Blue 9K5

9K5, 5th September

Over the past week since Clogwyn’s departure on the 4th September and with technical problems continuing, those watching the cameras could have been forgiven for thinking that Syfaddan was absent too, and that 9K5 had somehow learned how to magic fish out of thin air.  

From the 5th September, Syfaddan’s fish deliveries had managed to coincide with the camera buffering every single time. It was amusing and frustrating in equal measure for the trained camera Watchers, as what footage there was showed 9K5 with nothing in one frame and holding a fish in the next, yet still alone on the nest! 

9K5, 6th September - where did that fish appear from?!

The viewpoint watchers had to be extra vigilant and to their credit, they did capture a high proportion of delivery times in addition to tracking Syfaddan and 9K5 between various locations. It was good to know that Syfaddan was indeed still around, doing everything expected of him and looking well.

9K5, 7 September

On Monday 8th September 2025 there were three fish deliveries to 9K5 on the nest, two of which were monitored from the viewpoint, where the Watcher’s last sighting of the day for Syfaddan was logged as 18:49, and from which it was fair to assume that he and 9K5 would probably still be in the area the next morning.

Tuesday the 9th, and yet another early fish delivery unseen by the camera. But at 16:53 - Bingo! Syfaddan, the invisible osprey, finally appeared on the screen! He was delivering a fish, which 9K5 wrestled from him greedily. Neither his arrival nor his departure were captured, but this was the first sight of him on camera for 4 days.

Wednesday 10th September marked two milestones. For Syfaddan it was the longest he had stayed at Gilestone Farm before migrating. For 9K5 it was reaching 100 days old. The first fish delivery of the day was once more unseen, but while 9K5 was on the nest, Syfaddan showed off his flying skills just below it while chasing a crow. A brief but thrilling watch as he twisted and turned and at one point even flipped upside down. The day continued with a further unseen delivery, but 9K5 came back and spent a good while at the nest. 

Pic 1: 9K5 8th September another invisible fish delivery 

Pic 2: 9th September - Syfaddan caught on camera for the first time in four days. He didn’t stay long.

Pic 3: 10th September - 9K5 at 100 days old

Pic 4: 10th September 18:51 - Syfaddan (left) and 9K5 together on the nest for the last time

After another session of buffering, the cameras both finally produced normal viewing from late afternoon and after an hour or so it seemed safe to assume that the problem was solved. Syfaddan and 9K5 then made a truly marvellous sight, appreciated now more than ever, when the last fish of the day was brought in. This was fortuitous, as it would prove to be the last time father and son would be together on the nest in 2025.

10th September - 9K5 on the nest and Syfaddan dive-bombing a crow bottom right of the nest

On the morning of Thursday 11th, 9K5 started the day chasing corvids as he passed the nest and then just a little later, landed on the top of the cup camera, a favourite vantage point. There followed some serious preening. Now well practiced at this, 9K5 was re-waterproofing his feathers with great concentration. Then came some food soliciting calls, but the camera Watcher noted that these seemed quite restrained. (9K5, as with most juvenile ospreys, is normally extremely vocal on the subject of food.) After a little while, 9K5 flew off, returning to the cup camera pole 26 minutes later, calling again. He spent another 14 minutes perched there, then flew from the nest for the last time. Indeed this would be the last positively-identified sighting of 9K5 at Gilestone Farm as a juvenile. His “last seen”.

11th September - 9K5 perched on top of the Cup Camera

9K5, last seen 08:59 11/9/2025 on Camera

101 days from hatching, 51 days from fledging.

9K5 in all his splendour

What a character 9K5 is and what joy he has brought to all those who have followed the Gilestone nest. It was a very long wait for this first and very special chick, but well worth it. 9K5 now has an arduous, possibly 3000-mile flight ahead and will need to perfect the art of fishing along the way. It is quite normal for juveniles to leave their natal area never having caught a fish for themselves and there was no evidence that 9K5 had been lucky enough to do so. But in leaving at a slightly later age, at least he is now very competent on the wing. He will spend all next summer maturing and growing his adult plumage ready to return to the UK for the first time in 2027.  UVO wish him safe travels and hope that he will be spotted somewhere, caught on camera and reported in the future, with his leg ring, Blue 9K5, clearly visible, so that you can read all about it here.

Note: Syfaddan has been seen today (time of writing Saturday pm, 13 September)