Undercover in the Undergrowth with Over 40 Years of Experience in the Field, Alan Stewart Is the Man Charged with Protecting Tayside's Flora and Fauna. Graeme Virtue Goes On the Lookout with the Wildlife Detective

Summary

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THE osprey appears to be looking at us. It's hard to be sure from 200 yards away but, perched bolt upright in its nest - a messy tangle of twigs and forest flotsam, crammed into the branches of a solitary tree - its stark silhouette looks as watchful as . . . well, as a bird of prey.

"If the bird is standing up, it means it must be very warm today, " whispers Alan Stewart, who led me to this spot a few miles outside of Perth. According to his sources, the osprey laid a clutch of eggs two, or maybe three just a few days ago. My guide explains that the bird wouldn't leave them uncovered for a moment unless the sunshine was strong enough to keep them sufficiently cosy. At this distance, he can't tell if it's a male or female, but it would be disruptive and potentially disastrous to move any closer. Since 1981, the osprey has been afforded the highest degree of legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

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Undercover in the Undergrowth with Over 40 Years of Experience in the Field, Alan Stewart Is the Man Charged with Protecting Tayside's Flora and Fauna. Graeme Virtue Goes On the Lookout with the Wildlife Detective

If I approached the nest, Stewart would probably arrange to have me arrested: he has been Tayside's Wildlife Crime Officer since the post was created in 1993, and like many in the area, he feels protective of the mating pairs that return to Perthshire every year.

It will take around five weeks for the eggs to hatch, and should any collector foolishly attempt to claim them in the meantime, it's most likely they'll have their collar felt by one of Stewart's colleagues, with the possibility of a fine of ...

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