Lynda
Battling it out …
For me there is always a frisson when my first shift of the season at Site B approaches, yes a shiver of excitement; it’s the thrill of being alone and at one with an Osprey nest, a male Osprey who represents, who is, the patriarch of Rutland Ospreys, who has such an attraction that he is never without a female, yes, every year I get excited about my first shift at Site B.
Goodness only knows why, but this morning I awoke at 4am, inexplicable, or maybe not. During breakfast, having dragged out some thermals and waterproofs, the heavens opened. I drove to the site and once I’d made sure that I was ‘waterproofed’ made my way from the car. I soon came across 8 or 10 horses sheltering under trees, their rear ends backing into the Easterly wind and rain, they were certainly not going to bother me on this dreadful morning. I reached the first gate – we had been warned at our last meeting that several gates were ‘difficult’ but also that they were to be secure at all times with valuable livestock in the paddocks. This gate was unforgiving and my fingertips soon became icy cold and I decided to climb over – Michelin woman, with large bag and binoculars, new boots, climbing over gate – I received a good thump from the bins. The second gate was easier. As I closed it, with cold hands, feeling very wet, I could not resist looking towards the nest – I saw a flash of white to the side of the nest tree – 03(97) was perched, standing guard, his new family in the making. What a joy! I walked on with such a glow in my heart that the rain and cold wind became irrelevant, he was like a ray of sunshine. I had arrived at one of my favourite places on earth.
Established in the hide after ‘the changeover’ I quickly discovered that 03 was hunkered down on a lower branch of the pruned ash, valiantly facing into the wind and the rain, and just visible from the deep cup of the nest, I saw the top of the female’s head.
Some 20 minutes later as I was changing the battery on the radio, I looked up to discover that 03 had flown. I had been so determined not to let that happen this season – it does not matter what you do – answer the phone, fill in the forms, make a call of nature – he knows that you are not looking and he’s gone. I really thought that he would be away for some time, bearing in mind the weather and the fishing conditions, but some 20 minutes later he flew, in as if bearing chocolates and roses – he floated over the nest for his mate to see – and then alighted on his favourite small oak. He ate greedily – it was a small ‘unidentified’ fish – and he then presented the remains to the nest. Once changeover of incubation had taken place, she too flew a circle, stretching on her way and then landed on the top of the pruned ash, one of her favoured perches, but without the fish. A few moments later she flew up, and headed towards 09(98)’s old territory. I wondered whether she feared the attacks that she had experienced last year which almost certainly resulted in only one chick hatching. She swooped down and as she reappeared, she was joined by another bird. My heart sank – surely 09 was ensconced at Site N with 5N – but as I watched, I initially thought that there was almost certainly an intruding Osprey. They flew together towards the nest, in battle, but not fiercely, and as they drew nearer, in the greyness of the wind and rain, I quickly realised that our intruder was not an Osprey, but a very pale coloured Red Kite. 03 meanwhile was still incubating, but looking upwards, watching intently the conflict being played out between me in the hide and him in the nest and then the female descended on to the nest. But the Kite had not finished, and dived steeply down to the nest, before turning away and flying off. They exchanged incubation duties and 03 flew once again to the pruned ash – and once more faced the elements. This pair must be breathing a huge sigh of relief this year if that is the only kind of intrusion they are suffering. 03 must also be providing for his female well, as the remains of the fish were obviously still untouched in the nest. I had also received a call from Paul soon after 11am, that the female in Manton Bay had laid a second egg – the news was immediately broadcast to the world with the all wonders of modern media.
As my changeover was completed with Andy, I walked away, the wind and rain behind me. I trudged on, thinking about a warm mug of tea and I also thought about 03, on the pruned ash; he would be there all night as well as most of the day, but at least we do as much as we can to keep these magnificent creatures safe from harm.
It was wonderful to be reunited with the pair at Site B again.
Lynda
Welcome home!
Having spent a wonderful few days in Seville last week and then watching four rather important rugby matches over the weekend, I had a long list of jobs on my ‘to do’ list this Monday morning. The dawn chorus was wonderful and inspite of an overnight frost, the brilliant sunshine made me realise that Spring is slowly beginning to take shape.
Imagine my surprise when checking ‘Twitter’ shortly after breakfast to read ‘First Osprey back in Rutland! 5R has just caught a pike and is eating it on the T perch next to the Manton Bay nest at Lyndon. Brilliant!’
I was so excited that my husband could hardly understand what I was saying, but once I’d taken a deep breath and explained, he asked if I was going to Manton Bay. Initially I replied ‘No, I have far too much to do’ but then my heart overruled my head and I was quickly on my way.
As I drove round the notoriously dangerous bend near Manton bridge, I very quickly glanced left and there he was, sitting on the perch, the recently straightened T perch. I drove slowly down the hill to the Lyndon Visitor Centre – Rutland Water had never looked so beautiful, brilliant sunshine, stunning blue sky, hedgerows bursting into life, wild garlic showing well. Once in the centre I saw Tim and Paul. Tim was hastily writing a report for ‘Latest News’ on the website and desperately trying to get the new HD camera streaming and Paul was preparing to meet and greet the visitors at the beginning of this season. 5R had really caught the team out – he is seven days earlier than last year.
As I began walking to Shallow Water hide a beautiful Kestrel was perched on the wires and I stopped to take a couple of photos. I was trying out my new camera; disaster had struck with my old one in January when I was in Senegal – please don’t any of you tell me that a bottle of water and a camera in the same bag is a recipe for disaster, I learned the hard way, although I did manage to save all my photos. As I edged nearer to the Kestrel, he swooped down on to the ploughed field and was just out of sight behind a hedge, but as I got level with him, he flew up with some small unsuspecting little creature in his talons and obligingly perched in a nearby tree – click, click. On any other day I would have lingered but I had a hot date with a male who I hadn’t seen for quite some time, so I quickened my pace.
