Threave Ospreys NTS

13/06/2026

Look at these two beauties at nest 3😊
Female in the nest, you can just see her 👍
Clip from yesterday evening 😊

12/06/2026

Get voting 👍👍👍👍

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17umCuq6GT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🏆 The Scottish Animal World Cup: matchday 15

Today’s match sees the osprey take on the narrow-headed ant. You decide who goes through to the next round, so get your votes in now!

‘Like’ for the osprey, ‘love’ for the narrow-headed ant.

The osprey is one of Scotland’s great conservation comeback stories. After years of persecution, this striking bird of prey is gradually returning to parts of the country, with projects like the one at Threave Garden & Nature Reserve NTS helping it recover. Arriving from western Africa each spring, ospreys return to nest and raise their chicks, and can be recognised by their pale head and belly, broad wings and fish-catching beak.

Its opponent, the narrow-headed ant, is one of our Plan for Nature priority species. Tiny but formidable, it plays an important role in pine forest ecosystems and thrives in sunny forest edges and glades, where warm nest mounds help its young develop. This rare ant is found at only a handful of sites in Scotland, including Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve NTS.

This year’s competition is helping us shine a light on our Plan for Nature - our long-term commitment to protect and restore nature across the places in our care. From wetlands and woodlands to coasts, rivers and open landscapes, healthy habitats are vital if species like these are to thrive in the future.

So, who gets your vote? Voting for this match closes tomorrow.

12/06/2026

It’s been a busy wee afternoon at Threave Nature Reserve today, with plenty of visitors taking shelter from the earlier torrential rain!

Between the downpours, there was still plenty to enjoy, including a great sighting of the female osprey on nest one whilst low flying jets passed overhead!

Despite the weather, the reserve had a lovely atmosphere, with a steady flow of visitors and a nice relaxed pace throughout the afternoon.

Days like this are a reminder that even when the rain arrives, there’s always something special to see and enjoy at Threave.

A wonderfully relaxing way to spend the day.

10/06/2026

Good afternoon, and lots going on this sunny day at Threave Nature Reserve! ☀️ Here's volunteer Simon's report and photos from around the reserve and his time at Dee View hide today:

Started at Stepping Stones hide early doors, on route spotted a Stonechat nest, male photographed heavily cropped with beak full of food! Warblers aplenty heard both Garden Warbler and Whitethroat, watched but couldn’t photograph. Nest 3 Osprey tending but little movement, but there were grasshopper warblers singing in the reeds.

Both ospreys present on Nest 1 for most of my shift, female was flying a lot but only to break off branches to reinforce nest. You saw a small head of the chick clearly in the scope. She eventually flew and tried hunting before heading off towards Castle Douglas. Sedge and Willow warblers kept us entertained!

Thanks Simon! 😃

09/06/2026

**Lost dog reported on Lamb Island** - a young collie has been seen on it's own at Lamb Island, along the old railway line this morning around 7.30am

08/06/2026

A bumper report and sunshine to start the week off here at Threave Nature Reserve, with the first glimpse of a wee head in nest no 1! 🤩 ☀️ Thanks to all our volunteers busy showing visitors the osprey and other wildlife over the weekend. Here's a report from Paul H's afternoon shift at Dee View today, and some photos from volunteer Simon's on Friday as well.

'Lots of quiet, routine Osprey parent behaviour this afternoon on nest 1. Viewed by lots of great visitors. The male brought in a good sized fish at midday and both adults spent the afternoon feeding the young. Both taking a feed themselves now and then. At one point, a very small head was briefly seen in the nest in front of mum. A couple of times the male sat sentry below and to the left of the nest. The attentive female never left the nest all afternoon.

At the end of my shift, the male darted into the river in front of the hide but was unsuccessful so moved down river. Adult Peregrine calling in the air around the castle and a small flock of Redpoll flitted around the hide and over to the island.'

Otter, redpolls, whitethroats, goldfinches, peregrines and willow tit among the other spots over the last couple of days 😍

Photos credits attached to pics

04/06/2026

LOTS of feeding today on nest number 1! Here's our volunteer Paul's observations from his time at Dee View this afternoon. Photos from Paul too, including some from his Monday shift when shovelers, redpolls and whitethroats were among the highlights - thanks Paul!:

'A short diversion to Stepping Stones Hide on my way to Dee View/nest 1 and I saw the male on nest 3 take over incubating duties from the female who flew down river, quartering as she went.

At nest 1, more feeding into the nest by both birds all afternoon. A decent sized fish brought to the nest by the male earlier in the afternoon. Both birds saw off an intruder Osprey, possibly one of the pair from nest 3. Lots of Peregrine activity on and around the castle with foody calls.'

Better weather expected tomorrow, lets see what it brings! 🤞

04/06/2026

Morning all,
It’s getting hard to see nest 3 birds incubating.
They have built the sides of the nest up, and with the rain, they are hunkered down.
But they are there 😊
Here’s a screenshot, see if you can spot her 😁

03/06/2026

Bird spotting in the rain!! 🌧🌧😃

Volunteer Simon was sheltering inside Dee View hide today but he still had some great sightings, including a a kingfisher and young peregrine - here's his report and photos - thanks Simon!

'Today’s report from a wet grey day at Threave. Very little happening early doors as horizontal rain and winds kept the Osprey low in the nest. Family of Goldcrest on the path back towards the castle, along with a pair of Whitethroats, poor light no photos. Lot of peregrine action with adult silently hunting and clearly a newly fledged youngster screaming as it flew around. A deer welcomed me at Dee View hide and stayed in front all day. Ospreys stayed out of weather until late in afternoon, male returned with fish and both were feeding something in the nest. Very angry female attacked red kites, she wasn’t playing about, which also indicates they have chicks. Kingfisher posed on branch in front of hide, redpolls a plenty and positive sighting of a grasshopper warbler in tree to left of hide, no photo'

02/06/2026

🌿 We’re Hiring – Ranger (Threave Garden and Nature Reserve ) 🌿

The National Trust for Scotland is looking for a Ranger to join the Countryside Team based at Threave Garden & Nature Reserve.

This full-time, permanent role involves practical conservation, habitat management, conservation grazing, estate maintenance, and visitor engagement across Threave and associated properties. The successful candidate will operate machinery including tractors and ATVs and carry out a wide range of practical countryside management tasks.

If you have experience in practical countryside work and conservation , we would love to hear from you.

Please see the link below for job description and application information.

Thank you

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