“TAKE THE FLEDGE!!”

July 14, 2012 in Wildlife Village by nickthegreek

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Well, I think the main thrust of this week’s news from around the nests is more ringing & tagging, and happily, more Ospreys fledging!!

Time constraints this week have allowed me only a fleeting visit to the other nest diaries, and as they haven’t unearthed too much of great consequence, I’ve chosen to focus on what I think are the most interesting events of the week. So, with that in mind, I’d like to look first at DYFI.

What an incredible difference we’ve seen in such a short space of time – looking at young CUELAN now, you would scarcely believe that this is that same  chick that on 9th June, forlorn, and suffering from lack of food due to the continuous heavy rain, already the only remaining chick of three, (the other two having succumbed to the ravages of the weather) the same chick that EMYR and his volunteer colleague AL, took the almost unprecedented decision to remove from the nest and save it’s life!! Yes, it beggars belief that this fit and healthy young Osprey was, just a few weeks ago, within minutes of his life!! But, thanks to the fast actions of Emyr, AND his love for these incredible birds, we now see before us a strapping, handsome Osprey, who just yesterday morning was ringed, 3C, sexed as a male, and fitted with his satellite tag, and most importantly, pronounced extremely healthy, by ROY DENNIS.

IT'S A BOY!!!

 

“I MIGHT BE WET, BUT I’M A LOOKER!!!!” (DAY 38)
 
Already we can see that intensity of eye that Ospreys in particular seem to exhibit!!
I wonder if Monty & Nora understand what happened on that remarkable day last month? I know how romantic a notion that is, but who are we to overlook or discount the wisdom of birds??!!
 
So, to RUTLAND, and it’s so difficult to keep up with such a number of birds from the various nests, and all the recent fledgings!
My favourite story of the week though, is that from yesterday’s diary entry, described by MICHELLE, where she and JOHN, by some incredible stroke of good fortune, just happened to be in the right place at the right time, to witness young 2F blown, by a freak gust of wind, from her perching place and into the undergrowth of nettles, below the “T-PERCH, close to the nest tree. After a somewhat frenetic search, they found this feisty young lady, and managed, without too much ado, to get her airborne once more!!
The obviously important aspect to note here, is the dangers that still exist in the lives of these young fledgling Ospreys – at this stage of their development, predatory risk is far less an issue than their inexperience – after just a couple of short, liberating flights, with still developing wing muscles and flight feathers etc, the birds’ skills are still in the design stage, and are therefore prone to the occasional misadventure before they must embark on their maiden migratory journey south!!
 
1F AIRBORNE & 2F ON THE PERCHING BRANCH

03(97) 1F, & 2F “WHEN DO WE GET TO FISH THEN??!!”
 
And so, back at our default nest of choice, BLUE44 continues to morph into adulthood, with continued wing flapping, and “helicoptering” which inevitably indicate his impending maiden flight!! 
Emma has delivered the two unhatched eggs and submitted them for scientific analysis – we may, or may not, discover their status, in due course.
 
NESTCAP, FRI 13TH JULY
 
 
5.56 Blue 44 is on his own preening near the back edge of the nest.
6.10 He comes down to the middle of the nest and continues preening. It looks fine there but rather grey with a little breeze. Now he’s at the back again.
7.05 B44, having finished his lengthy preening session for the moment, stretches his wings now and in the middle of the nest looks out to see where the folks are.
7.21 He’s dozing, perching in the middle of the nest on the ball of stuff
08.20 Laddie flies in with fish, Lady follows a few seconds later, takes the fish. Laddie flies off. Lady feeds chick.
09.18 Lady has just flown off, leaving Blue44 all alone, looking out over the loch. It looks pretty wet up there just now
10.45 AT LOWES LADY CALLING LOUDLY
10.46 Fish Delivery, Lady takes it, Laddie flies off and she starts to feed chick
11.33 APPEARS TO BE RAINING HARD AT LOWES – LOOKS AS THOUGH BLUE 44 ALONE
12-03, Blue 44, resting in nest cup. It seems to have eased off raining.
13.42 Just looked in at Lowes and thought Lady had arrived back, but seems to have disappeared again
14.18 Blue and Lady preening on nest.
15.00 About 10 mins ago Laddie came into the nest and Lady shouted at him so I think he may have gone fishing! Rocket was trying to move a large stick and at
15.09 – Lady has flown
15.09 Blue is jumping as he flaps
15.31 Lady in with big branch/stick.
15.32 – Lady flew in and started housekeeping – I think she does this when she is frustrated and waiting for Laddie to deliver lunch
15.56 Blue tugs at a stick in the nest.
17.36 Lady and B44 perching companionably on the edge of the nest
17.55 Blue on the very edge of the nest pecking at the tree.
18.29 Whole Fish delivery – Laddie leaves.
22.27 It looks like Blue44 has put himself to bed, but he’s till awake, and all alone in the nest cup – and22.54 – Lady has just returned to the nest it sounds like it’s pouring with rain as well.
 
With many thanks to Dyfi Osprey Project, and Rutland for the use of images from their respective webcams & diaries.
 
 

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The Dyfi Osprey Project and the Scottish wildlife Trust  have kindly given their permission for us to post still and video images from their webcams. To visit their sites please click on the relevant link.    Loch of the Lowes.  Dyfi Osprey Project.


 


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