Upon reaching Shallow Water Hide, I met Liz and Brian, fellow volunteers who had been doing their regular Monday morning count and were fortunate enough to witness 5R’s return with the pike. Volunteers’ shifts don’t commence until next weekend, so they were indeed lucky. Also in the hide was Monica, of whom I have written before – fantastic photographer and this time I was introduced to Tony, her husband, yes, another brilliant photographer. They had witnessed the return and had relayed the information to Tim. They amusingly told me of hearing Tim and Paul charging down the path to the hide to identify the Osprey who had just flown in from warmer climes. There was also another gentleman in the hide who explained that he had only just joined the trust and that this was his first visit to Shallow Water – another lucky person who was caught up in the excitement of our first Osprey’s return this season.
5R was on the perch, resting calmly and surveying his territory; he looked very well. I wonder where he had spent the last six months and what variety of fish he had been feeding upon – bet it wasn’t pike. A couple of buzzards circled around the bay and then mated in the poplars behind the Osprey nest; they are quite possibly the same pair who were around last season. 5R was not fazed by them at all – he had already ousted the Egyptian Geese upon his arrival. He was certainly not going to be caught napping this year as he was last, when his female returned the very next day after him and he had done nothing to get rid of the egglaying geese nor tidied the nest up. This morning he was fervently scraping the bottom of the nest and several times he ended up losing his balance, upside down on his back, such was his enthusiasm.
And so I spent a couple of hours chatting, taking photos, watching his antics and generally grinning like the proverbial Cheshire Cat. I feel today as though I’ve shaken off the shackles of Winter and Spring is breathing new life into our world. The skies of Rutland are alive again with Ospreys.
Welcome home 5R and Godspeed the rest of them.
A different family fun day
As I began to write this report I learned that the Site B female had not been seen for over a week and that 33(11) has rarely been returning to Site B and is therefore probably catching his own fish – how wonderful if he is, it will stand him in good stead to hone his fishing skills before he departs on migration. It made me realise how lucky I had been last week to see all of the Manton Bay Ospreys, here’s my report.
I was pleased to be going to Manton Bay, as not only would I see the Osprey family in the bay but I had heard that Moira was going to be doing the shift before me. I hadn’t seen her since the day she’d had her cycle accident and apart from suffering nasty injuries to hand and chin, she had also missed 52(11) fledging.
I arrived at the hide and was delighted to hear from her that she had seen all five Ospreys and at that moment only one juvenile was out of sight. She showed me a photo that she’d taken earlier of a kingfisher, it had been darting about landing on reed stems and had quite distracted her. She had also spotted a green woodpecker in the trees behind the nest. We chatted away but soon realised that we needed our wits about to us to keep track of the Osprey family. Once she had left the hide, I set about heading up the report sheets, however, I began to have a minor panic as so much was going on, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to write it all down. As I rummaged through my bag for a pen, I came across a small digital voice recorder that my husband had given me at the beginning of the season, thinking that it might come in handy one day if the hide was busy and I didn’t have time to write. It was just what I needed. This is what I hastily dictated:
Absolute manic morning, one on fallen branch, one on the nest, one on the near perch, 5R on the far perch. One juvenile missing on my arrival. Then the other juvenile arrives, Mrs. is eating a fish, 5R flies off to catch a fish right in front of our eyes, brings it back to eat it, as he’s the only one that hasn’t eaten yet this morning, then drops it, goes off to fish again – not successful, quite funny, comes over to the nest to see what’s left that the juvenile has been eating. And they’re just dispersing all over the place right in front of my eyes; to the left fallen tree, to the fallen tree to the right, to the shore, one’s been pecking at mud, 5R’s had a bath, it’s very choppy, very windy, very cool and they’re just flying all over the place, all five of them are here and it’s wonderful! And now a juvenile comes back to the French perch and he’s eating a fish and 5R’s on the near perch eating a fish. Where they came from, goodness only knows.
(Later) Not forgetting one juvenile who’s pecking on the shore – was he eating grubs I wonder?
At 09.50, once I’d stopped panicking, one of the juveniles took his fish to the shoreline. Every season, I see different behaviour – last year at Site B, again in a panic, I’d telephoned Tim to report that the two juveniles were on the ground in the ploughed field, one actually down low in the earth, but I was reassured that they’d been doing it on a regular basis. Today was the first time that I’d seen a Rutland Osprey, let alone a juvenile, actually eating on the shoreline. After fifteen minutes he was getting seriously hassled by a magpie and flew with his fish to the right-hand fallen poplar. 5R immediately dipped down to the shore and sorted out the magpie.
At 10.20 the female took after a heron and there ensued an almighty and prolonged battle. It was right in front of the hide and I was able to get some very close shots of them both. The female won and the heron retreated towards Deep Water Hide. 5R then had another spat with a magpie and the two juveniles flew up, one returning to the nest. 52(11) meanwhile was still eating his fish on the fallen poplar. A few minutes later 32(11) flew over the bund wall, followed by the female, who attempted to fish. They both returned low over the water, dipping their feet in flight. As they approached the nest, 32 swung at the female, as if trying to beat her to the nest and she decided to join 5R on the near perch.
The weather took a distinct turn for the worse with light rain sweeping across in front of me, almost like drifting fog. 5R and the female hunkered down against the strong wind on the near perch, one juvenile retreated to the shore and the other to a low branch of the left-hand fallen poplar. Meanwhile 52(11) was still eating his fish on the other fallen poplar, which is thickly leaved and he appeared to be very sheltered, quite oblivious almost to the weather and the rest of his family.
