Pre-Migration Activities

Reports are already coming in of ospreys now absent from their nest sites. Some, the majority breeding females, will already have begun their migration. 

Here in the Usk Valley, we have been keeping a very watchful eye out for Clogwyn. How long she will remain at Gilestone Farm is anyone’s guess. As she has never reared young before, there is no breeding history to compare dates with. Instead, observation of her behaviour may yield the only clues. As previously reported, Clogwyn is fishing for herself now, and yet she can still be heard food soliciting and occasionally this pays off. During the past week, Syfaddan has provided her with a fish at the nest on 4 occasions. 

Syfaddan brings a fish

Although Clogwyn has gone for long periods without visiting the nest at all, she has not been completely absent from the territory and has been seen by trained Watchers at some point every day over the past week. At the time of writing, she was last seen on camera taking a fish from Syfaddan this morning (Monday 25th August). 

Clogwyn (left) wins the fish while 9K5 (foreground right) and Syfaddan look on

9K5 is also spending less time on the nest, rarely eating there for any length of time now, although it is still that all-important place where Syfaddan will go to deliver fish. It is quite unusual for a juvenile osprey to catch a fish for itself at its natal area but not entirely impossible. More often than not though, with a dutiful father continuing to provide for them, they don’t have the need to persevere when their own fishing attempts fail. It takes a new experience, true hunger, to focus their minds once they have left and flown south alone. It remains to be seen whether 9K5 will actually catch a fish before leaving and, in any case, it can be difficult to determine irrefutably unless witnessed.

There have been osprey intruders in the area at some point every day over the past week and the territory has been defended as assiduously as ever by the adults. None of the osprey visitors landed on the nest.

The juvenile buzzard (mentioned last week) also paid another visit. As predicted, this was not to be tolerated. It arrived on the empty nest calling loudly, explored and examined it and began to look quite at home. But meanwhile there were osprey intruders already in the close vicinity causing the residents unease and requiring attention. One after another though, the whole Gilestone osprey family took turns at overflying the nest and the buzzard.

The buzzard fends off Clogwyn, who is dive-bombing the nest.

First Clogwyn dive bombed the nest several times but was unsuccessful in her mission, the buzzard spinning in the air to stretch its feet and talons up towards its attacker. Then it was 9K5’s turn and a brief but really interesting sight to see. Two juveniles, one osprey and one buzzard, utilising their very recently acquired attack and defence skills. 9K5 flew low and fast over the nest, legs extended, feet down and talons spread in threat, and though the young buzzard was caught off balance it recovered and was not defeated.

Juveniles try their skills - 9K5 approaches the buzzard

This was quickly followed by Syfaddan swooping over, who just happened to be carrying a fish, and as the poor young buzzard somersaulted for the umpteenth time, it eventually lost its balance and simply fell off the side of the nest. But Syfaddan had other things on his mind, as the intruding osprey had not yet left the scene and this obviously took precedence over the mild annoyance of a juvenile buzzard trying its luck. His fish breakfast would just have to wait!

And finally Syfaddan flies towards the buzzard, carrying his breakfast with him

With 9K5 now 12 weeks old (as of 25th August) and 5 weeks post fledging (as of 26th August) we should be mindful that not only is the migration window firmly open for Clogwyn, but that 9K5 may also be leaving very soon. Although everything known about ospreys tells us that the breeding female is much more likely to migrate first, then chicks, and the male last, this is not always the case. We can all only watch and wait. 

The migration window is open for both Clogwyn (left) and 9K5