Thought I'd start a separate thread for the posting of news, updates, pictures etc. from the nest at the Loch of the Lowes. Now that the first chick has hatched at Loch Garten the Daily Update page is going to get too unwieldy if it is used for news from LotL as well as LG, and the "News From Other Nests" is getting pretty full as well.
Chick #2 landed at 5:25.
If nothing goes right, go left! :-)
Now both and calling.
Thanks for reports and pics, Sandra. Good to know that they are enjoying themselves, flying around now that they've fledged.
I don't have time to come on here as often as I would like but was so pleased to see that Lady and her brood had had a 'Happy Ending' to their dramatic story this year.
Intruder about and Lady flew in to the nest with #1 chick and all three mantling.
Lady on her perch:
Hi Linda.
Yes, an experience none of us will forget! Sadly, they will be leaving us soon :-(
Sandra - That's a nice pic of Lady, above - have copied it for my folder, if you don't mind : - )
Evening everyone. So glad to see the nest cam is working as both were off when I headed up to LOTL this morning. What a lovely day I had there. The visitor centre and hides are much smaller than I imagined they would be and the distance from the hides to the nest greater than I imagined so photos are not great but if I can post anything worthwhile once I’ve downloaded them, I will. I arrived there a bit later than I had intended – at 1pm and left at 5pm just as they were closing the centre. Have been home about half an hour or so.
Lady has recovered really well from her illness and is making plenty of flights around the area although I only saw her fly from one tree to another the whole time I was there. Their eldest chick is larger than younger one possibly a female but also tends to win the fish at feeding time. Laird brought in a fish while I was there and younger chick was on the nest to receive it. Older chick flew to Lady’s perch but did not force younger chick to surrender the fish. Younger chick ate the whole fish all of which took place roughly between 2.30 and 3pm this afternoon. One of the chicks – not sure which but think eldest – has a favourite perch close to the water’s edge and did several ‘belly flops’ into the water. Apparently ospreys like to have a ‘bath’ and sometimes plunge themselves into the water with no intention of fishing (according to ranger – possibly Emma – she didn’t have a name badge) Same chick also made two or three practise fishing runs – gliding low over the water and dipping her talons in. It was really lovely to see and that wingspan – what a sight.
Staff there do believe that Lady will not survive migration this time and that this will be her last season which is sad but if indeed the worst does happen, they are very hopeful that the nest will be used by another osprey couple next season because of the number of intruders they have seen checking out the location. They are not sure whether her illness will trigger a change in Lady’s migratory timing making her go earlier or later than usual but she could start her migration any time within the next ten days.
So that’s as much as I can tell you. Staff were very helpful and appreciated the cakes and fresh local raspberries I took there. They were kind enough to lend me a pair of binoculars even though the centre was busy and by the end of the afternoon my arms were aching holding the binocs and my eyes could barely focus on anything distant but I’m hardy and have fully recovered. It was well worth the visit and I was really lucky with the calm mild conditions.
Emma, well done!!
I am so glad you had such a wonderful time there. It must have been so exciting seeing our Wonderful Lady and her young family.
What you have written here and described about our young batheing and practise fishing, I could picture and visualize it!
Can't wait to see some of your pics :-)
Thanks.
Oh Emma, thank you so much for all that detail. What a joy to see the family in reality and not on a computer. I note from what you say, that they think Lady will migrate. They were doubtful at one time, if she would even attempt to migrate. Sandra will be happy to hear that the younger one has eaten a whole fish today.
Once again Sandra, thanks for your pictures.