It's wilder than you might think.

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As members of the National Trust for Scotland Dumfries and Galloway Countryside Team, we manage properties across Dumfries and Galloway, including Threave Estate and Nature Reserve; Rockcliffe Property; Venniehill; The Murray's Isles and Bruce's Stone. Our task is to conserve and maintain the variety of habitats and species present, at the same time managing the sites for the education and enjoyment of current and future generations.

04 August 2013

Threave Osprey Update:

It’s all happening at the Threave Osprey nest site. There are not many places in Britain, where you can get such great views of adults and juveniles flying around.

Two members of the public saw the two young female juvenile practicing fishing at stepping stones hide. I was very envious. They had a great photo to prove it.

I managed to get down to the osprey platform yesterday and had a great day of wildlife viewing. A raven came too near to the nest and got chased off by the female, Olivia. The raven made a quick exit. Two other ravens came honking along later on.

The most exciting view was a peregrine falcon that swooped in too close to the nest and the male proceeded to chase it out of his territory. What a great view!!!

Two awesome predators, one adapted to killing fish and the other for stooping on anything from a mallard to a starling. I think the peregrine was a female, as they are quite a bit bigger than the males. In birds of prey the females always tends to be bigger and this is the case of "reversed sexual size dimorphism". The size differences allow the two sexes to hunt different prey and thus reduce competition for food. For example in peregrines the male will mostly hunt starling, blackbird and smaller bird species such as woodcock and the female will hunt pigeon, mallard, gulls, and slightly larger birds. Obviously the habitat plays a part in what they catch.

There has been a flock of about 100 lapwing flying around the reserve and surroundings fields. What a sight to behold. If you like your waders come down and see it for yourself.

Have a great day.

Osprey Ranger

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