Our young ospreys have survived the down pours of the last day or so well, with their new coats of speckled feathers- a wonderful camouflage on the nest.
The rain did however, make fishing conditions a bit more difficult for dad- his eyesight is phenomenal but even he struggles when it rains all day! It just goes to show just how lucky we have been this year with ideal fishing conditions prevailing and an abundance of food for the two chicks.

The chicks are really starting to flap now- don’t worry they aren’t really going to take off just yet, they are strengthening those vital flight muscles. There will be loads and loads of this behaviour for another week probably before their first flight.
Has anyone else noticed too in the last few days how those HUGE feet have suddenly started to be more coordinated and the chicks are starting to use their talons, instead of balancing on their heals?

Lastly, you will have noticed too that the chicks have been starting to ‘head waggle’- the name we give the side to side head movement ospreys use when fishing or trying to focus on something. Their eyesight is developing just as fast as everything else and they are practising eyeing up things out on the loch.

Yes, all of this is happening incredibly fast- think of all the development our children go through fast tracked into 8 short weeks! Never a dull moment with young ospreys!
Emma Rawling Perthshire Ranger

P.S. three fish so far this morning- thanks eagle eyed bloggers- or should that be osprey eyed?