Events from the nest today:

Incubation continues, now almost 3 weeks after the first egg was laid. Our female was sitting throughout the night, rearranging the three eggs at regularly. At 5.15am, our male, 7Y returned to the nest to take his turn at incubation duties; while our female departed, returning an hour and a half later at 6.46am.

Throughout the day, the pair of ospreys have been alternating incubation duties, with the male 7Y continuing to deliver nesting material to the nest.

At 5.45pm our male delivered an entire perch to the nest, which our female then flew off with.

One of the questions we have recently received via ospreys@swt.org.uk asked whether our female sleeps at all while incubating. Between the hours of about 11pm and 5am, w e have observed that our female is largely inactive whilst incubating, but will still regularly turn the eggs and reposition herself. As a wild animal, our female will still be fairly alert during these hours as she needs to constantly be aware of any threats or dangers.

Other wildlife at Loch of the Lowes:

Today out on the loch, we have seen 2 great crested grebes, 4 mute swans, 10 mallards, 8 tufted ducks (one mallard duck swan past the hides with 9 ducklings). At least 20 sand martins could be seen feeding above the loch this morning.

At the feeders, 2 great spotted woodpeckers were seen, along with a yellowhammer, 2 greenfinches, 3 siskins, at least 15 chaffinches, a dunnock, a robin, 4 blue tits, 3 coal tits, and 5 great tits and a tree creeper.

Tree creepers are very active birds with a long down curved bill, perfect for feeding mainly on insects found on trees.

Anna

Perthshire Reserves Seasonal Ranger