No, don't panic! All's well on the technical front (fingers crossed), but the interrupted viewing to which I refer is the absence of our ospreys from the nest for much of the day, meaning you will not have seen much of them. I'm afraid that's how it gets at this stage in the season when the birds have fledged and spend increasing amounts of time perched in trees in the vicinity of the nest but not in or on the nest itself.
We have had ospreys on site all day today, but we have struggled a bit to see them, as they have chosen to perch in trees behind the nest, 200-300 metres from the Osprey Centre itself. Virtually all our visitors today to the Centre, will have seen them though, through our telescopes, but you, our virtual visiting audience will not have. Sorry, but we cannot do much about that. Changing cables back and forth to put one then another camera on the live-streaming system , would I'm afraid be a bit of a faff, and we'd end up doing nothing else, as they have been tree-hopping all day, in one tree one minute seen from one camera, then in another tree moments later, seen from another camera.
We have been very busy with visitors today enjoying the ospreys of course, but also thrilling at our red squirrels too, especially children, chuckling at the antics of these, one of our rarer mammals in UK, yet seen so well here at Loch Garten, given their confiding nature. There are usually 4-6 squirrels on view somewhere here at any one time. The feeders have proved poular too, with juvenile great spotted woodpeckers now a fixture, for all to see. Though not rare, and everyone knows of the bird, if only from cartoons, but they are not a bird that it is easy to see well. Here at the Osprey Centre they feed within 3m from the Centre windows, and when seen at that distance, and through a 'scope, they prove to be a complete WOW for visitors.
Some of you have noticed the juvenile redstarts hopping about in the empty osprey nest. They are taking advantage of the ospreys' absence to forage there for flies and other invertebrates, attracted by fish remains. I mentioned previously in answer to a Q about what happens to the nest, that we do remove material from time to time, often in Spring before the ospreys arrive back. When we have done this, we have discovered that the nest is full of flies, finding a warm place to over-winter, owing to the heat generated by the well-fertilised compacted compost that the nest platform becomes by the end of the season.
Years ago, we examined the invertebrate content of the osprey nest and a nationally rare beetle was discovered living in the nest. It has been found in the nests of Common Buzzard ans Eurasian Sparrowhawk too, but in very few other places. It's not a beetle that lives on carrion, like fish bits,as you might expect, but on those bits of feather sheaths that you will perhaps have seen blowing around the nest when the young ospreys are on the nest busy preening their new feathers, it's the sheath material through which the feathers grow - the equivalent of bird dandruff I guess!?
So, we have rare birds, supporting rare beetles. A couple of flies have been found here too, that bear the site's name, with the specific parts of the name being gartensii and abernethii. It's not just all about ospreys here, there's much more besides.
STOP PRESS: Not just redstarts, but crested tits seen on the osprey nest this morning (28th July) at 09.00hrs. Perhaps we should start to keep an osprey nest species list? - Richard
Richad, you're a fount of knowledge! It's very interesting to know that 'our' birds attract rare beetles and flies - proof that nature is all about interaction. By the way, got my copy of the RSPB mag today. Are you the 'one in the middle' in the picture of 3 guys in an osprey nest?
REPLY: No, though I was part of the re-build team. The photo shows two tree surgeons and my colleague Stewart Taylor, my predecessor as Loch Garten site manager, (warden, as it was in those days). Stewart still works here as part of the wider Abernethy staff team. We carried out the re-build in mid March that year (1986), in an act of faith, in the hope that the birds would return and approve of our efforts and continue to nest in a tree that from then on, was a mere shadow of its former self. Once completed, we retreated and crossed our fingers. The birds returned and took up residence straight away, though we had a squabbling threesome that year and eggs were broken by rival birds fighting on the nest. Though this was disappointing, the continuity of use at the nest site was what was important. They have now used the re-built tree/nest ever since, for the past 23 years. - Richard
Richard thanks for both of the updates today. I like everyone else am not looking forward to their departure but go they must, nature will have its way. Please, please, please can you tell us though when we will get the details about the transmitters and how we can upload to Google Earth, or is this not going to happen this year?
