Ospreys AW & 09 settled in Ivory Coast and Senegal respectively. Check out the link for the latest Google Earth data http://www.ospreys.org.uk/satellite/index.html
The project is featured on Inside Out on BBC1 East Midlands at 7:30pm this evening. Don't miss it!
I was hoping to catch Tim Mackrill or one of the Osprey Team when I visited Lyndon today to ask about AW and 09 but, alas, the centre isn't open yet. It was, however, an unbelievably beautiful day so I spent an enjoyable few hours on the reserve.
There was a great variety of birds on show, including redshank, shelduck, a flock of ruff and two pairs of incredibly noisy oystercatchers. There were also loads of buzzards and red kites all soaring effortlessly on the thermals. I tried to turn them into osprey, but it wasn't happening.
There's definitely a new camera on the French perch (the bean tin is no more), but it's hard to confirm whether it's HD or not from 300 yards away. There are now two Egyptian geese keeping it warm for 5R and Mrs:
Despite the ongoing drought they've managed to fill Manton Bay (and all the lagoons at Egleton) but the main body of the reservoir is still extremely low.
Manton Bay from Shallow Water hide.
The bund that separates Manton Bay (to the left) from the rest of Rutland Water, showing the different water levels.
The T perch closest to the nest has been refurbished and straightened.
Sandy. Great pictures.
I saw a picture of Egyptian goslings today over on Facebook.
Tiger Signature
I remember last year when those Egytian Geese laid an egg in the nest, I kept thinking what a surprise 5R and Mrs would have if they hatched it!!
Margaret M said: I remember last year when those Egytian Geese laid an egg in the nest, I kept thinking what a surprise 5R and Mrs would have if they hatched it!!
Not as strange as you might think. See osprey nest surprise.
Which nest were we watching where geese had hatched a brood. The goslings were having to jump down from a fair old height from the nest.
I just checked. It was the Montana osprey nest. Canada Geese they were.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
Geese have laid in the MB nest in previous years and the eggs got buried.
Nice pics Sandy!
Thank you Tiger, I hope Egytian goslings like fish, if I remember rightly last year 5R didn't evict the Geese until Mrs made it clear she wasn't happy.
Latest update with disturbing news from Tim.
Birdies LG DU update.
If, as seems likely, AW doesn't return this year then that means there'll be a vacancy at Site O for a new male. With any number of single males of breeding age hanging around RW it'll be fascinating to see who takes over.