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So that's what Ben was tweeting about. I guess it was a secret as my post questioning his tweet on Twitter didn't get posted! I hope you manage to get things sorted :)

Thank you for keeping us up to date Richard. I know you can do no more.

As you said in your last blog, we need to be patient!

As long as the family are doing well that is all we need to know really.

Once again, thanks Richard for keeping us in the loop on what's happening.  Shame about the camera problems, but the ospreys' welfare is the important thing and if we can't view things on Monday, so be it.   I well know how difficult it is to get anything sorted out over a week-end.  I think we all appreciate that all at LG are doing the best they can - I for one am most grateful for what we have been able to view up to now anyway.

Exciting to hear of the impending TV programme with Ben Fogle.  Hope you get a starring role, Richard!

What a shame and thanks for letting us know Richard. I will not pray for bad weather tho' as I think it important your team to ba able get on with the work of ringing and tagging as planned without disruption or delay. It is just bad luck for us bloggers and watchers. If the router problem is sorted out by then, great, but if not we will still have the photo's to look forward to. Good Luck :))

In the aircrew sargeants mess RAF Bardney there was a club and blacboard for the ''TABS'' club (THERE'S ALWAYS B....Y

SOMETHING)where all niggling incidents wer logged

it is indeed fortunate you have not got such a club - the site would by now have been littere with boards

Since stumbling accross the Osprey Webcams just before the chicks hatched we have been fascinated by the trilas and tribulation of EJ 7 Odon

Good Luck

Bryan.

That will be a very interesting programme to look forward to Richard.

I am sure you are all doing your level best, to sort out the webcam problems and we will just have to be patient, dissappointing as it is :(

Hello BigRab74! I hope that this blog will be published because my dear husband wants to give you a message (in fun, of course!) He says that you are very obviously much better educated than him, regarding proper pronounciation! However, and I quote as best as I can---  'Tell him he disnae ken fit he's spikken aboot' - and went on to tell me a story about a non local chap who was asked to introduce the tug of War at ? Inverurie Games. This gentleman introduced the local team as being from Ben-aa-chee and the whole crowd erupted in laughter!  Obviously just a crowd of' fairmers', as they say there!  Whatever, its all good fun, and we have enjoyed your pictorial extras very much indeed.

Richard, thank you very much for keeping us up  to date. (I nearly typed "keeping us in the picture" but I didn't think that exactly appropriate at the moment!) You must be almost wishing that it was back in the days of 1988 without all the technology which goes wrong. Love the names, I walked to Loch Mallachie when up in May, it is truly beautiful, does it hold fish and would Odin use it when he returns so quickly as he does sometimes? Best wishes to you all and perhaps one day technology will develop a conveyor from oven to centre for cake!! Liz

I am sure many of us will be disappointed that the webcam is down.

That't life and we cant help technical breakdowns, but we will all be looking forward to it being up and running again soon.

We had several flashes of lightening south of Inverness during thursday evening and night and wouldnt be at all surprised if LG had a strike too, just glad it wasnt the nest which took a strike!

I had been wondering about the safety of the nest during thunderstorms - considering how exposed many osprey nests are at the top of old trees or artificial nests on posts, have there been any reports of nests being struck by lightning?  The same comment also applies to storks nests in Europe.  I read a rather gruesome report yesterday of a crow being struck, then falling into a field and setting it on fire!

A quick update, a third fish has been delivered and gobbled up by the chicks very quickly! Also a huge thank you to those who have brought cake to the centre, you are too kind and we really really appreciate it (he says while stuffing himself with a slice of swiss roll :) )

The break in cam service really hones ones appreciation – many many thanks RSPB and LG in particular for such a wonderful opportunity the live streaming video brings to us. But yes, we can and will be patient. And in case the news didn't get through: Mrs G is sitting on three brand new eggs on her very own NF nest.

