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Thank you Claire for taking the time and effort to print out the "fishing facts." Could you hazard a guess at the size and type of fish that EJ brought in yesterday please? Pru

REPLY - We think it was roughly an eighteen inch headless brown trout.  Claire.

Thank you, Claire, very informative.  I get on with all the things I have to do during the day, but every now and then I just HAVE to pop back in and see what the family are up to now!  It's absolutely enthralling :D  My husband keeps saying "are you looking at those birds again?" which is a mistake on his part because I then start telling him what has just happened!!

Thanks for that Claire, it was great to see her returning last night with the fish. Was begiinning to get edgy and relieved this morning when other bloggers were also getting concerned lile myself.  How do you put up with us. we should have more faith in this very 'liberated' bird and should know by now that'll she'll do it her way and not exactly as it says on the tin.

Claire- Thank you for taking the time to show us your fish delivery chart. Watching the webcam it doesn't always appear that the fish are big enough for EJ and three chicks. I thought that was why EJ went fishing and as Elizabeth said, No. 3 never seems to be satisfied. EJ's fish certainly kept them all quiet but as you say, they certainly all look amazing. Thank you.

EJ is certainly a special bird, she is a born survivor that's for sure. I noticed she was away quite a lot yesterday but I wasn't worried as I knew she would be back. Elizabeth, EJ is just a baby compared to Marge at the LotL, she has many seasons ahead of her yet. Less than 2 weeks and we will be in Scotland for a full fortnight...yippee

Thank you Claire for the update and the chart - hopefully the folks that didnt watch last year now realise that SuperOdin is doing a SUPER job so will give him a break , the chicks look amazing and I am sure EJ decided she needed a while away and thought my babies are fine now without me , they are fed and watered plus their Dad is around to look after them , it would have been lovely to see Odin feed them  - makes me wonder even more if this is his first taste of fatherhood and wasnt quite sure whether to or not , he certainly looked a little nervous , is it the experienced fathers that feed ????  So no problem EJ we wont worry if you are missing for a few hours - I think you have quite a few babysitters watching your babies besides Odin !!!!

Thank you so much Claire,

I think you have put all our mind at rest once more,, isn't it funny how soon we all forget about the years gone by,, OVS was a terrible provider even though I loved him so,,, and in 2007 when EJ laid 7 eggs,, well,, that was just a miricle, what a girl !!!

This year we have a wonderful stable family, something EJ has needed for a few years,, Odin is just one very special boy,, mind you he would have to be,, wouldn't he,, EJ is one of a kind and a wonderful mother too,

Thank you again Claire, I bet you were all worried yesterday like we were,, EJ does keep us all on our toes though,,,

Chrissy

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17:53 Odin delivers a large fish.  The last was a biggie too!!  EJ seems to have got the message over - size matters!!  lol

Thanks Claire for the chart on the fish deliveries!!  It is great to compare last year and this year. EJ has her own ideas of what  is normal Osprey behavior LOL

Elizabeth I think #3 is a clone of Nethy. She  was  very aggressive and  also had  a bottomless pit  for food. We teased that she  had to move frequently on her  migration because she  probably ate all the  fish in a  lake where she  rested.

EJ is just amazing. I have been sat watching her calling for Odin to bring yet more food and, sure enough, he produced another tail end.  She sure gets vocal when either she is hungry or the chicks need feeding.

REPLY - EJ will only call for food when Odin is in the area, so when you heard her she could see Odin eating his share of the fish on a nearby tree.  Claire. 

Odin just brought in a wonderful masive pink salmon headless ofcours,, he stayed for a bit,, fiddled with a few twigs and flew off to the right,,, where on earth does littleee put all that food,, I think he has hollow tallons,, he seems to eat twice as much as the other two put together,,,, MUM'S turn to feed now, Bless her,, though littleee is looking rather longingly at her again,, that chick will burst !!!

