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Hi, Rusty!
I see that the Centre is near Dunkeld - I am no wiser though! is that near to you?
Have you actually been there?
This has given me an idea for the boys' visit........
There is a Nature Trail at Coolings Garden Centre , out at Knockholt (in Kent).
It is mainly designed for children (altho adults find it interesting too!)
It is a 6 acre site with bark pathways and has dens and huts dotted about among the trees. Oh, and a wigwam!
There are goats, pot-bellied pigs, plus many other varieties of pigs(!), sheep, wallabys , geese , and many wild birds to spot.
There are hides from which you can observe the birds....... I am sure that the boys would love it!
What do you think? A good idea?



Hello, Chris!
Yes, a terrible clue!
I did issue a warning!
It was in today's Times Quick Cryptic (no 535) by Grumpy.

Boasting, I know, but my second best birdwatching experience was sitting in a beach bar in Puerto Pollensa (in Majorca), drinking lager, and watching 7 ospreys fishing in the (nearly circular) bay.

Since you ask, the first was sitting in a bar in Costa Rica, drinking lager (again), watching the sun go down over the Pacific, while Scarlet Macaws cicrled overhead.

Hello, Elle,
I have not been to Loch of the Lowes site, but Loch Clunie which is nearby, was always a stopping point when I was in a cycling club.
Dunkeld is a small place and I know it very well.
Driving to Dunkeld using the back roads (the quickest way!) takes less than an hour from here.
It is a very nice part of the world.
The Nature Trail sounds ideal for the boys and you. Go!

Good morning, Rusty!
A beautiful day here! The sun is already shining!
And I have just checked on the ospreys and they are both in their nest. This is the first time that I have seen them both together!
I have discovered that there is a new Children's Zoo and Activity Centre opened on the farm near our younger daughter's house , so this is another possibility for somewhere to take the boys.
Should we go on Friday, BB could come too, as he doesn't attend pre-school on that day
I have the plans ...all we need now is some nice weather!
Neither there nor the Nature Trail out at Knockholt would be suitable were it wet.
Have you been out for your paper yet? or is it too early?

Good morning, Elle.
Great morning here, too.
I had a look in at the nest earlier and Laddie flew in with more sticks!
They won't stick for sticks anyway!
And there was a lot of bird noise.
Your cat would love it!
Any thing to get the young ones out and about is a good idea.
Wet weather should not put them off.
They can get rigged out with cagoules etc fairly cheaply if you have a local Milletts?
Just thinking of tootling off for my paper etc in a minute.
Think I shall take the "move more" route!

Hi, Rusty!
Oh, I have already issued strict instructions that everyone has to bring a waterproof jacket and wellies!
"Be Prepared" is my motto! although I was never in the Girl Guides!
Both ospreys are back in the nest- but Lassie continues endlessly to rearrange her moss.
Fascinating!
I don't know a lot about birds / birdwatching.
I used to go sometimes with my neighbour on his bird watching jaunts - he is a fervent "twitcher"!
He carries a little notebook in which to record his sightings of rare birds - as and when.
We have been , too, to RSPB Minsmere, which is a nature reserve in Suffolk ( near to Leiston)
But I do not have the patience to pursue this as a hobby!
Right....... as daughter has now phoned to say that they did not set out early as originally planned - because she awoke suffering from a migraine, and so will be coming later - we are now off out with the dog.
Why waste this brilliant sunshine?
No surprises or "strange" clues with the Times QC this morning!

Huh! We've just had an hour of thick snowfall, with it lying. It's turning to slush now, though. Delayed my shopping trip.

Hello, Elle!
There seems to be quite a bit of fresh moss in the nest.
She has Laddie hard at work!
There was quite a "dawn chorus" this morning!
Very noisy!
That is fine if the young ones all have waterproof jackets.
Fine day here. We had frost but it has gone as the day warmed up.

Morning Rusty!

A lot of activity in the nest this morning, and a lot of 'chatting' too, together with many other birds singing !

I am not quite sure who is who in this couple - I saw one of them arrive with a branch (well smallish branch) and then again with a lot of moss; While he/she was leaving the nest to collect 'building material' , the other bird stayed in the nest, and I took it to be Lassie - you said she rarely left the nest. But then on coming back, the bird bringing all this stuff proceeded to consolidate the nest himself - now, would that be Lassie's or Laddie's work? or both?

Good day, Pigale!
Now, I am on a learning curve too, with regard to the nest renovations.
I think the bird "bringing" is Laddie, and Lassie is doing the "moving the sticks about"!
Other than that I do not know which is which.
Laddie slightly bigger?
I know that when the eggs are laid, Lassie will rarely leave.
May be different just now. Though she is there most of the time.
You are correct. Very noisy earlier.
Seemed to be all the birds in the vicinity having something to say!