Shortly before 11am 5R flew over to the far perch and a juvenile followed him to the far shore, landing in the water. He began to lift out of the water, hover a couple of seconds and then land in the water again, until he landed on the fallen poplar. Some 20 minutes later, those of us in the hide were treated to a wonderful sight of two juveniles attempting to fish immediately in front of us near the dead tree. They didn’t push their feet forward at all, but most certainly hovered, feet dangling and swooped down to the water, pulling out at the last minute, like fighter pilots. They practiced several times and then one of them drifted out of sight towards the Lyndon Centre. In the years that I have been volunteering, I had never seen such advanced behaviour from juveniles. On the far shore, to the right of the fallen poplar, a young buzzard was sitting on top of the camera transmitter box, I wondered how long he’d been watching this family at play.
The other juvenile flew to the shore behind the nest, landing on a very small branch sticking out of the mud and was joined on the shore by the third juvenile who began to peck at green shoots growing in the mud. In the grey murk I saw four or five wagtails approaching him, but with just one glance from the Osprey, they sensibly made a hasty diversion. Watching these two birds on the muddy shoreline was so evocative of what we had observed in Africa – Ospreys on the beach or marsh, either on the mud or sand, or perched on branches protruding from the ground. The only difference from today for this family when they reach their wintering ground, is that each of them will be alone. Today though, to have watched the whole family was truly wonderful and totally unexpected – another lucky shift; they will be few and far between until the end of the season.
When I played the recordings back, to write this report, I discovered that I had left it switched on inside my pocket for 10 minutes – there was much rustling of paper as I hastily recorded events, but there was also the sound of one of the juveniles food-begging, loudly, it is so very clear – I can’t bring myself to delete it, although I’m not sure whether it will cheer me up or send me into a deep depression when I play it back in the dead of winter and think of them all on the muddy sand in Africa. I hope that they will be as well fed as they have been today.
An away day . . .
As the season draws on it’s the luck of the draw as to whether a shift will be exciting with plenty of action from the whole family or whether maybe only one or two will be around the nest area, sitting doing nothing. We approached Site B early this Saturday morning with some trepidation, wondering who we would encounter; the sky was clear, there was a slight breeze, a heavy dew under foot and it was chilly. When Michelle had phoned the previous day to confirm our shift, she had told us that 33(11) had disappeared at 11am on Thursday and had not returned until 1pm on Friday. (See Tim’s report). We closed the gate into the hide field and I instantly spotted an Osprey circling over the nest but with the sun behind the nest, it was merely a silhouette. In the distance I could see another Osprey flying South. We cautiously made our way to the hide and still the bird circled over the nest and then disappeared, dropping down behind the wood. We opened up the hide, set up the telescopes, headed up the report sheets and kept watching. We scanned all the regular perches – empty – and discussed the fact that the next two hours may be very quiet. We had glimpsed one Osprey, but as to who it was, was anyone’s guess.
It was decidedly chilly so an early start was made on the hot chocolate and jam doughnuts. Feeling slightly warmer, I began to scan the wood more thoroughly this time and as I looked towards the far righthand end of the wood, discovered an Osprey sitting in the ash trees. This was a favourite perch of one of the juveniles in 2010, I should have remembered. Initially I thought that it was 03(97) but then doubted this assumption – this bird had a slight colouring across the chest. He then flew up and landed in the nest, food begging very loudly – it was of course 33(11) and he had seen his father flying in with a small trout. He had probably been watching us with envy as we enjoyed our breakfast.
He instantly grabbed the fish from 03 and flew to the small oak with it. A few moments later the female appeared from the wood with a large clump of dried grass and landed at 33’s side. He started food begging very loudly and was definitely making the case that he was not going to swap. She left the grass at his side and perched in a small dead tree close by and watched as her offspring hungrily devoured the trout, every last morsel. It was very amusing to watch at one stage; he was holding the fish just below the head and once he had eaten the head, he tried to move his foot further back along the fish. He could not release the fish however and was swinging it first in front of the branch and then behind, wobbling precariously as he did so – he was extremely lucky not to drop it. We did wonder why, with no siblings to hassle him for the fish, he hadn’t remained at the nest to eat it.
Towards the end of the shift Tim phoned to see what had been happening; having spent a worrying Thursday night and Friday morning searching for 33(11), he was relieved that the whole family were all ‘present and correct’. Apparently even 03(97) and the female had behaved in a manner that would suggest that they too were worried about 33, perching up some distance from the nest, the female hanging on to the fish that she had caught. It must have been a long night for them too.
Having finished the fish, 33 flew to a nearby ash and was soon joined by 03, the female remaining in the dead tree close by. 33 had not left the site since his adventure and his parents were also staying close to him. I wonder, with the absence of any siblings, if he had just got carried away playing with the buzzard and found himself miles away – one of the many questions that will forever remain unanswered.
Lindsay and I too found ourselves miles away on Wednesday and Thursday. We joined the steady stream of Rutland Water ‘pilgrims’ visiting Cors Dyfi Osprey Project to take a look at their new family, the adult female of course being our very own Rutland 03(08). For me it was fairly emotional to see her once again; it is always a joy when a bird returns for the first time when last you saw it as a juvenile. We had both watched over the 2008 family and had seen them all at very close hand when they were ringed. Sadly 01(08) had disappeared ten days after fledging (one of the reasons why everyone was so worried when 33(11) went AWOL on Wednesday).
It was extremely interesting to see another Wildlife Trust project and the enthusiasm and dedication at Cors Dyfi was amazing – Emyr Evans has a wonderful team supporting him. I mentioned earlier ‘luck of the draw’ – we were so lucky to just catch the tail end of the first juvenile fledging. He is named Einion, (Dulas and Leri being his siblings, male and female respectively). They are named after rivers. It was an exceptionally hot day so we made our way to the hide where it was somewhat cooler, with a breeze blowing through. We watched him make several more flights, only once overshooting when he landed on Leri’s back in the nest. Volunteers in the hide and in the centre, Maria, Carol, Tim and John voiced their acknowledgement of Rutland Osprey Project’s contribution to this happy event.
