A new visitor from Rutland Water

The biodiversity theme continued on the nest at the start of the week with visits from an intrepid squirrel, a crow and two song thrushes. Our osprey pair were in residence with the female more readily inclined than usual to eat the gifts of fish while remaining on the nest.

Our resident pair

However this relatively peaceful scene was interrupted on Tuesday when the male exhibited signs of unrest having to defend the nest from an osprey intruder while he was alone on the nest. It was clear that this unwanted guest was coming in way too close for him to tolerate. It did not land and eventually he gave chase.

Wednesday was marked by the start of a very long absence. Having shared a fish at breakfast time the female disappeared. Although the male continued to attend to the nest, he too then went missing from midmorning on Thursday. This absence continued throughout Friday.

However, on Saturday morning our resident pair returned, just two minutes apart. Fish was shared during the day and the female ate her share on the nest.

Blue 2H4

On Sunday a ringed osprey intruded at the nest. One we have not seen before. Blue 2H4 is a two year old female who hatched at Rutland Water in 2022. It was the resident female who had to defend the nest and after mantling and wing flapping, she lunged at 2H4 talons first, causing the other female to lose her balance. 2H4 tried to hang on but quickly accepted she could not and flew off, with the resident chasing after her.  Ospreys were seen flying in the distance and calls heard but eventually calm was returned. 

Our resident female does battle with 2H4

On the subject of ringed osprey visitors, last week’s news blog briefly mentioned another that touched down on 29th June. Blue 555 is a 2 year old male. He hatched at Llyn Clywedog (nest 1) in 2022, which makes him the younger brother of Blue 496. You might remember 496 - he was the 3 year old male that was the first bird to show an interest in the Gilestone nest this spring and contributed to the early rebuilding of it. 

Blue 555 drops in

Thankfully his brother, 555, landed on the nest at a time when the residents were absent and he didn’t stay long - no eviction needed.