GOING, GOING…?

I haven’t written a blog in a while as there had been very little to report since last time.

Augusta (500) became a less and less regular visitor to the nest, although she often spent a couple of days in the immediate vicinity. Eventually, she was putting in an appearance on camera just once a week. Samson was there every day and kept himself busy by bringing in more sticks and softer nesting material, making sure the nest was in tip top condition. The eggs remained in the nest but two were buried quite deeply in the nesting material and only one was left visible. Visits by Augusta prompted Samson into a frenzy of mating attempts, which she accepted, then dashes away to collect material and nest cupping and fidgeting with rearranging the sticks and so on that he’d brought. She also did a fair amount of bringing in items for the nest and arranging them around the nest, which was very encouraging. Even more so was her willingness to help Samson defend the nest from a number of intruders, all unringed, who came to have a look. She was last seen, either on camera or in the feather, on 2 Aug, so I’m assuming she has migrated, but 10 years of watching birds on this nest has taught me never to make too definite a statement regarding departure dates!

Samson is still around and has a fairly set routine of visiting the nest. He eats away from the nest itself, but often on a nearby dead tree, and then comes back to do work and to preen on the nest perch after fishing trips or bathing. Even if he can’t be seen, he stays local and is very quickly on site at the first sign of an intruder. I was lucky enough to see him intercept and then chase an intruder while I was walking along the river and was thrilled to see him do a victory sky dance upon his return to the nest.

The egg that remained visible was finally taken by a crow on 13 Aug. I hate to think what state the contents were in but I’m actually relieved to see the back of it.

As well as the crow visiting, we have had a host of different birds visiting the empty nest and perches. Jackdaws often pop by to steal bits of straw and twigs and search, unsuccessfully, for bits of fish. Samson will even tolerate them when he’s on the nest perch, knowing that there’s nothing of value there now. We have had visits from great, blue and coal tits, looking for insects; several jays, blackbirds, a complete family of 5 mistle thrushes, a great spotted woodpecker adult and chick, sparrows, chaffinches, goldfinches, nuthatches; wood pigeons and stock doves again intent on stealing straw. My favourite visitor was a whitethroat which decided that the nest perch offered the best one upbirdship singing stage in the area. I mustn’t forget to mention the grey squirrels and, on one occasion, a field mouse with a head for heights.

So, that’s about all that’s been happening here. We’re starting to see ospreys coming through and heading south so I expect that Samson will be away soon. I’m enjoying watching him when I can and I tell him that he is to stay safe and return to us next year. He’s probably about 14/15 now, so getting on a bit and I do worry. There are so many threats to even experienced birds en route and at their wintering grounds but fingers crossed, when he finally departs on migration, it will only be a temporary absence and he’ll be back with us next Spring. I hope to be there waiting for him when he returns.

Thanks for following the blog this year; I’m only sad I couldn’t bring you better news. I was very surprised JW6 did not return but delighted when 500 appeared and settled in so quickly. I’m confident she will be back, with that bit of luck that they all need, and I hope she will finally become a parent in 2025. Thanks are needed also to the usual suspects; Brian and Kirsteen for their companionship during the hours of observation and photographic skills; Jain for her technological skills; Tony and Joanna for their knowledge; and John for allowing me access to the nest and the facilities to record the action on the nest.

See you all next year.