As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday 11 April 2019

Osprey EJ has still to appear at Loch Garten in Cairngorms


Conservationists say they have not yet given up hope that one of Scotland's best-known ospreys will return to a nest in the Highlands for a 16th season.
EJ is the most successful breeding female osprey at Loch Garten, an RSPB Scotland reserve near Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms.
Ospreys migrate to Scotland from west Africa to breed.
Until now, EJ has always returned to Loch Garten by 4 April.
Over previous seasons, 25 of EJ's chicks have fledged.
The raptor, which is nearly 22 years old, is not only known for her breeding success. She has also gained fame for the adversities that she has overcome in previous seasons.
In 2017, she refused to leave her clutch of eggs after they were buried under snow.
Another season saw EJ forced to defend her nest against a rival female.
Reserve staff monitoring CCTV images watched as EJ's eggs rolled around the nest while the pair scuffled.
EJ has also had to defend her nest from crows, buzzards, a white-tailed sea eagle and a hungry pine marten.
Back in 2007, EJ incubated two separate clutches to rival males but they all perished.


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