by Lindsey, Wildlife Interpretation Officer

On, off, on again, off again – it’s been a revolving door on the Osprey nest today with both birds coming in and out. She’s been spending alot of time standing on the nest and doing some housekeeping but has also been doing some fly arounds. He presented her with a lovely big Brown Trout this morning which she spent a long time eating and finished every last bit just leaving him the skin despite his best efforts to nab some. As most of the local lochs are frozen and the fish will be hiding down the bottom this is a really good bit of fishing by our male.

The cold weather continues and Ross, one of our regular visitors, and myself were fascinated by what looked like a fish underneath the ice trying to surface. We were particularly puzzled as it was happening in two different places at once. Then we realised that when the ice hit something it was breaking up like the ‘snap, crackle & pop’ effect of Rice Krispies. The ice was being blown across the loch and as it hit an obstacle it broke. However as the ice was moving it surrounded a young Mute Swan potentially trapping it. We kept an eye on it to see if it needed rescuing but it bravely ploughed through the ice stopping for the occasional snack!

We’re delighted that a Green Woodpecker has been spotted near the loch and volunteer Phil managed to get this pic of it.