Here at the Tweed Valley Osprey Project we like to think of our Ospreys as ambassadors for all wildlife. In both visitor centers we profile other species of birds and mammals on nest cameras and are happy to provide tips on local wildlife viewing opportunities in the Borders.
We have nominated May as the month to encourage everyone to find out about Wildlife in your Backyard. We have special displays in both centres from next week, on what you can do at home to cater for wildlife, and Kailzie has a special wildlife gardening feature.
We are running two free guided walks to help you discover wildlife on your doorstep:
Saturday 17th May at Glentress, 2pm, and Sunday 18th may at Kailzie gardens, 2pm.
Both events are 1.5hrs approximately and moderate grade. Wear sensible shoes and outdoor clothing. All children should be accompanied. For more information contact Emma on 07530310376.
Also, on Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May, at Kailzie Gardens we are having a special free kids' activity and information day- come and make a bug box, and pick up a free information pack about wildlife in your backyard.
Friday, 9 May 2008
Great News
Great news all round this week at the Tweed Valley Osprey Project!
Our local conservation officer has reported that this year we again have eight pairs of ospreys nesting in the Scottish Borders, which out of a UK total of just over 200 pairs is a wonderful contribution. It is too early yet to tell how many of these nest will produce eggs and chicks successfully , but we hope it will be a bumper year for ospreys!
Also, news from our 'backup nest' - we have two eggs laid by our resident pair of birds, so we are hoping they too will have chicks by the end of May.
Lastly, news today of a sighting of one of our previous year's osprey chicks: one of the 2003 chicks has been found in Dumfries and Galloway. Despite being blown down by the turbulence of a passing military aircraft, the bird was rescued and re-released unharmed. This is fantastic news as we estimate only half of chicks born each year make it back to Scotland as breeding age adults due to the hazards of migration. There is also a time delay of a couple of years usually before their return to their birthplace, so we are always excited to get news of them.
Our main nest birds are enjoying the glorious warm weather- as are we!
Our local conservation officer has reported that this year we again have eight pairs of ospreys nesting in the Scottish Borders, which out of a UK total of just over 200 pairs is a wonderful contribution. It is too early yet to tell how many of these nest will produce eggs and chicks successfully , but we hope it will be a bumper year for ospreys!
Also, news from our 'backup nest' - we have two eggs laid by our resident pair of birds, so we are hoping they too will have chicks by the end of May.
Lastly, news today of a sighting of one of our previous year's osprey chicks: one of the 2003 chicks has been found in Dumfries and Galloway. Despite being blown down by the turbulence of a passing military aircraft, the bird was rescued and re-released unharmed. This is fantastic news as we estimate only half of chicks born each year make it back to Scotland as breeding age adults due to the hazards of migration. There is also a time delay of a couple of years usually before their return to their birthplace, so we are always excited to get news of them.
Our main nest birds are enjoying the glorious warm weather- as are we!
Monday, 5 May 2008
Spring Sunshine
Here in the Tweed Valley today, we are blessed with glorious sunshine and it is so warm it feels like summer already! Can it only be six days ago it was artic cold and hailing on our poor hardy birds?
The female osprey still sticks diligently to her nest incubating her eggs. She has been frequently today seen 'panting' with her beak open trying to cool herself, and sometimes opening her wings and flying short distances to cool off.
Incubation is a delicate balance of keeping the eggs at just the right temperature- perhaps she is trying to keep them from getting too warm!
The male too seems to be taking it easy in the heat, spending most of the day sitting in trees nearby, probably dozing in the sunshine, although he did bring a nice wee trout today for lunch for his lady.
Here in the Osprey Watch centre it really feels like spring. We have swallows beginning to nest on our camera at Glentress and great tits at Kailzie. Other birds such as dunnocks, house sparrows and wrens are beginning to make homes around the centres and we hope to catch some more of these on live nest camera soon.
Many of us were up at dawn on Sunday for a national dawn chorus day walk at Kailzie- a great chance to see and hear many of our local birds at their spring best, and worth the early rising. This was just one of many special events planned for the summer, suitable for the whole family, so stay posted.
The female osprey still sticks diligently to her nest incubating her eggs. She has been frequently today seen 'panting' with her beak open trying to cool herself, and sometimes opening her wings and flying short distances to cool off.
Incubation is a delicate balance of keeping the eggs at just the right temperature- perhaps she is trying to keep them from getting too warm!
The male too seems to be taking it easy in the heat, spending most of the day sitting in trees nearby, probably dozing in the sunshine, although he did bring a nice wee trout today for lunch for his lady.
Here in the Osprey Watch centre it really feels like spring. We have swallows beginning to nest on our camera at Glentress and great tits at Kailzie. Other birds such as dunnocks, house sparrows and wrens are beginning to make homes around the centres and we hope to catch some more of these on live nest camera soon.
