Both of our osprey chicks have finally fledged and are having a brilliant time learning to fly. The second chick took its first flight on either Thursday night (16th) or early Friday morning. Unfortunately even though one member of staff waited patiently until late Thursday night, the osprey chick did not decide to leave the nest until later so we were unsuccessful in obtaining the footage of the first flight.

The oldest chick has had a few interesting landings over the last week. It was seen swaying precariously on top of the dead tree next to the nest trying its best to balance and at one point it landed on top of its sibling sitting on the nest, so the landings are still a bit messy but they are rapidly improving. Both the chicks are spending less time on the nest and appear to prefer to spend the night on a perch close by. They are still taking fish from the father and remain within close proximity of the nest, watching for their father’s return with fish so they can fill their bellies and then resume their flight, soaring over the loch and landing haphazardly on a perch. The chicks will spend the next month trying to perfect their flight ready for their 3,000 mile flight to their winter residence in equatorial West Africa.