Hi guys - missing the webcam - coming up to see you all next week - arriving in Boat of Garten late Saturday - you may recognise some of us with our tee shirts!  Looking forward to Richard's talk on Monday week.  Our sea eagle chicks at Loch Frisa on Mull are doing one - one has left home already and the second about to go as I write this.  Look forward to meeting up with colleages at the centre.  Could I also put a plug in here for anyone who hasnt signed our Bird of Prey Pledge yet - a golden eagle was found poisoned in Glen Orchy a couple of weeks ago - we have to stop this - please encourage family and friends to sign too

http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/birdsofprey/

Camera / Router problems: What will be will be Richard - up until now we have been spoilt with the coverage of the Arrival of EJ & Odin, Mating, Eggs and the 3 wonderful healthy chicks almost to fledging so any further coverage will be a huge bonus and speaking for myself and many others my I say it has been a pleasure and greatly appreciated.

Thanks to you and the LG crew.

On another note I have just enrolled to Countryfile.

CliveT

just managed to catch up - have had my own grandchick here for a few hours- 6months old and full of energy unlike his poor old granny. thanks for the update - disappointing for us watching but hope all goes accordingly on monday morning. as others have already said the birds are priority and they must always come first. if the camera is not up and running at ringing/tagging time at least we will be able to get details and some picture at a later time so all is not lost. good luck to you all.

Hello Richard:Many thanks for keeping us informed of the current 'webcam' hiccup..... I do find that it leaves a gap in the day as tracking the LG family has become part of my day, and I check every morning to see if it is up and runninng. However it makes me appreciate much more the fact that I have the opportunity to see nature close up, and you and your amazing volunteers at the centre.  I am just hoping that one of the Canadian TV networks decides to show the 'BBC's Countryfile' programme or that they wait to show it in Scotland till the beginning of September, when I hope to be in the UK again.  Thanks.  Alison

Clearly the router problem is out of your control.  I appreciate your valiant attempt to fix it. I won't pray for  rain on Monday. The chicks are developing so rapidly that  it would be awful if one  of them unexpectedly  fledged and couldn't be caught to ring. Furthermore, there is  very little we can see of  the  ringing and tagging process since the chicks are  lowered to the  ground to do it.  Last year  you posted great pictures of the  ringing and I  hope you can do that again.  If we need an "Osprey watching fix" we have BigRab's  videos  :) Thanks for  the updates!!

Firstly thank you Richard for the update , I set off tomorrow for Loch Garten and hopefully at some point will be able to see the webcam and read any news .

JANEALLPORT I am very confused when you say Mrs G is sitting on three eggs in the NF , what exactly do you mean are you talking about Goshawks and New Forest ????, the Goshawks laid 4 eggs but only two chicks survived and they have fledged now and they are in the process of putting the webcam onto a hobbys nest that has two eggs in it , so I am very confused by what you said and perhaps so are others , can you explain what you mean . http://www.newforestgateway.org/Wildcam/LiveCameras/tabid/117/Default.aspx this is the link but all is not clear yet see message at top of screen .

In the absence of moving pics:

My sister keeps hitting me in the eye - ouch!

"Mum, when can I fly, Oh when can I fly?"

Our Dad keeps revolving in vast arcs in the sky:

"Oh, Mum, please, when can I fly?"

All day long I will cry, "Oh, Mum when can I try -

When, oh when, can I jump the nest, and into the sky?"

Now I'm stretching my wings, Doing grown-up things

And dreaming of Africa's warmth on those wings.

I want to catch fish and shriek a real Osprey cry -

"Oh, Oh, Look!  Mum I CAN fly!!"

Good morning all! Geez. Too bad about the webcam, but we'll survive. Guess I'll be forced to go watch fireworks. Oh well. And, of course, there's always the men's finals at Wimbledon tomorrow, although we have to get up really early to watch that live here.

AQUILAREEN: Thanks for the info on following the chicks on Google Earth (another place I can spend hours and hours, even without chicks). Will this blog still be up at this point or will we be chewing our fingernails in solitude?

Re that Goshawk nest: I'm gathering it's not the original goshawk nest, but an entirely new nest occupied by the Hobby family? Do nests ever get reused by other birds, does anyone know?

Thanks for the July 4 wishes; have a lovely weekend all.

