LG Osprey GABFEST - June, 2012

Hi Karen

Yes, good to see harmony on the nest--this year particularly has not always made for happy viewing, but hopefully all that's behide us now and we can look forward to some great wing flapping episodes. My garden needs weeding too--why do they grow so much quicker than the veggies and flowers?

EJ and the 2 chicks having a bit of a preen, and one of the chicks doing a bit of wing excersise.  I can't get over the size of them now that they are all standing.  I know the nest is huge but right now it looks like it's getting a bit crowded!

The chicks have been chilling & preening, EJ sits on the side of the nest preening,

the chicks have just both stood up to full height  & are excersising their wings, it's great to see this going on, they look so grown-up, to think they will soon be "helicoptering"

the sun looks fabulous up there today, nice & dry & bright

16:10 Odin delived a fish.  

4.10 Odin arrives with a fish,

Ej grabs it & starts feeding chick#2 first, chick #1 sits quietly watching.

May I just reply to JUNE and KAREN posting earlier in the day as I have to go out and will be late before home. So Briefly.

The window to ring an Osprety is fairly small - The window to ring and tag an Osprey is even smaller.

The Osprey has to reach a certain size before it can be tagged and the week commencing today these Ospreys have reached that point. However as the Osprey continues to develop it will get to a stage between now and fledging (Estimate 8 July circa) it would come to a stage where if one was to climb the nest it is possible the young Osprey may make a leap and go over the edge of the nest. This period is probably the end of this week.

So you now see the window.

Next influence is the weather and availability of Roy Dennis MBE.

It is unlikely that LG will risk tree climbing on a windy or wet day which we have had many of this year.

So you can appreciate Richards statement regarding this and will be looking at it and monitoring the situation closely. That is why the birds were not tagged or ringed in 2010.

DARVIK RINGS - Yes up to last year they were a bit random Red, Blue, White not sure waht they maeant but one of the ringers said to me last season they fitted whatever they were given and had in their box.

Now all UK birds will be ringed Blue. Scottish birds will be ringed with the Blue Darvik on the LEFT leg and BTO on the RIGHT Leg.

English and Welsh birds will be ringed with the Blue Darvik on the RIGHT Leg and BTO on the LEFT Leg.

Overseas use differing colours for International recognition - Germany were using Black for example and understand they still will be. Not sure of all the colours as I tend not to follow these birds closely but Alan Petrie will be able to assist here. Problem here if we see a Black Ring in UK people may think it is German but probably Black 80 a Glaslyn Chick.

Hope this helps on both points.

Now must go as I have to get up to Speyside tonight to meet a colleague resulting from an angry post placed on another Forum by another person late last night that has had repercussions for me. Will not be back until late so hopefully see you all tomorrow.

Must have been a small fish as it's all gone & chick#1 did not get any & is not happy.

Thanks for your interesting post Keith.

Keith - thanks for this.  Appreciated.  Hope all goes well tonight.

Yes sugar, #1 isn't happy and letting us know.  No dominance though.

EJ has been moving sticks around throughout the day building the sides up.  They are really looking strong and healthly.  Their colours are beautiful in the sunshine.

Thank you KEITH for all the info in your very informative post. 

Keith said: Problem here if we see a Black Ring in UK people may think it is German but probably Black 80 a Glaslyn Chick.

Obviously, observers will have to remember That the color coding system only started this year, 2012, and that the ID of many previously ringed birds will be "out of place"  Nonetheless, it is a good thing to make use of color to help with ID.

This color code will be placed in my notebook for future reference.

One bird flies in (Odin, I assume) and there are now 4 birds on the nest.  Odin leaves.  I didn't see any exchange of fish, but EJ now has a flapping rather small fish. With EJ's help it is now being greedily devoured and probably won't last long at this rate.

Yes June, fish delivered at 5.28 all finished by 5.45,

chick #1 had 1st feed this time, both had some though not a very big one again.

both chicks have had a walk around the nest, lasered over the side, done a bit of wing flapping & have now settled down for a snooze

KEITH said:  " Now must go as I have to get up to Speyside tonight to meet a colleague resulting from an angry post placed on another Forum by another person late last night that has had repercussions for me. Will not be back until late so hopefully see you all tomorrow."

Leave it to Keith!  Once again he has intrigued us with hints of a private meeting that probably is of interest to all us Gabbers!  Without prying into personal affairs, Keith, I'm sure we are all waiting to hear more about this tantalizing meeting.

JAG for a while now you have been talking about a trip through France, which I believe is about to take place very shortly.

My big question is:  Will we loose you entirely while you are gone or will you still be able to maintain contact with us as you did during your charity ride?  

Obviously we will be hoping to hear from you, but regardless you have my best wishes for a safe and enjoyable trip.

Odin just delivered another fish, not overly big but enough we hope

feeding is under-way