The Chick (Blue 9K5) at 5 Weeks Old
On Monday 7th July the chick reached five weeks old. During the preceding seven days it increased its activity and wing exercise quite dramatically.
On Tuesday, it was clear that walking was becoming much less difficult. When Syfaddan brought in a fish and all three birds were on the nest, the chick not only stood up in anticipation, but actually took a few steps backwards to make room. This is such a common manoeuvre we see the female perform when a fish is arriving that it almost goes unnoticed. But seeing the chick adopt the same sequence of movements marked another, albeit tiny, milestone.
Chick has walked backwards for Syfaddan to deliver a fish.
Up until Wednesday morning, the unhatched egg was still being incubated. But at 09:57 the chick was sitting with its tail feathers just covering it. Clogwyn accidentally trod on the chick’s tail and then started scraping at the nest cup, as adults often do prior to settling to incubate. One or other of these actions resulted in the egg breaking but in either case it was almost certainly accidental. This is probably a good outcome for Clogwyn and Syfaddan, meaning they can now devote all their energies to raising their chick.
Not long after the egg incident, the adults became just slightly unsettled and Syfaddan flew off, but no disturbed calls were heard. Clogwyn had just picked up the egg shell when she spotted something coming towards her and then Blue OH2 (Glaslyn male 2yrs old ) landed on the nest for yet another visit. Clogwyn called out in alarm and the chick obediently stayed flat as a pancake in the nest, playing dead. OH2 took the hint immediately and left in under a minute. He did not return.
Blue OH2 visiting on 2 July 2025 - Chick stays flattened to the nest during the dispute.
There was at least one intruder in the vicinity on Friday, which was seen from the viewpoint, confirming the behaviour of the resident birds seen clearly on camera. Clogwyn and the chick scanning and occasionally watching skyward, and disturbed calls from Syfaddan as he kept leaving and then returning to the nest, clearly very anxious. However, the visitor didn’t come close enough to be seen on camera.
Clogwyn and chick watchful
Saturday was a momentous day for UVO and a pretty extraordinary one for the ospreys themselves! As reported separately (full news item prior to this one), it was ringing day. Hopefully, the only day in its life when a bird will be touched by human hand. The Gilestone chick is now recognised as Blue 9K5. Unfortunately, there was also an intruding osprey around during the afternoon, which did not allow the adults to fully settle again or go fishing until later in the day. But eventually, Syfaddan arrived with a large fish and 9K5 accepted a feed as enthusiastically as ever.
After a feed, 9K5 wing stretching and allowing sight of the rings
It was good to see 9K5 eating well on Sunday too; self-feeding while alone on the nest, and making the breakthrough discovery of another thing talons are useful for besides scratching. Holding a fish!
The sun starts to go down on ringing day, Clogwyn and 9K5