Many of us were up at dawn on Sunday for a national dawn chorus day walk at Kailzie- a great chance to see and hear many of our local birds at their spring best, and worth the early rising. This was just one of many special events planned for the summer, suitable for the whole family, so stay posted.
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Hail and Hearty
What a week in the Tweed valley! We've had everything from glorious spring sunshine to hail showers, and finally some real warmth in the air.
One Tuesday the hail was so heavy it saw our poor female osprey frantically mantling (spreading her wings and flattened herself) over her eggs trying to protect them from the hailstones. She was , at one stage, up to her chest surrounded by hailstones in a completely white nest! Surely this is not the kind of weather she was hoping for when she flew back from Africa!
Although we've had no serious nest incursions by stray ospreys or other birds, our male has been sitting in nearby trees frequently, and often on the camera itself, never too far away from his precious female and nest, in case of trouble.
The telltale vertical wobble on the camera lets us know he's sitting perched on it and sometimes we get a great view of his undercarriage as he take off!
Otherwise all is well on the nest and incubation continues- we all have our fingers crossed for our three precious eggs.
One Tuesday the hail was so heavy it saw our poor female osprey frantically mantling (spreading her wings and flattened herself) over her eggs trying to protect them from the hailstones. She was , at one stage, up to her chest surrounded by hailstones in a completely white nest! Surely this is not the kind of weather she was hoping for when she flew back from Africa!
Although we've had no serious nest incursions by stray ospreys or other birds, our male has been sitting in nearby trees frequently, and often on the camera itself, never too far away from his precious female and nest, in case of trouble.
The telltale vertical wobble on the camera lets us know he's sitting perched on it and sometimes we get a great view of his undercarriage as he take off!
Otherwise all is well on the nest and incubation continues- we all have our fingers crossed for our three precious eggs.
Monday, 28 April 2008
Images of the birds
Stuart Lowrie has taken some photos of the ospreys in flight. They were taken at St Marys Loch earlier this month (April 2008).
The second picture also shows a local peregrine falcon. According to Stuart, the peregrine seemed to be joining the local crows in harassing our osprey .
We hope these inspire you to get out and about and spot our local birds in action- see the staff in the osprey watch centres for advice on local viewing hotspots.
Friday, 25 April 2008
Blissfully quiet on the nest
Here in the beautiful Tweed Valley spring is finally showing its face and our Ospreys are at last basking in some proper spring sunshine!
All is blissfully quiet on our main nest, with our birds settled down to the patient task of incubating their precious eggs. As yet, no incidents of nest raiding , intruder birds, extramarital affairs, infanticide or egg stealing! ( touch wood). Our experienced birds are being model of family life. We are treated to great views of the two birds on the nest, as well as all the comings and goings, fish deliveries and shift changes.
Other migrant birds are also starting to appear- we have our first local sand martins and swallows. Some are even beginning to nest, such as our blue tits , who you can see on one of our other 'nest cams' at Kailzie Gardens.
Spring really is beginning to bite- come and enjoy the view!
All is blissfully quiet on our main nest, with our birds settled down to the patient task of incubating their precious eggs. As yet, no incidents of nest raiding , intruder birds, extramarital affairs, infanticide or egg stealing! ( touch wood). Our experienced birds are being model of family life. We are treated to great views of the two birds on the nest, as well as all the comings and goings, fish deliveries and shift changes.
Other migrant birds are also starting to appear- we have our first local sand martins and swallows. Some are even beginning to nest, such as our blue tits , who you can see on one of our other 'nest cams' at Kailzie Gardens.
Spring really is beginning to bite- come and enjoy the view!
Monday, 21 April 2008
It's a Hatrick!
To our great delight today on our 'main' nest we witnessed another Osprey egg- bringing the total laid in the nest this year to three. This pair of birds have reliably laid three eggs most years- and they did not disappoint us.
On several past occasions, only two chicks have resulted from three eggs, so its reassuring to have three 'chances'- especially as the weather was so very cold around the time the first egg was laid this year, perhaps endangering it.
Our female bird now settles down to a period of patient incubation, but there is no room for complacency- just today a carrion crow 'buzzed' the nest, perhaps testing the resolve of our female, who saw it off with fierce calls and expressions. The crows are one of the few predators capable of stealing an unprotected egg. Luckily our Ospreys are vigilant parents.
On several past occasions, only two chicks have resulted from three eggs, so its reassuring to have three 'chances'- especially as the weather was so very cold around the time the first egg was laid this year, perhaps endangering it.
Our female bird now settles down to a period of patient incubation, but there is no room for complacency- just today a carrion crow 'buzzed' the nest, perhaps testing the resolve of our female, who saw it off with fierce calls and expressions. The crows are one of the few predators capable of stealing an unprotected egg. Luckily our Ospreys are vigilant parents.
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