Our chick Blue YZ is still in Guinea Bissau, she seems to have stopped for now dotting around a river and it’s tributaries roosting and fishing which is just what you’d expect from a young Osprey. Whether she stays there remains to be seen so we’ll watch with interest will she add some more stamps to her passport?

While our little Osprey enjoys sunnier climes here on the loch more of our winter visitors are arriving. A group of Widgeon have moved in and appear to be enjoying the weed judging by how much they’re eating! There’s also large numbers of Goldeneye and Tufted Duck along with our regular Canada and Greylag Geese, Great Crested Grebe in their winter plumage and a young Moorhen. The landscape is spectacular at the moment with the trees in their autumn colours and the hills taking on a purple hue, we really are very lucky to have such a wonderful site.

Talking of migration it’s is now my turn to migrate as my season comes to an end. I’ve had two great seasons here at Loch of the Lowes as Wildlife Interpretation Officer and am delighted to have meet so many of you and hear your lovely comments and feedback… and cakes! I’ve been lucky enough to see many great moments such as both Blue 44 and Blue YZ taking their first flights, the arrival of the Beaver, the Great Crested Grebes successfully raising young on their lilypad nest and the Otter nosing around. My favourite moments are not surprisingly from the Ospreys: last year our male Osprey getting bitten on the leg by a feisty Pike; last year’s chick Blue 44 getting an almighty telling off from his mum for staying away for days; but most of all the female Osprey dive bombing the Heron right in front of me before both male and female chased it away. Truly great memories. Thanks to the whole team here Caroline, Jonathan, Cherry, Emma, David, Val, Kenny and our fantastic volunteers  whom we couldn’t manage without. I’ve had great fun writing the blog and hope you’ve enjoyed reading them. To finish off I’ve included a couple of my favourite photos and a link to my favourite blog.

http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/2012/08/19/ufo-spotted-at-loch-of-the-lowes/

Slainte

Lindsey