REPLY: Yes, when we have news from the web-team, we'll let you know. - Richard
Birds I can love - flies no!! Thanks again Richard. I think I asked this before but do you let us know about google earth a nd which buttons to press to track the girls?? Is your halo still intact. ::)))))
Thanks for the update Richard. I did notice that they were not on the nest quite a bit, but at the moment they are toing and froing. Thats the wonder of nature. You see them growing up but then its time to go and find pastures new. Still, there is always next year. Thanks again to all the team.
Last year I set up a spreadsheet of guesses for migration dates. I thought I'd try it again this year. I've looked back to last year's blog and EJ was last seen on 14th August. OVS forgot his fatherly duties and headed off on 15th. Nethy departed on 17th, and Deshar set off on 19th. All gone within 5 days!!!
It is quite sad to think that this year's family will be off very soon, though hopefully not all quite so close together.
I'll try to put the spreadsheet online so that bloggers can keep an eye on it.
Thanks for that Richard. A very interesting and informative blog as usual. It just shows that the nest supports lots of other creatures apart from the ospreys. As with the others I am looking forward to tracking Rothes and Mallachie as I did with Nethy and Garten last year. Roy Dennis also has a number of satellite tagged ospreys notably Beatrice, Nimrod and Morven together with 3 newly tagged birds this year including Red 8T who has history at LG.
THAT was interesting Richard! Thanks for keeping us occupied, when the nest is empty.
19.08 How wrong was I, two "girls" on the nest right now :-)
19.16 Empty nest again...
thanks for the info Richard. great to know that the nest is an all year round habitat for all creatures as well as the ospreys. it was interesting veiwing yesterday watching the smaller birds flitting about getting their fill off the nest. have not been able to watch webcam until this evening but have managed to see rothes and mallachie (think) tussling over a fish and then caught a quick glimpse of all three on the nest. guess its just going to be pure luck that we will be watching at just the right time!
Sorry I meant Nethy and Deshar. I am obsessed with Garten. Senior moment I guess.
Thanks Richard for the very informative blog interesting to know that even when the ospreys have gone other lives take over in their nest. Have only managed to see one of the girls today but was unable to identify her at the time but suspect it was Garten. I am still not sure whether we need to post osprey talk here or on the Loch Garten osprey site as I have received an email telling me I should be doing that. Have carried on here as everyone else seems to be. I am getting more and more confused by the minute.
19.41
I know what you mean Richard with regards to the Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. I have set up a bird feeding station right outside my study window (mistake!!). The peanut feeder is literally 12 inches from the window and I frequently have mum, dad and young woodpeckers coming to feed. This year we have also had siskins and bramblings, quite rare for the edge of Romney Marsh. Why have I made a mistake? I spend (waste, as my husband keeps saying!) so much time trying to type and then getting my binoculars out to get a closer look, not that they can get any closer!!!
I too will be sad when our birds go, but look forward to tracking them online. Thanks for all you do Richard, and the team.
Richard, I can't believe how emotional I felt reading your earlier Blog regarding who will leave, when and in what order. I will be so sad to see these beautiful girls leave us and keep everything crossed for a safe journey to Africa and back 'home' next spring. The chicks at Rutland Water are fledging but couldn't see any of them from the Manton Bay hide yesterday. We are in Scotland in October and will def be visiting for a good look round. Thank you so much for all the information you give out, not just regarding our girls but other wildlife and inhabitants too. Have to admit it, LG has bred one beautiful family this year. Hope EJ and Odin return next year to breed together.
REPLY: Please to hear that you'll be visiting the area in October, but just to be clear the Osprey Centre will close on Sunday 6th September. However the Loch Garten reserve area (as part of the Abernethy Reserve) has open access at all times, it's only the Osprey Centre facilities that close. - Richard
I have just logged in after being away on holiday for a week, and everything has changed. All have fledged, and the site has changed - WOW. Looking very good.
And you have answered my question as to what I could just about make out on the empty nest, pecking away - juvenile redstarts.