Blogs

What a relief! All three chicks from this year's nest appear to have left Glaslyn for Africa along with their parents, all safe and sound.

Local school children were asked to suggest names for the fledglings, and project staff chose 'Glaslyn, Glesni and Gwenlli' suggested by Euon Parry, from Ysgol Rhos Gadfan. A further six schools enjoyed visits from project staff who gave talks about ospreys and the other wildlife found in the area. Following on from this, 200 school children visited the site to see the ospreys in the flesh, and to join in with the activities on offer.

The team of staff and forty volunteers welcomed over 30,000 visitors to the site, all of who enjoyed great views of these fascinating fish eating raptors, and heard about their ecology and behaviour during the regular talks given in the centre.

The following quote sums up the visitor experience nicely:

'We made two visits to the Osprey Project at Glaslyn … and got some great views of a male on his favourite tree …The volunteers were enthusiastic and very engaging! My kids enjoyed seeing the tiny swallows in the hide nest too! And I thought the treasure hunt was a great idea for bored kids waiting to spot an osprey!'

The project officer is now taking a well-earned rest for a couple of months, before starting back again in January to make further improvements to the site, with new trails and activities for visitors. Take a peek at the Glaslyn osprey blog to see what else has happened this year.

Looking forward to seeing you all in 2010!

.....and we've packed away our telescopes, as the Lake District ospreys that have kept us entertained over summer, have now left us.

The Lakes Osprey Project finished on 31 August. And, for the first time during the project, we had no ospreys to show anyone, which goes to show our project timings are spot on!

This year, the adult pair raised three chicks, although sadly, one was lost the day after its first flight. By now, the other two should be heading for African skies and we look forward to welcoming them back in a couple of years.

If you want to know more about what you missed this year, take a peek at the Lake District Osprey Project blog - you'll also find loads of ace photos from the project on there.

We look forward to seeing you, and the ospreys, in 2010 - though we're not too sure the fish will be so thrilled!

With cameras set up in the peregrine nestbox at Fort Dunlop, we all had high hopes of witnessing the female peregrine laying eggs, hatching chicks and to see those chicks fledge.....

Unfortunately, it was not to be for 2009 as our peregrine had other ideas, and she abandoned her nest.
 
However, we still had a brilliant summer in Birmingham city centre, and thanks to everybody who came out to talk to us about wildlife in the city, signed pledges to stamp out illegal persecution of birds of prey and to those who (hopefully!) went away with some ideas for what they can do to help wildlife in their gardens.

Thanks, also, to all the walkers who joined us on our Wednesday lunchtime wanders - we hope to start those up again next year, as we hope that next year we'll have a peregrine family to show you!

We breath a sigh of relief at yet another successful season at Malham Cove - four peregrine chicks in the skies, and a host of special moments.

But, at the same time, there is sadness that we won't be in the stunning surroundings of the Cove talking to visitors, or seeing the owls, redstarts, flycatchers, wheatears and, of course, peregrines that have kept us company since Easter.

We had a rather wet end to the project, and mice have nibbled much of the equipment, but 20,000 visitors have enjoyed it all the same!

So, as we say goodbye to Malham Peregrines 2009, we will be keeping an eye on the birds through winter, and look forward to welcoming you all back in 2010.

It's time for us to leave the stars of the Cardiff Peregrines Date with Nature event. Although our pair failed to raise any chicks this year, that didn't stop them entertaining the crowds at City Hall Lawn and National Museum Cardiff with their aerial chases and general awe-inspiring feats.

Rebecca Clews, People Engagement Manager in Wales, takes up the story;

'14,000 visitors met with Sarah and Craig (our People Engagement Officers) who happily showed off the peregrines with the super duper pan and tilt camera set up by staff at the museum – it even had a screen wiper to beat the worst of this summers' elements!

