Caerlaverock news
first egg hatches at around 1pm today
We have an osprey chick on the nest. The first egg hatched out at around 1pm today. The male returned at 3.10pm with a fish and she started to feed the chick, sadly with her back to the camera. I will try to get some photos and post them on this diary pa
30 May 2013
Still 2 eggs this morning - viewing time increased till 8pm
Phoot from this morning showing our male osprey 08 and the 2 eggs in the nest. Yet more sticks brought in by both birds this morning and arranged around the edge of the nest, including a particularly awkward piece of bark. The female also seemed restless
30 May 2013
Tuesday 28th May
Still awaiting Osprey hatching (viewed via the CCTV link), but much restless activity from the adults, with plenty of new material brought to the nest. Barn Owls still on two chicks, three eggs to go. Two Little Stints dropped onto The Folly Pond briefly
28 May 2013
Restless birds on the nest
There has been a lot of coming and going by the male this morning bringing in more sticks, pieces of bark and clumps of rushes. The bark has been neatly arranged by the female along one side and she has stuck the large clods of juncus rushes at the front
28 May 2013
May 27th 2013
A cold, wet and windy day so far. Paerhaps this will push in a migrating skua or two as the spring tide rises towards 2.30pm? Otherwise not a great deal to report, with precious little singing or displaying in the attrocious conditions. Things very much a
27 May 2013
Sightings 26th May 2013
Our Barn Owls, visible on CCTV at the centre have hatched the first of their 5 eggs, similarly we anticipate the CCTV'd Ospreys to begin hatching any time now, maybe today, though no sign of a chick at time of writing. Elsewhere the reserve is fairly qui
26 May 2013
All well on the nest despite a sleet shower
All, is well on the osprey nest today, however the chilly NW wind brought a sharp sleet shower just before lunchtime. The male has broght in a fish for the female and more sticks and is taking a turn at sitting on the eggs as I write. On Monday evening
23 May 2013
Reserve update
It looks like the barnacle geese have finally left us at Caerlaverock with none seen from the tower since the 7th of May. There were 800 around on Sunday the 5th and 40 on Monday the 6th. However most of the population is still on the Solway, mainly at th
22 May 2013
Building up the nest in the sun
There has been quite a bit of activity this morning on the osprey nest. Both birds have been taking turns in sitting and in bringing in more sticks. At one point the male brought in a huge stick which they had to move together to the side of the nest, eac
21 May 2013
Latest Sightings
Today we saw two new spring arrivals; A Spotted Flycatcher was first heard on the Avenue and later relocated on the Back Bank on The Meadow. Last year this species bred on the reserve but usually we only tend to get passage birds. A Common Sandpiper was a
19 May 2013
Fish for lunch
For most of the morning our female osprey was sitting on the nest. She started calling to her mate just after 1pm then he came in at 1.20pm with a fish for her which she duly flew off with to scoff. He then took over on the nest till she returned. There i
16 May 2013
Sunshine at last on the nest
Today has been sunny but there is still a chilly wind from the west which has been ruffling the feathers of the birds on the nest. We saw the male bird come in this morning with a fish for his mate which she took off to eat as usual and he took his turn
14 May 2013
Latest Sightings
A quiet start to the morning in terms of wildfowl but there are good numbers of passerines throughout the reserve. Spring Migrants & Passerines Blackcap Sedge Warbler Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Common Whitethroat Swallow House Martin Sand Martin Wheate
14 May 2013
All going well at the nest
This morning the male osprey arrived at about 10.20am with a fish for his mate which she took off him and flew to her favourite tree nearby to eat. She was back at 10.40 with a stick and took over on the nest. He came in a couple of times with a bit of m
10 May 2013
Temperature drop
After the glorious weather yesterday with sunshine and 23 degrees C, today it is struggling above 12 degrees with a blustery Easterly wind and showers. The ospreys have to endure a wide variety of weather conditions in Scotland in springtime. The female o
8 May 2013