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I'm volunteering here on Operation Osprey for the week (it's a great idea: find out more on www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering), so here's my blog offering on the Henry and EJ 2007 saga.

It's a joy for me to see them both on a daily basis after missing them when I visited Operation Osprey in 2005. I can hardly believe I'm back as a 'bonafide' RSPB person!

Even though it's been sad news here this season, the pair are still around, and defending the nest for what everyone here hopes will be a successful 2008.

There was an exciting few minutes on Sunday when Henry defended the nest from an intruder. After some aerial activity, he stood in the centre of the nest, mantling his wings and looking very impressive. If he and EJ lost the nest this year, it would be very difficult to reclaim it on their return from Africa next March.

As well as the ospreys, I've already seen many other birds - including the beautiful siskin and of course the crestie - and red squirrels, roe deer, and several dragonflies on the new dragonfly boardwalk.

And I've had great fun talking to members of the public, who are so eager to see and hear about the ospreys, and to talk about their own local wildlife.

All in all, a fabulous week so far - and it's only Tuesday! Thank you to the RSPB for such a great opportunity, and to all the staff and volunteers at Operation Osprey.

Daphne Pearce, Operation Osprey Volunteer

If you want to specifically help the Loch Garten Osprey Team 2007, you might consider supporting the RSPB. You can do this online via the RSPB website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/join, if you add the code PR08, your membership will be credited to the Loch Garten team.

OK - so it isn't quite Mark Twain, but I am sure something similar would have been going through EJ's head on Saturday evening after the whole osprey team had declared that she had started her migration South - alas, we were wrong as she turned up on the nest bright and early at 6.30 this morning. Why had we come to the conclusion that she had left? On Saturday Henry arrives at the nest with a fish, there is no sign of EJ - infact, there was no sign of EJ all day, add the fact that it was Friday afternoon when she was last positively identified and we all thought she had gone - fortunately not, as her presence was very much required today.

At just after 12.30pm this afternoon both Henry and EJ suddenly appear from nowhere and start mantling on the nest, above them, two further ospreys - intruders again; add the two buzzards a little higher above those and we had quite a crowded sky for a few minutes. Between them our resident couple did manage to see off the rogue ospreys, the buzzards simply drifted over the top oblivious of the commotion below them. Could Henry have seen these two birds off by himself? Possibly, but the presence of EJ did make it a lot more of an easy task.

That in mind it wont be long before our female does decide to leave; under normal circumstances (chicks etc) our female would be heading in the direction of Africa around the first or second week of August, the absence of chicks will mean an earlier exit so don't be surprised if she is gone in the next few days.

Other news from the centre....... loads of red squirrels as usual, the juvenile great spotted woodpecker is keeping our visitors entertained and it is officially Xmas as our shop has started to sell Christmas cards!!!! Roll on the snow.

If you want to specifically help the Loch Garten Osprey Team 2007, you might consider supporting the RSPB. You can do this online via the RSPB website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/join, if you add the code PR08, your membership will be credited to the Loch Garten team.

 

Despite the very changeable (for that, read mainly wet) weather at Loch Garten everything is as it were on site, both birds are in or around the nest at periods throughout the day, Henry is still delivering fish and they are even mating - successfully too. The lack of chicks and series of unfortunate events hasn't broken the bond between our pair, infact; I think it has made it stronger.

The highlight of the past few weeks has been the regular intruder who has been visiting the site; on one occasion it actually landed on the nestcam post - standing above both Henry and EJ in a domineering manner - however it wasn't there long as our two birds decided to see it off.

During this pre-migration period the birds are not always present, this is natural, but you still have a very good chance of seeing EJ and Henry. One visitor worth a mention is young Aneurin Jackson, he came in with his father and patiently waited to see the birds - his patience was rewarded when Henry delivered a fish to EJ and he saw both birds flying from the nest.

Even when the birds are away there are still a great deal of things to see at the Osprey Centre so if you are in the area, please come along and visit. The 2007 highlights DVD is almost complete and you never know, if you are in the centre on the right day, you could be one of the first to see it being unveiled - believe me, it is a great story, pity it doesn't have a fairy tale ending - BUT, I’ll say again "that's nature"

As a final word for this diary entry the whole Osprey team would like to thank the Cracknells for their very kind and generous gift... The tea and biscuits will come in very handy - THANK YOU!

If you want to specifically help the Loch Garten Osprey Team 2007, you might consider supporting the RSPB. You can do this online via the RSPB website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/join, if you add the code PR08, your membership will be credited to the Loch Garten team.

I think not! Never a dull moment at the Osprey Centre. Despite the RIDICULOUS amount of rain we are getting, the Osprey Centre is still buzzing with activity, there are plenty of things to see here.

The young chaffinches are still growing, entertaining us all particularly at the gate. They land on the feeders and call and waggle their heads from side to side at their parents waiting for food to be deposited in their beaks, when all they have to do is simply reach down to get the food beneath their feet.

The red squirrels are growing quickly too, but still showing the playfulness of youth by chasing siblings round and round the tree trunks vying for a place on the peanut feeders, stamping and 'chuk chuk'ing as they go.

We've got a new addition to the wildlife family at the centre as well. A juvenile great spotted woodpecker is regularly visiting the peanuts now, seeing off any competition with a swift jab from its dagger-like beak, sticking out its long tongue at them as they fly off, (na na na na naaaa).

The bank voles and wood mice are still braving the elements and giving the mallards a run for their money as they steal all the best cereals of the day from under their beaks. A fine scene of 'duck and mouse' I must say.

But we can't forget about the ospreys. Henry is still providing for EJ, although his fishing efforts have somewhat lessened of late, with only a fish a day for EJ. We've had plenty of intruders to keep her busy during the long days up here though. In the last week there has been an intruder threatening to take the nest almost every day, particularly in the mornings just as we are opening. In these instances EJ is usually straight on the nest, mantling her wings and alarm calling at the intruding osprey, eventually seeing them off, whether they be male or female, with a short chase off into the sky. Henry often joins in the scrap as well, one occasion involved a dog fight with another male high up above the nest. They will continue to defend their nest until the time comes to migrate, perhaps that will be slightly earlier than they would have gone had they had chicks to look after, but in the meantime we still have two captivating birds of prey to look at from the centre. A joy to see.

The whole team here are very grateful to all our readers who are continuing to follow the antics of EJ and Henry this year and supporting and encouraging us. A special shout out to Chris and Mel who have visited several times now, a wonderful couple who we will hopefully see volunteering with us next year! To those of you who have also taken your support a step further, by joining on-line, we are particularly grateful. It is wonderful, thank you for joining us and supporting our work here in this way, by proxy, as it were. Many thanks indeed, we really appreciate it. 

If you want to specifically help the Loch Garten Osprey Team 2007, you might consider supporting the RSPB. You can do this online via the RSPB website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/join, if you add the code PR08, your membership will be credited to the Loch Garten team.