What a magical day it has been here on the loch with beautiful blue skies & the first, almost fluorescent, purple heather now blooming on the hill giving a stunning backdrop to our osprey nest.

Our male has again provided well for our female & their chick with 2 fish delivered to the nest already today. The chick is growing strongly & its legs are gaining stability. Its wings are getting stronger & its beautiful juvenile plumage is developing in readiness for fledging in the coming weeks & for its first migration to Africa. Visitors this morning had worrying moments as our chick ventured ever closer to the edge of the nest especially as the wind started to pick up.

Our male has been heroic in his defense of the nest again today. An intruding male osprey appeared above the nest causing our female to alarm call intensely. Our male erupted from the silver birches before landing on the nest as the female mantled her wings protectively over the chick.

The intruder pushed his luck a little to far by attempting to actually land on the nest. Our male then gave chase in spectacular fashion, soaring above the intruder then diving down & escorting him away from the nest towards the golf course! Phew!
Our male has spent most of the rest of the day perched on either The Flat Topped Tree or The Squinty Tree – both excellent look out posts close to the nest.

After the excitement of the hatching of the first Great Crested Grebe chick on Thursday, I am over the moon to report that a second chick has hatched this morning. The male has entertained our visitors with regular deliveries of tiny fish for his hungry brood.
The female has now left the nest & we have been able to see her catching fish to feed to the chicks now safely riding on her back beneath her wings.
The flotilla of goosanders continue to patrol the reeds in front of the hides. The female with 3 young appears to have lost one overnight but another with 10 young which are slightly older remain safe.

Visitors also witnessed fallow deer, some with calves, on the edge of the loch opposite the hides. Other sightings today have been a male Little Grebe close to the inlet & a spotted flycatcher. Dragonflies have also been out in force close to the hides.

With many of you now on holiday & the weather forecast looking so good please take the opportunity to visit us here at Loch of the Lowes – I am sure you will not be disappointed.

I hope to meet you all soon.

Val
Wildlife Interpretation Officer