As we near the end of the year and the nights start to draw out again (thanks for pointing that out, Tiger) thoughts will inevitably start to turn to the coming season at LG. It is likely that we have less than 100 days to wait now. After such a successful year in 2009 what will 2010 hold for the most famous nest site in the UK?Will EJ, after an uncharacteristically late departure, return early enough to claim the nest? Will the magnificent Odin make it back to partner EJ and to entertain us all again this year?Post here to let us know what you hope and/or think will happen in the coming season (don’t forget we are viewing a fixed camera watching a single nest so we get to follow whoever successfully claims it). Who will return, and when? Will there be a struggle for the nest? etc, etc. Predictions please!
Unknown said: After such a successful season in 2009, I am hopeful that EJ and Odin will return to claim the nest once more. It is so hard to predict though as 9% of adults dont return. I still have a feeling White TF will have a part to play next year. The key to it all is EJ as she is such a great mum and superb at catching large fish. If she returns I am sure all will be well with whatever suitor she takes and hopefully it will be Odin.
After such a successful season in 2009, I am hopeful that EJ and Odin will return to claim the nest once more. It is so hard to predict though as 9% of adults dont return. I still have a feeling White TF will have a part to play next year. The key to it all is EJ as she is such a great mum and superb at catching large fish. If she returns I am sure all will be well with whatever suitor she takes and hopefully it will be Odin.
Alan: I agree that EJ plays a pivotal role at LG. If she doesn't make it back then I think there will be an almighty scrap for the nest. Hopefully that won't happen and, as you say, she is a superb fisher and only needs a male to mate with and to provide fish while the chicks are young and cannot be left alone. She didn't get that from OVS in 2008 but did with Odin in 2009.
Sandy, just to pick up on your point, if EJ doesn't return but Odin did, would he try to retain the nest for a new female? Or, as females usually arrive first, would he try to partner the new female who has already made claim to the nest?
Tiger & Diane: I'm interested to know why you think that White TF will not be a factor in the coming season. He/she took a particular interest in the nest after Mallachie was the last to leave, even rearranging the furniture before finally migrating.
Unknown said: Tiger & Diane: I'm interested to know why you think that White TF will not be a factor in the coming season. He/she took a particular interest in the nest after Mallachie was the last to leave, even rearranging the furniture before finally migrating.
I think White TF is a bit like Henry and will be back late.
I agree that White TF seems a very determined bird but will still only be a three year old in 2010. Sort of a good "little un".
I was fascinated when Roy Dennis started tracking Red 8T. Red 8T had form at Loch Garten. He was the one who shooed OVS away in 2005 and left EJ holding the eggs so to speak. Of course Red 8T thought he had now got a nest and it was time start preparing the nest. He promptly kicked the eggs and while one went clean out of the nest the other was left on the rim. EJ came back and gingerly retrieved the egg on the rim. I think EJ then laid another egg. Then Henry turned up and sent red 8T packing before he did his first egg kicking stunt. EJ sulked and disappeared for nine days. I think Henry had to go to get her. No matter how many fish Henry provided EJ would not lay any more eggs in 2005.
I sort of see White TF as a bit like a Red 8T. A young male with ambitions but not quite able to take over an established nest yet. I think that EJ and Odin are likely to be in residence by the time White TF turns up.
Also reminds me of what happened at Bassenthwaite. "Red rover" turned up early and started courting Green XS which Noring was still in Africa. The story is told in two wonderful audios here. Listen at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/webcams/animal_cams/osprey/osprey_acs.shtml
In short "good little uns" do not tend to beat "good big uns".
Tiger Signature
Hazel b said: Tiger & Diane: I'm interested to know why you think that White TF will not be a factor in the coming season. He/she took a particular interest in the nest after Mallachie was the last to leave, even rearranging the furniture before finally migrating.
Aww I always loved those audios Tiger and was so sad when eventually Green XS disappeared.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
Unknown said: Sandy, just to pick up on your point, if EJ doesn't return but Odin did, would he try to retain the nest for a new female? Or, as females usually arrive first, would he try to partner the new female who has already made claim to the nest?
Brenda: My guess would be that if he returned first then he would claim the nest and try to attract a female. If a different female has already claimed the nest then I think that he would wait for EJ up to a point before trying it on with the new female, What happens, though, if a different male has already claimed the nest?
Thanks Tiger for those radio clips. I was at Bassenthwaite in July and saw the female from the top viewpoint at Dodd Wood. Also saw the chicks on the big screen from the Whinlatter visitor centre. Also interesting about Red 02 as that was a bird that was translocated to Rutland Water. I wonder what happened to him?
I think he would try it on with the new female right away. I think we know by now that this "faithful lark" is just not true. I think that the pressure to reproduce overrules everything else.
Well we know what happens when a new male claims the next first. OVS did that repeatedly between 2004 and 2007. Although he was EJ's ex-husband there was no "I am with Henry now". That is what gave rise to this whole saga.
Unknown said: Thanks Tiger for those radio clips. I was at Bassenthwaite in July and saw the female from the top viewpoint at Dodd Wood. Also saw the chicks on the big screen from the Whinlatter visitor centre. Also interesting about Red 02 as that was a bird that was translocated to Rutland Water. I wonder what happened to him?
Well I always though Red 02 was a very osprey. It was a bit of a shock when he turned up at Bassenthwaite. He was later seen at Tweed Valley and then back at Rutland. So some males do move around. I am not sure that Red 02 has been seen since 2005.
On the Rutland Water site it says that Red 02 was spotted at Bassenthwaite in 2005 and 2006.
http://www.ospreys.org.uk/individuals.html