Osprey back at Rutland Water (1 Viewer)

Osprey back at Rutland Water - 28/3/04

From the Rutland Water Osprey web site:

One Osprey is back! (28 March)

This afternoon a male Osprey appeared back at one of the nest sites. Field Officer, John Wright had visited the site at 1 o'clock and found it still vacant.
But at 5 o'clock a male with a white ring on the left leg had taken up occupation. John hasn't yet managed to read the ring number but plumage and behaviour suggest that this is 03(97), the male pictured above.
He has arrived three days earlier than last year and is the first Osprey to be seen at Rutland Water this season.

I forgot to add the web site address:
http://www.ospreys.org.uk/AWOP/Update.htm

A Peterborough birder had an Osprey over a country park to the west of the city on Sunday 28th March.

More from the Rutland Water Osprey web site:

Monday 29 March: 03(97) is back ... and busy

Yesterday afternoon a male Osprey appeared back at one of the nest sites. Field Officer, John Wright had visited the site at 1 o'clock and found it still vacant.
But by 5 o'clock a male with a white ring on the left leg had taken up occupation. Both plumage and behaviour suggested that this was 03(97) and this was later confirmed when his ring number could be read. Late in the afternoon he flew off to the reservoir and returned soon afterwards with a fish, possibly a pike.
He had arrived three days earlier than last year and is the first Osprey to be seen at Rutland Water this season.

Early this morning, 03(97) was hard at work repairing the nest. He began by clearing out last year's nest lining, pieces of which could be seen flying through the air behind him as he scratched away with his talons. Next he brought in dry grass, swooping down to collect small bundles from the ground. From first light to mid-day, he also brought in 18 sticks of varying sizes, flying away a short distance to break them from trees or, occasionally to pick them up from the ground. The picture above was taken at about 8am and show one of the sticks arriving

Yesterday he also brought in a long piece of very frayed baler twine - a very hazardous choice that caused us a great deal of concern. However, the twine now appears to be dangling safely from the nest rim. You can see it in the picture above.

Defending the nest from other birds is also a priority at this stage. So far he has very effectively seen off four species who were interested in his sudden arrival - Common Buzzard, Red Kite, Carrion Crow and Magpie were all driven away very efficiently.

Lake District Ospreys web site

Here's the new address for the above web site:

http://www.ospreywatch.co.uk/

Thanks for the good news Chris. Your input to this site is much appreciated.

Ospreys back at Loch Garten

From the RSPB web site:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/birdwatching_Scotland/ospreysreturn.asp


Ospreys return to celebrate 50th anniversary at Loch Garten
A pair of ospreys has begun to settle in at the famous Loch Garten Osprey Centre site in the Scottish Highlands - where ospreys first returned to breed in Scotland in 1954.

A young female bird that spent much of last summer at the site, but did not breed, arrived back in Strathspey from West Africa late last week. She was joined at the weekend by a new male bird.

They have already started the process of osprey housekeeping by repairing the nest together. This week they have been mating and the male has started to deliver fish to the female at the nest - an important early sign that the pair is beginning to bond.

Richard Thaxton, the RSPB's Loch Garten Site Manager is delighted with the new arrivals: 'This is a great start to the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the return of ospreys to Scotland. We are very hopeful that this pair will settle down, lay eggs and rear young in this golden jubilee year.

Ospreys returned to the breed in the UK in 1954 after around 150 years of absence
The ospreys winter in West Africa, returning to Loch Garten to breed
The RSPB's Loch Garten Osprey Centre is open to the public from April to the end of August
'Sadly, for the last two seasons, though ospreys have been present throughout the summer months, eggs were not laid and no young were reared. This year we hope that we will get back on track with a settled breeding pair and that visitors will be able to celebrate with us by visiting Loch Garten and seeing osprey family life. If all goes well, eggs should be laid by mid-April.'

'Olive and Ollie' occupied the Loch Garten nest, in our Abernethy Forest nature reserve, for over ten years. In 2002, however, Ollie did not return from migration and is sadly presumed to have died. Olive spent the next two seasons near the site, but did not manage to settle with a new mate.

Richard Thaxton explained: 'It remains to be seen whether aged Olive herself comes back. We shall just have to wait and see, but for now we are thrilled to have these new birds establishing themselves at Loch Garten and hope everything works out.'

Duncan Orr-Ewing, spokesman for the Osprey 50th partnership said: 'There are now 160 breeding pairs of osprey that come to Scotland each year. This year, we have a series of events planned to mark this occasion and would encourage people to go and see why this bird is so special.

