Lots of osprey news from Loch of the Lowes at this exciting time of year for the birds. During August there are more ospreys in the air over the UK than at any other time of year, making it a perfect time to watch and photograph them.

Right now almost all young on osprey nests in the UK have fledged and are in the busy period of perfecting their flying (and landing!) techniques and pestering their parents for food. The juveniles can often be seen following their parents down to fishing grounds and even taking tentative runs at the water themselves.

Birds that have not succeeded in raising a brood will be considering leaving on early migration, anytime from now on. This means ospreys can be seen almost anywhere in the UK as they drift southwards- so eyes to the skies folks!

Both our resident birds are still on the Loch– both responded today to an intruder bird by turning up at their nest to mantle and deter their rival. The female was last seen at about 2pm briefly, whereas the male has been hanging around the loch all day.

Two other exciting reports of ospreys today:

Firstly two local fishermen Millar Ramsay and Kenny Grant has a great encounter with an osprey on a loch to our east this weekend and managed to get some great photographs of the bird catching and eating a perch. Most excitingly their pictures were clear enough to read the birds leg ring- Red 4C which they reported to us. It turns out this bird was born here at Loch of the Lowes in 2001 and is a stunning 13 year old male! It is highly likely he breeds locally too, so another of “Ladys” offspring is still doing well, which is a real thrill to know. Our grateful thanks to these folks for sending in their photos to help identify this individual- this highlights how your photos and reports can be invaluable so if you see a bird with a coloured leg ring- let us know!

 

 

Secondly Keith Brockie from Tayside Raptor Study Group confirmed that a Glaslyn 2009 born female osprey White 91 has bred successfully in Perthshire near Crief this season- you may recall this bird was seen at Loch of the Lowes in 2012 intruding at our nest. We are glad she has found a nest of her own and joined the local breeding population- we doubt this is the last osprey exchange between Wales and Scotland!

Ranger Emma