Chrissy

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REPLY:  Large trout Chrissy, much less likely to be a salmon.  -  Richard

Another fish and well done Odin. It has been mentioned that Odin should feed the children every now and then. I am sure EJ has high standards and like most men he wouldn't get it quite right anyway.Thanks Claire for the stats it makes it easy for everyone to see how good the boy is.I am lucky as I can come and read the boards with scores for myself.

REPLY - It is unusual for the male to feed the chicks.  We have seen it with Henry, our male from 2003-2007 and in 1993 when the male reared the chicks after the female died in the July.  Claire.

Thanks a lot Claire! Very interesting to see the figures like that :) I remember last year, but this makes it so clear and confirms what a great, great guy Odin is.

This was a great scene .EJ is feeding #3---  #2 is  hiding  behind #1.-- #3 came toward #2 to attack it.--- #1 stood up to defend #2 and #3 reconsidered and backed off!!  Did anyone see if #2 got fed?

WOW, EJ is certainly a supermum isn't she. Simon ought to make a new outfit I think !!!.

Thanks to everyone for your good wishes on our retirement..

The packers are here tomorrow...the place is boxed up and sounds tinny and empty BUT the good news is that as they are here for 2 days packing away they say I can have the computer till Wed...Yippeeee...So I can check on the little chicklets for one last day..How sad am I !! :-)

I like the idea of learned behaviour Claire.It would mean that EJ is evolving her behaviour and that is wonderful and can only be good for the health of all 3 chicks. The Goshawk mum was hardly ever there once they had feathered up so maybe Ospreys too will learn that to feed a large clutch they need to be out more and constantly fishing. That way the adults will also be very fit for when they leave as they can eat more too...Marvelous.

Thank you so much Claire for taking ther time to do the fish chart.  You're a gem.  I hope Jane A checks the blogs and sees it.  It;ll brighten her day I hope.  xx

I can't tell the difference between 1 and 2 but I think2 is lighter somehow and he is a boy... nagged by the two girls.  

Do not have much time to comment, but watch the blog everyday. The chicks are really looking good, how big they are!! Odin is a fantastic fisherman, and EJ, EJ is a very special osprey!! Saturday we are travelling to Scotland,  and somewhere around the 14th of july we will be in Grantown on Spey  at the campsite and come and visit you there. Looking forward to it very much!!

As a very recent addict I have about a million questions to ask - I would love to ask them in person, however, with a young daughter and very old dog it really isn't practical to travel from South Wales for a visit! I'd love to know though, whether you receive any information if any young from previous years are identified elsewhere as part of a breeding pair perhaps? We obviously know the fate of last year's chicks thanks to the satellite trackers, but as all previous young are ringed do you get to know if any have returned? And is there any legislation protecting them in their wintering grounds? I also think that, given the amazing odds that these beautiful birds battle against to survive, return and breed, we are exceptionally lucky to see 3 healthy sparring chicks in the nest, with all the signs looking so positive for their immediate future.  I also think that EJ and Odin are a truly awesome pair, although I  have a funny feeling that I'm going to discover the true meaning of "empty nest syndrome" - What on earth will I do with my time??

EJ certainly is an enigma!!!

18.50 None of them can eat another bite they're sooo full!!

After eating, Chick 2 goes over to 1 and 3 to lie down... 3 gets up and they give each other a look as if to say "Are you going to attack me or am I going to attack you!?" Both decide they are too full and content to bother and snuggle down side by side. Three happy and stuffed chicks again!

The fish was huge and all three are totally stuffed! At one point  EJ was trying to force feed #3!! When #3  won't eat more you know it was a  huge fish. EJ ate  quite a bit too.

In response to Elizabeth, I'm of the self same opinion, they make an amazing pair. The female osprey at Loch of Lowes is in the region of/over 20 years old and still going strong so hopefully we'll have many more years of EJ watching to come. Do the team know what the maximum age would be for a breeding female or do they continue on until the end of their lives?

REPLY - The oldest known osprey was 32 years old, and the oldest known breeding bird was 28 years old, unfortunately I don't know if this was a male or female.  Claire.