And thanks Richard et al, for the updates!

I cannot tell you how much I miss the ospreys! Practise for Aug / Sept I suppose. It will be great to see how they have changed in 4 (hopefully) days. Thank you all your updates - helps with the cold turkey!

BigRab74!  Sorry if you felt that my other half was saying you were wrong, not the case at all! He was just having a wee fairmerly laugh at himself and the way that he and his speak!!  Perhaps I didn't put that over very well. The NorthEast sense of humour and all that. Sure that you will understand - its me, from the West, that doesn't have that robust humour! Oh, for the return of the webcam---- My staircarpet has been worn out from the amount of times that I have been climbing up to the office here to look at the nest. Anyway, what a great thing it will be when all is fixed. Thanks to the team for keeping us all updated.

Richard.....thank you for your report and I know with you 'Masterminding' the repairs it will not be long until we are back in 'Ospreyland'. I do miss seeing them!!

In the Newforest nest it is Mrs. Hobby and like Richard they are trying to fix the camera.

Oh. Well, Valerie. All I know is when I view my 'old' link to the Goshawk nest it comes up with a bird and three eggs . Maybe it's just a 're run' then of events that have already happened? It certainly says 'Goshawk Nest' at the top of the screen. But when I follow your link I can see that they are changing the camera. SORRY. I thought maybe the Goshawks were having a second clutch. And obviously my link is now obsolete.

hello everyone...... I know it's late in the season to join in but I really wanted to thank everyone for such informative, sometimes funny,and always interesting comments !

I was lucky to spend 2 weeks with my husband in a log cabin near Inverness, we have been going there for many years, and the highlight of our holiday is always our trips to LG.  This year we were there just after the 3rd chick,or should I say Garten, hatched.  Since our trip I have been totaly hooked watching their progress !!

Apart from watching the brilliant BigRab videos to help my withdrawal symptoms I have also been watching the Loch of Lowes Ospreys.   Could I also say thanks to all the fantastic staff at LG, nothing ever seems to be too much trouble.

Thanks also for clearing up the mystery of the new bird on the Goshawk nest it looks like we will have a new brood to get addicted to.  Best wishes to everyone whichever part of the world you abide in !!!

Thanks for the update, Richard.  Technology can be great when it works and a total pain in the neck when it doesn't.  There must be something in the air (possibly lightening) with these webcams.  LG has lost the live camera, New Forest (now looking at a Hobby nest) has problems as well (like looking through snow) and Derby Cathedral Peregrine cam has frozen.  Everythings seems to be forcing me to watch the tennis final tomorrow instead of the web.  I hope all goes well on Monday as the chicks need to collect their bling.  If you get the chance please can you tell Roy Dennis that his osprey book is one of the most fasinating things I have read.

HeatherB - you (and your husband) have brightened up an already happy day!!  Whilst this is probably not the best avenue available to me to discuss it (given it's meant to be about ospreys!), the North-East dialect is something I hold very close to me.  You can let your husband know that I am only quoting what I heard when I was a 'Blue Mogganer' and as such I'm a fisher, nae a fairmer!  Even within the area that is broadly termed the 'North East' it never ceases to amaze me the difference even 15 miles makes. The North East is full of bizarre pronounciations - I think the classic is a place called Inverquhomery: I was always brought up that it was pronounced 'Innerthummry'!

Is it any wonder people get confused about pronounciations!

Sorry to hear about the technical problems - I am starting to develop a nervous twitch from withdrawal symptoms, but the most important thing is the chicks are safe and well.  Technical problems merely serve to demonstrate the sheer privilege we who watch the webstream have - it never ceases to amaze me what is possible with technology!  

Janeallport - no problem they are just working on the webcam at the moment and the headings I am sure will be changed when they are up and ready also the picture will be better , the hobby only has two eggs so not sure where you saw three (see NF info on right of screen) , it is wonderful to see the Hobby she was really good to watch last year and everyone should watch last years highlights of the squirrel/hobby here is the link

http://www.newforestgateway.org/TVFilmVideo/VideoPlayer/tabid/174/VideoId/35/Hobby--Squirrel-2008.aspx , having worked down at the NF this year please support them by watching the hobby , the link is on the Loch Garten page .

