Loch of the Lowes (Scotland) Osprey

[Kukelke]

At this time of year our main topic of discussion is Ospreys, with special attention to arguably the most well known Osprey in the UK, affectionately known to her followers as ”Lady” or ”Lady of the Loch”. She returned at 6:45am on 31st March 2014, amazingly this will be her 24th consecutive year nesting at Loch Of The Lowes, near Dunkeld, Scotland, Lady has established herself as the oldest known Osprey currently breeding in the UK.

http://ladyoftheloch.co.uk/

We are delighted that our beloved veteran female osprey know by many as “Lady” has arrived home to her nest. She breezed in at 6.49am and sat confidently on her usual nest, before realising that her partner and his rival female were on flat top tree. She then took off and proceeded to dive bomb them both and see the rival female off in no uncertain terms!

Since then the male has been dancing ( courtship flight) for her and they have mated many times – though he has as yet to bring her a fish!

http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org. ... 1st-march/

What a Lady she indeed is. In her 24th breeding season, only seconds after she arrived home from an exhausting migration, fending off a rival as if it was nothing. If you ask me she deserves to be called not just the Lady, but the Iron Lady of the Lochs.

24th breeding season means she is at least 27 years old, an exceptional age for a wild osprey. To be honest I feared we would never see her again after she flew off her nest last year to migrate to Africa for the winter, as I have feared every year the last couple of years, and every time she just keeps beating the odds. May she raise another healthy clutch this year too. Fingers crossed.

[Malewitsch]

She’s Home! 31st March
Posted on March 31, 2014 by rangeremma
©Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/

The Lady & Laddie



©Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... -of-lowes/

[macdoum]

Isn't it incredible ? I could hardly believe my eys when I switched on a moment ago WOW


Ferenz Todays blog also shows the photos of her iris to have positive proof;
from your link in FAQs
http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org. ... 1st-march/

[macdoum]

Scottish Wildlive Trust

Scottish Wildlife Trust
News: Trust welcomes back famous female osprey to Lowes

31st March 2014

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is delighted to announce the return of the resident female osprey at Loch of the Lowes, near Dunkeld.

The female osprey, known affectionately by many as ‘Lady’, estimated to be in her late 20s, has been returning to the reserve for the past 24 years and could be the oldest breeding osprey in the UK.

She returned at 6.49 am this morning (Monday 31 March), and was confirmed as the famous female using close-up images of her plumage and eye markings.

The male breeding osprey returned on Friday 21 March and they have already begun their courtship, with attention now turning to whether the pair will produce any chicks this season.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Perthshire Ranger, Emma Rawling, said: “Everyone at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre is thrilled that our resident osprey has returned.

“She is a very old bird and for her to undertake another successful migration is testament to just how special she is. However, it does demonstrate the conservation success story of the species as a whole.

“To think that ospreys were extinct just over a century ago really brings home how accomplished the concerted effort of conservation has been in that time.

“The questions now are whether she will breed, if any eggs will hatch and whether any chicks fledge.

“People should tune-in to the Ospreycam and read the blog in order to keep up-to-date with all the news here at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre."

We are all asking ourselves the same questions. Fingers crossed for a successful season.

[macdoum]

STV News;

http://news.stv.tv/tayside/269978-lady- ... erthshire/

[Malewitsch]

Osprey Diary 31st March

Posted on March 31, 2014 by rangeremma

Q: Can you show us how you are able to identify Lady from her markings,

How far back do you have pictures that you can use and what makes her different?

A: A great question. We have detailed records both photographs and drawings, going right back to the early 1990’s of this birds plumage markings etc. It was only about 10 years ago we got HD cameras and the ability to zoom in to the level of detail to allow us to use iris recognition as a form of ID. Her distinguishing features, (apart from her behaviour!) are: A ‘concord’ shape of dark feathers on the back of her head; a very dark chest band with a distinctive ‘upper circle’ of dots; a mark in her right iris in the shape of a lightning bolt on the lower edge, and in her left eye, a series of clear dots on the lower right. Here are some photo’s of these taken this morning :

©Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/

http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... -of-lowes/

[snApe1118]

That's incredible.

With words I can not describe what I felt when I saw it.

I'm moved to tears.