Sarah and Craig enjoyed the amazed looks they got from visitors as they told them of the speeds these raptors can reach when giving chase to their prey, and also of the size difference between male and female birds using the 'Peregrine Prop' – a drinks bottle filled with water up to the weight of an average adult bird. It was great to see the look on the faces of young and old alike as they imagined that weight descending on them at over 100mph!

Fun for all

The staff and volunteer team enjoyed creating and performing their pantomime 'Fantastic Falcon Detectives' to an audience that booed and cheered in all the right places, while also learning about our Bird of Prey Campaign.

Our Springwatch weekend was a great success, with lots of fun had making peregrine masks to take home. Equally enjoyable were the one-hour adaptation workshops, held in the Science and Education Room of the museum, where participants played games to learn the different adaptations animals have for surviving in specific places. There was even a chance to have a go at designing their very own creature.

We hope to see you next year, along with some chicks - keep those fingers crossed!'

Our date in the New Forest came to an end on the August Bank Holiday weekend. And it rounding off our busiest year since the project began in 2007, with a fantastic 22,000 visitors watching the goshawk and hobby nestcams at the Forestry Commission's New Forest Reptile Centre.

The non-stop action kicked-off in April with the surprise return of an old friend. An ex-captive female goshawk gone wild, who first appeared in 2007, made her spectacular return to our screens this year.

Two chicks hatched mid-May amidst heavy storms and high winds, knocking the female goshawk head over heels out of the nest! Sadly, the third chick only survived the first 24 hours and disappeared from the nest in bad weather.

The remaining chicks went from strength to strength, both successfully fledging late June, having proven their hunting skills by displaying their first 'catch' in front of the camera. The male goshawk was clearly a great provider for his family.

With summer progressing a-pace, next up on the webcam were the charismatic hobby pair. Two eggs were laid mid-June with one chick successfully hatching on 15 July. Rapid growth from downy chick to inquisitive juvenile in just over a month, puts this well-fed youngster in good stead for its epic trip to Africa, where it will spend winter.
 
Some 6,650 Bird of Prey Campaign pledges were signed over the season to help support these amazing raptors, and the New Forest team is looking forward to more incredible images next year, at what is a privileged look at the secret lives of our most elusive birds of prey.

It's been a wet summer all across Scotland, but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of John McGruther, who's been out and about in Glasgow's Pollok Park since June.

Meeting loads of people in the park's visitor centre, John has had great fun giving everyone a special insight into the lives of the swallow families that nested nearby.

In August, John ran a very popular stall at the Pollok Family Fun Day, and also attended the Glasgow Show, where the focus was on another of our summer migrants - swifts.

Thanks to everyone who helped us raise an impressive £600 over three months by buying a pin badge, the proceeds of which will go to fund our projects around Scotland, and the world.

As we say goodbye to swallows flying off to Africa this month, we thank them for our brief date, and look forward to renewing our acquaintance with them next year!

This weekend saw many of our Date with Nature projects come to an end. However, our date with the birds of Ironbridge must be one of the few where there really was a bird to suit all tastes!

Sharon Boardman, Midland Region People Engagement Officer, tells us more:

'We've had a great season this year at Ironbridge - have met hundreds of people and chatted to them about not only the wildlife at the gorge, but also the history of the famous and historical Iron bridge.

Since this date with nature project began, we have been lucky to see a huge range of species, including; glossy black-capped marsh tits, and small, untidy willow tits, the very attractive but hard to see wood warbler, as well as nuthatches. We've been visited by bright pinkish-red breasted bullfinches, flocks of highly-coloured and sociable goldfinches, been dazzled by the aerial antics of swifts, swallows and house martins, plus been lucky enough to catch sight of the unmistakable bright blue and orange flash of the local kingfishers. For anyone that loves birds of prey, we saw peregrines, sparrowhawks, and buzzards gliding and soaring above our viewpoint, and heard the repetitive song of a song thrush,... plus saw a few grey squirrels!

We are looking to be back at this great site next year - and we hope you will join us!'