Loch Garten osprey diary

The ospreys at Loch Garten have people across the world gripped in their tale of violence, adultery and... well... fishing.  More...
Loch Garten osprey diary > 3rd Chick update

3rd Chick update

The third chick is looking quite strong.... It has had several feeds now, including two this morning ...one at 4.15 and another at 7.15. The weather at the moment is cold and wet so EJ is currently sitting tight on the chicks and keeping them warm and dry until OVS turns up with the next meal.

As promised in an earlier posting this weekend's blog will be a wee bit more substantial and will round up the events of the last week or so.

One final message before I go.... For those readers who have visited the Centre this year you may be interested in the progress of our goldeneye, well, 7 chicks are sitting in the box and will no doubt jump later this afternoon.

Thanks for your kind messages and support.

If you want to specifically help the Loch Garten Osprey Team 2008, you might consider supporting the RSPB. You can do this online via the RSPB website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/join, if you add the code PR08 (that is zero eight), your membership will be credited to the Loch Garten team.

Posted by david gascoigne at 9:51 on 30 May 2008.  48 comments

Comments

Ana Lago
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 10:48
The news about the third chick is fantastic! I confess I was worried last night about it. EJ was feeding its siblings, it was always behing its brothers, strumbling and getting up again and no food reached the poor thing... Thanks again to keep us so well informed!
Andi.K
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 10:50

Thanks for the update, Dave.......well done to all the team for your hard work.

I will be visiting the centre on sunday, so will miss goldeneye chicks, but will be happy just to see EJ and her family.

Don't think OVS made TV stardom on springwatch.I looked really closely, but, couldn't see orange ring. He is a star to us though, he has just arrived with aniother meal

Andi.K
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 10:54
Littlest chick seems to be misiing out.....come on little fella...push in!!
wishy
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 11:12
I've just watched the chicks being fed at 10:50 and the third chick was given its fair share, once it got its head out of the shell, which was quite comical to watch. They all look well.
RichardU
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 11:12
10.49. OVS arrives with a whole fish still flip-flopping around. All the chicks get fed, but Number 3 is still last in the pecking order. EJ should eat those egg shells or ship them out.
Debby Thorne
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 11:24
Will try and send some sunshine from Mull - hot and sunny here at the moment - we are enjoying two ospreys that are on the Island at the moment - magnificant birds - EJ sitting quietly at the moment keeping the wee ones nice and warm - cant wait to visit Loch Garten soon! Fantastic work by you all (and the birds of course!)
Jacki G
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 13:37
Despite having had an awful lot of food this morning, EJ is doing a lot of "screaming". Is there something around we cannot see? Loved the egg shell scenes this morning but I agree - please EJ - get the shell out of the way now!
Andi.K
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 14:37
EJ looks so sweet...............while protecting the babes from the rain, she keeps nodding off.bless!!
WEE JEANNIE
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 15:01
Thanks everyone for the comments re the little one's feeds! I cried buckets last night, watching it struggling. So relieved to hear it's had food today - couldn't bear to watch, myself.
Dorissenff
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 18:51
6.50pm - Larger chick seems to be attacking one of the smaller ones. keeps pecking at his head. Poor thing. Hope he's OK. Mum been away for about 5 minutes so far.
John B (not the sloop)
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 19:39
Fish delivery 19:38. OVS had the head though. All looking good.
sjd209
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 19:52
Aww feeding time again all 3 seem to be getting quite a lot right now
Tony and Hazel
Posted on Friday, 30 May 2008 at 22:32
10:20 pm Friday night........ is that another egg ??
Maureen
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 7:20
Hasn't chick No.1 grown.....he looks so strong and healthy.....not forgetting cuddly..ahhhh.
gordonmckinlay
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 8:05
this is great - it's fantastic to be able to keep so up to date with progress
Margo
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 11:28
So does this mean that all the unkind things said about OVS should now be forgotten? Is he turning out to be a good provider after all? He seems to be bringing in enough fish anyway. Margo
david gascoigne
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 11:40

THERE IS NOT A FOURTH EGG.... that is the remainder of the egg shell from chick 3

