A PHOTO OF WHITE SS, taken in 2012 by Tony Lightley.
White SS fledged in 1999 from a nest near Aberfoyle and was fitted with a White/Black Darvic ring on his right leg. He first returned to the Tweed Valley in 2004, and paired up with his first of four partners an Unringed female, (who is thought to have been on the nest the previous year), with whom between 2004 and 2014 he raised 26 chicks 24 of which we have ringing details, see Table below.
His second partner again an Unringed female in 2015 they raised 1 chick to fledging, Unfortunately that Chick Blue FX9 disappeared one week after fledging. White SS returned again in 2016 and paired with his third partner a Female ringed at the Muir of Ord, Blue AS6, this was again an unsuccessful year with only 1 egg hatching and that chick died in the nest, the female failed to return the following year.
White SS and Blue AS6 (2016)
In 2017 White SS returned and paired with his final partner Unringed Mrs 0. They were too late in the season to breed that year, and didn’t produce any eggs.
This was posted in 2017 by the late Pete Dee(Duffield) of United Kingdom Ospreys.
“Tweed Valley news…
White SS is still alone on his nest which he has spent some time sprucing up in an attempt to attract a female but there have been no sightings of other ospreys around the nest for over a week. He is still fishing and bringing his catch back to the nest to eat. There is only the slimmest chance now that a female will turn up and breed this year.
White SS has a mate, a fine looking female dropped in on the nest on Sunday and it looks like she is staying. At first SS didn’t want anything to do with her, he was mantling and alarm calling and keeping well away from her. They were both together at the nest on Monday morning and while she was re-arranging the furniture he was still keeping his dustance. Since then they have become more intimate and mating has taken place. Nothing is known about this female, she has a BTO ring on her right leg but no darvic. Let’s hope they can make a go of it, there’s still time (just) for them to breed this year.”
But in 2018, they completed their partnership and raised two chicks. Sadly, tragedy again struck, the two chicks never made it out of the UK on migration.
2019 was their most successful year raising 3 chicks to fledge.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS:-
White SS was never sighted at his wintering Grounds, so it can only be speculation as to where he wintered; he returned regularly in late March early April.
The Offspring of SS
IN FIGURES:
WHITE SS
COVER STORY
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This book Tells the Story of the First 10 years (2003-2013) of the Tweed Valley Osprey Projects Main Nest and of White 33
INFORMATION LIKE THIS IS AVAILABLE DUE TO THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, TEAM MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE TAKE TIME TO SUPPORT THEM IN WHATEVER WAY YOU CAN..
UKOI
