May 11 2011
The earliest osprey chick to have hatched in Britain has made an appearance in a Welsh nest, a wildlife charity announced yesterday.
RSPB Cymru said the first osprey chick that hatched late afternoon at an RSPB viewing site, near Porthmadog on Monday, is believed to be the earliest to hatch on record in Britain.
Geraint Williams, osprey project officer said: “It really has been a season full of surprises here at the Glaslyn Osprey site this year.
“The icing on the cake will be the confirmation that we witnessed the earliest hatching of an osprey chick in Britain.”
He said the chick’s parents had a flying start this year when they arrived back at Glaslyn from their wintering grounds in Africa almost a month earlier than usual.
They have since laid three eggs and have spent the last few days carrying fresh bedding into the nest in preparation for the new arrivals.
The RSPB said the continued success of this pair of osprey, now in their eighth successful season, is due in no small part to dedicated local volunteers who help to protect these birds from the ever-present threat of egg collectors and their chicks.
Visitors to the RSPB Cymru viewing site at Pont Croesor, Glaslyn near Porthmadog can observe the nest and special moments like the male returning with a fish for the chicks.
There are telescopes available and plenty of friendly advice from RSPB staff and volunteers.
And birdwatchers can enjoy dramatic close up views of the nest via a camera situated nearby, against a backdrop of stunning vistas of Snowdon and the mountains of Eryri.
The site has a live video link from the nest feeding into a TV screen in the visitor centre.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/05/11/osprey-chick-is-earliest-to-hatch-in-uk-91466-28671435/
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