The weather looks to have been horrible up there today Frazz, hopefully tomorrow will be better. Although it's supposed to be worse this far upcountry tomorrow.
Willow was sat on the edge of the nest waiting to take her first flight for ages this morning, but some bloody golden eagle kept swooping about. Dorcha had to see the shyster off.
And now all thoughts of flying are gone as it's feeding time. Willow thanked her mother for the eagle protection by pecking her nastily when Dorcha tried to nick a bit of trout.
There were all four of them in the nest just now, dad delivering a trout. Not a lot of room now lol!
Ospreys often return to the same mate, but they migrate alone. At the end of each nesting season, the family bond breaks as each member of the osprey family departs one by one over a period of weeks.
The mother is first to leave, then the chicks set off one at a time and father leaves last. The birds will have no association with each other until the adults hopefully reunite at the nest to breed again the following year.
Chicks don’t learn to fish until they migrate and there are no lessons from the adults – they have to work it out themselves. Youngsters often break their trip at some favourable spot to hone their hunting skills before continuing their journey.
Trouble at 'nest this morning - Willow has been flying in and out for fun, but an intruding osprey has been putting it's beak in and five were all visible at one point. Dorcha is now back on the nest prptecting young 'un from whatever danger there is.
Is this youngest osprey ever going to fly? I mean ffs she's been flapping her wings about all day while the family swoops around overhead, but no attempt to get out there herself. Bone bloody idle I say.