There are several viewing areas for people to see these spectacular fish-eating birds. They include Forestry Commission Scotland's sites at Aberfoyle in the Trossachs and Glentress Forest near Peebles and privately owned Kailzie Gardens; the RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre, near Aviemore; and the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of Lowes wildlife reserve near Dunkeld.'


Source: RSPB Scotland Headquarters

Be up again soon for the regular pilgramage, see you guys then!
I am waiting for the Glentress pair to return, its more local for regular visits!

FIVE Ospreys back at Rutland Water 3/4/04

From the Rutland Water Osprey web site:

Saturday April 3rd: Two more males arrived today - now there are five!

The second of last year's breeding males arrived back at his nest.this morning. 03(98) immediately began scratching away the nest lining and replacing it with fresh grass.

Also a green-ringed bird was present at 9:00 am. By 16:00 his ring number had also been read by John Wright. It is 06(00) who has been seen for short periods in the last two summers. This afternoon he competed with 08(97) for the Manton Bay nest and John then saw him displace a Canada Goose from the nest, knocking the unfortunate goose into the water. At 17:30, 06(00) was standing on the nest, looking a little tentative but definitely in charge.

There were great views of four male Ospreys displaying and interacting over the North Arm of the reservoir at 9 am. At 10 am visitors to the Anglian Water Visitor Centre were treated to a rare spectacle: 08(97) was flying low over the water of Lagoon 1 and then bathing at the water's edge just a couple of hundred yards away.

Great stuff going up to Rutland on the 8th this month for a few days hopefully see the Ospreys, anyone else going up there this weekend.

Anybody heard whether any of the birds from Bassenthwaite have arrived back yet?

Mal

http://www.ospreywatch.co.uk/index.htm

Mal Taylor said:

Anybody heard whether any of the birds from Bassenthwaite have arrived back yet?

Mal

Click to expand...

No news of any returned on web site: http://www.ospreywatch.co.uk/index.htm

The early bird gets his bird.

Many Scottish birds are back on territory including the Loch of the Lowes pair. Already this pair are "getting down to business". (Pic. taken on 04/04/04)

Steve G said:

Many Scottish birds are back on territory including the Loch of the Lowes pair. Already this pair are "getting down to business". (Pic. taken on 04/04/04)

Click to expand...

From the Forestry Commission web site: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/WebPressReleases/14F56437577090B680256E6A005133FC

5 APRIL 2004 NEWS RELEASE No: 6635


OSPREYS RETURN TO TWEED VALLEY

A pair of Ospreys have returned to the Tweed Valley and have started preparing to nest.

The same pair successfully reared two chicks last year and foresters are keeping their fingers crossed for another good breeding season.

This year is particularly important as many bird lovers are celebrating a number of events under the Ospreys' 50th banner because it is 50 years since Ospreys returned to breed in Scotland.

Sarah Oakley from Forestry Commission Scotland said:

"This is the great news that we've been waiting for. The Ospreys were first spotted today (Monday 5th April) and were busy getting cosy with one another which is a very promising sign. We are very excited of the prospect of watching the birds bring up their young through CCTV cameras in our public viewing centres."

As part of Ospreys' 50th, two viewing centres will be opening in late May to hopefully watch the chicks being reared. Both centres are near Peebles, one at Glentress Forest and the other at Kailzie Gardens.

Ospreys were wiped from the Scottish skies 88 years ago by relentless human persecution. The last nesting pair were recorded in 1916, but in 1954 ospreys came back. The Scottish population is now an impressive 160 breeding pairs.

There are several other viewing areas for people to see these spectacular fish eating birds of prey. They include the RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre near Aviemore, the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve near Dunkeld and another Forestry Commisison Scotland site at the David Marshall Lodge visitor centre in the Trossachs.

Ospreys' 50th is a partnership project between the Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Scottish Raptor Study Groups, Highland Foundation for Wildlife and the Tweed Valley Osprey Project."

Media enquiries: Sarah Oakley, Scottish Borders Forest District 01750 721 120 or Forestry Commission Scotland Press Office 0131 314 6508.

6 APRIL 2004 Forestry COMMISSION NEWS RELEASE No: 6643

OSPREYS RETURN TO TROSSACHS

A pair of Ospreys have returned to Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in the heart of Scotland's first National Park.

The pair were spotted today (Tuesday 6 April) by Forestry Commission Scotland rangers who are hopeful that the pair will begin nesting and raise chicks in front of CCTV cameras.

