Nest claims continue

More arrivals at Sääksilive Osprey cams for the new season.

Tuulos, the male who has been nesting at nest #3 for the past three years returned today. Osprey pairs don't migrate together, so we'll wait and see when his mate might show up.

So far we've had two established pairs have both birds return on the same day, though. At nest #4, Nuppu flew in today.

And so did her mate Nemo.

They're not the only ones who have their eye on #4, so scuffles ensue. Here's one of the other Ospreys spotted at the nest, a female banded as SRV in 2021. She nested at a different (non-camera) nest in the area last year, so maybe she'll settle in there again, but she might also be waiting for her mate to return, and checking out others in the neighborhood in case he doesn't.

Happy to see the familiar faces, and hoping things work out for all. So far no one seems very interested in nest #2 for I've lost count how many years in a row.

Osprey arrivals

Sääksilive Osprey cams update: Eve and Eura have returned from migration to nest #1.

Eura arranging and bringing more sticks.

And digging the nest bowl. TXP also showed up yesterday and gave that a try, though his technique might still need some work. Maybe this year he'll find a mate and a nest of his own, too.

Raptor guest stars

Visitors at nest #3 of Sääksilive Osprey cams. Nesting hasn't really started yet, though some Ospreys have been spotted, but here are other birds: a White-tailed Eagle, and a Kestrel (with mouse prey partially visible in the last screenshot).

In closing (of osprey nesting season 2024)

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. The nesting season has come to an end, and the birds have left. Well, the ospreys, at least; here are some visitors in addition to a few more screenshots of the nests' residents. Last screenshot includes fish prey.

Little birds whose English common name I should probably not include in a post if I don't want attention from bots of a certain kind. Töyhtötiainen (Lophophanes cristatus).

Beginning to wrap things up?

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nest #1 from the past half a week. Includes views of fish prey.

Ulpukka watching for fish deliveries on a Thursday afternoon. She's been an only child lately, with Lumme seeming to have left on her migration that morning.

Fish rumble!

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nest #1. Includes views of fish prey, and fighting between osplets.

Lumme and Ulpukka had a proper fight over a fish today. Both seem okay afterwards, here are some action shots.

Ulpukka flies to the nest with a fish. She got it from Eura earlier and kept Lumme from landing in the nest with them, and the two chicks have been exchanging screams for a while at this point. I guess Lumme decided enough's enough.

Incoming!

Right from under your beak

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nest #1. Includes views of fish prey.

Politics of keeping a fish

Screenshots from yesterday afternoon at Sääksilive Osprey nest #1. Screenshots include views of fish prey, I'm not counting the behavior shown between the fledglings as fighting.

Fish delivery.

Fish delivery entourage.

Residents, visitors, and inbetween

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. Includes some fighting between osplets.

Lumme and Utu at nest #1 yesterday. Utu waited for a long time for Lumme to finish eating the fish she'd claimed, and finally got it to himself when she was done.

Moments of coexistence

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. Includes views of fish prey.

Morning fish delivery claimed.

By Ulpukka, who does indeed seem to be staying.

Fishy tension

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nest #1. Screenshots include views of fish prey, and fighting between osplets.

Good morning! The visiting fledgling (VF) at nest #1 seems to have spent the night nearby, and is still around. What trouble will she cause today? (Going by her temperament and size, I'm pretty sure VF is a female, so I might as well refer to her accordingly.)

Well, here we go. Eura brings a fish to the nest, which Utu speeds over to claim, and loudly announce to have claimed.

Fledgling drama

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nest #1. Screenshots include views of fish prey, and fighting between osplets.

Continuing from the previous post, a fledgling from a different nest turned up today, and has been getting into conflict with the resident two chicks Lumme and Utu. The visiting fledgling (VF) scored a fish delivery, and spent a long time eating it at the nest.

After watching from the balcony branch for a while, Lumme flies to the nest.

VF does not approve.

An unexpected addition

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. Includes views of fish prey.

Morning preens by Utu and Lumme at nest #1 yesterday.

Photogenic perching

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. Includes views of fish prey.

Lumme at nest #1 yesterday morning.

Much ado about sticks

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests.

At nest #1, Lumme flies home from her sleeping tree, and brings a stick with her.

Visits and wingers in the rain

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. Includes views of fish prey.

Lumme and Utu at nest #1 yesterday, each eating their own fish on a rainy evening.

The weather seemed to give them the zoomies, as there was a lot of wingercizing by the already fledged chicks on the nest. It was quite windy, too, and I guess getting the wind under their wings made rising in the air really easy.

Journeys on wing and foot

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. Includes views of fish prey.

Nuppu feeding N2/USU at nest #4 yesterday. N2 has since left the nest - not the way we hoped for, but there could have been worse ways, too. N2 was perched on a branch next to the nest last night, when he suddenly stumbled and fell. He survived the fall, and didn't seem significantly more injured when he was located on the ground this morning, but as he can't fly and would not have made it back to the nest on his own, he was retrieved and is currently in human care.

A show of wings

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. Includes views of fish prey.

N2/USU at nest #4 at sunset.

Wing stretches this morning.

Nestlings, fledglings, and company

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. Includes views of fish prey.

A Red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) visits N2/USU at nest #4.

Steps at independence where possible

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nests. Includes views of fish prey.

Utu (left/back) and Lumme surveying the misty swamp yesterday morning. Both have gone on little flying trips since their fledging (Lumme, Utu), so here are some takeoffs and landings.