A pair of ospreys who have chosen to nest at a site of national importance for its wildlife and habitats are being monitored to see if they can successfully breed and rear young.
The ospreys migrated to Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve (NNR) near Golspie, Sutherland, last year, but failed to produce offspring.
A reason for that failure is believed to have been their choice of a nest close to a well-used path on the reserve.
This year the ospreys have migrated from west Africa to try again and staff from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and local ornithologist Kenny Graham have built a new nesting platform in a suitable tree well away from the paths and trails which cross the reserve.
And even though the nesting platform was only completed in March, it is now apparent it is already being used by the pair of ospreys, who are being monitored closely to see if they produce any young.
Ospreys are a regular sight during the summer months at the reserve and Lesley Cranna, SNH’s North Highland and Northern Isles area manager, stressed the hope now was that the pair would successfully breed at the spot.
“Ospreys have a long migratory route to and from their breeding grounds in Scotland and we are delighted that this pair has decided to try to rear a family on Loch Fleet NNR in Sutherland,” she confirmed.
“It’s great to have ospreys in the NNR where people can enjoy them but we felt that they needed a bit more privacy at the nest site itself so that they are not disturbed. So we have built a new nest for them in a quieter area of the reserve.
“We are glad to say that this strategy appears to have worked and the birds have settled in quite nicely.
“It remains to be seen whether they will successfully fledge young or not, but we are hopeful that with the right conditions and availability of prey locally, they will breed successfully at this site.
“Loch Fleet NNR is a superb place for ospreys, seals, roe deer and a variety of other wildlife. If you are lucky, you can see the ospreys swooping down and catching fish in the loch. Visitors can also watch a variety of shore birds, including waders and ducks from the hide at the edge of the woodlands”.
And Golspie-based Kenny Graham, conservation officer for the RSPB, added: “This is the second artificial nest that has been successfully installed at Loch Fleet to allow these fantastic birds to live in harmony with the other users of the area.
“There are several pairs in the area that benefit from the rich feeding grounds in Loch Fleet and the numerous hill lochs in the surrounding area. If you want to see ospreys, the very best places to look for them are from the Mound car park or, at high tide, why not take a walk out to the new bird hide in Balblair Wood.”
Loch Fleet NNR is a component part of a Special Protection Area (SPA) for breeding osprey. The success on the pair returning to hopefully breed helps maintain healthy numbers of birds returning to breed each year from their wintering grounds in west Africa. Two walks at Loch Fleet NNR are featured on Walkhighlands.