Ospreys 2024
I look in on a few Osprey nests in the UK, with most of my attention on the Loch Arkaig website. This year, Dorcha and Louis are raising three osplets, two hatched on 22nd May and one today. Many things may happen before they can be said to be safe and out of danger. Dorcha and Louis will share the fishing and feeding. Osplets are not kind to their siblings, and often the youngest and weakest fall prey to vicious bullying.
Maya and Blue, the Ospreys at Manton Bay, Rutland, are raising three chicks, which are now two weeks old. Last year, they successfully raised three, and in 2022, four osplets were reared.
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Meanwhile, the Osprey pair in Poole Harbour have four eggs to hatch.
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Sadly, the nest at Loch of the Lowes has seen tragedy. Lassie laid three eggs and she and Laddie had to protect them from intruders. Laddie disappeared at the beginning of May and his body was found later. Lassie continued incubating the eggs, but eventually, a young and inexperienced incomer destroyed them and appears to be trying to form a partnership with Lassie.
It is sad to see such events occurring, but this is Nature and we are only onlookers.
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Those claws look wicked sharp! I like the first image with the outspread wings. Sad to hear of eggs being destroyed, but that is how nature works and we can't make her do differently. and we shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising how emotional commenters on the webcam sites can be.
DeleteWe have ospreys ocally at Kielder reservoir, 6 or 7 breeding pairs at present I think. They are one of the main attractions for visitors to the area.
ReplyDeleteThey are a magnificent sight.
DeleteWe saw those ospreys at Kielder a few years ago - one swooped out of a tree above our heads as we were cycling (on an approved trail) so we hope we were nowhere near a nest and that it was only using the tree for a good view of the lake. Beautiful birds, magnificent.
DeleteIsn't it wonderful to be able to watch them without disturbing them, cruel Mother Nature notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite a privilege and the rangers/organisers do amazing work maintaining the webcams and then ringing the young birds.
DeleteThe Wiki photo is amazing.
ReplyDeleteFalcons who nest on a city building here, each year have very mixed success. Even people who no interest in the birds are aware of what is happening with the birds. As you say, it is sad but that is just how nature works. No one ever interferes with the birds, aside from an annual tidy up of the nesting area.
I think it must be quite hard to remain detached from the birds, but necessary.
DeleteI am hoping the Osprey that Nest within a mile of my home are successful this year. Unfortunately last year for whatever reason, they think they extreme heat, the baby's died.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad when nests fail, for whatever reason. Fingers crossed for your ospreys.
DeleteIt is wonderfuil that you can follow osprey nests via a live camera. I am sorry about the nest at Loch of the Lowes, especially the loss of the eggs.
ReplyDeleteThe remaining female tried to incubate the eggs, but she was starving herself and needed to eat. Bringing up osplets on your own is virtually impossible.
DeleteThanks for educating me that the word for a young osprey is osplet.
ReplyDeleteSometimes they're just called 'bobs'.
DeleteI love that the youngsters are called osplets!
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating to be able to watch these nests, although nature is often cruel ... xxx
Sometimes it's survival of the fittest, other times it's accident. It's Nature!
DeleteI too didn't know that the word for a young osprey is osplet.
ReplyDeleteNor did I realise there were these webcams around the UK.
You live and learn, thank you.
All the best Jan
PS The photographs here are amazing
The patience needed to get such wonderful photographs is phenomenal. I think professional wildlife photographers must have endless patience.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images of the Osprey but sad about the destruction of some eggs.
ReplyDeleteAt least they're mostly safe from egg collectors these days.
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