I have some good news and an apology. The news is that, after 16 days together, Samson and Augusta (Blue 500) have their first egg of 2026. It was laid either late yesterday or today (23rd) and Samson has been his normal enthusiastic self about taking as much of the incubation and guarding duties asContinue reading “FIRST EGG”
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MUSICAL CHAIRS 2026
(All photos courtesy of P Sumerling) I think the Border Ospreys musical chairs game is over for 2026. KX7 lost interest in us when her regular partner arrived back at Kielder yesterday, although she was casting covetous eyes at another, at present, unattached male at Kielder but I’m sure she’ll now settle down. I hadContinue reading “MUSICAL CHAIRS 2026”
TWO…?
Lots of excitement yesterday evening when it was reported that there were 2 ospreys flying around the nest. I shot back but by the time I got there, there was only one and in the gathering gloom of an incoming heavy rainstorm I couldn’t make out enough details to positively identify who it was. WhatContinue reading “TWO…?”
EARLY BIRD CATCHES…
A very quick note as it’s late and I’m not long back home but I had to share the good news that Samson arrived back today, some 2 weeks earlier than last year. He’s already brought sticks to the nest and has engaged in some crow bashing. I don’t have any photos as yet becauseContinue reading “EARLY BIRD CATCHES…”
FINALLY QUIET
At long last, it looks as if the whole family has finally decided to migrate, at least 2 weeks later than the normal. C1 was last seen on Sat 13 Sep and C2 was last seen (and heard!) on Mon 15 Sep. I’d imagine that Samson probably migrated hot on the tail feathers of C2Continue reading “FINALLY QUIET”
RELUCTANCE TO GO?
I’ve been waiting and waiting so I could tell you that the birds had all departed, Samson having done the last security check on the nest (you know the routine – stuff unplugged, water turned off, windows secured, external doors locked etc) but it was getting later and later, so the normal blog for thisContinue reading “RELUCTANCE TO GO?”
A CHICKLESS NEST
After a fair amount of wing flapping, hopping, stepping and jumping, and generally faffing, C2 finally fledged today at 0946 and did a very competent circuit, even leading C1 onto the nest and making a smooth landing despite her bearing down behind him. As tends to happen, he then almost immediately took off again, andContinue reading “A CHICKLESS NEST”
UP AND AWAY
Before we get onto the main news of this blog I just wanted to mention an amusing incident from a few days ago. Fish were a little harder to come by last week and we had a bit more attempted bullying by C1 on C2 but he has now discovered a marvellous way of keepingContinue reading “UP AND AWAY”
WHERE DID THE TIME GO?
Hello everyone. Thank you for your patience. I hadn’t realised that it was quite so long since I’d updated you on the progress at the nest. As you will, I hope, have realised that no news has definitely been good news and the chicks have been thriving with a good supply of fish and attentiveContinue reading “WHERE DID THE TIME GO?”
PROGRESS
I’m delighted to report that everything is going well, so far, on our nest, with Samson supplying fish on a very regular basis and 500 (Augusta) quickly becoming proficient at feeding the bottomless pits that are their 2 chicks. The 4 days’ difference in age is very apparent, especially as chick #1 has now lostContinue reading “PROGRESS”