As I write this blog, EJ has just delivered a fish to the nest...and Mallachie and Garten are having a squabble over who is going to get it No wonder they haven't started their migration, when good sized fish are still being delivered on a daily basis! That fish is the first of the day, but it is a big one! EJ had been eating her fill for fifty minutes, and there was still at least fifteen inches of it left! There were four fish yesterday, at least one of which we believe was delivered by Odin, as the bird literally dropped off the fish and flew away immediately, very characteristic of Odin, who probably doesn't want to get caught between his daughters when they are arguing over the fish!
On Friday there were three fish delivered to the nest. With this ready supply of fish, Mallachie in particular has rarely been away from the nest area, and it will be interesting to see if she has ventured any further than the shores of Loch Garten! She did have a rather strange intruder to contend with on Friday, when a raven was heckling her, and it wasn't until EJ returned in the late morning that it was well and truly chased off!
The wind has really picked up here at Loch Garten this afternoon, you can probably see the effect it is having on the birds, and it is even moving some of the smaller sticks in the nest. I doubt that any osprey would want to start their migration in wind like this, so we may well be able to watch the birds in the centre and on the webcam for a few more days yet!
As well as the osprey, we are still being entertained and amused by the antics of the red squirrels, birds, bank voles and wood mice at the feeders, and this week they have also been joined by a rabbit, who has been a bit of a talking point! We also have lots of fungi popping up in the woods and by the path to the centre, so even when the birds are off stretching their wings there is still plenty to see!
We await the next fish...and the next migration....
Claire, didn't expect a report today, so thank you very much for such details and so much information.
Thanks very much for the update and the confirmation that EJ and Odin are still there!!
Your updates, in Richard's absence, have been great!! Thanks
Richard will be very surprised when he returns to find all four birds "including EJ" are still there.
If this keeps up his " rule book" will only have a front and back cover all the pages will have been torn out. LOL
.... same thought as Brenda
THANK you so much Claire for taking time to update on a Sunday :-))
We are, as you can see, grateful for your taking the time on a Sunday to keep us updated. Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the info Claire, it's nice to know what's happening that we can't see. I'm beginning to think these girls will never go! If EJ and Odin left, then they would be forced into doing something, it's called being cruel to be kind. All summer long we fretted knowing they would soon be up and off, and now we are all fretting because we are beginning to feel they will never go! It's not as if the weather was nice and warm. Perhaps that's it? Maybe EJ and Odin are waiting for the hot summer weather they were expecting?
Suppose they will go when they decide the time is right.
Thanks Claire for taking the trouble to give us bloggers an update on a sunday. I keep expecting one or more of the birds to have started their migration but pleased that all 4 are still around.
Sunny and humid here on Tracy Island. Temp 26 degrees. F.A.B.
Amazing that the 'family' are still in Scotland, I expected them to be long gone by now. My eyes were skyward bound in vain on the journey back from our vacation in France.... no wonder I saw no ospreys!
Thank you Brenda for noting the new blog, sure I'm not the only one who doesn't spot the updates immediately.
Have I missed news or videos from BigRab, his clips were great.
Does anyone know when the osprey feature will be on countrryfile, think it was mentioned on the blogs a couple of weeks ago.
Fantastic that the LG team are still having the time to write such interesting updates. THANK YOU!!!!
Oops!! Sorry!! Claire I didn't read who wrote the update and assumed it was Katie. I didn't expect you would come in to write an update. Much appreciated!!
Thanks for th update Claire. That's what I call devotion to duty! I'm beginning to think the girls will still be around when I get to Strathspey in late September! Seriously, though, what would happen if they (or some of them) were still around when the Centre is due to close?
Oh dear oh dear. Many thanks for the new blog Claire but DO WE NEED TO WORRY?
Will this make EJ late to arrive next year?? Why do you think EJ is staying so long please?
This HAS to be bad for the girls. Doesn't it ?
Mallachie has left with the fish and alas England have won the Ashes.
Thanks Claire for the update - on a Sunday too when you must have other pressing issues to deal with. Richard, being at Bird Fair, has enjoyed glorious weather at Rutland Water over this weekend. He will no doubt be logging on to find out what is happening at the nest. Is it just me getting bored with this family of 4 - I want them to start their migration. I think Rothes is hanging around waiting for them to catch up!! With the Osprey Centre closing soon me thinks they had better get a move on!
Mallachie still has the fish and Garten is yelling her head off for someone to bring one for her too. She has tried to snatch it from Mallachie, but Mallachie is wise to her tricks. She is keeping a watchful eye on Garten and defending her fish. There had been several wing flapping scenes as Garten tried to grab it . She is treating Garten as an intruder, mantling and alarm calling. Good for Mallachie. She is learning.
Now Mallachie just flew off with her fish.
It is very windy today .
Thank you for the heads up about the new Blog, Brenda.