Yesterday was such a bizarre day! In the morning, there were seven ospreys to be seen from the centre, of which, four were intruders. We hadn’t seen EJ since late the previous night and Odin had not been back to deliver a fish. No doubt, he wants to encourage our chicks to have a go at fishing themselves. Earlier, that morning, we had seen an osprey having a look at Loch Garten for a short while.
By the afternoon we were starting to wonder whether we were at the right centre. Where were our ospreys? Who were these ospreys on the camera tree and in the nest? An un-ringed male (not Odin) landed in the nest and started to make contact calls. Another intruder then appeared in the nest, White TF , who we’ve seen quite a few times, but never close enough to see that it was a female. We could now see the brown bib and much more brown on the head.
The next thing to happen made us wonder whether we had been somehow transported back to April. The two intruders flew around and one landed on the camera tree. The second one then attempted to mate! They then returned to the nest and looked very much at home.
At 15.38 Odin returned and tried to land on the nest, repeatedly, with a small fish, but, the un- ringed intruder prevented him from doing so. There was no sign of our chicks at this point. Even when we can’t see them, they usually appear fairly rapidly if a fish is brought in. At 15.51 Odin gave up and decided to eat the fish himself. That took all of two minutes!
Just before we closed, Garten and Mallachie appeared at the nest calling for fish. They had to wait until 21.52, when EJ returned with a very small fish. Perhaps she thought there would be less chance of the chicks dropping it!
Today, Odin delivered two fish to the nest, both before 07.00. EJ brought her usual huge fish into the nest at about 10.20. Unfortunately, the same un-ringed male was sat in the nest and he took the fish! EJ looked really confused. Mallachie flew in and pecked the intruder and he flew off. EJ sat and shrieked and mantled her wings, before pursuing and dive bombing the intruder. Odin suddenly appeared in the sky, display calling, with a fish. Rothes is now sat happily eating the fish he brought. The intruder must have thought it was his lucky day!
We wonder what will happen next!!!!
That was really a strange turn of events!!!! You would think your home was safe by August!!!!! Do you have any details on white TF, as to age and where she is from?
Good heavens! What a carry on. If YOU are confused then there's absolutely no hope for the rest of us sitting watching the webcam! I'm so pleased to hear that EJ is still about. Thank you SO much for all the info and updates. I am going to need therapy once this is all over!!!
Thanks Debbie for the info. At the moment all three are or were in the dead tree. Its either Mallachie or Rothes I am looking at by herself, the other two are perched nearbye.
What a todo yesterday, hopefully it all ended with our girls being able to go back on the nest with EJ and Odin close by.
Our girl certainly looks windswept and seems to be hanging on for grim life, still her tallons are big and strong!!!!!!!!!! Now calling for something to eat, who will bring me my lunch!!!!!!
Thanks for that update Debbie. It must have been an amazing day for the viewers at the LG centre with all that intruder action. It looks as though that nest is hot property in the osprey world. Maybe it should be featured on Location,location,location.
We seem to have Mrs. Hobby back on camera. Chick on its own again, no doubt waiting for a feed!!
Now camera has panned to the other two girls, but wait, it has panned back to M or R again who is still calling for some food. Will EJ and Odin bring any!!
They never fail to surprise and fascinate...what soap could ever match EJ's story? LOL
Thanks Debby, I am pleased EJ hasn't "flown the coup (sic)" yet!! Selfishly it will be good to see her around for a few more days
As Paula says, out here is internetland it is very difficult to keep track of who is who and the comings and goings. I think I will just sit back and enjoy it:)
Thanks again S.I.G
Hey at long last I am in I am in - this has taken me weeks to get to grips with this. Well what a to do at the nest. My partner, who is away for a couple of days - looking at ospreys (lucky him) dropped into Loch of the Lowes yesterday and he said the guy there told him EJ had left for Africa but this does not appear to be true. To Paula - yes I too will have a nervous breakdown when all this is over - at least until March next year.
Thanks Debbie. No wonder we were so confused yesterday! I wondered if EJ had gone for good even though it is a little early - I wouldn't blame her after her fish was dropped and then a male took another fish too! You must be very busy at the moment with the visitors - hope you are getting lots of cake!
Thanks Debbie, there is never a dull day in 'Ospreyland', is there? These intruders are just jealous of EJ and Odin's three lovely girls:maybe they think there is something magical about their nest !!
I know what it is......they have found out about fish from Tesco~(:o))))
Sounds like it was really entertaining yesterday. Must have been good to see. Think EJ will have to get back quick smart next year to claim the nest. She might have her work cut out against some of these younger females.
Let us hope EJ returns early next year, as usual, because I am sure she and, hopefully, Odin too, will yet again have problems defending this very special nest. What a day. You must all be exhausted and the "daily happenings" board must be full of comments!! Pru
Can hardly believe what I have read and thanks Debby for that. Must be a very desirable des res and perhaps the intruders are laying claim for next year. Thankfully Odin and EJ managed to sort things out between them. What very strange behaviour though and no wonder you thought you were watching another site. EJ and Odin better getter back a bit sharpish next year if they want their home. What a lot they have had to put up with, all these intruders trying to take over. Glad to read EJ still around and I hope the girls will get the hang of fishing soon before Mum leaves.
Thanks LG for finding us one of the girls I think to watch, well hidden in the tree. Every sighting is so precious now.
Wow Debbie, confusion certainly reigned all around yesterday. I remember cheering at home when Odin saw off an intruder but it looks as if (from what you said) it was the intruder preventing Odin from landing with his fish. Thought Odin would have chased the intruder off the nest? Also, with all these "intruders" around (keep thinking of "dementors" from Harry Potter!!!) it means that I have certainly mislabelled my screen captures :o( . Thought things were supposed to calm down and get a bit simpler at this time of year? LOL . Glad to see Holly/Hobbit back - taking up most of the nest space now! x