Daily Update, Friday 8th April, 2011

Barbara Jean  Four eggs are not nearly as rare as some would have you believe However it does seem to depend on the pair of ospreys. EJ laid four eggs in 2004, 2005 and in 2007 she laid 7!! (4+3).

Baldrick the chick that caused so much excitement a few days ago was from a fourth egg.

There is one pair in the US who not only lay  four eggs each year they mostly have four fledged chicks. That is also the pair that love to give the chicks blue toys. That nest is what is known as the Conneticut nest.

Here is a picture of another four chick nest. That nest did the same the following year.

Yes Tiger, Odin really looks magnificent and is already showing greater skills and dedication as the OH of EJ!  I am sure I don't recall all this 'sharing' of fish on the nest which has been going on during these last few days.

DjoanS, I agree with you that four eggs could prove problematic and give us all a lot of grief as the younger ones fight for food.  Titch (Quackers) was a poppet!

EJ is on the nest at present in the afternoon sun, giving little calls.

My goodness Tiger, I certainly hadn't realised that four eggs in a clutch is not that unusual.  Given the amount of trouble the two oldest can often give the youngest in a clutch of three, it is surprising that four ever fledge at all!

Hazel b said:

Is Odin even more handsome this year?

Yup !!    absolutelly.

Happy rest of the day viewing one and all.  I've got to go to work now.

''There is one pair in the US who not only lay  four eggs each year they mostly have four fledged chicks. That is also the pair that love to give the chicks blue toys.''               Dash, Tiger - no time to check your link - but what do you mean about  BLUE TOYS   ????????????????

SheilaFE   The success of any nest depends mostly on the fishing skills of the male. If the male is good at fishing then four fledged chicks are very possible.

I think Odin could raise four chicks but it probably will not happen.

There have only been two four chick nests in the UK that I am aware of.

Loch of the Lowes had four chicks in 2005 but that suddenly became two.

The backup nest at Tweed Valley had four chicks in 2005 and all four fledged. The youngest Errol took a lot of beatings but survived. It would be great to know if he is still out there.

Well, EJ is calling again, moving furniture. Quite a bank of nest material has built up on the left hand side. Looks gorgeous in late afternoon sun.

Tiger  thanks for the info on four chick nests.  I take it that Errol has not been seen since the first migration.  Am I right in thinking that it is more than likely, had he survived, he would have returned to the Tweed Valley, or could he go anywhere?

I missed the change-over.  After much calling and insistence from EJ, I see that Odin (the eyes give it away, so piercing) is now on the nest and EJ  has flown.  And of course he has to do a bit of re-rearranging of the furniture.