One of the eggs on the NTU nest has disappeared and the other two still haven't hatched, they have been laid over 2 months now so I guess this year has been unsuccessful. Don't know if they will perhaps mate and lay another clutch?

Archie...'my' Martins have still not arrived.☹️ I have almost given up.

I don't know Archie, I look at the nest every couple of days and Thursday last  there were still 3, this morning only 2. Maybe one got broken and the parents ate it. Incubation time is 29-33 days and they are way past that.

First Osprey at Loch of the Lowes hatched this morning.

Second Osprey hatched lunchtime today, third expected over the weekend.

Archie...they are back!! I just saw them out there..wheeling about in the sky, and going to their usual nesting place. I had all but given up on them, and here they are..a month late! I'm so happy to see them!😀😀

That's good news Archie, that you've seen them too! That's great hope for their future. I wonder why they are so late? Anyway..their arrival has made me extraordinarily happy today! (Doesn't take much!😀)

You are very fortunate Archie, to be able to observe an Owl that close. I do hear them occasionally...they hang out at an old quarry near where I live..but they don't venture down near our houses.  I am just happy that we have the Martins back. Like you, I am going to try to put up some artificial nests for them for next year, but I will have to find a victim willing volunteer to go up the ladder to put it up for me. I would feel very honoured if they chose my house to nest in.

Update on Ospreys and Peregrines......

The third egg at the Loch of the Lowes didn't hatch and the mother has stopped incubating it but the two other chicks are doing well.

The NTU Peregrine nest has lost another egg so only one remains, it was laid on 19th March and the mother is still sitting on it The male hasn't been seen in a few weeks, so maybe that's the problem, maybe she hasn't had enough food. 

Such a shame.

There were four Peregrine eggs hatched at St John's church in Bath but one chick died, the other three fledged yesterday but have only been brave enough to reach the roof of the nest box. They are in terrific shape.

The three at Norwich Cathedral are putting on loads of weight and have nearly lost all their downy feathers so they will probably be fledging by the end of the week. 

Three 'Bobs' on the Dovey.

Unfortunately on the upper Severn the sand martins seem to be fewer in number each year, I suspect summer floods haven't helped.

I noticed two Wood Pigeons landing on the garden fence so watched them. Both had their beaks open and it semed like their throats were "throbbing", it looked like they were panting in the heat. I've never seen birds doing that before so has anyone else seen it?

I've never had a Pelican or a Toucan sitting on my fence, I've only seen them it wildlife programmes

I don't have a birdbath but I used to have water around but I found insects liked it too.