Our Osprey chick is 24 days old today and what a difference three and a half weeks makes! If you look at the chick’s size compared to the eggs still in the nest, it seems incredible to think it was just that big such a short time ago. 

 

I have just returned from a week’s leave and even though I’ve been working with ospreys for many many years, their growth rate never ceases to truly amaze me. Thank you to my fellow team members who have done such great guest blogs in my absence too- it’s been a great chance for you to ‘meet’ some other members of the staff and volunteers team.

 Today on the osprey nest there have been three fish deliveries and the chick has been spending a lot of time relaxing and dozing in between meals.

The comedy moments just get better- the male osprey today brought in a large stick, the female grabbed it and they tussled over it for a while, narrowly missing their offspring!

 Elsewhere on the reserve, we had a visit from a young Roe deer buck – in our picnic circle between the hides! It looked rather surprised to find itself surrounded by visitors with cameras. On the far side of the loch the leucistic Fallow deer appeared this afternoon with her new calf at foot.  On the woodland feeding station we have another juvenile Red Squirrel and a charming sight today of the female Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding one of her youngsters.

More Osprey Q and A’s  tommorrow folks.

Ranger Emma