Carol
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 11:46
I must have missed some fish being brought in as all three chicks asleep in shade provided by EJ as she preens. What a contented little family. Chick number 1 one week old today!
Ali
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 12:06
Come on OVS. Where are you? Haven't seen him all morning. Your family's hungry. They need some food. Has anyone else seen him today?
Warbler
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 12:09
Have the chicks had a meal today? They keep begging and sound really hungry. I think EJ must be hungry too!
Tiger
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 12:42
Fish arrived.
Lesley Gadsden
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 12:48
It's 12.45pm and I can't bear this. Little'un is so hungry and has not had a single mouthful. It's so nervewracking watching sometimes!! Come on little one, push your way to the front.
Lesley Gadsden
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 12:51
12.50pm feel better now - little'un's had some mouthfuls. Aaaaaahhhhh!!.....
Valc
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 13:06
Lovely to see lunch!!!! The babies are growing strong. Great also to hear the cuckoo!
Robert
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 13:20
Absolutely riveting great to have the sound back.Was very anxious about the third chick receivng its fair share but that seems to be resolved now.
Maureen
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 16:06
OVS has just delivered 'high-tea'....wee one learning to jostle his/her way through her bigger siblings....GREAT. Also got a close up shot of EJ at 15.56....she is absolutely gorgeous.
Debby Thorne
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 16:30
Just watching the 3 chicks while EJ is doing the housework! they are just so cute with their little wobbly heads! She's fussing about moving sticks about and generally tidying up - just booked our break to visit during w/c 12 th July - chicks should be about fledging by them?? not much housework getting done in this house!
Ravers
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 17:09
Let's keep the fun going and keep an audio list for the webcam. So far we have Osprey, Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Siskin, Valc's had Cuckoo. Any further addition anyone?
ospreywatcher
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 17:46
Fantastic. I can't wait for each of the chicks to grow up. THIS TIME I was watching it hatch. It is incredible!!
Lorraine Gittins
Posted on Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 20:43
Did anyone see the third chick get fed when OVS brought a fish at about 20.15pm?I saw the little chick fall over backwards a couple of times which didn't help in the scramble for food, I hope he or she did ok in the end ,I am finding it hard to watch.
Robert
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 1:22
1am and all is qiute the chicks can sleep peacefully protected by such a caring and vigilant Mum.There is a sense of magic about the nest at night time a sort of avian karma.
Maureen
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 7:59

Hi gsnowey....yes I saw same as you...I don't think wee one got any food. He/she doesn't appear to be as strong as others......then again it can be VERY difficult to interpret behaviour/movements, espec. if you suffer from a vivid (creative I say) imagination like me.   Sometimes, I am finding it hard to watch BUT I wouldn't want to miss a thing, they are just so fascinating and GORGEOUS and we are all learning from 'our' wonderful LG Team and each other.

david gascoigne
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 8:15

WORRIES ABOUT THE THIRD CHICK...... The third chick is getting enough food at the moment, the older two will muscle in and demand EJ's attention when a fish is delivered...this is normal, but she does make sure that all three get their fair share.

