OSPREY

10 & 11-06-2018 Wigtown Bay Area

Another fruitful visit to the viewing platform and parents were both present, the Male EP bringing in food. Two chicks confirmed.

OSPREY

22-04-2018 Near Wigtown Bay, Dumfries and Galloway

Another visit to the site in the afternoon and although the weather was poor, in between rain showers the birds were occasionally flying around being pestered by the Carrion Crows.

The pale yellow EP ring can clearly be seen in the first shot.

 Un-ringed female

OSPREY

21-04-2018 Near Wigtown Bay, Dumfries & Galloway

An early morning start and great news to find both birds at the nest site. Light was very poor as the sun was rising behind the nest but I used a Canon 1DX and 2 x TC to capture the best shots. I tried the 7D with both 1.4TC and manual focus with the 2 x TC but the results were poor. I returned in the evening for better light just as EP was bringing in nest material.

Male "EP" (Pale Yellow ring) was present with an un-ringed female. EP had been at Wigtown previously but had nested at this site last year. He is 15 years old and was born at Abernethy in 2003.

 EP with nest material

Changing over

OSPREY

Osprey - River Gwash Trout Farm Near Rutland

My second visit to the River Gwash Trout Farm near Rutland Water proved successful after I dipped previously. We had three total dives into the pond, one from a young bird 1J and then two from an older/larger bird 28. Light wasn't good for the first dive at 6am but the next two at 7am and 7.30 am were better. Reasonably happy with a few shots but I wasn't expecting the birds approach to be so quick, hence only exit or perched shots. Perched shots used Canon 5Dii plus EF 300mm F2.8 with 2 x TC. Action shots with 1DX and 100-400mkii.