EGG NO 2

Augusta (Blue 500) duly laid her second egg at 1421 yesterday, 6 May, realising that the laying of her first egg overnight when the camera was off was not going to endear her to her new fan club. She was attended by a pair of jackdaws but whether or not that speeded the process I’m not sure but they have been annoying her for several days now, even cheekily snatching bits of nesting material for themselves from almost under her beak.

She is a lot calmer now and is settling more readily and for longer than she did when the first egg arrived. Samson still loves to incubate but she is increasingly coming back quickly from her wing stretches and wanting to take that duty back over; I’m sure that a part of it is her reminding him to concentrate more on bringing in fish. He brought in a large rainbow trout a couple of days ago and I wonder whether he’s found a new food source as I cannot remember the last time he brought one in. That would be a welcome situation indeed.

I mentioned in my last blog about a couple of instances to bring to your attention. The first was about, despite being so careful normally about moving about on the nest, especially when there are eggs or youngsters about, this rule being ignored by both birds when bringing sticks in. Many of you will know of the Loch Arkaig pair, Louis and Dorcha, who are notorious for having to tackle really awkward sticks that the other has brought in. Well, Samson and Augusta have entered a couple of bids to wrest the title of The Most Awkward Stick award for this year from the Arkaig pair. The first was not so much awkward as potentially dangerous, with Samson polevaulting in with a stick that got caught up in his tail feathers, so that the end that went into the nest missed the egg by only a few millimetres.

The second occasion was Augusta arriving with a large and awkward stick, which the two of them took turns at wrestling around the nest, luckily before any eggs had arrived. I think it finally disappeared over the side after both birds admitted defeat with trying to place it on the nest in an acceptable position. This was the first positioning attempt.

The second matter I wanted to tell you about I’ll leave for if and when a third egg is laid. I’d be quite happy for there to be only 2 eggs this year as I’ve mentioned before but, if a third egg is laid, it will be probably be on Friday and I will let you know either way.

It’s been great seeing some of you down viewing the birds and having a chance to chat and update you. As the weather improves, I hope to be around for longer, although I may be on site but in my little den, reviewing footage on the big screen. Please let me know beforehand if you’re travelling from some distance and I will make every effort to be available.