allan family
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 8:50
I am delighted to hear that all the chicks are doing very well.Thankyou fot keeping us up to date. I really love to watch EJ feeding the chicks. Nicholas Allan (age 7)
Carol
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 9:25
Thanks David for reassuring us all. The few times I have seen EJ feeding the chicks I noticed she was very careful to make sure the smallest chick was fed, feeding the older two first to keep them quiet and the very gently feeding the youngest which doesn't need quite as much food yet anyway. EJ is a very successful parent providing the eggs hatch and I am supporting OVS as well. He left his established nest at the easy fishing at Rothiemurchus to stay with EJ only to be ousted by Henry!( Thanks David for the bio's of the birds)
Nigel Reeves
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 10:51
Thanks, David, for reassuring us about chick no.3. It's very hard for us to watch when he/she appears to get no food, but good to hear your expert opinion that all's well. We'll be up in July and looking forward to seeing 3 large, healthy chicks!
Rob
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 11:57
Fish arrived a few minutes ago - and all chicks seem to be getting their fair share!
Trish
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 12:12
Just caught the end of a meal being fed to the chicks. As soon as it was finished EJ started food soliciting, presumably it was a starter sized fish!
Lorraine Gittins
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 12:37
Thanks David for your reassurance about 3rd chick and the food situation I won't worry so much now I know all is ok. Thank you too Maureen ,I think EJ is a beauty and an exceptionally good Mum, so gentle too. What is amusing me at the moment, is when the chicks heads pop out the front of EJ when she is resting and she looks as if she doesn't quiet know what to do with them
Maureen
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 13:16
1pm........My, My, My.....when EJ is standing up looking at her brood 'our' little bully is really just a cute bundle of fluff cuddling into his/her siblings.......EJ 'probably' thinks her first 'born' is so good/well behaved!!!
Andi.K
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 13:27
EJ food calling again....lovely to see chicks looking so well, even the little one is holding himself upright very well now.
Peter Osprey
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 16:20
This is addictive. We visited the centre on Tuesday. A 120 mile drive from our holiday cottage near Stirling. Worth every minute of the drive. I would encourage anyone who can to visit the centre. The voluneers are fantastic, very knowledgable and patient, no doubt answering the same questions 100's of times a day. Back home now but glued to the webcam.
Vivlus
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 16:36
I'd like to thank all at Lochgarten for their patience and helpful attitude whenever I call. I've been ospreywatching since we accidentally discovered Lochgarten when on our way back from Aviemore. having had lots of good luck seeing each egg as soon as they were seen at all and then spotting each chick on time I'd not seen OVS for days so called to enquire. I got a really informative and pleasant answer which allayed my fears and told me more about what I'd been seeing and didn't understand. Unfortunately one can't be there 24/7!!! Thank God someone does this fabulous job for us all. Thankyou all
Vivlus
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 17:05
How helpful and informative are the staff at Lochgarten! I've been ospreywatching avidly since we accidentally found Lochgarten on the way back from Aviemore on 15th April. Just lately though I have had to work etc so hadn't seen OVS for days. It was so good to have the blog to keep me up to date and save me from worrying but today I saw behaviour from EJ that I didn't understand and I thought one of the chicks was dead!! I was horrified so called the centre. It was explained to me why the chick was playing possum and more besides. Thankyou so much. Thank God that someone does this fantastic job and enriches our lives as well as the birds. The least we can all do is support. Vivlus
Nigel Reeves
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 17:22
17.15- fish arrived! Little one seemed to be getting a good share till it fell over backwards and lost it's place! Hope it will soon get much stronger and able to hold it's own!
finta
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 17:38
Logged in about 17.15 to see all three chicks sitting in a neat row waiting to be fed! Then chick 3 fell over onto it's back and was flailing around trying to get up for a while. It's probably my imagination, but I thought chick 2 was turning round to help it get up....or more likely saying "Oi! Get off my foot!" It was such a relief to see EJ feeding chick 3 so well...EJ is funny though! Sometimes it looks as if she's going to feed one of them, and then she wolfs it down herself! ;-D This site is such a joy...thanks to everyone at the Centre, and all you commentators too!
Andi.K
Posted on Sunday, 1 June 2008 at 18:39
Just tuned in to see EJ feeding chicks....I can only see 2...where is the other one?? ...Just given myself a heart attack.it was underneath the other 2...oh, thank goodness...I think I am getting far too involved what an earth will I be like when they start to fledge??.
Maureen
Posted on Monday, 2 June 2008 at 1:03
On the same wave length as you Andi.K....have lost count of 'panic' attacks because I couldn't see smallest 'baby'.......a few blogs back, after eggs hatched, I said we would soon be witnessing amazing, amusing and strange behaviours.......little did I know it would be the 'bloggers' behaviour...........THE ONLY 'NORMAL' BEHAVIOUR BEING DISPLAYED AT THE MOMENT IS THE OSPREY FAMILIES'!!!!!! The LG Team are giving us wonderful information and keeping us reassured:THANKS!

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