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:
.
IMAGICAT
Louis returned a couple of minutes ago, and I think downed the last bit of fish! He was looking around, so perhaps he returned before he had completely finished! The pair are together.
Togetherness
© The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
12.10 Wham bam, thank you ma'm
He is back, and flown!
The nest remained empty until about 15.20 when Louis arrived with a whopping headless fish. Aila landed and Louis mantled over his fish. She didn't make a quick move to grab it, and Louis flew off with it. Oh dear.
Aila remained standing there she landed
Aila looked, possibly thinking about going in for the fish, but didn't
Louis wasn't taking any chances, and flew off
Aila remained on the nest. I wasn't sure whether I heard a few intruder chips, but if I did, it came to naught.
15.47 Aila has a spot of shut eye
Waiting for Louis to return, she calls gently 15.48.
15.51 The call is more persistent and Louis returns with the fish. This time Aila grabs it.
and has flown with it. Louis attends to the housework. Actually, having nest cupped, he does a spot of flossing on the sticks, and does another nest cup!
16.10 Aila returned with the tail end, and was quickly joined by Louis
who quickly took it from her and flew off - with it in his beak!!!
Aila remains (16.15) on the nest, pottering, watching and nestorising
16.16 Louis returned and they stand companionable side by side
Egg at 1836
© The Woodland Trust
Richard B
© Scottish Wildlife Trust - Loch of the Lowes