more ringing pictures

Ringing pictures

Glentress wildwatch

The wildwatch room has live ospreys and highlights from previous years. There are live cameras on to the bird feeders and ponds, which are showing great views of woodland birds and a female mallard having a good soak.
Outside the newly landscaped area has been seeded with wildflower mixes and the whole area is ablaze with birds foot trefoil, vetches, clovers and oxe-eye daisies. The flowers are attracting butterflies and bees and look tremendous as well as serving the invertebrate population well for nectar.
One of the volunteers at the centre on duty, spotted a hummingbird hawk moth in the wild watch room as it flew in through the window and then back outside.

Herons.

The heron cam at Kailzie has revealed that the final heron chick has died. Of the three chicks in this nest all three have now died, the first was killed by its siblings and subsequently eaten by them. The other two never appeared to be very active although were growing so must have been getting some food from their absentee parents, one has been found dead below the tree that they nest in as well as the one dead in the nest.

Buzzard visit

The three big chicks were in the nest when an adult sitting in a branch close by began alarm calling, the smaller two chicks instantly lay flat in the nest and shielded their fish. One of the chicks boldly sat at the edge of the nest to survey any drama, the adult male was seen to take off and all the chicks sat back up into a more relaxed position.
A short while later a buzzard was heard flying around the nest and calling loudly, the chicks did not flatten back down and the adult returned. There was no alarm call and the buzzard sounded very close by but did not seem to be perceived as a threat.

Maiden flight of first fledged chick 6th July

The first chick to brave a maiden flight left the nest yesterday at 3.40pm. After much wing stretching and flapping the chick took off and was away for 1 hour and 40 minutes before returning and landing on a branch to the side of the nest. Today the chick is confidently coming and going from the nest. The other two have yet to trial out their wings on any proper flights.
The male brought in a good sized fish at lunch time and was left calling for the female to feed them, she declined and so he took to the task himnself. This is the first sign of the female backing away from duties towards the youngsters as she lessens the attachment. She will be the first to break up the family and return to Africa. The family will remain together through the summer until they are all confidently flying and hunting. The nest will still be in use as a delivery post for passing fish to the youngsters and the young birds will hang around at the nest site waiting for parents to bring food.

Osprey successes and losses

Four nests in the Scottish Borders have so far been visited by the licenced ringers Tony Lightley and his team. Three have been successful and have raised chicks but the fourth nest sadly has failed. It has probably been due to the very wet weather which has made it difficult for the adult birds to fish. The adults were still holding the territory but sadly they are too late to raise a brood this year.