We spent a very pleasant evening at The Black Lion in Derwenlas with Emyr, Janine, his partner and Officer at the Project, Alwyn, also a Project Officer and Gwen, a volunteer. They are having an extremely exciting season with the first breeding pair of Ospreys in the Dyfi valley for over 400 years. And for the second time this season, I was fortunate enough to see the first juvenile fledge from a nest, an auspicious one at that; a first in the Dyfi Valley since the 17th century.
I’m sure there will be many ‘away days’ in future years between Rutland and Montgomeryshire – annual pilgrimages.
A couple of intruders . . . who are not entirely unwelcome
Site B, Saturday morning at 6 am – I can’t think of a better way to start a weekend than an early morning shift at Site B; a couple of hours of absolute peace and quiet and then return home with the whole weekend ahead. In July, with the juveniles about to or already fledged, it’s exciting to observe their antics and the family’s behaviour.
The weather forecast was not that good but when I woke up this morning at 5am it was unbelievably balmy – at 5am ! I have been caught out before though, so waterproofs were de rigeur. It was breezy, very overcast but very warm as I walked down to the hide and thankfully the bullocks were some distance away, as once again I had forgotten my stick. I closed the final gate and looked towards the nest and there were the family of three; 03 so prominent with his clean breast, on the nest perch, female on the nest and 33(11) on the lower nest perch. It is always a huge relief to arrive and see the whole family – once the juveniles have fledged they can land in the oddest of places which results in a worrying ‘hunt the juvenile’. They obviously haven’t read the script yet – small oak, ash behind the small oak, hidden perch, pruned ash, righthand ash, etc., their parents stick to the map, so why can’t they? But then, why should they, they will not return to this nest again, or will they?
I opened up the hide and set up the telescopes, switched on the radio and telephone and settled down for the shift. I intended to radio Waderscrape Hide – Roger, a fellow volunteer, whom I’d met on the Osprey Cruise this week, was on duty there, 6am – 9am. We had agreed to let one another know what was happening on our shifts. At 6.35 the female made a short flight and as if prompted by this, 33(11) also circled briefly and returned to the perch. He then hopped up to the top perch and after fidgeting around, moved a little closer to 03. Ten minutes later he flew off again, out of sight a couple of times but then returning to the lower perch.
07.05 Having made a few notes, I looked up – yes, I think you all know what I am about to say – 03 had disappeared – old habits die hard. I automatically assumed that he had set off to catch breakfast. Seven minutes later, as I stood outside the hide, an Osprey came into view, flying towards the nest and at first I assumed that it was 03. Not so, as 03 followed after and landed on the nest with the female, who was mantling feverishly. 33 remained on the lower perch. This intruder circled immediately over the nest for four minutes. There was much alarm calling and mantling but both 03 and the female remained on the nest. The intruder then flew off in a NE direction.
Several minutes later, at 07.20 the intruder reappeared and this time circled over the nest for fifteen minutes – an incredible amount of time for him to stay and not be attacked by one of the parent birds. He was circling, flying very low over the nest and then rising to dangle his feet in display manner. I had time to take a telescope outside and could see that this Osprey was not 09(98), as I had expected, as he had no satellite aerial. The behaviour of the parents was not what I have witnessed in previous years at various nests when intruders have come to call; it seemed most unusual to me that 03 was not up in the air and escorting this bird off his territory. Both parents stayed on the nest alarm calling furiously and mantling. In the whole time that this was going on, poor 33(11) was on the lower perch, head bowed, it was almost as if he was trying to make himself invisible as he would have done had he been in the nest – I could almost imagine him closing his eyes and saying to himself ‘Please go away, you’re frightening me!’
The intruder eventually flew south and at 07.40 03 and the female flew up, circling over the nest, checking that the juvenile was still there. 03 returned to the nest and the female flew south. At 07.46 the female returned and circled over the nest and landed and four minutes later the intruder was back, once again circling low over the nest. The parents still remained on the nest but this time their alarm calling and mantling was heightened. At one stage the intruder came very close to the hide and it was at this stage that I could see that he too had an exceptionally clean breast. He circled around for another five minutes and eventually gave up, flying off low in a NE direction.
Some time after 7.30 Tim called and when I explained what had been happening and described the clean-breasted intruder, he told me that 01(09) had been seen the day before by Field Officer, John Wright. 01(09) returned to Rutland Water on the 19th/20th May but has rarely been seen since. However, if any of you are following the progress of Roy Dennis’ juvenile, Rothiemurchus, another 2009 juvenile to return, you will know that these youngsters are proving to us that they travel far and wide when they return to the UK. 01(09) was one of two fledglings from Site B and so this morning he had merely been calling in at home – sadly he wasn’t entirely welcome but he had not been treated as aggressively as a normal intruder. I wonder where his travels have taken him in the last couple of months.
The second intruder was given a warm welcome – I was accompanied on this shift by my husband - he thought that we were in for a quiet morning but we were both delighted to have witnessed the excitement of this intrusion; we barely had time for the bacon sandwiches and coffee. Nor too had I time to radio Roger, although by all accounts he was busy himself – 32 took to the air on his shift.
The Dynamic Duo strikes again . . .
If you follow our website regularly you will know that the webcam went down on Wednesday last week and sadly wasn’t repaired until yesterday. When Tim rang me to confirm my shift for this morning, we discussed how much we had missed having the webcam, I’m sure we were not alone. When we got the picture back I could not believe how these three juveniles had grown so much, just in the space of five days, and were looking so much like fully grown adults with juvenile plumage - a testimony to 5R’s fishing skills. As I peeped at the webcam throughout the day I saw 52(11) helicopter so high that he was almost out of the camera view and at one stage I said to myself ‘There he goes!’ but he landed straight down in the nest. I discussed with another volunteer, Moira, that he surely would fledge yesterday and quietly said a prayer for him to hang on until my shift, Wednesday, 9am – 1pm. As I watched my laptop whilst ironing in the evening, he looked so feisty and alert, I was sure that by the time my shift began, he would already be flying.
