Osprey Chick (3) (Photo Bryan Turnbull)
Monday 31st August 2009.
See you next year.................maybe ?
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Uploaded on Aug 31, 2009
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Remember, Remember.
Sunday 30th August 2009.
As we move towards a rather soggy conclusion to this year’s osprey activities it may be opportune to think of times gone by, this photograph was taken in May 2008. Note not only the weather but also the site furniture.
One of our members of staff, Christina was asked to write one paragraph about this season, this is what she came up with:-
“Hmmm, the season in one paragraph then.......
Having worked on the osprey project in 2007, it all felt familiar coming back, except this time the views of the ospreys were so much better, because the birds were nesting in a much more convenient tree to be observed! So I have had the most impressive views of the ospreys flying over my head and being able to see them carrying fish with the naked eye was fantastic.
I also felt a bit of a connection with the osprey that was seen at Leighton Moss because it fledged in 2007 which was when I was here before and it returned the year I came back!”
At least two ospreys seen today, one being the adult male – not easy viewing.
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Uploaded on Aug 30, 2009
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What Next ? (photo PJC)
Saturday 29th August 2009.
Just in case you don’t know what happens to the big screen at Whinlatter Forest Park after the Osprey have left.......Well me and my mates take over, about time too. You may think Ospreys are clever you wait until you see what we get up to; you don’t see many ospreys hanging upside down by their tails do you? You won’t find us getting up at the crack of dawn to look for a nut either; we like the place to warm up a bit before getting out of our cosy beds. So, if you want to see something special come and see us (September to April) in comfort at Whinlatter or in the true wild at Dodd, lower viewpoint, but at the latter please remember we’re not too keen on dogs, so a lead is always a good idea.
Ospreys still being seen; Project closes 5.00pm Monday 31st August for the year.
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Uploaded on Aug 29, 2009
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New horizons for our Ospreywatch Engineer.
Friday 28th August 2009
Help, we need somebody. Help, not just anybody. It’s got to be George!
Climbing transmission masts hanging on by his feet and will power. Burrowing into thickets after buried cables. Painstakingly going over miles of newly laid cable yard by yard to find the fault and then being able to laugh when finding it gnawed through by a mouse. Always being available on the end of the phone listening like a Doctor to descriptions of the symptoms of electrical sickness coming through on the Big Screen. Grey screens, red and blue screens, letters on screens, the dreaded Rainbow never phase him. Travelling the long round trip from his works base in Scotland and back in all weathers to set things right. Bent double for hours in cold lonely sheds or under dripping trees wielding an electrical screwdriver over a junction box. Designing and setting up surveillance systems for Protection of the nest and surrounds. At the experimental edge of microwave transmission, with a double bounce, his own bounce and quiet enthusiasm over the nine years of the Project has never failed.
Since we started, our cameras and transmission across the Valley and the Lake have been managed by the Forestry Commission Radio Branch. It is because of them and George that the tens of thousands of people visiting Whinlatter and the many more of you who watch the webcam at home have been able to see images of our beautiful birds.
We wish you were not retiring George - but are not surprised that your internal dynamo has wired you on a course for travelling Europe by Rail.
Thank you for all your care in the past and the very best of wishes for your future. From the Lake District Osprey Project et al.
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Uploaded on Aug 28, 2009
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Flashback to Mrs in May
Thursday 27th August 2009
As we get close to the end it is nice to hear of the highlights that made this season special for some of the other members of staff. Jill says:
Two things stand out for me, and they are roughly the same each
season, more so with our present female bird. One is the fantastic
support we get from the best part of a hundred volunteers, who mostly
brave whatever the weather throws at them and the protection team who
are there all night as well.
The second thing is the fantastic dedication our present female
osprey gives to her eggs and family. She rarely leaves the nest for
more than half an hour at most, and then only when the male is present
She watches all the time for intruders from her high perch. She defends
her nest from all predators, attacking them rather then leaving the nest,
and she carefully makes sure each youngster gets its fair share of
fish. All this is far more marked than the previous female, who would
leave the nest for much longer periods. She will cover them if it
rains, if she can, and shade them from the sun, again, if she can! She
is an exceptional bird.
This part of the season is always a bit sad in some ways. She is
probably on her way back to Africa, and the rest of the family will go
in their own time, one by one. Will we ever see them again?!
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Uploaded on Aug 27, 2009
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