The Learning Curve of an 8-Week-Old

It has been a week like no other for 9K5 who is now 8 weeks old.

It started with a very lack lustre Monday for a young osprey desperate to fly. During the morning there just wasn’t enough wind to enable any meaningful practice. But just as the breeze eventually picked up, two intruders appeared. This meant 9K5 having to obey orders and lie low while Syfaddan and Clogwyn dealt with them. And no sooner had they finally departed, than Clogwyn was seen dive-bombing a raven, yet another uninvited visitor. 

9K5 practices wing flapping at 1.40 am

But Tuesday was another story though (see previous news announcement “9K5 Makes A Leap”). 9K5 was up and wing exercising in the dark at 01:40 but it would be almost 12 hours later when the real action started and it is worth expanding further on what happened that day. 

There had been two intrusions during the morning, the first was a single osprey, then later there were two, all escorted out of the territory and peace restored. A launch and short, but well-targeted, drop down to the “acorn branch” below the nest at 12:24 was a good first step by 9K5 towards fully fledging, and certainly there could be no way back to the nest that didn’t involve flying. But while 9K5 was observed exploring the acorn branch and deciding what next, both Syfaddan and Clogwyn were on the nest watching incoming intruding ospreys - this time there were three circling above! They could not have picked a worse or potentially more dangerous time to arrive.

9K5 perches on the “acorn branch” © Mark Spirito

Alarm calling from adults normally causes one or two responses from a young osprey. To lie flat and still in the nest till danger passes, or to fly from danger if they can. 9K5 no longer had a nest to lie low in and flight was still something yet to be fully worked out. But the alarm calling from several ospreys was right overhead. The trained watchers at the viewpoint recorded that 9K5 remained very still and quiet on the acorn branch during this debacle, which is nothing short of miraculous, when one rash decision could have been disastrous.

Hours passed and eventually 9K5 did take that leap and flew for 5 minutes, accompanied by parents, before landing on the National Grid Pole (NGP) and resting there. But just over an hour later another intruding osprey landed beside 9K5 on the NGP perch.

Intruder lands next to 9K5 on NGP perch (c) Mark Spirito

Clogwyn was quick to intervene and forced the intruder to fly, pursuing it angrily and coming close to contact on several occasions. They flew around the area at speed, seen on camera several times as they passed, until Syfaddan arrived and joined in the chase. Outnumbered and outmatched it was observed being escorted upriver. Meanwhile, 9K5 had again stayed quiet and still on the perch, eventually returning to the nest safely at 19:05.

Clogwyn, right, sees off the intruder © Mark Spirito

You would think that would be enough excitement for a first day on the wing, but 9K5 took two more short flights and ate plenty of fish before settling down for the night.

9K5 over the nest

It is noticeable that 9K5 is now more often self feeding than being fed by a parent, although both Syfaddan and Clogwyn do still offer food on demand. On Saturday, 9K5 tried a couple of helicopter flights up and down from the nest while holding onto a piece of fish. It was not obvious whether this was deliberate or not and it is likely to be some time yet before 9K5 carries a fish away from the nest.

9K5 prepares for take-off

There is one new activity that the newly airborne 9K5 has been trying out. Chasing other birds. So far wood pigeons and jackdaws have been the targets and this has been observed and recorded on more than one day this week. A youngster just being playful? Perhaps, but a useful skill nevertheless, for protecting a territory one day.

The trees and other perches in the close vicinity of the nest have been explored and tried out, as 9K5 makes a mental map of the immediate area. One perch though, is proving to be the absolute favourite. The acorn shaped branch below the nest. Post fledging, 9K5 headed off for a short early morning flight around 5am each morning, with frequent other flights throughout the day and continuing to sleep on the nest. On Friday another little milestone was reached, when 9K5 left the nest at 21:19 and roosted elsewhere for the night. However, Clogwyn stayed perched on top of the Cup Cam, suggesting that 9K5 was close enough for her to keep a watchful eye.  

From studying osprey chicks fitted with trackers, it is known that fledglings stay very close to the nest at night for confidence and safety and 9K5 is probably doing just that.