Materials Man

How’s this for breakfast? 7.35 am Saturday 11 April, male could not keep the fish steady on a branch near the nest and flapped onto the nest for a stable platform. The female considered this was a passover of food and got off the nest. No deal says he and just about falls from the nest to the post where I took this picture. I have seen him use these posts in high winds, this morning was not really windy.

Had a good look at other pics I took and could see the ring on his left leg that I was looking for, no chance of reading it at this range, about 2 Km away, but it does now appear that the male is the usual one.

Osprey ate round the head till it fell off, when Carrion crows took an increased interest. Fed for many minutes then stopped and just stood there for 20/30 minutes, she was not calling for food, not that I would have heard, sometimes I can, but I was watching her beak, she was stick tidying. I would guess by now she has at least one egg.

No wonder Ospreys can site for hours doing nowt, that fish (a rainbow?) must be 5 Kg, some scoff, fishing done for the day?

Also had my first swallow skimming over the field between me and the osprey.

How satisfying can it be to have fieldfares chuckling in the background while you are watching newly returned Ospreys?
I have a site I have regularly watched for 4/5 years and from that choice of time you should be able to tell I’m not a note taker with observations. I should be, but I’m not, I take the pleasure from being there not from the formal note taking from observation. Cognitive indolence.
Last week the 28th March I thought “my” Ospreys would have returned, no sign, this week 4th April both are there and attempting to copulate, I say attempting as the wind was high and from my point of observation was not successful. Saw the male over the river and I reckon he could be a young male and therefore not the territorial usual male ! maybe that’s why he can’t copulate in a strong wind!
Also had a female marsh harrier float into view, quite a double migrant return for an hours birding.
Also in sight were about 10 shelduck, 70 odd teal, Herring and common gulls and two GBB gulls scavenging on a pike as long as themselves with several carrion crows in patient attendance.
Spring has sprung, the grass is ris, I now know where the burdies is.