The arrival of our couple, virtually together, was first snapped @ 19:12
©SANDRA !!!
©RICHARD G B
©SHEENA
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Yikes !!! I thought I must have missed it but it's all there waiting for attention :)))
Thank you, everyone, for the super captures and info :)
I can't believe they arrived together - but they did! ;-D
Three matings altogether, only the first successful, IMHO. They were on the nest nearly 13 minutes, this is cut down to 5 but no significant activity missing - you know how they like to stand and (males) mantle and (females) look a bit nonplussed ;)
UNCUT VERSION:
The first was the best ;)
He sat here for ages after his second nestcupping:
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IMAGICAT
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Richard B
UPDATE ON TODAY'S FISH
Louis brought a good headless fish and Aila flew with it @ 08:55 this morning - no T&Ts:
She returned with a piece @ 09:23:
She had a sit-down in the nestcup for about 3 minutes:
I saw at least 3 successful matings among the mishaps and Aila's unresponsiveness. This was a good one:
After several ons 'n offs by the 2 of them, Louis turned up with half a fish - but he wouldn't let Aila have it and ate it on the nest. It looked like the Mullet that Monty and Telyn eat from the inside and get left with the skin to deal with.
Here he is tugging hard:
Down went the tailfin:
He flew off, Aila waited, left, returned, waited... and finally gave up and flew.
Birdies LG DU update.
Around 0930 Aila arrived, clearly knew a fish was on its way. Louis arrives and she grabs it flies off.
© THE WOODLAND TRUST, LOCH ARKAIG OSPREY PROJECT
A lovely day at LA, with a gentle-ish breeze and sunshine. Louis and Aila on the nest together. Louis pretending to ignore Aila's gentle calls...now getting louder!
Then I realised he had a fish!! which he proceeded to eat on the nest, in front of her, while she called
Down to the skin
© The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP
12.53 tail fin disappeared down Louis' throat, he checks for bits, and drops into the cup to nestorise. All the while Ails calls
he got up and stood on the far rim before taking off, only to return, land on her back and an attempted mating. Not sure it was successful. Louis flew off, followed a minute or so later by Aila. ENS 12.58