Tweed Valley Osprey Diary 24th July

Main Nest

The first flight for one of the chicks took place today. When the centres opened this morning only one chick sat in the nest, all alone. We think it was the male chick and he seems reluctant to take to the skies. After about twenty minutes the female chick returned followed by the return of the female adult.

The female adult and the female chick did not stay around too long and left the nest for most of the day leaving a forlorn looking little brother at the nest. Occasionally he would do a bit of wing stretching and even lifted off by a few centimetres but never made it to an adventurous first flight away from the nest.

Maybe tomorrow he will make a serious attempt.

The Back up Nest

All three chicks were still there this morning and they are looking like they are ready to go. They were preening their plumage and wing stretching and we hope that the recorded footage taken today may reveal the first flight of these youngsters.

Windows on Wildlife

The swallows at Glentress have moved onto another nest and have begun to line it with feathers in readiness for laying again for a second brood. We have moved the camera across so that this can now be watched live.

The live feeding station cameras are revealing beautiful close ups of a juvenile great spotted woodpecker which is feeding on the peanuts. The birdseed feeders were resplendent with finches today, species such as goldfinches, greenfinches, chaffinches, blue tits and great tits could all be seen in great close up detail.

All of these species can be seen outside the osprey centre in Kailzie as well at the feeding station, which can be viewed from the centre. Nuthatches are a welcome addition to the birds feeding at Kailzie as well.

The latest highlights DVD from a house sparrow nest can be seen at both of the centres.

Coming soon there will be a DVD of the small mammals that live around Glentress Osprey Watch, as we have held some live mammal trapping events and filmed the mammals that we caught. So far we have filmed bank voles, wood mice, and a short tailed field vole.