Claire, I for one must admit that what EJ did yesterday has not surprised me in the least. I sometimes have 'spooky' premonitions and I had thought last week that she would know that there are three vialbe chicks in the nest this year. My thoughts went thus - she would clock that although Odin is a good provider, to feed her and three now very large offspring is a big ask and would tax any male. So being a clever girl and probably feeling a bit hungry having to share the deliveries with Nethy mark 11 and 111 it is not at all surprising that she would be a good 'wife' and bring a bit herself. She is amazing isn't she.

Ha Ha

Good old EJ - we all know how special she is - she doesn't need to prove it to us!! Have just been watching her on the nest and she appears to be nodding off on top of the chicks.Hope it's not signs of old age creeping up.

REPLY - EJ is 12 this year.  16 is the average age for an osprey, so i like to think she is in her prime.  Claire.

Hi BarbaraJean,

Yes Chick #2 is getting a good feed, going in after the other two have settled down.  I have seen this happen after the delivery of two fish today.

I was concerned for it yesterday but it is much more cunning than we give it credit for :)

Sorry Barbara Jean I meant Barbara Anne any way Simon is still on the case...easier than emptying the dishwasher!

Let's have none of this ageism! Let's consider EJ to be in her prime for as long  as she breeds successfully. And in case any of you were thinking of it, we're certainly don't want any non-pc remarks about EJ's toy-boy boyfriend. Mind you, if I was a female osprey I wouldn't  exactly object to such a fine specimen as Odin.

But seriously, does anyone know if it's true that young chicks have a disproportionately large crop so that they can go for a long time between feeds?

So Sisters are doing it for themselves again in 2009. Brilliant EJ. What a girl! But then Odin, what a boy!

Thanks Claire for all the fish info.

Claire, at what age were the chicks when the female died in 1993, sound like a bit of an uphill challenge to me?

REPLY Can't remember exactly, but certainly a bit older than our chicks are just now, maybe a week or so older.  Very fortunately, they were just at the point when they start to grab fish brought in to the nest and, begin to rip it up for themselves. At first they just looked at the fish awaiting to be fed, but then hunger kicked-in and their curiosity, and they started to peck at the fish and before long they were off, feeding themselves.  Had we lost the female just a fraction earlier, then it would have been a very different outcome.  It is of course possible that the male might have begun to feed them in earnest.  -  Richard

20:35 All quiet - the 3 chicks appear to be trying to sleep off their last meal. Totally stuffed and unable to move. Long may it continue. But no doubt this family will have more surprises for us.

Well Barbara Anne that's it not very girly but the dishwasher still needed sorting and as we all know it's only women and female Ospreys that can multi task.

thank you from me as well Claire for the "fish comparison" Show what a "wonderkid" Odin is, and what a one of a kind EJ is:)

It is over an hour since the last fish came in and the chicks are still so full all they can do is lie there asleep.

Barbara Anne, so glad you have an extra day's viewing before the computer is packed away.  I wish you all the best for your move and for your retirement.  It won't be long until you fill your life with so many interests that you will wonder how you ever found time to work!!!

Aren't our pair of ospreys wonderful?  EJ relieved her boredom, honed her fishing skills, supemented the food supply and demonstrated to Odin just what was required of him now.  I, too, think Odin is young and still learning this parenting business.  However, he has taken the hint given by EJ, stepped up to the plate and increased the size of fish he brings in.  I think we can all rest assured now, that none of the chicks will go hungry to the point of starving.  If they inherited genes from both these wonderful parents, just think how wonderful thes chicks might be as adults!

Claire thanks for being on blog watch this time of the evening.

