Scottish Osprey webcam

[Donna]

Good afternoon all,

Events from the nest today:

We must begin by mentioning a bit of drama which happened after the previous blog entry yesterday evening. At 17:24; an interloper was seen landing on the nest with our female osprey. It did not appear to have a ring and our female did not behave as she would with her mate, mantling over the eggs and calling agitatedly. She then appeared to take a swipe at it with her wing, causing it to fly away. Although our female continued to be alert tense for some minutes, the interloper did not return. For the remainder of the day and into the night our female looked very settled on the nest after 7Y had brought her a final delivery of a perch at 18:48.

Today began with a few interlopers and bothersome crows and a grey heron causing the female to alarm call and mantle.  7Y has delivered two fish to our female today. The first was a whole perch at 13:19. Then he flew in with a large, headless trout at 16:55. Having been well fed today, our female should all being well have a comfortable night ahead of her.

A question we received via ospreys@swt.org.uk asked us how we tell the male and female ospreys apart. The female is around 20% larger than the male bird and looks bulkier when sitting on the nest. The male, 7Y, is most easily identified by his green leg ring. Also, we will from time to time zoom in on the birds in order to take a closer look at them. When this happens you may be able to see a lightning bolt-shaped defect on the female’s right iris. This mark is unique to her like our fingerprint is unique to us.

[jeanne]

Bless her heart, she is such a strong gal.  Hope the interlopers stay away

[Donna]

Incubation has been continuing on the nest throughout the day, with 7Y sitting for almost 2 hours during one period.  At 2.40pm our male could be seen catching a fish by the tree. Once 7Y had successfully made his catch, a crow and a buzzard attempted to take the fish from him. Our male then left with the fish for approximately 15 minutes, while our female called. He then returned with the fish and delivered it to our female who then took the fish and flew away with it.

April 28

[Dumpsterkitty]

Via Blackwater, an amusing interview with Lady Osprey

[Donna]

Via Blackwater, an amusing interview with Lady Osprey

That was cute! Thanks.

[MAK]

  Quite entertaining!  Thanks! 

[Kris G.]

Via Blackwater, an amusing interview with Lady Osprey

Loved this!

[Donna]

Events at the nest today:

Our male osprey has been busying himself with bringing in nesting material today. He has brought in moss and sticks with which to keep the nest in a fit condition for incubation. However, at 12:05pm he flew in to the nest with a fish which the female then flew away with it to eat elsewhere.

A question we received via ospreys@swt.org.uk asked us whether the juvenile ospreys return to nest at the same site and what we know about their survival rate. Research has shown that ospreys will return to the same region to breed. Our male 7Y was ringed locally. Unfortunately we do not know what has happened to previous years’ chicks as none of these were ringed. However, this year we are hoping to raise enough money to satellite track at least one of the chicks if they should hatch. For more information on our satellite tracking program, follow this link: http://www.swt.org.uk/wildlife/osprey-tracking/

[Donna]

This morning, a fish was delivered to the nest at 4.41am by our male. As usual, our female osprey took the fish and flew off with it to eat elsewhere. Our female then did not return to the nest site until 8.26am, leaving her mate to incubate for 3 ¾ hours!!! Our male, 7Y, then took over incubation again at 10am. Our female then returned briefly for 30mins at 11.26am, before 7Y took over again at 11.55am. Our male then incubated until 2.40pm (a further 2 ¾ hours!) when our female returned who is now still incubating. We will not know if our female has caught a fish for herself during the time that she has spent away from the nest. At 5.08pm 7Y returned to the nest, this time with a fairly large headless fish. Our female then accepted this fish and flew away with it, leaving her mate to incubate.

It has now been over 4 weeks since the first egg was laid by our female on the 13th April. Since then we have seen a dedicated period of incubation from both male and female osprey here at Loch of the Lowes. All we can do now is continue to wait to find out if any eggs will hatch. We can reasonably expect this to begin happening on around the 20th May, if indeed the eggs are viable. Our team working hard during Osprey Watch will continue to guard the nest from any egg thieves or unintentional human disturbances that may cause the pair to abandon the nest and eggs.

May 11

Events from the nest today:

Today we have seen some osprey drama here at Loch of the Lowes. At 12.05pm, our male osprey, 7Y, returned to the nest with a fish.  As he attempted to deliver his catch to our female, an intruding osprey landed on the nest!  Our female grew distressed and made a series of alarm calls.  7Y sprang into action and chased the intruder off the nest, still gripping the fish he was delivering.  Once he had successfully seen off the third osprey, 7Y returned with the headless trout at 12.20pm which our female then accepted and flew away from the nest with.

This afternoon has seen another intruder in the vicinity at 2.30pm which circled the nest. Our male – who was incubating at the time in our female’s absence – mantled and called. We cannot be sure whether or not it is the same bird that landed on the nest this morning, but our male’s presence was enough to cause the intruder to leave the area. 

[MAK]

Heavy sigh! So many dangers out in the wild for our beloved birds! 

[chlosmom]

7Y seems to be the most dedicated of fathers----are these his 1st eggs or is it possible
to know? the Lady has used her years and experience to pick him as a mate

[Bird Crazy]

7Y seems to be the most dedicated of fathers----are these his 1st eggs or is it possible
to know? the Lady has used her years and experience to pick him as a mate

He was Lady's Mate last year. So no they are not his first. The postings said he is 11 years old so Lady may not be his first mate either. He is a good mate and a good papa.

[chlosmom]

lucky chicks--2 great parents

[Donna]

May 14th

It is now over a month since the first egg was laid by our female on the 13th April and here, at Loch of the Lowes, staff and volunteers continue to wait with hope to find out if the eggs are viable and any hatch. We can reasonably expect an egg to hatch in a week’s time on 20th May as this will be 37 days (the average incubation period) after the first egg was laid.

Throughout the day, our famous pair of ospreys has been incubating the three eggs. Our male, 7y, has been continuing to bring nesting material, ensuring the nest maintains the shape needed at this stage in the season. At 10.06am our male returned to the nest with a delivery of part of a fish for our female. Not only had the head been consumed, but also the majority of the fish. Our female left for over an hour to eat the fish and have a break from incubation.

[Donna]

With the first egg hopefully due to hatch this weekend things are looking very positive, with the resident female observed listening to the eggs at 00.47 this morning.  This is an excellent sign that at least one of the eggs may be viable and hatch soon

So far today the resident male, 7Y, has not brought any fish to the nest, but last night he delivered 2 large fish, one at 17.55 and another at 18.55.  Today has passed away peacefully on the nest with egg turning and regular swapping of incubation duties.