A fond farewell: Alyth’s famous resident ospreys take flight for winter after three more chicks fledge the nest

• 20 osprey chicks now successfully fledged from purpose-built nest at SSEN Transmission Alyth substation since installation in 2014

The last of three osprey chicks from Alyth’s famous resident osprey pair has taken flight to begin their migration south this winter, with teams from SSEN Transmission’s Alyth substation bidding them a fond farewell.

The three chicks have been successfully raised by parents Harry and Flora, resident ospreys to the purpose-built nesting platform, and have all now set off to begin their long migration south towards Africa. 

This means that Harry and Flora have now raised successfully raised 20 osprey chicks since the platform was first installed in 2014, with SSEN Transmission team’s hopeful for more chicks again in 2024.   

This year, the three chicks’ progress was watched by thousands of avid birdwatchers who tuned in throughout the spring and summer months via a special live camera set up by Wildlife Windows last April.

The live camera attracted over 3,500 subscribers this year, as fans flocked to check on the progress of the famous birds since they hatched, watching parents Harry and Flora feed the chicks with fresh fish from the nearby Tay estuary as they grew bigger and stronger. 

Female osprey Flora and the two elder chicks took flight around mid-August, with male osprey Harry staying behind along with the youngest chick – affectionately nicknamed ‘Chirpy’ by avid followers of the live feed – departing in early September once fully grown. 

As with previous years, ornithologists have been on hand throughout the year to check that SSEN Transmission’s progress with the substation work at Alyth has not interfered with the ospreys’ development. 

The nesting platform was first created in 2014 with the help of osprey expert Roy Dennis MBE as an alternative home for the ospreys ahead of the start of a programme of upgrade and reinforcement work to the transmission East Coast network, after the birds were spotted nesting at the top of one of SSEN Transmission’s 48-metre-high electricity towers which was scheduled for maintenance as part of the project.

Last year pupils from Meigle Primary School named the two resident ospreys Harry and Flora, after visiting the special viewing platform on site and becoming so invested in their progress.   

SSEN Transmission Senior Consents and Environment Manager Ewan Jelly said:

“Ospreys really are such an iconic species in Scotland, and it’s been a real joy watching Harry and Flora successfully raise another three healthy osprey chicks from the purpose-built nesting platform close to our Alyth Substation site.

“With 20 chicks now taking flight from the purpose-built platform since it was first installed back in 2014, this demonstrates how protecting the environment has been a genuine priority on this project, and we’ve worked hard along with our contractors Siemens-BAM and Balfour Beatty to ensure we remain focused on reducing any impact at all times.

“We’ve had over 3,500 subscribers tuning in to watch Harry and Flora’s chicks grow on our live YouTube feed of the nest, which is fantastic.  This year with the inclusion of a chat-function it has been great to see an active community of people form with an avid interest in the ospreys’ daily progress, with some affectionately naming the youngest chick ‘Chirpy’ due to the bird’s particularly vocal calls. 

“The live feed will be back in action in 2024 and we hope to welcome home Harry and Flora back to the nest, and hopefully even more chicks again next year.”

The construction of the Alyth substation is part of a wider scheme to upgrade the East Coast Transmission network. Once complete it will enable the connection of new renewable generation to the grid, helping to facilitate the transmission to net zero emissions.  The project at Alyth is on course to be completed by the end of 2023.

SSEN Transmission has made sector-leading biodiversity commitments on all projects, introducing a policy of biodiversity net gain on all new projects.  This means teams will leave the environment no worse than when they found it, and where possible making it even better, leaving a positive environmental legacy at all SSEN Transmission sites.

Initial studies and monitoring for the Alyth substation have highlighted a significant benefit in biodiversity around the site, with a current forecasted figure of an increase of 50%. Teams have created various ecological improvements around the site which has helped to encourage native species of flora and fauna around the perimeter of the substation compound, contributing to a positive net gain in biodiversity, including planting around 5,400 native trees, sowing native grass and wildflower seeds and installing various nesting and feeding boxes for bats, birds and red squirrels.

Learn more about the project here: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/alyth-275kv-substation--reactive-compensation/        

Background:

• Ospreys normally nest in large mature trees. This iconic species feeds almost entirely on fish which they capture in a spectacular fashion by swooping down and snatching them from near the surface in their talons. Ospreys are migratory with the majority spending their winter in West Africa (although a small number of ospreys spend their winter in Iberia).  Ospreys are a protected species, and it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb the birds close to their nest during the breeding season.
• In 2022 a live camera was installed by Wildlife Windows ahead of the ospreys returning from Africa.  They provide ongoing maintenance and support, also hosting the live feed for SSEN Transmission on YouTube. www.wildlifewindows.co.uk