Just to let you all know, the second egg has hatched. The chick is still awaiting it's first feed but I am sure it wont be too long.
Update later......
Firstly, apologies for not updating last night as promised.... I wanted to wait until the chick had been fed a couple of times before reporting anything. Those of you who are familiar with last year's events will know that our first two chicks both died within 24 hours of hatching. Admittedly that was probably down to the eggs not being as viable as they should have been, nonetheless I wanted to wait until I was confident that this chick was going to survive - it would have been wrong of me to drum up a euphoria only to dash it a few hours later.
So..... our chick. It does look very strong, after only 70 minutes (10.10am) it was moving around on the nest, it made several contact calls during the day which was a good sign, but the best sight was at 17.15 when OVS landed on the nest with a headless rainbow trout, our chick was upright and calling for food.....EJ duly fed it; the chick had a further feed just after 21.00.
Things are looking good at the moment and we are all looking forward to the second chick....When? Monday or Tuesday I suspect but rest assured, when it does appear we will let you know.
Can I ask a favour of all blog readers? Please be patient about getting your comments posted and questions answered. It is busier than ever at the moment so I can't answer questions or accept comments immediately...... we do appreciate your input so thank you for your comments, messages, questions and of course support.
If you want to specifically help the Loch Garten Osprey Team 2008, you might consider supporting the RSPB. You can do this online via the RSPB website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/join, if you add the code PR08, your membership will be credited to the Loch Garten team.
The usual updated blog will be written some time in the next few days.... this entry is merely information for our many viewers and readers.
Firstly, the sound issue...... We are aware that there are problems with the sound from the nest, we are trying to fix this as quickly as we can. The problem has been reported to the technical staff and they assure us that it is a priority. PLEASE DO NOT ring the Osprey Centre regarding this problem as we can not give you any more information that what I have already given you here. I apologise if the lack of sound is spoiling your enjoyment of the live viewing... the problem is being addressed.
Next, the hatching of our eggs. The average incubation period is 37 days, however, we have had incubation periods as short as 31 days and as long as 42 days so we can never definitely say when it is going to happen. We will, of course, post a blog immediately when the hatching(s) take place, saying that, I would expect to see at least one chick by Wednesday morning.
Blog comments....... (1) Please keep these relevent to the ospreys and (2) Your comments may not be posted immediately as they need to be vetted for abusive language or inappropriate statements. Please be patient, if your comment is appropriate and relates to the ospreys there is little doubt that it will be accepted.
Finally, a thank you to those people who have supported our work this season and joined the RSPB via the blog, it is good to know that all the efforts of my team are being appreciated.
The next blog will be on Saturday, unless of course we have some extra-ordinary events.
Many thanks for all of your comment, e-mails, suggestions and of course support.
Three eggs, two fish and an intruder...these are the things that have been getting us all very excited here at the Osprey Centre over the weekend. The three eggs really do not need an explanation, except to say that we are all getting very excited about the imminent hatching, which fingers crossed should be taking place in roughly a weeks time! EJ has enjoyed amazing sunny weather this past week while she has been incubating, no repeats of the previous week's thunderstorm!
Orange VS has been a good fisherman, as well as security guard (more on that later!) over the weekend! Yesterday (Sunday), he brought EJ two fish - a 12" whole Brown Trout at 9.33 and another fish (headless this time!) at 14.20. EJ was able to enjoy the afternoon fish and take a well earned two hour break from the nest, while VS incubating the eggs. However, this was not the case with the fish that was delivered at 9.33, which she had to bolt down in little over 15 minutes, which brings us onto the intruder....
We were all very impressed and proud of VS when he brought in a good sized fish, relatively early in the day. He handed the fish over to EJ, she went off to her favourite perch to eat it, and VS, after a bit of fidgetting, settled down on the eggs, all was well with the world.
Then at 9.44 VS started alarm calling, we could see another osprey above the nest! However, EJ was oblivious, happily munching away on her fish. At 9.46, the intruder flew over again, and this time VS gave chase, leaving the eggs alone on the nest, as it started to rain. At 9.48, EJ returned to the nest, with some of the fish still in her talon, she proceeded to eat this as quickly as possible, whilst standing over the eggs and shielding them from the rain! At 10.10, the intruder returned, and so did VS to chase it away! However, this osprey was like the wasp that always flies around a picnic, it would not be told, and just kept coming back! At 10.30 VS chased it way from the nest, again at 10.35, VS guarded the nest standing alongside EJ at 10.55, and then flew off again at 11.05. Phew!
When the coast was clear, at 11.20, he flew off, returning in the afternoon, with another fish. We know very little about the intruding bird, as in never landed for long enough for us to check if it was male or female, nevermind check for a ring! One things for certain, things are getting very exciting here at Loch Garten!