I arrived at Lyndon on Wednesday morning and enquired whether anything was to be taken down to Waderscrape – extra telescopes, batteries for the radio, etc. I also enquired about the status of 52(11) and was assured by Tim that he had not fledged. Some of the team, Paul, Liz and Michelle had visited Cors Dyfi Osprey Project over the last couple of days to take a look at one of our 2008 Site B females, 03(08), who is currently feeding three chicks. Tim was replaying to Paul and Michelle, the antics of 52(11) from the previous day, when he was helicoptering out of sight. I arrived at Waderscrape Hide at 8.55am and was greeted by Don, co-volunteer, and Monica – I have mentioned Monica in one of my previous reports – she and her husband take stunning photos and are regular visitors to Lyndon. As at every changeover of shift, there is a chat about where the birds are and we naturally catch up with each other’s health, holidays, etc., since we last met. I discovered that Don had arrived at the hide at 8.30am and that Moira, with whom I had been discussing the imminent fledging of 52(11) only the day before, had sadly had an accident when cycling to Waderscrape to do the 6 – 9am shift, and was at A & E. 5R was absent when Don arrived and the female and three juveniles were on the nest.
The three of us turned our attention to the nest and watched as one of the juveniles started wing-flapping and helicoptering and then suddenly, at 9.10am, he was airborn. He flew up and around Manton Bay and then tried to land on the T perch but failed and embarked on another small circuit of Manton Bay. This time he was joined by the female – it never ceases to amaze me how a parent Osprey guides and teaches a juvenile, reassuring all the time. Once again he tried to land on the T perch and was unsuccessful. He seemed to glide towards the French Perch and then just plopped down into the nest. We were all so excited and once again, like last year, I juggled with the radio, the binoculars and the camera. Those of you who have read my diary from last year may remember that Don and I shared a similar shift when 30(10) fledged; I told you then that Don had been involved with the project since the beginning and until that day had never seen a juvenile fledge, nor too had I, but then I’m a relative beginner compared to many volunteers. So how lucky were we to be there this year and have a repeat – amazingly lucky! I don’t think the smiles on Don’s and my face disappeared all morning, well probably all day – we were so excited. Monica too was in the right place at the right time and took some fantastic photos and once she had analysed her footage, she informed us that 52(11) had been up in the air for 2 minutes 40 seconds on his inaugural flight. She had a wonderful capture of him badly missing the perch on his first attempt.
52(11)’s fledging was very different to 30(10); 30 did two big circuits of Manton Bay before landing on the dead tree in front of Waderscrape, where he stayed for seven hours and then eventually plucked up the courage to return home for tea. 52(11) had made six flights by the time I left at 13.40pm. I learned from Tim later in the day that his was the more normal fledging behaviour. In the initial excitement of watching, radioing and marvelling, we discovered that 5R had sneaked back and was quietly breakfasting on a very large Roach on the far perch. I confidently say Roach but it was only when we examined Monica’s photo of him bringing it to the nest that the fish was identified. Having eaten his share, he flew to the nest with it and the juveniles and the female all fed very well, even leaving a sizeable chunk. Once the female had finished eating she flew up and then proceeded to wash her feet in the bay, dragging them through the water. She returned to the T perch to join 5R.
At this stage we thought that maybe we would not see 52 attempt any more flying for a while. However, after preening, at 12.00pm he was up and away again and five minutes later, a third flight, this time being mobbed by a tern, which I think must be quite scary at this early stage of flight – on both these two short flights he attempted to land on the perch between 5R and the female but failed and put down in the nest. 12.15, he was up in the air again making a short circuit around the bay and going a little higher this time, he wasn’t giving up. He flew towards the perch and with both parents and siblings watching, legs dangling, he gingerly touched down on to the perch between his parents. What a lovely picture that made! He must have stayed there for five or ten minutes and then he was back to the nest again. At 12.35 he was off yet again, proud parents watching – nothing to this flying he seemed to be saying to his two siblings – and once again he landed between the two adults, but not before he had flown in front of the poplars, turned and tipped a wing immediately over the nest. He was definitely feeling confident and showing off.
On the nest one of the other juveniles was wingflapping and helicoptering just a few inches into the air, but the third one was staying low in the nest and being decidedly lazy – I did learn from Paul at the centre, who had been watching the camera, that he was actually lying on the remains of the fish!
I stayed on a little longer than normal to help a new volunteer, Anna, who was concerned that she might not be able to keep tracks on the whole family with one juvenile now flying around and the possibility of at least one more fledging. Vigilance is so important at this crucial stage and I could well understand her concern. She need not have worried – she came well prepared with notes that she had made of dates of the Manton Bay family’s progress through the season, etc., to help her when talking with the visitors. Her enthusiasm was tangible and it took me back a few years to my first season – very heady stuff. The excitement never fades as each season arrives and my only regret is that I did not get involved with the project years ago. I could have easily stayed a few more hours but was due to help on the Osprey Cruise that evening, so reluctantly made my way back to Lyndon and Anna was joined by Tim and Michelle. There were quite a few visitors to Waderscrape throughout the morning and I was delighted to catch up with some of them later in the day on the Osprey Cruise.
Don and I had been very fortunate to experience a first fledging for a second year, I’m still smiling about it as I type and I’d like to bet that he too is still smiling. Same time, same place next year, Don – will the Dynamic Duo strike lucky for a third time?
