The Ospreys are back !!

With the return this evening of the female partner of W6 to nest No.6 at Keilder there are now recorded 13 pairs out of the 26 monitored nests on the UK Osprey web site. The female at Manton Bay, Rutland, has also just laid her 3rd egg of this year. Fingers crossed that the other birds return and that all the pair's have a successful breeding season.

We went to Threave Castle today and saw both of the pair there, with the female on the nest and the male on his favourite perch. This nest does not have a camera overlooking it so the site volunteer was not sure if any eggs had yet been laid, but it seemed unlikely, going by the birds' actions on the nest.

Nice one Nellie.👍

Latest update on monitored nests.

19 out of the 27 nests now have their pairs in residence. So far 3 have eggs, with 3 laid at Manton Bay, and one each at Loch of the Lowes (today) and at Keilder 1A nest. Fingers crossed that there will soon be many others and that the hatchings will be successful.

There only 3 nests without any occupants, 2 of those are at Keilder and the third is Loch Garten, sorry Brian.😞

I see that the female at Threaves Castle nesg has laid her first egg, as has she at Foulshaw.

Last year's pair at Loch Arkaig have returned to Nest 2 there, and there appears to a new pair taking up residence on Nest 1. Fingers crossed that they form a breeding pair.

Brian, some good news from Loch Garten, the male that paid a short visit there last year, AX6 (named Axel by the Osprey enthusiasts) has returned to the nest and appears to be settling in. Now waiting for a female to join him, possibly Mistle who was there last year. There may be an occupying couple at last at LG, as it has been a few years since the nest was utilised.

Good of you to keep us informed Nellie.

Thanks Nellie,  but I'm not sure how well these flighty birds take to 'New Builds '  

We'll have to wait and see, Brian, but I will keep an eye on the RSPB Loch Garten links with the hope that a pair will take up residence.

Particularly for CY, there is a pair of Ospreys who look as if they are set to occupy Nest 2 at Poole Harbour, CY7 and 022. Here is a link to the live feed from the camera looking at the nest.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y4bN1JOlapQ

Ah, but like the Prisoner, I'm not just a number. 

Unlike a lot of nesting pairs on the other monitored sites these are a new couple so the regular watchers or the charity volunteers have not got round to naming them yet. 

For that are not familiar with the numbering of Ospreys this link will help.

 http://ukospreys.uk/darvic-rings.htm

If one wants further information, for example, which year a bird was born, where and it's ring number, then it can be found here.

http://ukospreys.uk/mindex.htm

Be seeing you!👌

I'm not a great fan of giving creatures human names. Numbers are fine with me!