I was pleased to see that both JD our Wigtown Bay 2011 chick and H/D his mum were still around yesterday, and hadn't migrated yet. I assume EP our adult male is still here somewhere too. They had all been rather elusive recently, but when I came into the Wigtown Bay Visitor Centre at 3.30pm, JD was happily munching on a flat fish that the visitors said an adult had brought in. He was sitting in the nest, then flew with the fish to a perch above the nest, then to a nearby dead tree in sight of the camera. I was busy watching him, when I heard an osprey calling close to the microphone on the nest, I returned the camera to the perches above the nest and there was H/D. She was calling repeatedly, almost a full role reversal of her begging for food from her chick, JD, who had no intention of sharing! Nice to see her still around, she was last seen on Saturday, and I had wondered if she was still here.
Hi Goldfinch, I don't have the daates for H/D leaving in front of me, but yes I think she has a habbit of staying around longer than other females. I'll check the dates for you and post them on here.
The agreement with the Council was for the RSPB to continue to use the Wigtown Bay Visitor Centre throughout September, and this has now been extended throughout October due to the local school's fortnight holiday. I am the only member of paid staff now though, Kelly was only employed for the Summer. Hopefully my few keen volunteers will continue staff the centre too.
I am already working on downloading the little CCTV recordings we have from this Summer and edditing them, so hopefully they will be showing during the Book Festival. The RSPB would like a precence at the Book festival this year, so I will be opening and staffing the centre both weekends, and during the week (hopefully witgh the help of the volubnteers!).
Are you local to Wigtown yourself? Have I met you in the centre? (I don't remember seeing any Goldfinches flying around!) Would you be interested in volunteering weith the project? If so come and see me sometime, I'm usually in the Visitor Centre or the RSPB Office in Machars Action, or reply on here.
Look forward to meeting you soon.
Ian Brown
Good to read that JD and Mum were still around - but they ought to set off soon. Is H/D habitually a late leaver?
Will the Osprey Room be open during the Book Festival?
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!