Events from the nest:

It is now day 40 since the 3^rd egg was layed, there is still a possibility that an egg may hatch and we would all love to see a chick on the nest this year.

Both the ospreys have been continuing with incubation duties today, with regular swapping on the nest.  7Y has continued to add material to the nest today bringing in a large stick at 9.30 this morning.  At 11.25 today the male brought a small pike to the nest which the female then took elsewhere to eat.  She returned to the nest 30 minutes later with fish left over, 7Y then tried to take the fish back from her , but she was either reluctant to give it up or had trouble letting go and there was a short tug-of-war between the pair.  At 12.27 7Y brought a different fish to the nest which the female took to eat else where, when she returned to the nest at 13.13 there was a very relaxed change over with 7Y taking 10 minutes to get up off the eggs.

Other wildlife at Loch of the Lowes:

Early this morning one of our osprey watch team witnessed a tawny owl attempting to hunt 5 pheasant chicks near the feeders.  Some other excitement today has been from the return visit of the juvenile squirrels, which are delightful to watch.  Our other visitors to the feeders have included 2 yellow hammers, 6 siskins, 9 greenfinches, 15 chaffinches, blue tits, coal tits, great tits, 3 great spotted woodpeckers and a robin.

Around the loch today there have been more hearings than sightings, with the calls of oyster catchers, woodcock, cuckoos and a willow warbler all being reported.

Lindsay
SITA Species Protection Officer