't get as often as we'd like. Spent a lovely three hours there. We saw all the juves in flight and one kept dipping into the water - about half a dozen times! Mrs 5R was absent for a good while but returned before we left. 5R was there keeping an eye on the youngsters! ALAN, we went to Shallow Water hide as well this time and what marvellous views we had, not only of the osprey but of a heron catching a fish, shellduck, lapwing, an oyster catcher, and a little egret to name but a few. LYNDA, sorry we missed you today but again we were well looked after by the volunteers in Waderscrape.
SPARROW, glad you're going to visit - you'll really enjoy it I'm sure.
Ruthie: Thanks for todays report from Manton Bay. I am glad you enjoyed your visit and managed to see the ospreys and all the other birds you mentioned. Shallow Water is in my opinion the best hide for photographs so glad you managed to visit it as well.
Ruthie, Glad that you had a good visit to RW and were well looked after. Thursday is not my day for volunteering, I should have been there yesterday but instead I was at Cors Dyfi where one of our Site B females has bred for the first time this year - she's a 2008 bird - 03(08)- I saw her ringed. Einion, one of her 3 juveniles, fledged as I was there yesterday - a magical day for me.
I'm sure we will catch up one day - but as long as you are enjoying RW Ospreys, that's the most important thing.
Just in reply to the post about Ken's 'unusual behaviour' diary report - he's obviously forgotten that I saw 03(97) feeding one of his 2 juvenile females in 2008 (could well have been 03(08) now at Dyfi) - they were was on a perch and I actually mentioned it on 'Countryfile' when interviewed by Julia Bradbury. I've also seen 03(97) feed his female on several occasions - such tenderness - what do we know about these birds?
Correction to above post: It was 2009 not 2008, so couldn't have been Nora.
Rutland Water latest tweet:
"Seven ospreys together at Lyndon just now - the Manton Bay family plus 09(98) and a blue-ringed male. Quite a sight!"
I was there this morning but must have left before all the action started although I did see Mrs 5R chase off an unidetified intruder. 5R was missing for the whole time I was there but I did get some pics of the juvies although the light was not great:
Hiding in tree:
What do you think of my kingfisher impersonation mum?
Alan what a shame you mssed the action but at least you saw something, love your caption undermeath the second pic.
Margobird
Great video from Rutland of one of the Manton Bay chicks getting to grips with a live (and struggling!) pike:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g_GZJRICdQ&feature=player_embedded
(tried to get this to embed, but didn't work!)
Blog Update - 33 disappears for a day.
www.ospreys.org.uk/osprey-blog
Spent a pleasant few hours at MB this afternoon. Loads of action as usual - the undoubted highlight of which was Mrs 5R finally relenting to the incessant, and frankly annoying, shouts of the juves for fish by twice fetching them small snacks to keep them going until 5R got back with a whopper. On the first occasion she left the T-perch, dived to catch a small fish, delivered it to the nest and returned to her perch - all within 30 seconds!!