Hi Amy here long time no speak as dad has been away racing his car. I have been watching from nursery but can't write on blog as the school does not have a sign-in. The RSPB was in last week with an award for our school but I can't remember what it is as I'm only 5. My dad says I should ask you if it would be possible to call the youngest chick Middleton after my nursery school as the teahers are to busy to blog and ask themselves and they are all a bit shy unlike my dad. I have watched today and the chicks seem to growing really quickly and EJ is'nt big enough now to cover them all. I have to go to bed now as I have nursery tomorrow so NIteNite to everyone, EJ, Odin and the chicks zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Sorry Richard and thanks for the answer to Simon's question. Just out of curiosity do we know what happened to Mum?

REPLY:  There was a lot of fishing line in the nest, both lengths and a ball of the stuff.  The female and one of the chicks were both attached to it.  So when the female tried to lift off, she dragged the chick up into the air with her, but she had to drop back down onto nest, obviously unable to fly off with the weight of an attached chick.

We watched helplessly, knowing that if we went out to help, shye would fly off and drag the chick with her.  Eventually, an intruder (a buzzard I think it was) spooked the female and she went to fly off, dragged the attached chick across the nest in a heart-stopping moment, but at the very point when she would have dragged the chick over the side and they both would have crashed to the ground in a heap, miraculously the line broke, leaving the chick behind.  She flew off, trailing a large bird's nest of nylon line around her feet and legs, but in her absence giving us the chance to go up to the nest, disentangle the chick and remove all line from and then retreat.  The female though, never returned.

Such is the bond between female and young, if she was able to return to the nest she surely would have done, and because she didn't it is our view that she almost certainly landed in a tree somewhere and the line snagged on a branch and strung her up.  We searched and searched  for her, but she was never found.  Even now, I often wonder whether we'll one day discover an osprey skeleton hanging in a tree somewhere.

It was horrible to watch and of course, this is what likely happened to Odin, only he managed to escape, mercifully.  It really was a close call that he had.  -  Richard 

Richard have you ever considered putting a perch up for Ej or would it not be practical.  I know you don't often look at other sites but lotl female always looks more comfortable perched on the branch off the nest, but still there. Convenience of a nest in a tree I suppose

REPLY:  There are perches enough in the nest tree, below the nest off-camera, The young, once fledged often use these.  Also the pillar in which the nest-cam is mounted is used by her at times, but it just can't be seen on the camera/webcam.  -  Richard

My God I was just watching a feed and the little one was getting a lot of fish while the other 2 were just sitting waiting, then the middle one seemed to be trying to push the little one out of the nest. My heart was in my mouth.

Feeding time again and I am not sure that everyone wants to eat as they have been so well fed today.  think it is 3 who is having a go anyway.  Always happy when I see supper being served late evening.

Hi Richard,

Is it a given,,,, that next year EJ and Odin will pair up again,, or will they look for different partners,, once they have had a family like this year,, will they now stay together for life ???

Thank you,

Chrissy

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REPLY - Hopefully this partnership will continue on this nest.  Osprey change partners, as EJ has in the past when one of the pair fail to make their migration (as with Orange VS this year) or if they believe that their partner is late back from migration that they think it has perished.  As Henry was a late returner, EJ often let Orange VS mate with her before Henry returned, thinking that Henry had perished.  She has made a 3,000 mile migration from West Africa to have and raise chicks, and so will accept another mate if she thinks her previous mate has perished.  There has been no sightings of Orange VS this year, so EJ was right to accept Odin, especially after his impressive display flights.  Claire.

Well now I've seen it all, biggest chick giving way to the middle one in the feeding rankings. Middle chick seems to be the 'bully' of this years clutch.

Odin just delivered another fish. #'s 1 & 2 are waiting until #3 eats. #3 pushed   #2. away from the fish and toward the edge of the nest. #1 laid down to wait. It is a good size fish so there will be plenty for everyone. When #3 was full  and  walked away #1  walked up to eat. Amazing that #3 is displaying such dominance over the  two older chicks. #1 now full and just #2 still eating.  

what a great feed that was. Odin came in with a super fish.

Everyone is completely full and all 3 chicks had as much as they could eat and more. EJ was resorting to feeding them while they were lying in the center of the nest.

