Caerlaverock Osprey chick doing well

Jul 10 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

THE CAERLAVEROCK osprey chick is thriving, as these images captured this week cleary illustrate.

Born on Sunday, June 7, the chick is the first of its kind to be born in Dumfriesshire in living memory.

Learning manager at Caerlaverock, Brian Morrell, said: “We now have a new CCTV camera on our osprey nest giving even better live images of our fast-growing chick on the big screen in the visitor centre.

“During the recent downpours, the chick has been sheltered by the female osprey using her waterproof feathers like an umbrella.

“Both parents are now feeding the month-old chick which seems to get bigger every day, thriving on a diet of mullet and flounders.

“The chick also looks different every day with new feathers growing through the fluffy down. It will have its first complete set of feathers at six weeks old and will be looking to take that all-important maiden flight a week or two later.”

The picture above was grabbed from the CCTV system and the amazing close up picture (below) of the chick was taken by Tony Lightley of FCS.