Materials Man

Well I was out observing on the 11/7/10 but the gale force winds restricted the young Ospreys. So on the 13/7/10  I was on station at 5.55 am and as I thought the young Ospreys could fly, well two could the third remained nest bound. The female was on lookout, the male was off fishing? and one off the juvs took off, flew around, and just disappeared for the remaining 40 mins I was there. I suspect he/she was nearby and waiting for the fish delivery. It is frustrating getting these visual jigsaw pieces, it has taken me years to get a basic understanding of Osprey behaviour from weekend observing, and Roy Dennis’s book helps, see below, I blogged Loch of the Lowes for a full years diary notes that i would pay for, not available, SWT need a commercial leader. Your detailed 24 hour observations are worth money, my money anyway. My jigsaw is incomplete.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Ospreys-Roy-Dennis/dp/1904445268/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279047026&sr=1-1

to sum up a season “my” ospreys are exemplary, most lay three eggs and raise two chicks, mine laid ? eggs but three well fed chicks are a testimony to a very successful pair.

Hope the marsh harriers do as well.

On the 17th April went along and the often Osprey domestic scene unfolded, him on a nearby branch and her on the nest. And ten minutes later ? same scene. So I moved and after much panning around with the telescope spotted a female Marsh harrier, about 3 km away, it was windy and the bird was doing that harrier “lapwing” flight and like a lot of birds can do merged into the background and disappeared. I panned around for another half an hour trying to get the male, but that was my harrier moment, gone but welcome. Also welcome was my first swallows of 2010, flitting among the sheep and that white fallow deer, back again, it must be “owned”,  a kind of pet. I’ll find out if the cattle are put back in the field I use, because that’s when I meet the farmer, when he comes to check the stock. Farmers aye know whats happening. Like the wee old man I met as I got back to my car, he spotted the telescope and was keen to talk, he knew of the Ospreys, the peregrines, the harriers, the farmers and I guess welcomed the chat, he did say he had witnessed the crossover of Ospreys at the nest and I remarked that that was good fortune as in all the hours I have spent watching them I had never witnessed it. Well, today the 18/4/10 in the rain I did, and the thrill was I new what was going to happen, it does help a lot when you can visually separate male and female, ah here’s to sexual dimorphism! Works for me anyway.

Oh and the wee old man with a walking stick and three front teeth had saved his money on dental charges as he sported a £900 pair of swarowski binos ! nice one.

Forgot, heard a willow warbler, and last week in Gateshead where I was working, a chiffchaff sang all week.

After watching a wet F1 qualifying, I went to see if “my” Ospreys were back. They were, well one was, one on the nest and looking all around, alert, I imagined she / he  was looking around for the return of the mate from west Africa. Happened the Osprey was a she, and she was waiting for the return of the male with fish. He did, a paltry quarter of a once large rainbow trout, and she had to call call call, but still he only relinquished the small portion when she ducked her head under him to snatch the fish portion away. I did witness this last year so could be the same male, and it could be the same female, but time might tell. They have arrived as an established pair would, early to mid April.

The usual less than good digiscope picture shows the female, note no rings.

Also I noted, not a single wren have I heard or seen since the snow left the low ground.

Also the white sheep this week were without the white Fallow deer and looked more settled for it!

Harriers not in evidence, Herons busy on established heronry, some seem to be sitting on eggs.

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.