To the surprise of visitors at the Opsrey Watch on Friday, a bat flew in through the front door and flew round and round the centre. We think it was a Daubentons bat due to it's size and our close proximity to the fishery ponds, where it is most likely to hunt.
It was very exciting to see this wonderful bat so close up, volunteers and visitors alike were thrilled.
Ospreys and chicks continue to thrive, the smallest chick is just a tiny head compared to the older siblings but with plenty of fish being brought in the littlest one should soon catch up.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Friday, 20 May 2011
Third Osprey Chick hatched today!
We are delighted to let you all know that our third osprey chick hatched today.
There always seems to be something happening when osprey volunteer Arthur, is on duty, he has just spotted the third tiny head reaching up to its parents for food, when osprey Dad brought a fish in.
This brings the number of chicks raised by this pair, to 20 in total, since 2004. They are certainly doing their bit for the conservation effort!
There always seems to be something happening when osprey volunteer Arthur, is on duty, he has just spotted the third tiny head reaching up to its parents for food, when osprey Dad brought a fish in.
This brings the number of chicks raised by this pair, to 20 in total, since 2004. They are certainly doing their bit for the conservation effort!
Thursday, 19 May 2011
osprey progress
The two chicks are doing remarkable well, the male bird brought in two fish within a couple of hours of each other today. Two little heads on wobbly necks reached up to mum for a good feed on both occasions.
ITV came to film at the centre today and we will be on Border ITV News about the Tweed Vallley Osprey Project.
The Herons still have two chicks, the parent bird was there on the nest but we have not witnessed the chicks being fed. One of the chicks from an earlier nest has been found dead and there was no flesh on the bird , it appeared to have starved.
A difficult season for the herons.
The blue tits are still doing very well and are growing fast.
ITV came to film at the centre today and we will be on Border ITV News about the Tweed Vallley Osprey Project.
The Herons still have two chicks, the parent bird was there on the nest but we have not witnessed the chicks being fed. One of the chicks from an earlier nest has been found dead and there was no flesh on the bird , it appeared to have starved.
A difficult season for the herons.
The blue tits are still doing very well and are growing fast.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Two osprey chicks!
Two osprey chicks have been seen and the female was removing eggshell from the nest. We are hoping that there is another egg, as the birds keep moving something about, after feeding the chicks, which we hope is another egg. She appears to be continuing to incubate, rather than just shelter her youngsters. These are possibly, the first osprey chicks in Scotland this year. Congratulations to Wales, with the earliest record ever, for osprey hatching in the UK (9th May). If our main nest birds have 3 chicks this year, that will bring them to the grand total of 20 chicks raised since 2004.
Osprey parents could teach heron parents a lesson or two on parenting skills!
Herons are not doing well, with this cold, wet spring. The early April warm weather must have been a bonus for the early nesters in the heronry but the later ones are struggling in this wet weather.
Blue tits are doing well and are the cutest, if not the ugliest chicks ever!!
Osprey parents could teach heron parents a lesson or two on parenting skills!
Herons are not doing well, with this cold, wet spring. The early April warm weather must have been a bonus for the early nesters in the heronry but the later ones are struggling in this wet weather.
Blue tits are doing well and are the cutest, if not the ugliest chicks ever!!
Sunday, 15 May 2011
First chick has hatched
The first osprey chick has hatched today. The female was seen removing egg shell from the nest and peering down to feed the youngster. The nest is still built up with sticks around the edges, so we do not yet know how many eggs there are or even how many chicks have hatched but there is at least one.
The brand new heron HD cam is now showing live pictures from the nest in the heronry. There has been great drama with the parent birds choosing to remain absent through some very bad, wet, spring weather. The cold chicks set upon the youngest one in the nest and viciously attacked it, repeatedly stabbing the chick on the head and neck. It was not seen in the nest today and so we presume that it has died. The parent bird stayed with the young today and they appeared to be more settled.
The blue tits on blue tit cam, now have 6 young in the nest.
A grey squirrel climbed into the open fronted nest box and deposited an acorn!
All the nests are live on camera in Kailzie Gardens Osprey Watch.
The brand new heron HD cam is now showing live pictures from the nest in the heronry. There has been great drama with the parent birds choosing to remain absent through some very bad, wet, spring weather. The cold chicks set upon the youngest one in the nest and viciously attacked it, repeatedly stabbing the chick on the head and neck. It was not seen in the nest today and so we presume that it has died. The parent bird stayed with the young today and they appeared to be more settled.
The blue tits on blue tit cam, now have 6 young in the nest.
A grey squirrel climbed into the open fronted nest box and deposited an acorn!
All the nests are live on camera in Kailzie Gardens Osprey Watch.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Blue tit Tragedy
The blue tit nest cam has been raided by an invader!
The entrance hole had been enlarged and a chunk of the wooden fascia ripped off. The nest had been scraped and all the eggs scattered and rolled about, seven of the eggs are missing.
This was the scene when osprey watch volunteer Arthur turned up for duty 2 days ago. Thankfully, Arthur quickly swung into action to save the blue tit from further peril. He took a metal nest hole cover from an unsused nest and took the broken front from the stricken box, repaired it with a chunk of wood and secured the metal plate on to the front of the hole. He loaded the scattered eggs back into the nest cup and the distraught little bird returned immediately and settled to incubate the remaining clutch.
At first we accused the grey squirrel of the dastardly deed but then a great spotted woodpecker launched attack number 2 but the metal plate has so far prevented further plunder.
The entrance hole had been enlarged and a chunk of the wooden fascia ripped off. The nest had been scraped and all the eggs scattered and rolled about, seven of the eggs are missing.
This was the scene when osprey watch volunteer Arthur turned up for duty 2 days ago. Thankfully, Arthur quickly swung into action to save the blue tit from further peril. He took a metal nest hole cover from an unsused nest and took the broken front from the stricken box, repaired it with a chunk of wood and secured the metal plate on to the front of the hole. He loaded the scattered eggs back into the nest cup and the distraught little bird returned immediately and settled to incubate the remaining clutch.
At first we accused the grey squirrel of the dastardly deed but then a great spotted woodpecker launched attack number 2 but the metal plate has so far prevented further plunder.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Blue tits
The blue tit cam is relaying stunning images of the little parent nestled down in the nest incubating her eggs. It was at first thought that there are 8 eggs in the nest but when she turned them earlier today, up to 11 were counted and possibly more!
osprey dates
The incubation period for osprey eggs is approximately 37 days long. The pair at this nest seem to have an incubation period of around 39 days and we think that the first egg was laid on 5th April which means that hatching at the very earliest date could be 11th May but more likely from Friday 13th May. It has been an uneventful incubation period so far with both parents appearing relaxed and settled. This pair are in their 8th year nesting and raising a family together and little ruffles their experienced feathers!
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