Re: LG Osprey GABFEST - June, 2012

 “What is so rare as a day in June.

Then if ever come perfect days.”  (J.R.Lowell)

For you, SUNSHINE, I will see that the opening welcome for the June Gabfest is posted promptly on time.

Black Jaguar’s Charity Cycle from Loch Garten to Rutland Water was run in April, but the last donation came in on May l5.  With a smile on his face, Jag carried on through heavy traffic and lonely roads, through wind, rain, lightning and floods and even a ghostly inn. His persistence, courage and cheerfulness inspired 105 osprey lovers to part with £2106 of their hard-earned money, all for the benefit of Loch Garten Ospreys.

May 16^th, 18^th and 22^nd  brought us three adorable bobbleheads, who are currently growing like weeds.  Through atrocious weather of rain, snow & sleet, EJ and Odin continued to be the marvelous parents we have always known them to be.

With the first anniversary of The Gabfest fast approaching, now seems to be the time for a review of  topics which have been popular on this thread, especially as there has recently been many questions as to “appropriateness”. A list of these topics will follow in separate posts.

THE GABFEST was born in the midst of controversy on the Main Blog.  A new thread was started, we gathered and posted freely.  Others joined us and we grew.   We   became known as the thread   of freedom, of information, and of fun and nonsense where any topic of general interest was OK and everyone was welcome.  We prospered and became the great thread that we are today.

1. Look at our title.  We are the LG Osprey Gabfest.  LG is short for Loch Garten.  We are the LOCH GARTEN OSPREY GABFEST.  Anything related to EJ and her family is welcome here, whether it be a verbal report of what is happening at this moment on the nest (which I am hoping to get more of), or history, or photo or video, or discussion,  all are needed here.
2. We are interested in other osprey nests. We are anticipating  photography  and comments from Keith regarding his personal observations of the Dunedin nest and of the activity of the osprey near his home   . THE GABFEST welcomes news and commentary of any other bird, whether it be osprey, hummingbird, eagle, owl or whatever and whether it be in the form of discussion, picture, link or video’  Many of our posters have  favorite birds or  nests other than LG and three of these have their own threads, where they do a great job of reporting daily activities. Comments may still be posted here, if you wish. The Gabfest will be particularly  grateful for pointers of any  out-of-the-ordinary happenings on these three nests or anywhere in the bird kingdom.  
3. Other wildlife and conservation issues are popular topics.  Lily the Bear and the zoo pandas come to mind.  Wildlife petitions are frequently circulated here.
4. Learning thread.  We have improved our computer skills and had fun by using the Gabfest for practice.
5. Freedom of speech.  Here we have the freedom to speak our minds  The currently popular discussion regarding tracking started here. Throughout the months we have enjoyed many other lively exchanges of opposing opinions. .Anyone is welcome to join in.  The Gabfest does not have rules, but RSPB does and we of course must abide by those.  .Ordinary every day courtesy pretty well keeps us safely within those limits.
6. Travel.  From time to time, people enjoy discussing newly discovered places or reminiscing about "down home" or places they have visited.  "Streetwalking" on Google Earth can add to the adventure. 
7. Fun and fantasy..  Our first summer we joined the Teddy Bears at their Picnic in Abernethy Forrest.  We held the popular “Music Nights” each month throughout the winter.. We wrote the plot for a movie musical and finished it complete with a Red Carpet Premier.  We’ve followed  Venus, Jupiter & the moon.  Our favorite wildlife  are Lemac, the camel, and  the ospreys, Purple HB (Heather) and Yellow OS (Oscar).
8. The Gabfest is not  anyone’s personal journal, to fill its pages with their own family story, their own family pictures, slides or videos. or their own medical history.
9. The Gabfest is not  a “medical reports” thread.  Most of us have our aches and pains, sniffles & sneezes, our hated dental appointments and various procedures.   Unfortunately some even have much more serious problems.  These can all be discussed  in detail over on the chat thread.  We do care about each other, but from the beginning some chose the new Gabfest to avoid the constant  doctor reports on the other thread.  We prefer to keep it that way.

In short, the Gabfest is a lighthearted chat thread,  where you can get news from all over without skipping from thread to thread.

Already, at 3:48 a.m., it is daylight on the nest and the cuckoo is calling nearby.  I am beginning to understand why they call this bird a "cuckoo".  Enough of that calling could drive one "cuckoo" for sure.  EJ sits quietly on her wiggly partly visible brood.

Morning All,

Another new month, can you believe it's June already,!!!  where does the time go ?

Thank-you June for a great opening to a new month.

Intruder alert !!! EJ saw off an Osprey that tried to land on the nest then Odin came back & stood on the nest protecting his family, he has now flown off again hopefully to get breakfast,   another dull misty start to the day. the Cuckoo is still calling.

EJ is up on the edge of the nest calling for Odin,the chicks are alert & lined up

wee 3 is in prime position at the front,

right on cue  Odin brings a brown trout for breakfast

After a little tussle wee 3 is pushed to the back, chick 1 & 2 feed for a while,

wee 3 eventually pushes forward again & is having a feed,  EJ is such a good mum!!!

Good morning all,

June this is your month, sometimes know as "Flaming June" both for the heat generated and maybe with some irony as sometimes there is a lack of heat generated.

Thank you for such a great opening to the new thread.

Sugar, I've not looked in at the nest today yet, but it seems from your reports that wee 3 is managing to stand his/her ground and get some food. EJ and Odin are showing the experience they have... As compared to the events at Dyfi..

Morning All

Thank you June for your great opening blog.-I can't beleive almost a year has past since the Gabfest was born. W'eve certainly had some good times here and even though I was absent over the winter, I was still made very welcome on my return as with all gabbers.

All quiet on the nest at present--thanks Sugar for letting us know the chicks have fed this morning. EJ standing up preening giving a good view of the little ones, though they're not so little any more. The heads of the two eldest have darkened somewhat over the last couple of days and as I type Chick 1 is trying to have 'a go' at chick 2 but he's decided to lay low--very wise. Baby chick lies blotto until chick 1 now decides to attack the baby, but he too lays low--good tactic.!  Baby chick  still seems very small compared to his siblings but I know that he/she's been well fed--maybe it's a HE and the other two SHEs?

Forecast for Scotland is dry for the Jubilee weekend--hurrah.

Morning BJ

The 2 bigger chicks have just woken up again, they are so comical,

they woddle around then square up to each, 1 pics on 2 who moves away & goes back to sleep,so 1 then pokes sleeping 3 who stands up for itself they have a little tussle, 3 tries to sleep again, 1 does a little preening, it's learning quickly, just have to get its balance right as it preens it tail end it nearly falls over backwards,  lol

they change so much over night, they are starting to get some coloured feathers now, 1 is definitely getting a red head. EJ now off for a fly about.

Dyfi chicks have had a good feed this morning.

EJ is back

Hi Milly

I love watching the chicks, as you say they are changing so quick,

i love the way they sit & stretch their little necks up to look over the bowl of the nest, its so cute, !!!

Hi all,

I was night shift last night and didn't get nearly half of what I should have done, done yesterday... So I am not going to watch today... I migt get some housey stuff done and manage a sleep too...

Good news on the nest then, all seems to be going as well as we could have wished.

I'm away now... BFN/TTFN.

June,thanks for the great opening to a new month.

BJ,no flaming June here it is raining and cold.

Cuckoo it at it again,

pictured on the stills camera

Hello Sugar, yes, as I've commented before, that Cuckoo is certainly trying to make a name for himself. !

Another fish

wee 3 is at the front, all having a feed

the sun is out at last