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David you started well but surely you should have said ' we are relieved happy and eggsited' !!!!!!!! I know you said eggsiting but you should have gone all the way !!! So I am eggsited for sure at seeing 3 eggs - now will there be four ??? maybe with all this mating its a possible , I cant wait to see Odin the stick when I come up in July and EJ and all the babies oh I am eggsited !!! So when done EJ and Odin and congratulations to all at LG .

REPLY - Three is the average clutch size for osprey, so we are anticipating any more eggs. David

:)) Hehe, no problem, "eggtastic" is a very suitable word in the context.

Big thanks for the update David, much appreciated!!

Congratulations AGAIN EJ and Odin!

Thanks for all the statistics re Odin and EJ. It is also very pleasing to see all the primary schools who are interested in the Ospreys. I believe it should be compulsory in all schools. Where else can children see nature live and learn so much about life.

Congratulations and thanks so much for such a prompt report of the egg. I'm sure you had to "drop everything" to post this so thank you:)

It looks as if everything went 'eggsactly' to plan David!! ;o)  just wonderful to see 3 eggs in the nest again.  Let's hope and pray they all hatch and the chicks are all as strong as each other and everyone gets their fair share. Six weeks time or thereabouts we should know...xx

There you go then an egg during the night. Great news

Great news about the 3rd egg.  I couldn't quite decide what Davids reply to Valeries first comment in this blog meant.  So, are you anticipating more eggs?  

REPLY - No we are not anticipating any more eggs, as three is the normal clutch size.  Claire

I,

'm not joining in the egg yolks!  Isn't this really wonderful - Odin has certainly been doing his best to ensure there would be a full clutch!  Let's hope there will be no 'Wee Yins' this year.  Sadly I won't be able to get to LG until they have all left.

Fantastic news, I was watching yesterday when another osprey seemed to be trying to intrude on the nest, well done Odin and EJ for seeing them off!

Sue

Hi David, thank you for your most 'eggciting ' report!!! You've got me at it now.

Hi everyone Amy and dad here. Really late tonight as was out for my tea. Good to see EJ very happy and sitting peacefully on eggs. Amy would like to know if Odin would fly in during the dark night hours or does he roost on another tree somewhere?. Ace seeing it in the dark, Off to bed now nitenite fellow bloggers and everyone at Loch Gartenzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

REPLY: Odin tends to roost in another tree for the night. David.

22.01pm- EJ just went off for a (very)short wing-stretch - and I had my first view of all three eggs! Wonderful!

She was only gone for seconds  - marvellous the way that, even in the darkness, she knows exactly where the eggs are and sits down again oh, so carefully!

Must be scary writing your first blog knowing we will all notice - did the rest of the team make you put in those 'egg' jokes!  Anyway welcome and thanks for the update

REPLY: I tried to resist but had to give in eventually!

Great stuff! I was wondering if you had spotted any rings on the intruders? Any signs of Henry or OrangeVS returning to their old stamping-grounds?

REPLY: The intruders have been too far off and have not stayed around long enough to be able to spot any leg rings. David.

Odin just brought a huge fish for EJ. She  flew off the eat it and  he is  incubating the  eggs. He seems to  bring a  fish for  her each evening between 6:30 and 7:00 PM ( UK time)

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! I am soooo happy!! Now we are just waiting!

Great to see EJ flying off to enjoy her supper, what a great partner Odin as turned out to be.

I noticed Ej have a very short flight last night, she was off the nest and back on almost immediately. Are these short flights toilet breaks?

REPLY - EJ takes short exercise flights regularly. Debbie.

3 eggs for the Lake District ospreys now. It looks as though it will be an exciting time ahead all over the country. EJ and Odin are still my favourites.  

Late congratulations.  Training day at work yesterday and then out in evening so didn't get to a computer for long.   Great news, right on time!  Can't wait for the hatching!  I'm beginning to be more sure which bird I'm looking at even at the more difficult angles.  Odin is on the nest quite a lot.  I think it's really funny when one comes to take over and they sort of sit together with the sitter refusing to budge and the takeover bird sort of pushing in.  It's easy to imagine them having a quiet argument about whose turn it is now and who's had long enough.

