by Lindsey

Injured Swan update – the swan has been spotted yesterday and today on Loch of the Lowes and we’ve been able to spend a good amount of time observing it. Although it still has the line coming out its mouth it seems to be feeding and preening without problem. This doesn’t mean its okay though as the hooks are in its throat and they could be ulcerating or infected. During our observations over the last two days we’ve noticed a particular behaviour pattern which is very useful as it will let us plan how to catch the swan successfully. Hopefully we’ll be able to do this soon.

Ospreys – the latest satellite tracking information is in and it shows our young female Blue YZ  has become more adventurous heading over to the top of the loch by Letter Farm and over to a tree on Craiglush Loch. This is exactly what we’d expect her to be doing, practicing her flying skills and longer distances ready for her own migration in a few weeks.  We expect the male and chick to around for another couple of weeks or so until late August or early September.

Last year’s chick from the Angus nest Blue YD is still enjoying himself in Senegal, roosting and fishing. The adult birds will be arriving soon, in fact some may have already, and we’re watching with interest to see if he gets to keep him prime spot on the coast or gets forced inland again.

You can see all the updates on our satellite tracking page.

In other wildlife news we’ve been seeing more young appearing on the reserve. We were delighted to see a Little Grebe and a chick yesterday, they’ve tried breeding here before but without recent success so this was great news. We also had a juvenile Pochard in this afternoon and the young Goosander are now independent of their mother but are still hanging out together as a group. Our Beavers have also been spotted recently and they’ve  been having a nibble on the trees right beside the Crannog Hide.