From the Loch of Lowes Blog:Osprey Update frome June 5th, 2017
After what seems like weeks of hot sunny days, the rain has come! The land could certainly do with a soaking and the level of the loch was
Our ospreys are doing very well despite the weather extremes. From daytime temperatures of 8 degrees to 27 degrees, baking sun to wind and rain, they continue to eat, squabble and sleep.
The eldest chick has even taken to copying its Mum (LF15) and tidy the nest!
Over the last few weeks there have been several intruding ospreys bothering our nesting pair. Usually the male will go up and join the female on the nest for added protection, but if the intruders persist it sometimes takes a concerted effort by the female to finally get rid of them.
Today we have seen 2 buzzards high over the loch but the ospreys took no notice. Then, 2 ospreys appeared and the male took off and dive bombed them until they moved away down the valley.
Our male (LM12) is bringing in plenty fish and treating visitors in the hides to shows of his fishing prowess! All going well, we would expect to see them fledge around the first/second week in July.
The poor Great Crested Grebes did not appreciate the heavy rain – their 3rd nest amongst the water lilies dispersed into the choppy water and they are now rebuilding – again.
Apologies for the lack of Squirrelcam today, we are working at restoring the live link.
Cherry
Sound on the Osprey Nestcam from June 12, 2017
A little while ago we wrote about the vandals attacking our microphone on the osprey nestcam. These were great tits who were pulling the fluffy covering off the microphone to use for nesting material.
Once again, we are experiencing problems from the sound/microphone area beside the osprey nest but this time we don’t think it can be blamed on the great tits.
As viewers of our cameras will have noted, the sound has stopped. We realise this is a loss to many people, as it is for our visitors in the visitor centre (no sound here either).
We are working hard at finding the cause and restoring the sound and can only ask for your understanding and patience. Should the fault turn out to be over at the tree we obviously cannot explore options while the ospreys are in residence.
Meanwhile, our two osprey chicks are doing very well. LM12 is bringing in regular fish (9am this morning being the last, as I write) and LF15 is doing a splendid job of keeping them as dry as possible in the rain showers and as cool as possible when the sun shines.
On the loch, the great crested grebes have managed to lay four eggs in their precarious nest. This is their 3rd or 4th nest because the winds keep making choppy waves and breaking it all up! We wish them luck for the coming weeks.
Cherry
Visitor Centre Assistant
Again, I am unable to view the cam from this site and actually was able to pull it up only once this season. Really miss them here!