Eggcellent eggsample of "egg" words David ;-).... Thanks for the update... Looking forward to July! When i am visiting for the first time.

Just after 10pm, and EJ's stirred to turn the eggs again.

She looks so content.

We are eggstremely eggcitied by te news and eggstemely gratefull to all at LG for your updates.  Thought EJ was a little restless when I could not sleep & logged on about 2am last night.

EJ looks very content on her nest this morning even tho' she is being buffeted by what looks like gale force wind. I was delighted, yesterday to see the swallows arrive to my bothy, having flown all the way from S. Africa, maybe. These powerful little birds can travel at great speed, up to 14m. a second, and can cover 300k. in a day. Aren't birds amazing?

Advice please.

How do you tell which bird is Odin and which is EJ. I've only once seen both at the nest and when the one I assumed to be Odin settled on the eggs he seemed to have quite a bit of white marking on his back.

Is this the case or was just the wind was blowing his feathers.

 REPLY: The best way to tell the difference is if you look at the front of the birds, EJ has a much more prominant brown bib on her front where as Odin has a much smaller bib. Apart from that, if you can see a leg ring it is EJ and also EJ is the bigger bird. David.

Fantastic news about the third egg.  So the days are now set with a very attentive Odin providing and helping out EJ with the sitting.  She does look so contented. Any news as to where we can send out cheques for the tagging!  Just seen all three eggs, thanks EJ, I love the way she wriggles back over them.

REPLY - Richard is currently investigating the possibilities surrounding the donations, and he will get back to you on that matter in a weeks time.  Debbie.

4.18pm Working in Office so sneaking looks at nest.  Odin has been on for ages. A few minutes ago he started calling and then he jumped up and started jumping about and shouting. I presume something he didn't like; either that or he got a sudden cramp!

I am beginning to tell them apart when there is only one like this  -  if Ringed, that's EJ, if a lot of brown chest, that's EJ.  If a little tab of brown chest, that's Odin.  I also think that Odin's head looks whiter when seen from the back or top, and he has a neat pattern of brown feathers on the crown of his head. Not yet 100% sure though.  Every time I get a positive ID I have a good check out of the feather arrangements.  I sometimes think I am going a bit over the top on this.  If the chicks take after Mum and Dad when they are big I might just have to give up.  

4.30 Eggs now Home Alone.

Please, someone, what was going on when Odin was in distress and calling EJ but she didn't respond.  He may have been seeing off intruding Ospreys but where is EJ. Odin left the eggs and is calling EJ from a tree nearby.PLease please let me know the outcome, I've got to go to work. Odin seems in distress.  Jane Allport

REPLY - Odin was alarm calling and mantling at that point to see off an intruder, this is normal behaviour for an osprey attempting to see off an intruder, as they try to make themselves as big, loud and intimidating as possible.  Debbie.

Thanks to all those who let me know that they had seen Odin with a fish today. I was about most of the day and watched more than usual but I had only seen EJ who was beginning to look very uncomfortable and calling for a long time.

If you really study the faces of both birds you can see how different they are. As Jane Allport says, EJ's face is much browner Odin's markings are more defined. The markings on the crowns are different, too, and the feathers in Odin's 'crest' are quite a bit longer.

Erica and Eric on Landward tonight looking good

It's 7.18pm and Odin has just brought in another piece of fish - think it was a piece as it didn't look too big.  What a lovin' couple they are - they seem really devoted to each other and the task in hand.  Just love the little mewing noises when they are briefly together xxx

At 7:15 UK time Odin brought  a fish for EJ.  He seems to bring her supper around the same time each day, between 6:30 and 7:30 (UK time) .

The two girls in my life have been following Ospreys for a long time. Last year and the year before they  did little else but watch the going ons. They now even have a laptop each so that I could get use of my own.  Looks like this year is not going to be any different and the weeding will be down to me again. Am I bitter, not a bit of it. If they're happy etc.  Looking forward to hearing about the hatchings.

Tweed valley ospreys now have 1 egg. Speaking of swallows I saw lots of them at Rutland Water at the beginning of April. Rutland water now have 2 pairs of ospreys on eggs.

Around 7.30pm Odin brought in another fish. Then incubated for quite a while whilst EJ went off and had supper.

