Guess who's back?
Post categories: birds
| 15:06 UK time, Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Wales' only pair of breeding have just returned to their familiar stomping ground for the fifth year running.
Following a 3,000 mile journey from their wintering ground in west Africa, the male landed safely back at Glaslyn last Saturday with the female following on a day later.
The pair will barely have had time for a breather yet though as they prepare their nest ready for the first egg to appear in just a few days' time.
Visitors to the at Pont Croesor near Porthmadog can use high-powered telescopes to enjoy a close-up view of these stunning birds and their new brood over the coming months.
We'd love to hear from you if you happen to drop by the site between now and September. You can keep us posted on the ospreys' progress using the comment form below.
In the mean time...
Did you know?
- Following their return to the nest, the osprey pair will mate about once every hour until the first egg appears.
- Once the chicks have hatched, the male osprey will need to catch enough fish to feed the whole family. That's about eight a day.
- The osprey nest is huge, about six feet in diameter.
- Before leaving the nest chicks reach adult size with a wing span of five foot.
- A record three chicks fledged the Glaslyn nest last year, taking the total to nine since the ospreys first arrived at the site.
Want to know more?
For all the lowdown on the Glaslyn ospreys read this excellent article from the Ö÷²¥´óÐã North West Wales website.
Check out the RSPB's and the .
Watch an archive clip and view more images on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Wales Nature website.
See if you can catch a glimpse of the ospreys via the Ö÷²¥´óÐã North West Wales nestcam.
Comment number 1.
At 6th Apr 2009, Nia - Host - wrote:News just in from the RSPB - the Glaslyn ospreys are nurturing their first egg of the season.
The egg was laid very early this morning, Monday 6 April.
Usually, the female osprey lays an egg every other day with a total of three eggs expected during the next few days.
Each egg will be incubated for around 37 days - which means hatching should occur in mid-May.
We'll keep you posted with any further developments.
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Comment number 2.
At 15th Apr 2009, Nia - Host - wrote:Check out news that Wales could soon have a second pair of breeding ospreys.
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