[macdoum]

Tweet by Emma today 7th April; https://twitter.com/Wildlife__Pix/statu ... 44/photo/1

[macdoum]

Blog by Emma ;

Osprey Diary 7th April

Posted on April 7, 2014 by rangeremma
All is well with our ospreys at their usual nest today- so far no high drama. Not too far way though, an interesting visitor dropped in: Yellow HA a young satellite tracked bird from Roy Dennis’s Highland Foundation for Wildlife. This bird is on migration home to Speyside, and dropped in to rest and relax on a part of our reserve - Craiglush Loch. Interestingly our pair showed no signs of agitation at all – proving they don’t mind sharing fishing

©Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/

[Lizzzy]

There is always a bird singing in a loud voice near the osprey nest, especially in the morning. Does anybody know what bird it is? It is a noisy neighbour

[macdoum]

Lady just laid her 1st egg.

[Malewitsch]

Osprey Egg Laid by Moonlight 13th April
Posted on April 13, 2014 by rangeremma

Wonderful news here at Loch of the Lowes with out first Osprey egg of the 2014 breeding season laid overnight. At around 12.30 last night our nightwatch staff noticed classic egg laying behaviour- the bird lying low and panting, and at 12.47 the female stood up to reveal her new egg. It is just as well the birds have built such a deep , snug cup in the centre of the nest as it was so windy last night, the whole nest tree was rocking.

Since it was laid, the egg has been carefully tended and both birds have taken a turn incubating. The male is particularly keen to have a go- just now he pushed the female right off , insisting it was his turn- this is a fantastic sign that he is bonding with the egg and his instincts to provide and care for it are fully aroused, which bodes well for the future.

What a fantastic treat to celebrate SWT’s 50th anniversary this weekend!!!

©Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/

[Malewitsch]

Breeding Lady changes with incomming Laddie








©Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... h-of-lowes

[macdoum]

Blog from Lowes 15th April 2014

A Peaceful Day on the osprey nest -mostly! 15th April

Posted on April 15, 2014 by rangeremma

It has been a mostly peaceful day on our Loch of the Lowes osprey nest today, thank goodness, so we can all get over the excitement of the last few days! There has been much sharing of incubation duties between the male and female, and no fewer than four fish deliveries to the nest today. There was some aerial action this morning when the male gave chase to some carrion crows who dive bombed the nest- a standard tactic that they use to trick adult birds into leaving tasty eggs unprotected. There was also one intruder osprey around this afternoon briefly, but no serious aggression.

Here’s a stunning photo of one of our Ospreys at Loch of the Lowes by Phil Hannah- copyright.Osprey at Loch of the Lowes by Phil Hannah- copyright.

You will notice the webcams are back up again- techno gremlins successfully banished again- thanks to Michael our IT officer and Stuart from Scottish Communications.

Lastly, thank you to everyone who has phoned, emailed and tweeted us with support for our wonderful volunteer and staff team who did such a great job protecting the birds on Sunday during the disturbance incident. Its is a timely reminder to everyone this Easter to remember all birds and their nests are legally protected, and to keep a safe respectful distance in order not to cause disturbance, and allow the birds we love to breed in peace.

Ranger

Photo,as usual did not follow. I still don't know how.
Perhaps 2nd egg tonight..

©Scottish Wildlife Trust

[Lizzzy]

Bingo! Lady laid her 70th egg.

[Malewitsch]

Hi Lizzzy >> some pics from yesterday

Posted by Heron77 on 16 Apr 2014 2:46 AM

http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/places ... =27#855765




© Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... -of-lowes/

Osprey Diary 16th April - Posted on April 16, 2014 by rangeremma

What a great way to celebrate our 50th birthday- with the 70th osprey egg! All is well on the osprey nest today after our female laid her second egg at around 2am this morning. Alas I missed it as I had finally gone home to get some sleep, but I got a very excited phone call from our Nightwatch team Ainoa and Kirstin to tell me the good news in the early hours. The centre has been buzzing with visitors today come to see the happy couple on their nest. Here are some lovely photos from our HD nest camera:

The Happy couple with their two eggs- copyright SWT

©Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/

[Lizzzy]

Hi Ferenz,

Thank you for the great pics of the eggs. They look like coloured easter eggs and they are so beautiful.

[macdoum]

Lady's nest was divebombed today but her mate known to some as Newman was there on the second;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9mK74tt ... youtu.be&a

Video by The Wildlife Vllage

©Scottish Wildlife Trust

[macdoum]

3 eggs confirmed by photo by Emma Ranger

[macdoum]

Wildlife Blog 23rd April

Osprey Diary 23rd April
Posted on April 23, 2014 by rangeremma
7
Our female osprey never ceases to amaze and surprise us- this morning she was off the nest and out of sight for over five hours which is highly unusual for her. Luckily the male stuck to his incubation duties like glue and held the fort until her return- what a wee star!

©Scottish Wildlife Trust