IT IS feared that only two of the four osprey chicks hatched recently at the Loch of the Lowes are still alive.

“There is a plentiful supply of fish, so we are now wondering if the chicks are succumbing to disease,” said assistant warden Andrewa Williams.

The second chick is not eating much today and was seen shivering.

Although it has been raining recently, there have been wetter seasons when all chicks have survived.

“The female osprey also appears to be keeping still for a few minutes. Is she too old for this?” the Scottish Wildlife Trust ranger said.

The Loch of the Lowes female has returned to the same nest to breed every year since 1991 and has successfully reared 38 chicks.

Last year one of the three chicks that hatched was removed dead from the nest when the young were ringed by nature artist Keith Brockie, but the other two young left on their winter migration to West Africa.

Vets were unable to establish what it had died of, although it was found after a period of heavy rain during which osprey chicks in other nests also died.

Reserve manager Peter Ferns said the recent heavy rain may have contributed to the chicks’ demise. “The male brings plenty of fish, but the female was having to leave the young uncovered in the rain to feed them, and once they are wet and chilled it is difficult for them to warm up again,” he said.

Later, the older chicks were seen attacking the surviving younger one.

The female osprey had to put up with an attack by another female while she was sitting on her eggs and ignore the attentions of other males which tried to court her with fish.

Then last week another raptor, a marsh harrier, made an appearance and was spotted hovering over the nest while the female kept very low protecting her chicks.

It’s unusual to see a marsh harrier at the Lowes in the summer, and it may be a young bird that has not yet set up a breeding area, or one which has been an unsuccessful breeder.

The nearest breeding area for marsh harriers is the Tay reedbeds. Some other unusual birds have been sighted at the loch, including a red-throated diver and mandarin ducks.

It is thought there is still a small breeding population of these colourful Chinese ducks in the Perth area where they established themselves after escaping from a waterfowl collection.

Among the other birds seen at the reserve recently have been a redstart and spotted flycatchers, while wood and garden warblers have been heard singing.

The red squirrels have bred successfully, with three young ones seen on the feeders at the visitor centre, along with siskins, tits, a woodpecker—and mallard ducks that have found their way to the feeding site.