LOCH ARKAIG (c)The Woodland Trust - 04 April 2019...

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:

.

  • Approx 06.40, Louis brings in a headless fish. Aila takes it without any fuss & flies. Ian
  • Aila incubating but she is calling Louis Doe she want brunch or a break?
  • A it of both I imagine, Patily!  She sounded quite persistent when Louis was on the nest.

    11.25 Aila checked her eggs, calling gently all the time

    11.41 she became aware of something and spent a little time checking it out, but didn't get up.  Perhaps it was Louis

    11.48 Louis popped in, and her calls got louder and more persistent.  He soon flew off, and since then she has remained quiet.  Presumably he is out of sight.

    © The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP

  • Aila has taken a short comfort break and returned to the nest cup, incubating.
  • 13.48  FISH DELIVERY!

    Aila grabs it, but pauses before leaving.  Whew she has flown with it!

    Louis takes over incubation

    © The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP

  • 14.27 Aila has returned with a twig!  She creaps up the side of Louis and leans against him, talons under him... that didn't work so she pick up the twig and dropped it.

    she tends to an itch.. looks at her feet, picks up a morsel from the nest. Moves one foot and Louis rises!

    She is quickly on to the eggs, head first, he pauses then flies off 14.30

    © The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP

  • CATCHUP

    The clump was shifted from side to side over and over:

    And the bark travelled too:

    The breakfish - she flew thataway again:

    INSERT - FISH HANDOVER JUST TAKING PLACE 15:54.

    Continuing from above.

    She didn't bring any fish back - Louis looked to us for sympathy:

    Louis brought strawy stuff, then took over while Aila had a break:

    Aila returning:

    Louis brought a dry, springy clump:

    The 13:47 FISH !!!  (Only just seeable - he's taken to flying in from slightly behind us on the left.):

    No fish brought back again - just strawy stuff:

    FISH !!!  (as insert above)

    Louis had it by the head and the tail:

  • Aila is back, fishless again!  She's eating well today, for a change ;)

    Louis's not getting up and she doesn't mind:

  • That last fish was huge!  Where did she put it, or did she, like Louis, drop it when harried by those darned crows, I wonder!  What a good boy he's been today.  Wasn't that the third fish of the day?

    17.00 It looks as tho it's raining now.  Aila is incubating.  And she gives a gentle call!!!

    © The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP

  • SCYLLA slightly mis-reported:

    Louis's not getting up, Aila doesn't mind.

    I did a video for YouTubers with snaps of the 3 fish (yes, SHEILA, innit good?!) and then Aila's too-mild attempts to get Louis to move ;)