A famous Osprey nest in the Highlands has produced three chicks on the 60th anniversary of the birds returning to Scotland after being extinct.
RSPB Scotland has expressed its “delight” at the news, which will see the current pair of ospreys, named Odin and EJ, almost certainly producing the 100th osprey at Loch Garten near Aviemore.
The three chicks are thought to be female and have been named Millicent to get the “cent” as in “century”, Seasca after the Gaelic word for 60, and the third and smallest chick has been named Druie after the River Druie which flows through the Rothiemurchus fish farm, the likely source of the chicks’ nourishment.
Richard Thaxton, Osprey Centre manager, and osprey expert Roy Dennis recently checked how the three young ospreys were progressing and fitted satellite transmitters on two of the birds.
Mr Thaxton said: “The tagging went well. All three of the youngsters were found to be in good condition. Checks were made for checks in the feather growth, lines that indicate days of less food being provided and there was very little sign of this. “Odin the male parent has obviously done a good job in providing plenty of fish so far.”
Meanwhile there was drama over in Mull when an eight-week-old sea eagle chick had to be rescued after it fell 30ft from its nest.
The chick became a star on the BBC Springwatch programme and is currently being watched from around the world on a new webcam on the Argyll island.
The young eagle was observed on the nest at the weekend but by Sunday evening it was empty. Worried eagle watchers raised the alarm when nothing stirred on the nest.
On Monday, two expert tree climbers from Forestry Commission Scotland joined with RSPB Scotland to search for the chick. They soon heard it calling for food and found it in the undergrowth. The chick is now safe and well.
RSPB Scotland’s Dave Sexton said: “Forestry Commission Scotland’s webcam helped us to determine that something had gone badly wrong at the nest and we managed to launch the rescue bid.”