ALL RELATIVELY QUIET

As we approach the final third of the incubation period, everything seems quiet although fish supplies to 500 have been rather hit and miss, mainly as a result of the dreadful weather which has limited Samson’s fishing options. On a couple of occasions, she hasn’t waited for him to come in but has flown to meet him and they’ve exchanged off the nest. That is not ideal on a number of counts but primarily it leaves the eggs unguarded and it is a sign of her lack of experience as well as her hunger. It also means that I have no means of knowing what he’s bringing in and where he might be finding success, not that either of them know or care about my problems!

We have had several osprey intruders, both male and female. A couple have been ringed and we managed to identify 561, a male who intruded last year and 565, a 2021 Threave female who we haven’t seen before. She cheekily stayed on the nest perch for a good 20 minutes, with 500 pancaked over the eggs before finally departing.

The weather looks like it will improve over the next few days, which will be a great relief to a soggy 500 and Samson, who should find fishing a little easier. It will also mean that my nest camera will have a good supply from the solar panels, something which has not been the case recently. The eggs will hopefully start to hatch in about 10/11 days time and I’ll let you know when we see anything.