The fourth fish of the day has just been delivered to our osprey nest and our ever hungry chick is tucking in as usual- it must be the best fed youngster in Scotland !

As the chick grows before our eyes it is hard to believe it was as tiny as the other eggs just two short weeks ago. No matter how many years I work with ospreys, their phenomenal growth rate  as nestlings never ceases to amaze me. The high protein diet of raw fish obviously fuels this  growth spurt and there is no doubt that more food availability ( thanks to our male) will mean a better grown young fledgling. This is serious advantage as after fledgling a better fed, larger bird will have better chances fending for itself and on its long and hazardous first migration.

 Your ranger team have been out in the field again this week , working on some of our charities five other Perthshire wildlife reserves .  At Keltneyburn meadow we have been doing some botanical surveying ,  where the bluebells are still out and the orchids are  coming into their best, and the dragonflies are emerging. We have been working hard at Balnaguard Glen too ( a stunning remnant juniper woodland) clearing invasive bracken and surveying – today we were treated to Brown Hare, a dozen Red deer, one Roe deer with newborn calf, Jays, Tree pipits and Green Veined White and Orange Tip butterflies everywhere.  

If you would like to know more about these reserves and how to visit them, please see:

http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/visit/reserves/

or join the ranger on a future guided walk or conservation volunteering day!

Ranger Emma