We're busy, busy, busy, right now, with our continued preparations, so in haste, just a wee up-date.
Whilst ospreys have been sighted at various places around UK, including in this area, we as yet have not had any sightings at Loch Garten.
A bird was seen flying over Insh Marshes RSPB reserve last Thursday, another seen near Aviemore on Friday and another (or the same one?) at the Kessock bridge at Inverness on Friday too. These early birds just might be ospreys from much further north, heading up to Scandinavia, maybe. Who knows?
Anyway our preparations continue. We hope to have the the live-streaming camera on the web very soon, so hopefully you'll be able to witness the moment we first get a bird - if you happen to be watching at the time! Will it be EJ?
Though in days to come, you will hopefully see a bird arrive, please remember we do not open to visitors until Wednesday 1st April. Thanks.
Meantime, compared to last weeks glorious weather, it has turned driech this week, but it would seem that this hasn't stopped ospreys at least, from arriving in Highland. Curlews, oystercatchers and lapwings are back in farm & croft fields. Song thrushes, siskins and pied wagtails are back too, not true migrants as such, but birds that leave this area in winter and re-appear about now. Nice to see them back. The hot spell last week, brought bumble bees out up here too, heralding the winter's passing, surely.
It'll snow now I've said that! More anon.
Richard Thaxton - Loch Garten site manager