C3 certainly has got C2 intimidated but as long as the fish keep coming in we should see 2 being stuffed like he is now.:)

Oh Simon,  what a picture.!!! Brilliant...You are so clever.

I will save that one and make it into a mousemat when I get the computer up and running again !

And Thanks Wendy and Wattle for the messages. Well off to bed, packers here at 7.45 for heavens sake !!! Going to be a long day, but I will have the computer on with sound so I will here EJ and the kids screaming when something exciting happens...!!! Nightttttt

Thanks for your report Claire. It certainly puts my mind at rest to have the expert's knowledge and thanks for the tally of fish brought in.

9.13pm....Odin brought a huge fish for supper.

       #3 first to approach EJ had a good feed.

       #'s 1/2 waiting on the sidelines..#2 fed up waiting

       so pushed #3 out of the way..had a good feed.

       #1 not showing any interest until #2 was finished

        then had a good feed.

This was a lovely civilised mealtime, maybe it will be like this always....we can but dream!

Hello AMY I was wondering where you were, it is nice to have you back. The chicks are very big now and sometimes their 'Mum' can't sit on them because of that. I think the wee one should be called 'cheeky' because it is always pushing the other two to get to the food first.

ANNETTEinSOCAL.. wonderful night reports..keep them coming.

I'd like to thank eveybody for their blogs...they are great.

CLAIRE: Odin did try to feed #3chick last night but only managed a couple of bits...he wasn't sure.

Nearly forgot.....have a look everyone at RYE MEADS webcam

and the nest which has been BUILT. It looks like the scaffolders have been in!!!!!!!

Nite Nite AMY-EJ-ODIN and their 'babies'.

I have just logged onto the blog to catch up with events from yesterday - no more trips for EJ today then!  I don't want this to sound negative or focussing on the fighting in anyway, but doesn't it seem that chick 1 is less violent compared to chicks 2 and 3 now?  I've witnessed more spats between #2 and #3 in the last 24-48 hours - is there anything that perhaps suggests female chicks are more aggressive?  I just wonder what has brought about the change in behaviour...

REPLY:  It could just be that #1's size advantage over the other two, means that it just doesn't need to be quite so agreesive now, because it just wades in and is assured of the lion's share of any food available, as and when it wants it.  No need to fight for it so much.  Whereas the other two, can compete on more equal terms, so its worth them having a pop at each other.  Just a thought.  -  Richard 

Just checked the osprey family before I shut down the computer ... what a lovely sight ... EJ and the 3 young ones all peaceful ... and no hungry calling ... I think they've ALL stuffed themselves today :))

EJ really is one fantastic Osprey and Mother isn't she.... it's just amazing how she can can be practically nest bound from the 3rd April and then one day in mid June, she just takes herself off to go fishing and come back with an 18inch trout!! - no pre flight work out, other than the odd fly round the nest area and yet she's still fit enough to go and catch a whopper of a fish! that's amazing and probably a credit to how well Odin has been supplying a good quantity of quality fish to be able to sustain her and keep her and the chicks all in tip top condition.

Thanks so much for all the facts and figures Clare, I love the blog almost as much as I love watching the Nest - I have learnt so much from reading all the comments, questions and answers, (I'm a newbie and my first year) and I think it's just fantastic ......... Thank you RSPB &  all at LG.... and to think that EJ Odin & the Chicks just dont have a clue how much of a fan club they have and how much they're loved by us all :-)

23.15 two chicks sleepin and one sitting up beside Mum, looking straight at the camera.  Had to resist the temptation to wave!.. Still don't know which is which, they've all got so big.  The 'watcher' did a spectacular headstand.  Must be a night-bird.

23:16  EJ's head keep drooping right down as she tries to sleep but the chicks keep fidgeting and waking her up.  She looks soooooo tired.  Me too - off to bed now.  Pru

For comments on longevity of ospreys see page 110 of "Life of Ospreys" by Roy Dennis. It was the male that was at least 28 years old and the female of the partnership was at least 25 years old. The pair were together 22 years.

