After a period of uncertainty, we left our osprey family last week with the good news that the male LM12 appeared to be recovering well from his injury, was back on his ‘fishing game’ and both chicks were looking healthy and strong.

NC0 has brooded the chicks (and the nonviable, unhatched egg) throughout the week, protecting them from cool winds, drizzle and harsh midday sun.

The relative calm on the nest did not last long however, when female NC0 was paid a visit by two intruding osprey last Sunday, possibly youngsters looking to establish their first territory. The pair floated high above the nest, before drifting off and landing on a tree deep in the reserve, where after extensive preening they were observed attempting to mate.  An hour passed by quietly, but then suddenly the uneasy peace was shattered, when the unringed intruding female began a series of determined dive bombing attacks on NC0, who valiantly stood firm on the nest, flattening herself at the last possible moment to protect her chicks.

With LM12 away on a fishing trip, it was up to NC0 to defend the nest and what ensued was nothing sort of spectacular!  For almost an hour NC0 took to the skies, challenging the intruder in the air, exerting her authority and dominance by constantly seeking a higher position above the other female. The male intruder floated around in the background carefully avoiding the melee, but the unringed female did not give up, even landing on the nest on several occasions, closely followed by NC0 who stooped and banked sharply to chase her away from the young chicks. Half way through the aerial battle LM12 returned to the nest with a brown trout, which he quickly took to safety, leaving the larger females to ‘duke it out’!

Finally, after nearly an hour of incredible scenes the unringed female finally drifted off, leaving NC0 to settle down on her brood and calm was restored on the loch once more, closely followed by lunch courtesy of LM12!

As most mothers will testify, feeding young ones requires some deft skills in multi-tasking to ensure both Mum and hungry young mouths get a bite to eat. NC0 demonstrated how to gut the fish, grab a bite to eat and feed the chicks using not one, but two feet, though her table manners were questionable!

Throughout the week LM12 has kept a close eye on the nest to ensure the intruders didn’t return. He had the opportunity to show off his own ‘Top Gun’ skills in the air when he chased off some cheeky jackdaws who were bothering NC0 on the nest.

The chicks have continued to thrive, growing almost before our very eyes, with their heads just beginning to peak out above the nest during feeding times.  Osprey chicks grow to almost 70% of their full size in the first 4 weeks of their life, fueled by their protein rich diet of fish.  The better weather seems to be aiding LM12’s fishing trips, with the Loch and surrounding areas seeing large hatchings of flies over the water, not only good for hungry fish, but enjoyed by visiting sand martins, swallows, swifts and black headed gulls.  Consequently, the chicks have enjoyed a diverse menu of perch, pike, a variety of trout (brown, blue and rainbow) and even grayling.

With chick one now two weeks old, and chick two close behind, the youngsters are already starting to enter their dinosaur stage!  They are starting to lose their fluffy down and the first hint of their pin feathers are starting to push through.  They are also beginning to discover their comically oversized feet, which they are starting to use to rock back and forth on and position themselves when feeding. Even their heads are just beginning to be seen ‘keekin’ out over the top of the nest from the hides during feeding sessions. Needless to say all this growing up is hard work and requires a serious amount of nap time!

LM12 continues to do a fantastic job of providing for his family, with the delivery of an enormous brown trout on Thursday evening, easily one of the largest fish staff have ever seen him bring in!  The fish kept the whole family going for multiple meals throughout the night and well into the next morning!

Hopefully all will continue to progress well for the osprey family over the coming weeks, with plenty more serene scenes on the Loch like this sunset a few nights ago – mind you with NC0’s dulcet tones ringing around the reserve, it’s never long before the peace and quiet is shattered!

Make sure you stay tuned to the live webcam to follow the hatching and keep up to date with the daily lives of the ospreys by following us on Twitter or Facebook for regular updates.

‘Raz’ Rasmussen, Perthshire Ranger

The Trust’s Osprey Protection Programme at Loch of the Lowes is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.