After a few days of milder, sunny weather, today dawned grey with a thick blanket of cloud threatening rain. Despite the increasingly wet day ( a few showers soon turning into solid rain) the feeding station was lively with Siskins, RedPoll, Goldfinches, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Red Squirrels. Outside the Visitor Centre window, tucked discreetly away, a female mallard duck is sitting on a large clutch of eggs. This nest is best viewed from the new children’s Hide window (inside the centre) but whenever the mallard leaves the eggs she carefully covers them with gathered duck-down and dried leaves. This fabulous camouflage means even the keenest eyes have great difficulty spotting it and we hope it is equally invisible to the local pine martens.  

The ospreys have spent a quiet, wet day with the female doing the majority of the incubating. The male would return from time to time and stand around the nest, almost sitting on top of his mate at times. After a while, he gave up the hope of nestling down into the warm mossy nest cup, and took himself off to various perches by the lochside to look for fish. The heavy rain and brisk wind make the water pretty choppy, not the easiest fishing conditions, and as I write, he is yet to make a catch.

Otter Mayhem Saturday 4th May and Sunday 5th May

One animal that doesn’t mind how wet it gets is the OTTER! This week-end we are holding two Family Fun Days with lots of quizzes and fascinating facts about otters. Do you know what an otter eats? What its young are called? The name of its home? To discover the answers to all these questions and many more, just come along tomorrow (or/and Sunday) and enjoy the activities between 11.00am and 4.00pm. No booking required. (Normal Visitor Center charges apply/SWT Members Free)

Fingers crossed it will be a better day – but never fear, the event will take place whether rain or shine. ‘There’s never bad weather, just the wrong clothes’!

Cherry