Ospreys, Puffins & Castles! June 2009
17th June 2009
In: Trips
Sunday 7th June headed north to Scotland to photograph Ospreys.
As usual the first stop was Loch of the Lowes 1.5 miles east of Dunkeld, Perthshire, a scenic location on the Highland – Lowland boundary.
Bought by the SWT in 1969, Ospreys appeared a month later, with the first eggs laid the following year. Unfortunatley just 2 weeks later a May gale destroyed the newly constructed nest alongwith its clutch of 2 eggs. A man made eyrie was built ready for the birds to return the following year with the first 2 chicks raised in 1971.
The reserve covers 135ha and is famed for its nesting Ospreys, the existing pair have been resident since 1991. In all the birds have produced 63 healthy chicks between 1971 and 2007. This year the pair produced 3 chicks, but sadly the second died. The remaining 2 are however doing well.
The hides are 200 metres from the eyrie which is situated on a large scots pine in the woodland fringes of the loch.
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Sunday evening to Wednesday Morning.
For the second year running Kate looked after us at her excellent B&B The Old Ministers House. I doubt there is a better B&B anywhere in the UK.
Rothiemurchas near Aviemore, Strathspey famed for its Ospreys which fish over the ponds on a daily basis. There is one main hide which overlooks the pool with several, smaller wooden hides nearby. This year there are 6 Osprey nests within 2 miles of the pools/fish farm.
2 mornings/evenings photography was booked via the estate centre at Rothiemurchus which involved a 4.30am rise, a 5am meet and brief and out to the hides to be in position for 5.15am! The Monday and Tuesday evenings were also spent at the pools watching and photographing these amazing birds fish.
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A few miles away is Loch Garten near Boat of Garten, Strathspey. This is the world famous RSPB Osprey Centre, which overlooks the famous nesting site, the ancestral home of the Osprey in Scotland. The eyrie is not on the loch shore as might be expected but instead is a little inland. Direct views of the eyrie can be had from the observation hide. In the image below Odin is returning with a fish with EJ waiting patiently. Their 3 chicks are out of sight but in the eyrie.
Another eyrie is located at Loch Insh just to the south of Aviemore and high above the towering scots pine on an island retreat is the eyrie to another pair of Ospreys.
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Wednesday 9th and an early morning departure for St Abbs Head on the Scottish border 12 miles north of Berwick upon Tweed around 1pm. It has 60K breeding sea birds including Fulmar, Shag, Kittiwake, Herring Gull, Guillemot, Razorbill.
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The delightful Market Cross, close to Bamburgh Castle, was our base for for 2 days with concluded with a trip to the Farne Islands all day on the Friday.
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The Farne islands (28 in all) lie 1 1/2 miles offshore between Bamburgh and Seahouses it is home to some 65,000 pais of 14 species of breeding seabirds. Puffin is the most numerous followed by Guillemot and Kittiwake.
Click on the images to open them in a new window.
The all day bird watch trip was booked with with Billy Sheil which set sail shortly after 10am.
Staple Island was the first drop off allowing an hour or so photography before setting off for Inner Farne where a good 2 hours were spent. We returned ashore around 4.20pm.
A fantastic trip.
As usual the first stop was Loch of the Lowes 1.5 miles east of Dunkeld, Perthshire, a scenic location on the Highland – Lowland boundary.
Bought by the SWT in 1969, Ospreys appeared a month later, with the first eggs laid the following year. Unfortunatley just 2 weeks later a May gale destroyed the newly constructed nest alongwith its clutch of 2 eggs. A man made eyrie was built ready for the birds to return the following year with the first 2 chicks raised in 1971.
The reserve covers 135ha and is famed for its nesting Ospreys, the existing pair have been resident since 1991. In all the birds have produced 63 healthy chicks between 1971 and 2007. This year the pair produced 3 chicks, but sadly the second died. The remaining 2 are however doing well.
The hides are 200 metres from the eyrie which is situated on a large scots pine in the woodland fringes of the loch.
Click on the image to open it in a new window.
Sunday evening to Wednesday Morning.
For the second year running Kate looked after us at her excellent B&B The Old Ministers House. I doubt there is a better B&B anywhere in the UK.
Rothiemurchas near Aviemore, Strathspey famed for its Ospreys which fish over the ponds on a daily basis. There is one main hide which overlooks the pool with several, smaller wooden hides nearby. This year there are 6 Osprey nests within 2 miles of the pools/fish farm.
2 mornings/evenings photography was booked via the estate centre at Rothiemurchus which involved a 4.30am rise, a 5am meet and brief and out to the hides to be in position for 5.15am! The Monday and Tuesday evenings were also spent at the pools watching and photographing these amazing birds fish.
Click on the image to open it in a new window.
A few miles away is Loch Garten near Boat of Garten, Strathspey. This is the world famous RSPB Osprey Centre, which overlooks the famous nesting site, the ancestral home of the Osprey in Scotland. The eyrie is not on the loch shore as might be expected but instead is a little inland. Direct views of the eyrie can be had from the observation hide. In the image below Odin is returning with a fish with EJ waiting patiently. Their 3 chicks are out of sight but in the eyrie.
Another eyrie is located at Loch Insh just to the south of Aviemore and high above the towering scots pine on an island retreat is the eyrie to another pair of Ospreys.
Click on the image to open it in a new window.
Wednesday 9th and an early morning departure for St Abbs Head on the Scottish border 12 miles north of Berwick upon Tweed around 1pm. It has 60K breeding sea birds including Fulmar, Shag, Kittiwake, Herring Gull, Guillemot, Razorbill.
Click on the image to open it in a new window.
The delightful Market Cross, close to Bamburgh Castle, was our base for for 2 days with concluded with a trip to the Farne Islands all day on the Friday.
Click on the image to open it in a new window.
The Farne islands (28 in all) lie 1 1/2 miles offshore between Bamburgh and Seahouses it is home to some 65,000 pais of 14 species of breeding seabirds. Puffin is the most numerous followed by Guillemot and Kittiwake.
Click on the images to open them in a new window.
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The all day bird watch trip was booked with with Billy Sheil which set sail shortly after 10am.
Staple Island was the first drop off allowing an hour or so photography before setting off for Inner Farne where a good 2 hours were spent. We returned ashore around 4.20pm.
A fantastic trip.
