Events from the nest:

We have had several intruders around the nest today, including a Grey Heron at 08.53 this morning and unidentified ospreys at 08.34 and 13.42.  These intruders were seen off quickly by 7Y, who is always on the lookout even when sitting on the eggs.  7Y brought a fish, which we believe was a perch, to the nest at 13.47.  The female promptly took the fish to eat elsewhere. 

During the incubation period the male osprey’s is mostly occupied in catching fish for his mate.  According to Roy Dennis they will usually hunt in the morning and again in the evening.  When returning from a successful fishing trip the male will often consume the front half of his catch before taking the remainder of the fish to his mate.  When he arrives back to the nest, the female will then take the fish from him and fly elsewhere to eat.  We have observed with our resident pair that the female will occasionally return to the nest with some fish left and that the male will then take it back again.    

Other wildlife at Loch of the Lowes:

Today on the loch we saw a group of at least 30 tufted ducks as well as a Canada goose, 2 pairs of great crested grebes and many mallards.  Around the feeders we have seen the usual compliment of great tits, blue tits, coal tits and chaffinches.  Also spotted today was a pair of great spotted woodpeckers, 2 robins, a willow warbler, a starling (gathering nesting material), a red squirrel, green finches, siskins and a yellow hammer.  We also had a glimpse of a male pied wagtail displaying for a female.    

We are very pleased to have a pair of nesting blue tits in one of our nest boxes, which laid 3 eggs last night.  Blue tits are a very attractive garden bird that lay large clutches which they time to coincide with an abundance of caterpillars in late April/early May.

Lindsay 

SITA Species Protection Officer