It is amazing how EJ can just wait so patiently for the eggs and Odin for food. I can see he is doing a great job of it too. Have there been any more intruders lately? I hope not because EJ has enough to do right now!!

Amy here just off to bed so getting my last look at the Ospreys before the big snooze. Seems like the video is a bit stop start today is everything OK with it? Have'nt seen much action as not been on web but hopefully get more time tomorrow parents permitting. See you all tomorrow sleep tight EJ and Odin nitenitezzzzzzzzzz

I can tell them apart, I call Odin my norse warrior because he looks as if he has on an helmet with a long nose cover.

He certainly is looking after E.J. hope she has better luck this year. Do you think Odin will help feed the younge.

Had a full clutch of 8 great tit chicks hatch in the night of 23rd thursday in our garden box with camera ,all doing great growing allready got a good mom & dad feeding them well

Teresa Gardner

REPLY - That is an interesting question Teresa, Henry did sometimes help feed the chicks, but this is not customary for male osprey, I guess time will tell.  Debbie. 

Great news about the 3 eggs, fingers crossed they all hatch and get to fledge.  Just been watching EJ on the the nest for a few minutes and she looks so peaceful and content.  Odin is really proving himself to EJ and all the viewers, hope he keeps up the fish supplies and his fatherly duties when the chicks hatch.

Thanks Jane, very helpful. I did actually see both at the nest just now. I'm assuming the one sitting was Odin as the other didn't have a fish.

The sitter then, rather reluctantly got up and flew off.

Looks like a lovely day at LG and EJ appears to be very content. Odin still loathe to give up incubating when EJ rreturns. Just had a look at the Gos, she doesn't look at all comfortable and there is a strong wind blowing in the New Forest. Very noisy! LG is much more peaceful.

Not seen any fish brought to nest today ... come on Odin get your rod and line working .... Please !

CliveT

Has anyone at LG heard anything about the Goshawk in the New Forest as she looks as if she has been attacked on the nest. There are feathers blowing about and she doesn't seen to have moved for ages.

Once again, thank you for all your updates. On seeing various comments on the daily fish count brought in by Odin, is it not possible that when Odin is incubating the eggs that EJ goes to catch fish for herself or does she always stay in close proximity to the nest?

REPLY - EJ is in close proximity of the nest, usually perching on the camera tree to the right of the nest, either eating or preening, whilst Odin is incubating.  We would not expect her to start fishing again until the chicks have fledged, although she did attempt to rewrite the text books last year, by fishing before they fledged!  But we fully anticipate Odin to do all the fishing whilst the eggs are being incubated, and before the chicks fledge.  Claire

Phew! The Goshawk is OK. She's changed position. It's certainly a wild day in the New Froest.

Claire thank you so much for your full and prompt reply. It was with memories of last year that I thought EJ may take the opportunity to do some extra fishing but obviously last year she had little choice if she wanted to feed her chicks. Thank you.

Odin certainly seems to be doing more than his share of incubating the eggs. When I was watching this morning he was reluctant to let EJ back on the eggs.

Lots of activity at the nest today with an intruder about...lots of noisy shrieking both on and off the nest.

It seemed as if both Odin and EJ were defending the nest then both flew off to chase the intruder away.

then EJ came back to the nest followed by the intruder who tried to land or mate with her? she mantled over the eggs nearly treading on one of them then the intruder flew off.

EJ settled down over the eggs still looking all around with still noise off the nest.

Someone else on Facebook saw this too although both of us were slightly confused over what exactly was happening can you tell us anything about this incident? It was around 1pm and went on for a long time.

 REPLY - We did have an intruder at lunchtime which did attempt to land on the nest, however Odin chased it away very efficiently.  EJ was very careful around the eggs and they are fine.  Debbie.

Thank you Debbie we were a bit worried about the eggs..so glad all is fine.

Odin brought a fish for EJ. She was very impatient while he killed it and ate the head.  I am amazed that they instinctively  know they must kill the fish before  bringing it to the  nest.  A live  fish could  flop around and injure the eggs.  Also the male knows he needs to roll the  eggs when he incubates them.  

Hi quietwoman.....don't worry about Mrs.G in the Newforest. She has been doing a lot of preening since Wednesday and apparently they moult a lot at this time too. Isn't Odin marvellous for EJ?