A routine shift …
It’s seven weeks (including a holiday) since I last wrote in this diary about what I refer to as an ‘Osprey Moment’, and as the season seems to be disappearing all too quickly, I have been racking my brain about how to remedy this ‘writer’s block’.
This morning as I walked to Site B I decided to just write about everything that happened between 8am and noon – I’m tempted to say here, exciting or otherwise, but that would be so wrong because for me every shift is exciting, just some more so than others. I parked the car and started walking – I had forgotten my stick that we are all advised to carry to scare off any horses or cattle who get a little too close. Personally, I’m fine with horses, but bullocks I find a little more intimidating – 34 of them this morning but no time to go back for the stick – they kept a polite distance thank goodness.
07.45 I reached the gate into the field where the hide is and paused. I always love this moment; where are the Ospreys? To my surprise 03(97) was sitting on the small oak, a favourite perch of his but one that I have not seen him frequent this season. And so the perfect picture greeted me; 03(97) clean-breasted and standing proud in the sunshine and some serious wing-flapping and jumping going on in the nest from 33(11) with the female watching. One thing that I had forgotten in the four weeks since my last visit to Site B and that was that the grass would have grown considerably and with last night’s welcome rain I realised that I should also have remembered my waterproofs. I approached the hide to take over from Chris who informed me that when she had arrived at 6am they already had a fish and that 33(11) was feeding himself and then the female took over. We chatted about our respective holidays and then, as ever, noticed that 03(97) had flown off.
08.10 Ten minutes later he was back with a very large stick and as he flew past I remarked to Chris that he looked like a witch on a broomstick, which prompted us to remember that at one of the end of season parties when the team always make a comedy video of the Ospreys’ antics throughout the season, there had been a similar clip of an Osprey on a ‘broomstick’. These videos really are very funny – we’ve had Osprey Eastenders, Osprey Neighbours, etc. They are very cleverly produced.
08.15 Chris then departed and I started to make some notes. I glanced up – uh, oh, the female was no longer on the nest. I stepped outside the hide to look around only to see four Ospreys in the air over the nest and Chris hurrying back to the hide. We both assumed that the two intruders were probably 5N and 09(98) and she tried to get the scope on them in the hope of seeing if one had a satellite tag (09) but they were flying around too fast. One of them was ‘chipping’ loudly, a sound I have not heard all season. They were circling and tumbling, feet dangling and they eventually disappeared, two chasing two. This had begun at 8.20 and as the female returned at 8.37, Chris departed once again.
08.53 With the female on the nest and 33(11) keeping a low profile in the nest, an Osprey flew over the nest ‘chipping’ loudly. He flew almost directly over the hide and at first I assumed that it was 03, however, this was not the case as 03 appeared from the same direction and chased off this intruder and then returned to the nest.
09.05 The female flew up from the nest and flew to the west of the wood to collect a twig, on her way, flying over the nest, climbing and then as if motionless against the wind. She returned to the nest and 33(11) immediately was more alert, even more so when a pigeon flew over the nest, his eyes widening.
09.10 Exactly on cue, as I looked down to make a few notes, 03 disappeared – I can’t begin to remember how many times 03 has done this to me – 08(97) was pretty good at it too!
09.32 The weather was extremely changeable today; the wind began to whip up and whilst there were heavy black clouds over the nest and it was raining, the sun was out and it was fine over the hide, no rainbow though.
09.42 03 returned after 32 minutes with a mini ‘branch’. He landed on the nest with it much to the chagrin of the female and whilst he tried to position it, she busied herself with a smaller twig and 33(11) kept dodging the ‘branch’ – I always find these antics absolutely hilarious to watch. What would she be saying to him – ‘I don’t know what you’ve brought that home for, it just doesn’t fit!’
09.55 Once again the female flew up and this time put on a show, soaring and tumbling through 360 degrees. I’m sure she does this to exhibit the art of flying to the juvenile and also to gain back her own strength in flying, after such a prolonged period of inactivity.
10.00 She was still soaring high and disappeared out of sight. At this stage of the season, one’s thoughts turn to the day when once again they will all disappear South and all that we will be left with is Ken’s honey buzzard/black and white minstrel for company, which incidentally was rather more friendly looking today than when I glimpsed it through the night sight on a nightshift.
10.30 03 on watch and no sign of 33(11).
10.40 03 dropped on to the lower nest perch and still the female was absent.
10.50 03 flew over the hide but returned instantly – was he searching for her?
10.53 The female breezed in with a tiny leafy twig, perhaps she was trying to tell him something. 33(11) was alert at once and 03 dropped to the lower perch. The female had been away 53 minutes; regaining her independence and giving the chick a taste of what is in store for him, to be alone and self-reliant.
11.10 03 was preening, the female was on the nest, one wing was idly stretched by 33(11).
11.15 I looked down to write and looked up and he’d done it again – 03 had disappeared.
11.22 03 returned with a stick. To the left of the nest, but some distance away, I watched a buzzard playing in the wind and decided that he looked a bit wobbly and must be a juvenile. 03 was on the lower nest perch, the female on the nest and 33(11) deep in the nest.
11.55 The female flew up and suddenly she was attacking the buzzard, climbing and freefalling to almost grapple with it. Suddenly, the parents (I assume) of this young buzzard appeared on the scene and quite a battle ensued. And then, as I was intently watching this battle through my binoculars, two huge monsters appeared right in front of me and I nearly jumped out of my skin, (well only one really, Ann is not scary at all !) It was Ann and Andy arriving to take over. We watched as the female continued to battle with the three buzzards, 03 watching from the lower nest perch. Finally, as they flew nearer to the nest he decided to intervene and the buzzards retreated hastily.
12.00 03 returned to the nest perch, the female to the nest and finally 33(11) was wing flapping furiously.