Later in May, viewing facilities at David Marshall Lodge, near Aberfoyle, will be opened so that the public can enjoy watching the birds on television. The Lodge has been named as one of the top six places to go in Scotland to watch wildlife as part of the Commission's Wild Woods campaign.

This year is also particularly important as many bird lovers are celebrating a number of events under the Ospreys' 50th banner because it is 50 years since Ospreys returned to breed in Scotland.

Stuart Chalmers of Forestry Commission Scotland said:

"We've been holding our breath for the last week or two in anticipation of the Ospreys coming back. We spotted the birds today and noticed that they were already starting to get broody so we are keeping our fingers crossed that the Ospreys lay eggs and we can see them raise a few chicks. Last year a pair of cheeky ravens tried to dismantle their nest as the Ospreys were building it - we hope that won't be repeated this year!

"Next month we will be inviting the public into David Marshall Lodge to watch the Ospreys and many different kinds of birds go about their daily lives. Remote CCTV cameras will beam live pictures back to the Lodge so that everyone can get a glimpse of wildlife in action."

Ospreys were wiped from the Scottish skies 88 years ago by relentless human persecution. The last nesting pair were recorded in 1916, but in 1954 ospreys came back. The Scottish population is now an impressive 160 breeding pairs.

There are several other viewing areas for people to see these spectacular fish eating birds of prey. They include the RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre near Aviemore, the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve near Dunkeld and another Forestry Commission Scotland site at the David Marshall Lodge visitor centre in the Trossachs.

Ospreys' 50th is a partnership project between the Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Scottish Raptor Study Groups, Highland Foundation for Wildlife and the Tweed Valley Osprey Project.

The Forestry Commission's Wild Woods campaign is highlighting 20 top wildlife viewing sites across Britain, with six of these being in Scotland. To find out more about all Scotland's creatures and the Wild Woods campaign, log on to www.forestry.gov.uk/wildwoods or phone 0845 367 3787 for a free leaflet.

Media enquiries: Stuart Chalmers, Cowal & Trossachs Forest District, 01877 382 383 or Forestry Commission Scotland Press Office 0131 314 6508.

e-mail: [email protected]

Rutland Water Osprey web site: Thursday 8th April

Today there are still only male birds present.
The two breeding males continue with the nest repairs away from the reserve but the non breeders are jockeying for position and territories. This makes them very visible around the reservoir but not at all predictable. Sometimes all the action is at the Fishponds and North Arm,see photos above and then at other times they can be seen well in the Manton Bay/South Arm areas.Tim Caldicott's great pictures on the right were taken from Tufted Duck Hide on the Lyndon Reserve at 8am on 4th April. We think that this is probably 08(97). Tim says that there were two birds present in the area at that time.

If you are coming to Rutland Water during the weekend you can find out the latest position by calling in at either of the two visitor centres at Egleton (open 9 to 5) or Lyndon (open 10 to 5). There are maps and directions to the reserve on the Rutland Water Nature Reserve website.

Rutland Water web site: Friday 9th April

At 15:30 the first female Osprey of the year was sighted. A very large bird, she has a black ring on the left leg with the characters 3A. This probably means that she is a Scottish bird ringed in 1999. She has spent time at both nest sites and has already attracted the enthusiastic attention of both last year's breeding males, 03(97) and 03(98). If she has bred previously in Scotalnd she may well leave soon but if not.... ? So the question is: "will she stay or will she go?"

Great news about the English Ospreys. Have never seen one here. Am familiar with the Australian Osprey. Check my photoes on the Gallery, many more to come.
Tanny

Latest News from Lake District Osprey web site - April 2004

A male Osprey arrived back at the nest at 10.14am on Saturday 10th April, after checking the nest out he went down to the lake for a wash and then sat on the fence post. Later he was back up in a favourite tree by the nest.

Female Osprey heads on up to Scotland

Chris Monk said:

Rutland Water web site: Friday 9th April

At 15:30 the first female Osprey of the year was sighted. A very large bird, she has a black ring on the left leg with the characters 3A. This probably means that she is a Scottish bird ringed in 1999. She has spent time at both nest sites and has already attracted the enthusiastic attention of both last year's breeding males, 03(97) and 03(98). If she has bred previously in Scotalnd she may well leave soon but if not.... ? So the question is: "will she stay or will she go?"

Click to expand...

Monday 12th April

She went! Last seen on Saturday 10th. The 5 males have continued establishing territory around the reservoir, with each of them seen carrying sticks to various nests.
The reserve has been very busy inded over the Easter weekend with most visitors managing to get a glimpse or, sometimes a good view of one of the Ospreys.

Last year, the breeding female 05(00) arrived on 15 April.