Amazing! What a thoroughly sensible girl is our EJ! Re osprey life expectancy, 16 is the new 12, dontcha know! And MARGOBIRD: Just remember "It's always 5 o'clock somewhere" (or 17 o'clock in your case), so remember that when you feel like a celebratory Pimms. I've been gone all day; have to go out AGAIN this evening. Darn! By the time I log in later tonight, you'll probably all be up and glued to the monitors again.

....but before I go out, have time to report all snoozy on the osprey front at 1 a.m. UK time.

I have read the blog and replies with great interest, and thanks Claire for the stats...... but can you just imagine what wonderful birds these little ones are going to be with parents like they have, a feisty modern Mum and a Dad who could disentangle himself from all that fishing line.... what a dynasty EJ and Odin are creating, with their rule breaking upbringing of their young, and determination .... watch this space and hopefully one of these days one of these chicks will return to the nest of their birth, and just imagine the brood they may have, and continuing sage of the Loch Garten Osprey, golly I can hardly wait to visit again!  I feel very fortunate to have been watching this special pair and their family........ just looking forward to seeing them fly.  

REPLY - Yay, I like your comment, however, when the juveniles return to bred at 3 years old, they tend to return to site within a 50km radius of the nest they fledged from, rather than their nest itself.  Claire.

Quick night report (nowhere near as detailed or interesting as Annette!) Seems to be just getting light (3am) and EJ wide awake (perhaps looking forward to her first fish of the day) and chicks asleep around her:)

Night shift report: EJ has taken two exercise flights I think just to get away from the  "loud piercing" food calls from #3 . That chick is certainly persistent

5:30 a.m. UK time. (9:30 p.m. SoCal). Good morning LG. Just got in, so hope I haven't missed too much excitement! Happy to see sunshine your end of the world and chicks awake and everyone apparently getting along. Let's hope it's a good day, full of fat fish and full tummys. Nighty-night.

This is the first year I have been following the ospreys at Loch Garten and it's certainly addictive. I was luckly enough to see the Tesco carrier bag incident! When do you expect to ring this year's chicks and is it possible to let us know in advance so that we can watch from sunny Devon?

REPLY:  Bob K, can't be precise re ringing. There is a specific slot in which to do it, but it depends on weather on the scheduled day.  In any case, you will not see that much o screen, just the removal of the chicks from the nest (under licence) and then a while later you'll see them returned, with their bling.  It all happens at ground level, safer for them and for us.  -  Richard

Barbara Anne - I second what Wattle 15 says - you'll wonder how you ever had time to work!  There are just too many good things to do and I envy you the days you'll spend exploring your new environment and seeing all the new wildlife.  That alone would keep me occupied for a few years!  Enjoy your retirement and get back on line as fast as you can!

Thanks Claire for the fish list.  Odin is remarkably consistent.  I did wonder on the blog yesterday whether EJ would start to fish too as they have 3 mouths to feed, as well as themselves.  It would make a lot of adaptive sense and would increase the chances of all three chicks making a successful migration.  If this is learned behaviour on EJ's part it would be interesting to see if the female chicks also do this when it's their turn to breed.

Re dominance - the latest news on the LoTL website says that their younger chick has become the dominant one.  So it looks as if pecking order isn't necessarily determined by order of birth.  Just like human families in fact!

Morning all. To answer a couple of questions:

Re: how the satellite tags work and what they look like, we've got a frequently asked questions page which should help.

50 km is 31 miles.

Tues 2:41 pm UK (9:41 am  USA} Whoa! 2 chicks just rushed the third and a fierce free-for-all ensued.  Ended with the attacked (#2??) in submission, one of the attackers (#1???) in semi-submission and the third (#3???), although still standing, didn't look very triumphant.  Unfortunately, I could not identify any of the chicks.   Camera angle distorts size, and they look so much alike otherwise to me above  ## are mostly a wild guess.