After chatting with them, I left them to enjoy their shift. As I approached the gate where first I glimpsed 03 on the small oak earlier, I turned to take one last look until next time – the family of three were all still on the nest tree. I turned and right in front of me was an Osprey being mobbed by three crows – it disappeared and the crows flew off – I wonder who that was?
Only yesterday, I remarked on how few butterflies I had seen in the garden this year but today I saw hundreds over the field between the nest and the hide. There were swifts screaming around, a very loud pheasant, an adorable little rabbit who obligingly posed for the camera, a cheeky chaffinch on the roof of the hide listening to us chat and a honey buzzard morphing into a black and white minstrel.
A routine shift …..
Sunshine after the rain
This morning as I approached Site B, the sky was blue and there was little or no breeze, in stark contrast to the very grey sky and rain in the air when I was last at this Site ten days ago; the whole world seemed grey then with the sad news about 08(97). As I took over from Dennis and Sally, I learned that 03(97) had brought a very small fish to the female some time after 7am. and that both birds had also been incubating. I was still brimming with the excitement of the news from Manton Bay the previous day, when not one but two chicks had hatched. I actually watched on my laptop as the second chick arrived, initially thinking that my eyes were playing tricks and that it was probably a feather or blade of grass waving around in the nest, but soon realising what it was that was emerging from that precious egg that so many of us, team and volunteers, have been watching over and guarding 24/7 for the last few weeks. It was a rewarding moment indeed.
My morning at Site B progressed slowly and steadily, with a couple of changeovers where 03(97) took over incubation for brief periods. I took a call on the radio from Paul and told him that it was all mainly quiet, apart from a rather scruffy looking buzzard that had appeared momentarily. Shortly after that conversation 03 came to the nest and the female flew to a nearby tree – the Ash behind the small Oak to be precise – I keep reading strange tree descriptions used at various Osprey sites in the UK; Bassenthwaite have a broccoli tree, twin saplings, centre dead tree; at Site B we have the pruned Ash, the hidden perch, etc. This time 03 was very reluctant to incubate and flew to the same branch as the female, who didn’t budge, so he returned to the nest but still did not sit, instead returning to the female, landing this time a lot closer, and so forcing her off the branch and she did then return to the nest. 03 then flew up over the nest and circled very high flying off South East. I watched him until he was a mere dot and then nothing. Was he that bothered about a buzzard?
A couple of minutes later, when scanning the sky, I saw away in the distance two Ospreys circling together and began to wonder whether my scruffy Buzzard had in fact been an intruding Osprey. I made a quick call to Paul to enquire whether 09(98) was looking a bit worse for wear, or if indeed 5N was, thinking that it might be one of them and that 03(97) had in fact circled around to chase them off. This bird was missing primaries from both wings and a couple of tail feathers. I was assured that 5N had been at Site N during the morning, but he didn’t have a recent description of 09. I too assured Paul, with great confidence, that I hadn’t seen any behaviour to make me think that hatching was imminent, as I had seen 03 incubating a couple of times, and any fish had been eaten away from the nest.
Just as the shift changeover was taking place, 03 appeared on the nest with a small fish but he then flew immediately to the ash with the fish. As I walked away from the hide I thought to myself that today was not the day for me to witness a hatching. Further up the field I came across John Wright (Field Officer) observing the proceedings. In conversation with him I soon realised that behaviour is not always as the text book explains. I had always thought that the first offering of fish down into the cup of the nest was that first telltale sign that a chick had arrived. This is not always the case John explained, and he went on to tell me exactly why he thought that there was a chick already in the nest. The female at Site B is apparently quite greedy (which could explain why she accepts fish from 09) and so when 03 arrived on the nest with the fish and she didn’t move off the eggs nor seem interested in the fish, John realised that there was probably a chick there already, so newly hatched that it was too early for it to be fed. Also, when slightly earlier, 03 had refused to incubate, instead flushing the female off the Ash and back to the nest, he probably knew that hatching was imminent and had taken himself off to catch a fish. As we stood there talking all this over, 03 returned to the nest with the fish, the female got off the eggs and THEN we saw that offering down into the cup of the nest. What a wonderful event to witness, not only in light of all the sadness, but also because of all the aggression from 09 at this nest.
When Chris Ditchburn and I were preparing a presentation of our trip in Africa for the Volunteers Winter Getogether in February, he told me how much he’d enjoyed sitting with John when they were out there and that for him it was like being in a science lesson – I agreed. John imparts so much knowledge, I could sit for hours and just listen and learn. I had been convinced as I finished my shift that today was not the day for me to witness a hatching, I was wrong again – back to school Mrs Berry.
Dreams really do come true !
I was so looking forward to returning to Site B this year, but when I awoke early this morning I was a little troubled. I had attended a meeting the previous evening and arrived home just before midnight. I switched my mobile back on and discovered that a friend had telephoned asking me to give her a ring that evening. I decided that 11.55pm was far too late and it would have to wait until the next day. So as I walked alone towards the Site B hide, impatient to catch my first glimpse of 03(97) and his female this season, the reason for her call was niggling at the back of my mind.
As I approached the hide 03(97) and his female were both on the nest and looking quite alert. Chris, from whom I was taking over, explained that 03(97) was missing when she arrived at 6am and had then returned with a fish. The pair were not to share a peaceful breakfast however. 09(98) has returned this year and as Tim has explained already, he is not happy and is venting his anger and frustration on the female at this site. At the moment she is simply leaving the nest while he swoops at her and is eventually driven away either by the female or 03(97). Of course, this female is not completely guiltless, having food begged at 09’s nest and accepted fish from him for the past two years that she has been resident at Site B. If this behaviour continues from 09(98) it will certainly be a very worrying time once she has laid eggs.
