Events from the nest:

Our male Osprey has not been seen over the Loch for the last two days and there has been no addition to the suspected frustration nest. This ‘nest’ now looks quite substantial as the bird was very active with bringing in sticks over the previous two weeks.

We can now be pretty sure that our female bird has left on migration, but there is still a chance of seeing male and juvenile birds from other areas as they prepare to leave their Scottish breeding grounds. Research has shown that some birds can still be around until late September and into October.

The web camera that gave us such fantastic footage this season has now been taken off line from the Osprey nest and is now streaming live footage from the feeding station in front of the visitor centre viewing window. This footage will give viewers a taste of the other wildlife that frequents the surrounding countryside. At the feeders on a regular basis you will be able to see Red Squirrels, a variety of finches, tits and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Roe Deer have also been known to come to root around after the centre has closed, so keep your eyes peeled and you may see something out of the ordinary.

Other Wildlife at Loch of the Lowes:

This week on the loch there were Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants, Grey Herons, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Goosander, martins and Buzzards.

From this list we have sighted at least five juvenile Great Crested Grebes, which is a welcome and significant increase to previous seasons on the loch. The Goosanders have also had a successful breeding season with a brood of seven young birds having been seen diving in unison on feeding patrols.

At the feeding station there have been Pheasants, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Robins, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Treecreepers, Jays, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Siskins and Red Squirrels.

Conservation work and sightings on the Perthshire reserves:

This week the team have been busy as ever with bracken and balsam control on the reserves. Our monthly guided walk was well attended this week and we were treated to the local diversity of plant and animal life such as Roe Deer, Treecreepers, Buzzards, Jays, a variety of fungi such as Fly Agaric and several types of polypores. Flowering plants included Lesser Burdock, Lesser Stichwort, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Harebell, Foxglove and Devil’s Bit Scabious. The walk was enjoyed by all and we were lucky enough to have fine weather.

At Lowes this week the team checked the resident bird boxes to ascertain if they had been in use this season, the results showed what appeared to be the remains of tit nesting material and feathers. The Goldeneye nest boxes were also checked which unfortunately showed no evidence of use, although the birds had been seen on the loch earlier in the season.

Perthshire Reserves Conservation Team