Although it looks a pleasant day in the image there were showers and the temperature on the fell was only 11 degrees at midday. Chick 3 seemed quite weak during the afternoon and early evening. But it managed to beg at a late feed.

It rained heavily most of the night and today is another showery one. It was 5 degrees at 08.00 at our weather station on a slightly higher fell.

Chick 3 didn’t manage to raise its head at a couple of snatched early feeds between rain, but at the last meal it seemed stronger.

The forecast doesn’t improve much until Friday, but 280 is supplying PC8 with varying sizes of fish, and she is using her experience to guage how long the chicks can be exposed for a feed.

Remote monitoring is hampered by a weak mobile signal. When footage is retrieved it may be possible to get a more exact time, but when 280 delivered a fish and PC8 stood to feed her brood two chicks could be seen.

The temperature on the fells has barely reached double figures today. Nest 2 has endured varying amounts of rain with few dry spells. Not what tiny chicks need! PC8’s experience is a boon.

Chick 1 was still partly in the shell at 07.05, but had managed to escape by the time PC8 stood in the image above.

Although she has raised several clutches of chicks this is 280’s first year of breeding. Here is his first sight of his offspring.

PC8 let 280 brood for about 30 mins – it is quite unusual for a female to let an unproven male brood a chick plus incubate eggs.

Chupping had been audible since yesterday afternoon and chick 1 seemed tired after hatching, but was able to lift its head within an hour.

280 is the grandson of Glaslyn‘s Mrs G and 11(98). They have a wonderful record of productivity. We’re delighted to have another link with Glaslyn.

The families on Nests 1A and 7 have endured a few tough days, with rain and wind limiting feeding opportunities. On both nests meals often lasted only 4 or 5 minutes. Today – mostly dry, although not particularly warm – 15 minutes plus dining events have been most welcome by the chicks!

On both nests they are losing their down.

It is a genuine thrill that Y1, who has had some unlucky years, might finally have his first fledglings since 2021.

Without any camera coverage it is difficult to monitor the nest. So there won’t be many updates, but hopefully key events can be identified.

In other news a 2 year old from a nest in the Tweed Valley Osprey Project area, 6J5, has been seen on a couple of nestcams. The closest image is from Nest 7.

Another intruder who has visited several nests is probably the same persistent unringed male.

As you can see from the last image the weather in Kielder Forest has been better today than forecast. Let’s hope it stays that way for Nests 2 and 5A, where the hatching window is open.

It’s quite common for KM18 to feed KX7, but rarer for this to happen at Nest 1A.

Chicks on both nests have had relatively quick meals today.

You’ll notice there are two chicks on Nest 7. Egg 3 should have hatched by now. On the two likeliest (and rather hot) days for that event the rim of the nest was very high and it was hard to see the two chicks at meal times, let alone an egg in the cup.

There is no sign of an egg now the wind has cleared some of the sticks away. We don’t know if the egg didn’t hatch, or if it did but the chick died very young.

More nests should have chicks next week, and we will update when there is news. A later nest will be Nest 12. The pair are sharing incubation duties and the male is supplying two fish a day normally. They aren’t always very large, but fish 2 this afternoon was a good size rainbow trout.

If you are in the area this weekend NWT volunteers will be running Osprey Watch at Tower Knowe Visitor Centre, where the live feed from Nest 7 is shown and you can use scopes to see the nest across the Reservoir.

When she stood at 07.29 chick 2 was visible.

The chicks looked strong as they wait for their first taste of rainbow trout!

W6 hasn’t been to the nest to see his new chick yet.

There is no sign yet of an imminent hatch at Nest 1A.

KM18 saw his chick soon after first light. He’s since been sitting whilst KX7 has a break.

Time to go fishing!