Good afternoon all,

Events at the nest today:

• 09:40am – Female flies off nest, then returns two minutes later.
• 09:53am – Male returns to nest.
• 09:55am – Male leaves nest
• 10:10am – Male returns to nest with stick, leaves a minute later.
• 10:55am – Both birds on nest.
• 10:56am – Female alarm calling (interloper seen in area).
• 10:57am – Male flies off the nest.
• 10:58am – Male arrives back at nest briefly, and then flies off.
• 11:14am – Male arrives back at nest, and then flies off five minutes later.
• 12:21pm – Female arrives back at nest.
• 12:40pm – Male returns, both birds on nest (interloper in area).
• 12:41pm – Male leaves nest and perches in nearby tree overlooking loch.
• 01:18pm – Male catches a fish, female calls to him.
• 01:28pm – Male arrives back at nest with fish. Female takes it and both birds fly off nest.
• 01:33pm – Female returns to nest without fish. Calling constantly.

For any more questions regarding our ospreys that you may have, please check our dedicated FAQ page and see if you can find the answer you are looking for:

http://www.swt.org.uk/wildlife/ospreys-at-lowes/frequently-asked-questions/

Other Wildlife at Loch of the Lowes:

Out on the loch today; five great crested grebes were recorded, as well as two mute swans, twenty-five mallard, five black-headed gulls and two common terns.

Outside the viewing window; two pheasants were recorded, along with three great-spotted woodpeckers, three dunnock, seven blue tits, two yellowhammers, two coal tits, two great tits, a jay, over fifteen chaffinches, three greenfinches, ten siskin, a sparrow hawk, a bank vole and two red squirrels.

Conservation work and sightings on the Perthshire reserves:

One of the other reserves in Perthshire managed by SWT is Balnaguard Glen wildlife reserve. This area is managed for its high number of juniper bushes (Juniperus communis).

Juniper is one of Scotland’s few native conifers and has fallen into a rapid decline which is why we try to encourage its regeneration. This is done by controlling Bracken and grazing certain areas of the reserve to break up the soil and allow new seeds to grow.

Juniper regeneration is a very slow process as the berries take about 18 months to ripen, many of these berries are infertile and those which are fertile take a further 2 winters before they begin to sprout and grow.

There was a sighting of a sparrow hawk at Balnaguard glen today.

Perthshire Reserves Conservation Team