The Ospreys are back !!

Two more nests had chicks rented yesterday.

At Threaves the numbers and sex are     041-Female: 042-Male: 043-Female(?)

At Keilder Next 1A.   438-Male, named Falstone: 439-Male, named Frankham: 440-not determined, named Farne: 441-Female, named Fenham.

Right now, Nellie, I'm getting posts from RSPB scaring the heck out of me with tragic tales of how Scotland and, to a point, Northern England are still being battered by Avian Flu which is STILL SPREADING  most especially  round coastal areas.

Should anybody be likely to be in the area of such an outbreak I hope they take the warnings to heart !!

Don't handle any birds,  dead  or sick.

In the extreme event that there should be no alternative to handling them then wear PPE & strong disposable gloves but still inform such authorities as may be in that area !!

Take Care please.

Brian

Staying on the Exe recently where there is a tidal nature reserve and also Dawlish Warren I was interested to read that Ospreys are seen there as they make their way to breeding grounds. 

They were able to get the chicks ringed at Clywedog today. One female, Darvic Ring No.553: Two males, Nos 554 & 555.

The 3 chicks at Manton Bay are now taking short hovering exercises, so it will not be long before they fledge

Oh yes    I really do like tales of the chicks taking hoovering exercises --  should reduce the load on the female to keep her fit for the flight south to Spain or Senegal  in but a few weeks time  

Nellie, I've received another Email from RSPB today-- they are asking members to join in the Fun and Games by suggesting Names for  { AX6 }  Axel's unringed, unnamed, Loch Garten mate.

Great protest in the LG web site that those responsible have not included the "provisional" name MISTLE, given by the watchers when she arrived last year, in the list sent out on the email. Most are refusing to submit a vote and many have posted emails complaining about the non-inclusion.

The first of the the Manton Bay chicks have Fledged today, spending time away from the nest. The other two have practiced their hovering and should pledge themselves over the next couple of days.

Quick update. 

Both the other Manton Bay juveniles have taking their first flights, one around noon yesterday and the other today.

More chicks have been ringed, including the single remaining one at Esthwaite Water and the pair at Poole Harbour.

Get more ringing news from yesterday

The pair at Llyn Brenig are X6, a female, and KA9, a male

The pair at Poole Harbour are both females and have been given Darvic rings No.5H1 and 5H2. Here is a link to their blog:-

https://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/osprey-news/first-poole-harbour-osprey-chicks-ringed/

Two more of the Kielder nests have had their chicks ringed yesterday, 

Nest 7 :- Female, 1B0, named Fourstone, and Male, 1B1, named Fontburn.

Nest 4 :- Male, 442, named Featherstone.

For those that don't know the Rangers have been giving names to their new Ospreys for the last 6 yrs, each year the names start with the same letter, following on from the previous year, and the names are associated with places in the surrounding area, such as rivers, becks, villages etc.