Lesser Spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) nest in Zemgalē, Latvia 2025

[Susanne]

Apr 27

Good morning! Quiet Sunday ....

05:53: Andris arrives on the nest, arranging some twigs, lying in the nest bowl.



05:58: He leaves and flies away to the left.

08:46: A Great Tit visits the nest and then jumps onto the cam branch, obviously searching for insects - cam vibrates ... wow, a Great Tit can make the cam vibrate?

[Susanne]

20:45: Andris with a pine twig.



20:49: Anna joins him.



Nice fluffy trousers! - She leaves at 20:53.



- First time coming home in the evening for a short nest inspection.

[Susanne]

Apr 28

05:43: Andris arrives on the nest. He makes bed, rearranges some twigs and branches.



Yawn! Yep, still early ....



05:55: He leaves from the first branch at the left.
06:26: And returns with a fresh pine twig.

[Susanne]

06:29: Andris leaves and flies to the trees (yellow circle) - matings sounds.
This group of trees in the back woods are one of their favourite spots. (Second nest, yes or no? Or resting place, mating place, guarding place only?)



11:48 ff.: Tjük-tjük! Anna announces her arrival at 11:49 on the nest.



She also rearranges the nest interior.

[Susanne]

And also takes a closer look at the area traditionally used as pantry.



11:56: She leaves again - back to the other favourite spot.
15:23: Anna visits the nest. Softly calling, but not doing much other than looking around or looking out for Andris.



15:30: She flies back to the other favourite spot in the woods.
15:35: I think it's Andris this time:

[Susanne]

He arranges pine twigs and branches. Oops!



Yes, to me this looks very much like Andrs' backside.



15:38: He leaves again and flies out of the woods to the left.

[Susanne]

20:04: Andris arrives on the nest, calling. He works and makes bed.



He must have eaten well - the corners of his beak are a little bloody.



20:08: He's off again - flying over to the other favourite spot.

[Susanne]

Apr 29

05:44: Andris on the nest. Lying in the nest bowl, calling.



05:48: He flies away from the branch at the left.



09:32: Anna branches at the left, begging, and Andris arrives with prey - a bird, with longer legs, more than half-eaten, I'd say.

[Susanne]

For me, it's hard to determine what kind of bird this is. Maybe a Eurasian Woodcock (scolopax rusticula)?
This is what's left of the belly plumage. The upper plumage seems to be reddish-brown.



The long legs:

[Susanne]

16:59 f.: Loud calls - mating sounds?
17:02: Anna arrives with a pine twig - a dry one this time.





17:19: She's still on the nest. And stands in the same position as Laila yesterday: wing tips below her tail. - Hmpff, and she flies away at 17:20, over to the other favourite spot.

[Susanne]

19:36: Andris arrives. He makes bed, softly calling from time to time. (Little rascal ....)



19:45: Andris flies over to their secret spot in the woods - mating sounds!
19:52: Anna visits and checks the nest interior.



Plucking pine needles from a twig. Is this "pre-egg-laying-boredom"? (just joking.)



20:07: She flies over to their other favourite spot (out of clear view for us, barred by branches and trunks, and too far away.)

[Susanne]

Apr 30

Good morning everybody!

05:47 f.: Arriving in the area from the left -> tree opposite the nest tree -> Andris on the nest. Making bed, arranging twigs and softly contact-calling.
Preening:





05:53: Anna arrives on the nest, Andris off. Good morning beautiful!

[Susanne]

07:13 f.: She is calling and then leaves.
08:11 f.: Andris with spruce. He leaves at 08:15 -> mating sounds.



08:19: Anna with spruce.



Quote from YT-chat :
"8:22 AM Hedi 52 ​​Anna has the face called soon there will be an egg!!" - I second this!



09:48: Anna leaves and flies over to the other favourite spot.

This morning definitely is different. Anna spends long periods on the nest, maybe she's out now waiting for a substantial breakfast (either brought by Andris or hunted by herself) - and then has enough reserves for perhaps great things to come.

[Susanne]

10:54: Cam drops out.
11:24: Anna arrives on the nest, begging. Andris joins her with a mouse, which Anna swallows immediately.



11:33: Anna leaves.

[Susanne]

12:31: Andris arrives with a juicy frog on the nest.



He actually invites Anna (heaving up his shoulders in a 'begging manner' )- I haven't seen this gesture before in this context) to follow and take it.



She eats the frog on the nest and leaves again at 12:41. - Second prey delivery on the nest today!

[Susanne]

15:24 -15:31: Anna pays a short visit to the nest. She then returns to the favourite spot yonder in the woods.



And she returns at 15:48. This time she has special purpose: going into labour.



Nah, not here yet.

[Susanne]

Pushing hard:



16:10: There it is! Anna's first egg! Yippieh!



This seemed to go quite quick, she didn't seem to be in much pain.
And another look at the egg:

[Susanne]

Fabulous Anna has well earned a good portion of sleep:





To be continued ...

[Liz01]

Anna laid her first egg

[Susanne]

Thank you Liz for the video!