ALYTH OSPREYS MARCH 2024 - FEBRUARY 2025

Alyth is located in Perth and Kinross on the east coast of Scotland.

The Osprey nest is at the Alyth SSEN Transmission sub station and is the tallest of all the nests on camera in the UK.

Background information:-

The Ospreys have nested at the site for many years since around 1990.

They were nesting on a nearby electricity tower, but due to a planned expansion of the site a decision was taken to resite the old nest to a specially constructed 25-metre nesting tower and two nearby 8.5 metre resting perches, which were erected in 2014. Advice was sought from Roy Dennis.

Since that first breeding season in 2014, a total of 17 osprey chicks have been observed to have fledged from the new site.

Due to the height of the tower, no ringing can take place.

The resident ospreys are called Harry and Flora (blue HK0), named by a local school in Alyth. All pupils were also given their own osprey soft toy as a thank you from the teams for getting involved and for showing such enthusiasm about the ospreys.

In 2023 Flora HK0 arrived on 30th March and Harry on 4th April. Together, they successfully raised three chicks to fledging.

Flora was last seen on 10th August and Harry 7th September. (The camera stream was offline from 13- 23 August) 

Thank you Richard for initial information which I’ve edited to include last year’s figures. 

Links

August 2023 to February 2024

Live stream - SSEN Transmission as provided by Wildlife Windows

RETURN DATES 2024

Flora (Blue HK0) 28 March 19.19

Harry 29 March 14.40

EGGS LAID

15/04/24 at 11.01 ———————-Hatched 21 or 22/05/24

18/04/23 at 09.04 (I think!) ————--Hatched 23/05/24

21/04/23 sometime in the morning. ————Hatched 26/05/24

SADLY, ONE CHICK DIED ON THE NEST ON 30/05/24

LIVE STREAM WAS DOWN FOR OVER TWO WEEKS FROM MAY 31.
WHEN IT RETURNED, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE CHICK REMAINING ON THE NEST.

The CHICK FLEDGED on 26/07/24

MIGRATION

Flora and the juvenile left at some point before the end of August when the live stream was down. (12-22 August)

However, I suspect it may have been the 21st August that the last one (or both) left as Harry was seen on the nest on the 22nd with a fish.

Harry was around for a few days after, seen on the 26th August and probably it was him on the 30th as well, which would have been his last sighting.

All photos and videos copyright SSEN Transmission Alyth and Wildlife Windows

Harry (left) and Flora HK0 at the beginning of season 2023.


July 2024 - (from left) Flora, chick, Harry.  


July 2024 - The chick and Flora.

  • That would be great Ailie thanks. 

  • Cam back on, just a quick clip, chat says this is Harry?

    youtu.be/9E_KUdiKeD0

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • Thanks Wendy.


    Yes, so far, just Harry seen on the nest for a short spell as per your clip.

    12.26 he arrived empty taloned.

    12.31 He waited but nobody came.


    12.34 He lifted his wings and glided off.


    ©️SSEN/Alyth.

  • Thx Glider and Wendy .. didn’t manage up on Wednesday had to take dog to vet .. Harry I think back on nest just after 5pm  .. looking but no one around been there for around 30 mins now 

  • 23 August

    Hope your dog is alright Ailie. Two hearts

    Harry I think back on nest just after 5pm  .. looking but no one around been there for around 30 mins now 

    It looks like Harry is just checking that Flora and youngster have gone. According to chat, he brought a flounder to the nest yesterday and waited. I wonder if that’s when you saw him Ailie?

    No Osprey activity on the nest so far today.

  • Harry made a couple of appearances in the afternoon.

    14.37 A juvenile starling was on the nest.


    14.43 It stayed for a few minutes 


    The starling noticed an incoming Harry


    and made a quick downwards exit.


    Hello Harry




    15.17 He stayed just over half an hour and then he left.

    16.28 Harry returned.


    16.31 He had a wee lie down.


    16.41


    16.48 Then he left.


    ©️SSEN/Alyth


    Last year Harry was here until September 7 but he had 3 chicks and waited until the last one had gone.

    This year is a lot different with just the one chick who seems to be gone already. We’lll see what tomorrow brings.

  • No Osprey sightings since Harry left the nest yesterday.

  • 25 August

    Still no Osprey sightings although the nest has had some visitors today.

    12.44 A juvenile starling was having a good rake around. It started on the twig sticking out from the bottom left of the nest.

    It moved closer to the nest


    then jumped inside it.


    It’s body could be seen moving around in between gaps in the area circled.


    12.47 It stayed for a few minutes then reappeared out of  the other side. (Bottom right)


    It scrambled up the nest then dipped down over the back.

    13.19 One of the crows then visited.


    13.23 It went down to the side of the nest as well.


    There must be some good stuff in there!


    14.08 The starling was back.


    15.00


    15.53 


    ©️SSEN/Alyth



  • 26 August

    05.51 Harry made a brief appearance on the nest this morning.


    He then flew up to the perch.


    Sorted a few feathers.


    Then he flew off downwards at speed.


    ©️SSEN/Alyth

  • 08.18 There was also a visiting yellowhammer



    08.52 a corvid


    11.00 a juvenile starling


    12.34 a corvid again


    14.07 a juvenile starling again with a friend


    ©️SSEN/Alyth