Following the desperately sad loss of LM12, it has been encouraging to observe NC0 spending more time off the nest caring for herself by bathing and heading off on several fishing trips. The eggs have not been viable for several days now, after an extended period of exposure at night in the rain. Given that NC0 would not have been able to incubate them to hatching and raise any chicks without her mate, this was to be expected.

Since Thursday afternoon there have been two male intruders paying her attention and although NC0 has tolerated them sitting on top of the camera or the perch, she has seen them off as soon as they try to land on the nest.

One male has been a very distinctive darker bird, with an unusual large pupil in his right eye.

The other bird is much paler, with markings on the back of his head similar to NC0’s ‘rocket’ at a distance. One of his distinctive features is the pretty ‘guy-liner’ at the edges of his eyes.

With NC0 having left the area this afternoon presumably on a fishing trip, this paler male landed on the nest at 14:18 and spent the next 35 minutes trying to nest scrape and kick out the eggs. He finally succeeded in flicking one out of the nest cup onto the edge, kicked another one clean out of the nest, and crushed the remaining one under his foot.

Believe it or not this is a good outcome for NC0, as it should help her now move on from periodically trying to incubate the eggs, and make her more receptive to accepting this new male. Should she decide to pair up with this new male, it will not only make it easier for her to retain and defend her territory, but also allow plenty of time for the pair to develop a strong bond for next season. Of course, it would help things along if this new male were to start woo-ing her with some fish.

It’s early days yet though, and with lots of young osprey due to return into the country any day now, there could be a lot more interest in the nest and in NC0. We will have to see how things unfold in the coming days.