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.
HK0, Flora, returned this evening about 1719, it's been a busy day for returnees.
Richard B
Great to see her again, a couple of days earlier than last year. Thanks Richard.
It has been a fantastic day for returnees! Let's hope Harry isn't too far behind! Thank you, Richard
So many back today have temporarily lost count !
Richard G B said:HK0, Flora, returned this evening about 1719, it's been a busy day for returnees.
Thank you for having your finger on so many pulses today, RICHARD
I should have some footage lurking here but am too exhausted to cope at the mo - what you have seen on the surface has been a zillionth of what's gone on below the ripples.
IMAGICAT
I missed her return .. and got cam on Welcome back Flora .. yes been a few returned today
.
28 March - HK0 Flora's return
A very short, uneventful visit - we shall draw our own conclusions, or none at all - the latter being the more sensible for an Osprey watcher!
29 March
Flora arrived with a piece of fish, she just stood almost motionless on the nest for 6 minutes then flew off, returning a few minutes later to the perch:
She's been eating her fish in between checking for threats which I cannot see. Not exactly HD, sorry!
Unringed male Osprey returns at 1441, mantling then mating.
Flora was very accepting of him!
Her tail was upright as soon as he landed on top of her
Chat have said it is him. Welcome back, Harry!
©SSEN/Alyth