Scottish Osprey Nest

keep us updated!!

49th day since first egg was laid. Way overdue to hatch, so it looks like there will be no babies this year. They expect the Ospreys to continue incubating for a while and then make an early return to Africa. Maybe the old female is past the point of raising chicks. Might be for the best at her age.

66 days since the last egg was laid, and they are still incubating. I wonder how much longer before they come to the realization the eggs will not hatch.

I've been watching and following the blog and each bird is spending a bit more time away from the nest each day. I wonder what happened for the eggs not to be viable. If she is capable of laying them, which she is, and has a good, robust partner, which she has, I can't see any reason for the eggs to be infertile. Maybe they got chilled early in the piece. It's sad in one way, but I guess it will give her a break from the rigours of rearing chicks and to further recuperate from last year's event where she was so close to death.

I think they did have some nasty weather soon after the eggs were laid. I am sort of relieved there were no chicks, but I'm sure she wanted them and would have done everything in her power to raise her young successfully. If she is fortunate and returns next year, it would be nice if she could rear at least one more youngster.

It sure would be.

The adult birds have been spending less time incubating the clearly expired or infertile eggs. Today they were seen to be covering the eggs with some nesting material. To minimise disruption, the Trust staff arranged for the eggs to be collected for analysis when neither bird was at the nest. They will post the results on the blog. Sad in one way, but not rearing a family this year may have given her system a well-earned rest. I guess we'll all be waiting to see if she returns from the next migration. Wonderful old bird.

Thanks for the update, Margaret. Maybe she'll make it back next year for another try.

Sure hope so, GP. She's proven herself to be a remarkably resilient old girl.

I agree she really did deserve a break. Will be curious to what if anything they can find out from the eggs.

http://blogs.swt.org.uk/osprey/ The eggs were fertile!

Well what do you know!! I had checked the blog last week to see if there was any news yet. Will be waiting for next year to see what happens!

Probably means they got chilled during that severe gale in May. A lot of birds suffered very high losses then.

Report from the last week of May: http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2733

Resin

Good news. Just today the female Osprey returned to her nest. This will be her 22nd breeding season at this location. She has already mated with a new male too!

This message was edited Mar 30, 2012 7:37 PM

Such good news. When I looked a couple of days ago, there was no sign of anyone. Thanks, GP

Sleeping now.....

Windy and cold there now. Hope warmer weather arrives soon.

Yeah, foul weather yesterday! And just after a record-breaking March heatwave, too. At least they won't have laid yet so the snow won't harm them.

Resin

She laid her first egg of the season.

YAY!!! She is on the nest right now.

This message was edited Apr 15, 2012 1:34 PM

Must be mad, laying in this weather!

Resin

She now has two eggs.

That bird rocks!

She is just gorgeous. I watch her on and off throughout the day, from late morning onwards and her tenacity sometimes overwhelms me.

This incredible bird just laid a third egg.

A week away or so from first hatching at this nest.

First chick hatched today.

Wow! That's wonderful news. thanks, GP.

YAY!!!!

I saw the little one this morning. Another maybe tomorrow.

It seems there will be only a solitary chick at the nest this year. Two other eggs have failed to hatch, but the young one is doing very well.

Very windy conditions today.

Wow. Both parents on the nest with the solitary chick. Mom (presumably) feeding chick from a fish she tears off for the young-un. What an awesome web cam.

This past week they determined the chick is a male, ringed it and attached a transmitter to its' back. They will be able to follow it on its' journey to Africa. The two other eggs in the nest were found to be non-viable.

Did you watch the video of the banding, GP? That chick is just so gorgeous.

No, I found out a day late.

Here's a link to the 7 minute video. Unless I'm doing something wrong, there's no sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6THdM7FsS4&feature=youtu.be

I also noticed it was not shown live, for the safety of the Ospreys. I did watch the video. Glad he was quickly returned to his nest. I dislike him having to wear that transmitter, but I'm sure it will provide a lot of data.

Blue44 has been lifting off the nest, and should fledge very soon.

8 weeks old today and the chick fledged!