Lindybird: great verse!! I enjoyed the read very much.

REPLY: Whilst the web-cam is faulty, things like Lindybird's verse and BigRab's clips are akin to Cliff singing at Wimbledon, when rain stops play.  -  Richard

Don't know how patient I'll be, but I will wait as quietly and as graciously as I can manage until the cam comes back. Doing without shows how spoiled we've been, doesn't it?              Was so surprised to get the names so soon, as I thought the "Christening"  was simultaneous with the ringing. Anyway, good Scottish names to go with "my Scottish birds").  That's all I was hoping for!  Many thanks from USA to staff and bloggers for reports & videos.

I had a lovely afternoon down at the osprey centre today and lovely to meet up with Julie again.  Fish delivered by Odin today were at 10:01, 11:45, 14:30 and 16:35 (I am sure the team will report further deliveries for today).  I saw all three chicks share in the 14:30 fish but the 16:35 fish was being eaten by C3 alone (EJ was away from the nest when Odin delivered it and EJ was still away when we left) and C3 was still eating the fish all to itself.  All the chicks look great and C1 was doing lots of wing exercises and little jumps to strengthen its legs.  Pru

A question if I may.  I know there are more day light hours in LG than there are where we southerners live, but seeing all the work that you and the rest of the LG team put in with reading, clearing and where necessary answering questions in these blog pages on top of posting your own reports,  all the time spent  dealing with and looking after all the visitors you have these days, all the watching and recording you have to do not to mention all the other routine but important duties, I have been wondering "are there really more hours in a LG day than in the rest of Britain???????????

REPLY: Even though we have passed mid-summer and the "nights are drawin' in", as they say, it is currently getting light at c.3.15am and not dark (if at all, just a long spell of dusk really), until gone 11pm.  Of course we do not work all those hours, but yes the LG team work very hard to keep all facets of the show on the road.  Where they can, in between talking to visitors at the Centre, showing them ospreys, sharing their enthusiam and passion for osps and all wildlife, and recruiting new RSPB members,  they dip into the blog to either write one or answer Qs, otherwise it's done by one of us in the evening.

Our trusty volunteers (blogger Pip was here this week) mount the 24/7 watch on the nest and record events as they happen.  Add to all that; ordering retail stock, and stocks of recruitment materials, volunteer arrivals/departures etc to manage, dealing with phone enquiries, giving talks locally (Monday evenings), guided walk programme (Wednesday mornings), taking the volunteers badger-watching (Tuesday evenings), press & media, plus Centre cleaning and preparation each morning pre-opening, toilet cleaning each evening at closing time, and of course the dreaded admin. elements too, and much more besided - and that's if all is going well!  Add to that further, all the unplanned trouble-shooting and sorting out, that has to be done, when things go awry.  

Yes, it is a very full-on season for the team here.  And, I can't miss this opportunity to reiterate this -  this is all why we ask for your patience when chasing us for blog up-dates, answers to your Qs etc.  It's really great that we have this contact with you all out there, a huge "virtual audience", with whom we are able to engage, enthuse, share our passion and hopefully help inspire about wildlife, but it is a significant add-on for us.   But we'd not have it any other way.  -  Richard

Richard- when did Cliff Richard SIN at Wimbledon?!!!! I missed that, and so did the press apparently!!!! Nice one!

VALERIE - Thanks for the link to last year's video of the squirrel visiting the Hobby's nest. The music/sound effects were perfect! Enjoyed the other video links there showing when the Goshawks hatched too.

Look forward to watching the Hobby family this year. Great verse LINDYBIRD!!

Good morning all. AJAY....AGREE 100% with everyting you said about the work LG does and Richard I am glad that you like us!!!!!!

Hobby camera should be working in the next couple of days, with sound.

In the meantime we can watch the LOTL Osprey chicks. What a well behaved pair they are....no fighting, even at feeding time.

