BIRDCAM.IT

Loch of the Lowes, Scotland: Ringing Chicks and Osprey News by Jane Hamilton

Based on the wing length we believe the older chick (now PH2) is a female and the younger chick (PH1) is a male – females are generally a little larger. The new rings will be very useful for us as the chicks are getting older and the size difference between them is now less noticeable.

03 July 2017 - Ready to Leave the Nest?

Now that the chicks are about 7 weeks old we have been starting to see a lot of pre-fledging behaviour. They have been stretching their wings a lot and sometimes lifting off the nest a few inches while flapping.

Ospreys tend to take their first flight about 50-56 days old1. The older chick (PH2) is now 51 days old and the younger (PH1) is 46 days old. However, females tend to be heavier and so lighter males will often fledge before their sisters. It is hard to say who will make the leap first as the male (PH1) is a full five days younger.

06 July 2017 - PH2 has fledged! By Jane Hamilton, Assistant Ranger

The eldest osprey chick (PH2) fledged the nest this afternoon at 2.04pm. First flights normally last just a few minutes – PH2 flew a few circled around the nest and then found a convenient branch in a Scots Pine to rest. She has been perched there ever since – perhaps a little nervous to make the return journey!

Loch of the Lowes - Time flies when you’re an Osprey - 26 July 2017

Our osprey chicks have been very active over the past couple of weeks.

PH1 and PH2 have both been seen practicing their fishing. Although they are not yet catching fish  for themselves, they are certainly warming to the idea. They have been seen chasing each other around the loch, which has been a joy to watch, and a farmiliar game for those of us with siblings. They can still be seen returning to the nest to feed along with their mother (LF15), a bit crowded now they’re growing up!

Bon Voyage LF15

We believe LF15 has now left on her migration. The last confirmed sighting was on Saturday the 5th at roughly 7 o’clock in the morning, on the nest. She was possibly around later in the day flying in the area and perched however she did not return to the nest. Her departure is a few days earlier than last year (13/8) but this is not unusual as she was slightly ahead of schedule this year in laying her eggs.

Now that LF15 has left its time for classes for PH1 and PH2 as they continue to learn from dad (LM12) to fish for themselves. For example, PH1 made an attempt on Sunday to perch and feed on the silver birch tree struggling with the idea of not dropping the fish, before returning to nest defeated. Hopefully the two youngsters will have this down before they leave for their own migration. Last year all three chicks left before the end of August so we assume PH1 and PH2 will leave around the same time or the start of September. It’s amazing to think that PH1 and PH2 will only be 13-14 weeks old before they have to make the long trip...