Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Dyfi Osprey Project
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One of Andy’s latest projects has been to work with the MWT’s Dyfi Osprey Project. This is part if his commitment to get great images of wildlife in Wales and bring them to the international media. The Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s project has had spectacular success in 2011 with ospreys returning to breed on the Dyfi Estuary (mid Wales) for the first time in 400 years. The male osprey, Monty, has been in the area for a couple of years but only this year did he find a female, Nora, to breed with. She was born in 2008 at Rutland Water and by May 1st this year they had produced three eggs. After a few nervous weeks they hatched into Einion, Leri and Dulas and we now have three fully fledged ospreys preparing for their long journey to Africa.
But these are not ordinary osprey youngsters. They all have GPS transmitters fitted so that we will be able to monitor them all the way home to Africa. Less than 1 in 3 survive to come back for the first year so the more we know about their whereabouts the better. The project is not just solely for osprey conservation, it seeks to educate the general public about ospreys and the need to care for our native wildlife. At the project there is a friendly visitor centre and a hide with three plasma tv’s beaming back live footage from the nest.
The project has a very active Facebook site with all the latest news so click here to see it and make sure you "like" the page to get automatic updates!
But these are not ordinary osprey youngsters. They all have GPS transmitters fitted so that we will be able to monitor them all the way home to Africa. Less than 1 in 3 survive to come back for the first year so the more we know about their whereabouts the better. The project is not just solely for osprey conservation, it seeks to educate the general public about ospreys and the need to care for our native wildlife. At the project there is a friendly visitor centre and a hide with three plasma tv’s beaming back live footage from the nest.
The project has a very active Facebook site with all the latest news so click here to see it and make sure you "like" the page to get automatic updates!
Latest Shots
Andy has been waiting all season for the chance to get some images of the ospreys themselves, but this was only possible when the young were bold enough to start venturing away from the nest. Such is the sensitivity of the project that Andy did not want to even chance any disturbance, and working with the Project Officer, Emyr Evans, he waited until just a few weeks before they were due to leave on their epic journey. Spending 16 hours in a small, cramped hide, he managed to get some wonderful images of the ospreys, many of which are now available as fundraising prints for the project (see below). He would like thank everyone who helped him through his long lonely vigil, a friendly voice on the radio made all the difference!|
Andy’s first shot of the day shows Nora, the female, steaming into the perch with a fish in her talons. Taken with the Nikon D3s, 600mm lens, ISO 2000, 1/1000th at f5.6 |
Patience has its rewards and some 5 hours later Andy gets a break when Monty, the male, comes to join the party. Taken with the Nikon D3s, 600mm lens, ISO 1250, 1/1000th at f6.3 |
 The young male Einion with the GPS transmitter clearly showing. Taken with the Nikon D3s, 600mm lens, ISO 1000, 1/2000th at f8. |
 Two of the youngsters fly in formation, as if practicing for the long flight to come. Taken with the Nikon D3s, 600mm lens, ISO 1000, 1/1250th at f8. |
SlideshowHere are my first images of the Dyfi Ospreys. You will see Monty, Nora and one of the youngsters Einion. I hope, over time, to get a lot more! To use the slideshow first expand it to the largest size then use your keyboard cursors / mouse to scroll forward. Or you can press play and just sit back and enjoy! |
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Buy a Fund Raising PrintMany thousands of people are following the daily antics of Monty, Nora,
Einion, Leri and Dulas. Since the pictures were first published this
week we have had a tremendous reaction and many requests for prints. Therefore we have chosen the best 5 images and these are now available as fine art Giclee or canvas prints. These are produced to the highest standards by professionals (i.e. not on our home printer) and will be guaranteed to give pleasure for a long time. For every print sold we are donating 40% of its profit to the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Dyfi Osprey Project so your purchase will be benefiting both these and future generations of welsh ospreys. CLICK HERE to see the prints on our secure online store.  |
Videos
| The Dyfi Osprey centre has a brilliant hide for watching the ospreys via three huge plasma screens which relay incredible images from the nest. With experts at hand to answer any questions, it is a great day out for anyone interested in our welsh ospreys. Here is a time lapse video that I shot of people in the hide for the 2020Vision project. Enjoy! |
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