As Chris and I were talking over the situation, the mobile rang – it was Tim checking on events. During the conversation Chris held the phone near to my ear in order for me to hear the conversation too. I could hardly believe what I was hearing and asked to speak to him. I told him of my missed call the previous evening and how what he had just been told us must be the same subject as my friend’s call. Such exciting news! And so when Janine from the Dyfi Osprey Project called me just after 8am I was one step ahead of her.
In Wales they had anxiously awaited the return of their male and sure enough, Monty had turned up on 6 April. The next step was whether he could attract a female and persuade her to stay. Well, said female turned up on April 9 and it was everything crossed. I remember a conversation with Janine earlier this week, saying that the next few days would be crucial in discovering whether this female would stay permanently or would travel on up North, probably to Scotland. Today, Wednesday, 13 April, she is still around and has been identified with a White Darvic ring on her right leg which reads 03(08)! A juvenile from Site B which I had the privilege of seeing ringed. How wonderful to have turned up at Machynlleth. I spent a lot of the morning, at the actual site where she was conceived, thinking how amazing it was that I had been so close to her, watched her fledge and start her migration and that for three years she had kept herself safe. Chris had told me about one of her shifts from 2008 when there were just two juveniles left (their sibling, 01(08) disappeared shortly after fledging) – 03(97) had a brought a fish to the pair on the nest and 03(08) had snaffled it, refusing to give 05(08) any. He must have been very hungry as he flew over to 03(97) and hovered overhead food begging vociferously. She was feisty and strong-willed then and has now survived her first migration back to the UK.
Before I left for Africa in January, Janine had jokingly asked me to direct a migrating female up to Wales for Monty – the stuff of dreams, but sometimes dreams really do come true; I couldn’t have wished for 03(08) to go anywhere better (excluding Rutland of course). Pob lwc to the Dyfi Osprey Project – Good Luck.
Oh, by the way, I had a lovely morning at Site B watching the pair flit from tree to nest, mate, tidy the nest, but ever vigilant. It was a fairly quiet morning and on such occasions you get the opportunity to have a good look at the birds. This female has beautiful markings across her dark chest band – like dark chocolate chevrons running through whipped cream. A buzzard passed very close to the nest but 03(97) was unfazed and a red kite hovered for a while over the nest and drifted away. Three fallow deer skipped by at quite close range, pausing fleetingly to look my way. It was very, very cold but it didn’t seem to matter, the excitement and happiness of 03(08)’s return seemed to create such a duvet-like warmth around me – but this was no dream.
What a start!
The promise of some warm weather for Wednesday just whetted my appetite more to do my first shift at Manton Bay. As the day dawned it was slightly overcast and dry as I drove to the Lyndon Centre. I actually couldn’t get there quick enough and after a brief word with Tim, I joined Moira in Waderscrape Hide well before 9am. One of the good things about volunteering, as I’ve said before, is that you meet some really lovely people and Moira is one of them. She reported that 5R had delivered a fish at about 7am and they had both eaten well. There had also been a buzzard about that had landed on what she thought was a nest in some trees near the Osprey nest. We chatted a while and discussed the new website, beautifully created by her and her partner and then I was left to carry on watching.
I set up another telescope and unpacked my things, checked the notes and thought I was probably in for a quiet morning. 5R was on the perch and Mrs5R was in the nest, or so I thought; on closer inspection I discovered that it was the other way around and I was in serious need of some practice. The pair actually did their best to confuse me, changing places on and off the perches and in the nest, 5R always managing to conceal the Darvic ring on his right leg, but I guess I knew which one was 5R when he actually reversed off the French Perch and landed on top of his female. I recently read in Roy Dennis’s ‘A Life of Ospreys’, that 4 to 8 days before the first egg is laid, copulation reaches its peak – we’ll have to keep watching the website as I believe the first egg is possibly due at the end of this week.
The sunshine brought out quite a few visitors and there were well over twenty people in the hide at one stage – I know that I can talk a lot but I didn’t come up for air until after noon when I grabbed a quick drink. I met some really interesting visitors including a lady called Monica, whose husband, Tony, was in Shallow Water Hide. They are both very keen photographers and she had some fantastic photos of our Ospreys to show me and also some of a delightful little wren that she’d captured, which was nesting under the guttering of one of the hides.
You’ve probably read that Diana Spencer, Education Officer of the Rutland Project for the last few years didn’t return this season and is now working for RSPB Loch of Strathbeg – well her parents called into the hide and told me that she was contributing to the Loch of Strathbeg blog and had had a bit of a coup in reporting the first Spoonbill up there this year. You can read all about it on the website.
The Ospreys in Manton Bay put on a wonderful show for us all to enjoy. The first incident was when the buzzard got a little too close and they both had a go at getting rid of him. I have to admit to thinking at first that it was an intruding Osprey – his colours are remarkably similar to the Ospreys and in the excitement of watching all three birds, he caught me out. I bet I won’t be the only one this season if he continues to hang around.
Around mid morning 5R flew off to the shoreline close to the new bund wall. He landed chest deep in the water and proceeded to have a jolly good bath. He was visited by Mrs5R who gently flew low over him – was this a romantic gesture? – she couldn’t possibly be hungry. It was a joy to watch. And then about half an hour later, with 5R on the perch, she flew up near the nest and dived into the water six or seven times, totally submerging herself and then she finished with a quick flight over the water dragging her feet to clean them. In the sunlight, each time she arose and shook herself, the waterspray in the sunshine all around her created a magical picture.
And so as my shift ended, the birds relaxed on the perches and I was joined by Peter and Di, who normally take over from me. I hope their shift was as interesting. I was cock-a-hoop at what I’d seen on my first shift and can’t wait for the next one at Site B – haven’t set eyes on 03(97) and his female yet. Let’s hope that the warm weather continues as the birds will soon start incubation – hope it’s warm for us too, I sense a few nightshifts looming.