Richard/Teams, can you give Rothes, Mallachie and Gorten a wave for me?

Due to my youngest daughter's graduation, I have been unable to watch the webcam since Thursday afternoon when her brother and two sister's arrived and the celebrations began! Luckily for me the camera has gone down and so I feel better about not watching as there was nothing to watch! A bit late I know but I think the names are wonderful and in keeping with naming the youngsters after local places. Good luck with the ringing and tagging tomorrow but watch out for Garten he might mistake you for a Tesco fish delivery person as you are coming up the fish ladder!

It's clear that you all do a fabulous job up there. It's always a great atmosphere when visiting too. Huge appreciation I'm sure from everyone. Still suffering withdrawal symptoms from the web cam though!!!

Oh dear, techno gremlins strike again eh? Tsk, means I'll have to do some housework instead of watching 'the family'.

Hope it all get's sorted Richard and, weather permitting, the ringing/tagging goes well.I won't be able to view the event as I'll be at work and can't get the livestream....the 'net police' don't allow it!!

Will you be updating us on this page or elswhere? pleeease let me know. I've posted a couple of requests for info, but to no avail!

Good luck! xx

REPLY - We will no, doubt, be updating you all with the latest news after ringing and tagging tomorrow. The chicks are looking terrific! Odin has brought two fish  in today so far - a 12" brown trout at 4.09 and a 15" brown trout at 9.04. An intruding male sat in a tree nearby, eating, for a while. Thanks again to everyone who has brought cakes. Much appreciated! Look forward to meeting those who are on their way to visit us! Debbie. 

george g (george guthrie) just a thought and maybe a bit premature but as the tags have to be ordered well in advance do you think you will be tagging next year and if so have we started to save up for them yet?

We do appreciate all that you do and I'm sure we all know really that you have more pressing things to do than answer our queries and gripes.  It must be just that you sometimes become victims of your own success at LG in making us all part of such a fantastic enterprise.  Hope all goes smoothly tomorrow, even if we can't see any of it live.  I'm sure there will be some video (or stills at least) of the ringing and tagging to look at later.  We all have huge hopes (and crossed fingers and toes) for this year's chicks.

I'm exhausted just reading your reply Richard, I know you work hard and you're often on here monitoring the blog quite late, but there's so much we don't realise has to be done. For instance, I never thought about cleaning the loos! But I have to say, I'm missing the chicks so much! Living alone, they had become such a huge part of my life. But I won't pray for rain for tomorrow, I'm too worried one chick might find he/she really can fly! And as you said, we wouldn't see much anyway. Although I think I would have felt part of it all, seeing the chicks being removed and then returned, all wearing their 'bling'! But, if the webcam still isn't up, then it isn't to be. I shall just have to follow suit and watch the men's final this afternoon!! Good luck with it all tomorrow.

What a great verse Lindyblue, thanks so much. How talented you are. Does that make BigRab Cliff Richard???? LOL

This down time of the webcam has shown me, and many others I'm sure, what a wonderful innovation the streaming pictures are. The static cam is great in that you can see the birds are there and "mooching about" but it is hard to see the comings and goings and each personality which normally comes through so clearly.

What I am trying to do is congratulate Richard and all at LG (again!) for the success of the whole project. Reading all the tasks you have to fit in, it is remarkable you have time to "feed us", your virtual audience" So thank you.

Annette, I am really missing your morning updates as well. In answer to your earlier question ,this blog, or a very simular one was carried on through the migration last year so you will not be alone:)

Keep up the great work everyone and good luck for the ringing/tagging tomorrow.

I am still going for girl, boy, girl....

Missing the webcam but thanks LG team for the updates.  Really don't know how you have time to reply to all our questions and keep us updated.  I remember when it was with great excitement each year that we read "The Warden's Diary" and kept up with events that way.  This is all really far and away beyond "the call of duty" - this blogging lark.  Would be awful to now to go back to those days - realise how much the webcam means to us when we all have to be patient when it goes down.  :o( x

Oh how I miss the webcam :(.

