Ready for our guests

The newly constucted nest awaits. There's a high resolution dome camera secreted away on the nest perch. There's a high definition dome camera on top of the recently erected dead ash tree. The power systems and transmitters are all installed. There's even a microphone in the nest. And there's a 32" plasma screen rigged up in the nearby hide at Cors Dyfi, near Machynlleth, in order for us to have a close-up of the action. There's a new visitor centre, a car park is being prepared and a new circular road system is ready for the rush of visitors. Finally, there's roads signage all ready to be installed at a moment's notice. The Dyfi Osprey Project is ready to roll. All we need is for a couple of Ospreys to turn up and make themselves at home.

Reason I know all this is that I'm one of the Trustees of the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust - and based on last year's visit by a pair of Ospreys to this site, we have anticipated a return visit this year. We're all crossing our fingers.

But it has to be said that we humans are odd creatures. On the one occasion that we visited the Turks and Caicos Islands a few years back, there were Ospreys fishing right under our noses when we were sitting in our hotel restaurant. So common that by the end of the week, we stopped noticing them. They were as cheeky as sparrows. Yet, if we see two in Machynlleth, the excitement will be mega. Anyway, if they do turn up, maybe I'll see you in the hide!! I do hope some trigger happy Frenchman doesn't bag our expected visitors en route.