Thanks! Hope so!

Today's update -lookin' good! Yay!


Wildlife Blog 3rd April 2011


Morning all!!

We have more news from the nest this morning:

We can confirm that 7Y has returned!!!

An osprey was seen in the area at around 7.50am this morning and was accepted by our resident female. Mating has been taking place all morning.

At 10am we had a clear image of the green ring bearing the mark 7Y. Here at Loch of the Lowes we are all pleased that last year’s male has returned to take his place for the season ahead. This year the male has arrived 5 days later than our resident female who returned on 28th March at 5.55pm.

We will do our best to keep you all up to date with the events that unfold.

Anna

Perthshire Reserves Seasonal Ranger

Or Wicklow...

And since our internet has been down for two days, I was getting edgy without my Falcon Fix!

Hoping to meet some of you downtown once I get Dad and me settled. Thanks for all the fun and friendship so far!

Slainte!

Bobbie

[pefafollower (Kathy O):]

pefafollower (Kathy O): Archer brought in prey . . Cleaned it and gave to beauty

Link:
http://twitter.com/pefafollower/statuses/54241067268190208

Good Boy!

Thanks, Bonnie.Gorgeous creatures.

Nice to have you with us, Countrymama!

Bobbie

So many new members these past few days - yaaaay!

This is a really good one!

Bluebirds: 1. House Sparrows: 0

http://php.democratandchronicle.com/blog/birds/?p=4388

Here's today's report... lots going on there... hope the Lady does not expend all her energy seeing off interlopers...


Afternoon folks,

Here’s today’s news…

Osprey update:

We arrived this morning at 9am to find our resident female at the nest tucking into a large fish. After closer inspection we believe the fish to have been a rainbow trout – these are found in nearby Butterstone Loch and make an excellent meal for an osprey regaining its strength after a 3,000 odd mile migration.

She didn’t hang around for long though, leaving the nest (with fish) at 9:02 for nearly two hours, returning at 10:53. Maybe she just fancied a change of scenery whilst enjoying her ‘breakfast’.

Shortly after returning at 10:55, still carrying half of the fish, our female was joined by an uninvited guest. Another osprey landed on the nest – unringed, so not her partner 7Y, it stood at the edge of the nest whilst our female spread her wings to protect both the nest and the remains of her fish. This behaviour, known as ‘mantling’ is a typical defensive posture for a female osprey defending her nest site, lying somewhere between driving the intruder off and accepting its presence. The stand-off ended at 11:15 when both birds flew off and our resident female quickly returned to re-assert her authority.

The nest site remained quiet over the next few hours until 14:36 when another interloper landed on the branch behind the nest. There were also two other ospreys flying around in the vicinity so at this point we could see four ospreys – the most so far this season.

As with the earlier visitor, the bird on the branch was unringed, so not our female’s partner of last year. Our female repeated her ‘mantling’ display, but then surprisingly at 14:41 flew off, leaving both the remains of her earlier fish and the nest unguarded. The bird on the branch then proceeded to drop down onto the nest before flying off with the fish.

This ‘theft’ was the last action of note with our female returning to the nest minus fish shortly afterwards. Undoubtedly though, this will have been the first of many dramas to unfold over the coming months.

I had a great time photographing the wolves at the campground where we used to be seasonals many years ago.  Enjoy!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28553203@N07/5582350530/#in/photostream/

Just the name "Lakota" sounds wild and free. But Bonnie, you have to tell us more! Where were they? Where were YOU? Are the running free, enclosed? How did you get up so close? Love the eyes and the howling. I would love such an experience.

I was amazed at this picture of the orphan baby... sometimes webcams really distort you perspecitve!

Ei! Thanks! My word! And all three look like they are ok...

I am so pleased to think that so many of you have enjoyed the Anna's Hummingbird's nestcam. Thanks esp to Patti and Ei for the extra info - I would have missed some of that. I very much like it that the nestcam is outside an ordinary home where you can hear the kids, birdsong. Just shows how birds can get into our lives and inspire us. From our mighty falcons to this little lady and her brood. Amazing that one of the eggs is an orphan from another nest too.

[bold]

I voted, but have no idea which day I picked!  A little stress-induced memory loss in my life I think, and obviously I wasn't terribly invested in my answer...

When you view the poll, the date you picked should be in bold.

You have thought of everything, Shaky! My comment is the same as Patti's... uhhh, I forget...

If you see a hawk nesting in a tree, chasing birds from your backyard feeder, or eating one of the rabbits that used to live in your garden, think Cooper’s hawk, not Peregrine falcon.

Coops wish they looked as good as Peregrines.

What about Sharpies? My niece and her kids had the excitement of seeing either a Coop or a Sharpie eating a meal in their backyard in NJ... and ever since (as the video is not wonderful), we have been emailing re which it could be. Both have similar MOs, right? Race through/around bushes/trees, smash and grab. (Our bird for that is the Sparrowhawk.) Anyway - suggestions appreciated! Their video is on my FB page - somewhere.

Now! See if I get this right...

A Big Welcome also to Donnac!

Ooops! Make that Bruce!

(Told you it would be fun!)