Richard, just a thought, one of the other Carynx webcams is also offline. Is it possible that the problem is at their end not at LG? Also, as the camera in the centre is working will you be able to record the nest part of the removal and return? That way you could show it to centre visitors. Could it then be broadcast once so someone can grab it and put it on Youtube? Pleeeeeease :)

REPLY:  Yes it looks like the problem is at Carnyx's end.  They're doing all they can to resolve.  -  Richard

As hazelwoods wrote, please...Could someone record the removal and return of the chicks? I am dying to see their reaction, especially Garten, who was the cheeky one when there was the Tesco fish delivery. Please...Don't leave us poor bloggers in the dark ;)

EJ (or Odin) - slightly off field - is back on the nest with Garten.  I hope she isn't too stressed by the missing chicks.

My oh my, that was an exciting morning, even with just the still pictures.  I took a few stills for those that didn't see the morning unfold.  They're slightly out of order because of the file numbering, but I've put the times at the top of each shot.  Nice to see them all back safe and sound now.  Good job everyone :D http://gs158.photobucket.com/groups/t118/JRDTK0KBN6/

I wonder if the chicks behaved.? In 2004 (Henry and EJ's first brood) one of the chicks did not behave. Here was the official account at the time:

"Having been weighed and measured the chicks had their first official photo call. Shame the TV crew had finished filming when 29 left the boss with a momento of the occasion. He didn't appear to marvel like the rest of us did at the force and magnitude of the projectile motion. Strange that. It should make our 'highlights of the season' DVD quite easily though."

picture back on!!!! Thanks you:)

PS  EJ just arrived followed by Odin with a fish,  the chicks have shown no interest at all

they maybe have a bit of shell shock after the excitment this morning.  Although there is no sound yet it is clear that EJ is not happy obout something, probably an intruder!

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees a picture, my weekend wasn't the same. Glad to see the sun has come back out.

Scoops- thanks for comment about spelling but unfortunatly pasting is far to complicated for me.

I WAS A LITTLE SAD FOR A MOMENT WHEN THE MOVING PICTURES CAME UP AS MY FAVOURITE CHICK GARTEN (assume it is still the one not tagged) WAS IN THE MIDDLE EATING AND LOOKED AS IF WE HAD LEFT HIM/HER OUT BY NOT PUTTING A TRANSMITTER ON HIM/HER. PLEASE RICHARD AS SOMEONE ELSE HAS SUGGESTED CAN WE START SENDING IN DONATIONS MAYBE ONCE THESE 3 HAVE FLEGGED SO THAT ALL THE CHICKS NEXT YEAR/PROVIDED THEY ARE HEALTHY CAN BE TREATED AS EQUALS. I am sure others will agree with me-PLEASE ANSWER RICHARD WHEN YOU GET A MOMENT. Thanks Jillian.

My, you were lucky with the weather! It looks awful up there; thank goodness EJ is back

REPLY Yes weren't we lucky!  It is absolutely torrential here just now.  -  Richard

Just lovely to see movement again.  Well done to all at LG for all efforts taken.  Just love those big yellow eyes of EJs.  She seems to be looking at the camera and saying - " I know you're all looking at my babies with their bling again" - wonder if she's sitting on an aerial??!! sheltering them. She is shifting every now and then! :o) x

Poor EJ and her chicks, she is trying to protect them from the rain and they are trying to get under her. They are absolutely soaking.

TISH, yes we are all the same.

Yipppeeeee! thank you all so much at LG for getting us back in the picture. i have missed it soooooo much. thanks for the pictures Sheryl. we are coming up to aviemore with grandchildren for a holiday 24th so we will definitely be dropping in for a visit!

Really excited about the Puffins being tagged this year. Now that will be fascinating. (not that I;m saying Ospreys are not fascinating), so little is known about where the Puffin goes/does once out at sea  so it'll be interesting data and knowledge gained and hopefully give some insight into the dwindling numbers.  Now that I see the Ospreys tagged and ringed I'm glad you encouraged me to donate Richard.  Hope all goes well for the five of them this year. Looking forward to the next few weeks of the flying attempts.