Re: LG Osprey GABFEST August, 2012

July 6 was the First Anniversary of the Gabfest and July has been enlivened with many memories of our first  year.  Many Gabbers have assumed that our  Anniversary Celebration Month ends with July.  But we have a wee surprise!  Our Celebration Month goes from July 6th to August 6th, so we still have six more days for memories, etc.  And, for our Special Celebration Friend, SUNSHINE, you still have six more days of your Special Month.  I have a major disappointment of the year that I will bring up before the six days have ended.

Already the nest is empty more often than not, although EJ, Odin, Cally and Alba are still to be seen if one looks in at the right time.  They do seem to be more frequently  HEARD than SEEN.  This month, August 2012, will probably see  the entire family on their way to Africa.  This is a bittersweet time for faithful watchers, as we are glad for them to accomplish this important step in their life, but Oh so very sad to not be able to see them daily.

But on the Gabfest, we don't just sit and twiddle our thumbs.  A group streetwalk is being planned.  Will this be so amusing that we will want more?  or will it prove to be only a boring mass confusion?  Already  a few are talking about the always popular Music Nights. Although it seems that summer has hardly started, soon we will need to start a cozy evening fire & just enough to take the chill off on those cool fall mornings.

It seems that our first year has launched The Gabfest solidly into our second year.  One newcomer is looking forward to our Second Anniversary so she can post her memories she plans to make here.  So come on in Regulars, Readers, and Newcomers alike and lets start making those great memories for our Second Anniversary.

Another modern painting morning.  This one blurred, I think, with Sun and raindrops at the same time into lovely colors of blue, yellow, green and lavender;

These are the first episodes of

WILD MOUNTAIN THYME

Good Morning All

Thanks for the lovely start to the August thread June,

I can't believe this season is nearly over, it has come & gone so fast,

& what a season too !! with the weather being against them right from the start, the lack of fish early on & the fighting on the nest,  each season is so different but that's what makes it so interesting.

The rain has stopped but it's very windy on the nest today,

Fish delivered at 6.54 quick snatched by Cally, she is now eating it on the nest closely watched by Alba, i think i have them the right way round, the screen is so dirty i can't see them properly.

Good morning SUGAR

May I first Thank JUNE for the August start in your usual exquisite narrative style.

The viewing of these birds may nearly be over and by the end oif August I imagine all at Loch Garten will be on there way but for two of them life is just beginning.

It is wet up here as you can see from the birds and web and the wind is getting stronger so not a day like yesterday.

Nice to log on and see the two youngsters in the nest and getting food.

I was going to post these from yesterday evening. At Lochter yesterday.

FROM A CHICK TO A PRINCE/PRINCESS - ISN'T SHE/HE LOVELY

After a week on the wing the juvenile is quite happy to roost on the branches of the pines and just view the surrounds.

Then make sure I have not forgotton how to fly high.

And back to the nest if I see dad with a fish for me.

Another fish delivery from EJ - Again two in thirty minutes so Caledonia and Alba happy now.

She is keeping this morning routine going.

FISH #2 @7.28 now Alba has her own fish

great to see them both eating breakfast on the nest,

Lovely photos Keith, it certainly is a handsome bird,

i'm leaning more towards female as it has quite dark breast feathers,

but who knows???????

One last morning post for you all.

I witnessed a very vicious attack at Lochter yesterday on an intruder. It started around the nest and the juvenile was not happy and took off and gave chase. Despite only being on the wing a week it gave a good account. At the same time the chick was screaming and in came dad and chased the intruder towards the lochan the hit it at full force.

It is difficult to just capture this as it happens so quick and hard to follow a chase and apologise for the picture but it does show the attack.

The chaser ended up with a ruffled left wing and the intruder turned upside down and fell towards the lochan before recovering its balance. Had it fallen in I doubt it would have had the strength to get out after a fight.

You now can see how vicious and protective these raptors are - I in all my time have never witnessed such a vicious attack at first hand. Also it shows injuries could occur if an osprey hits another at full force. I did watch two years ago at LG Odin Talon to Talon with an intruder over the skies above the nest.

SUGAR - I am thinking similar and also because of size (Should I refer to as a she/her from now on) - The male bird is so much smaller than the juvenile. Female was not around all evening but I imagine she will be like most female ospreys taking in some good flying and browsing around now their duties are almost over in the thought of leaving our shores.

Newcomers alike and lets start making those great memories for our Second Anniversary.

I hope I can put a lovely event here as I have already told my friends I want the date to be an anniversary....not quite August, but July 31st so hope that counts. I live in a gorgeous Victorian flat in central London and its only draw back is that for some reason the lift doesn't descend to the street level. After a battle with my landlords for 2 years at last a stair-lift has been installed to cover the last short flight of steps. Yesterday I went to the local Russell Square (a largish park) for lunch with a friend. MY FIRST TIME GOING OUT FOR NEARLY 3 YEARS. It was so lovely, and I feel as if I am part of the real world at last.

Footloose and fancy free at last - so to speak Patily - hope you get some decent weather for your 'jaunts'!!

patily  Russel Square is one of those places that will always be filled with meaning for me. Many years ago I came to London as a 17 year old supposedly to work for a group called Centre Hotels whose head office was at 57 Russel Square. I was with a friend and perhaps naively we thought we had a work with accomodation deal. Well there was work ok but no accomodation.

We spent a traumatic week around Russel Square before eventually ending up in Richmond Upon Thames. I do not think I would travel so far now on a vague promise.

Glad to hear that you have got out again.

Oh TIGER Not such a good memory for you.

Its being used as a "media hub" for the Olympics at present.....not in the square itself but roads around

Patily. I was in Russel Square on the Saturday before last and was wondering what all the tents were about.