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

scylla
05/04/2019 02:49

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

  • 15/04/2019 17:08
    I know what you mean, Scylla. I think Aila has grown more mature since last year and it's good to see they have been defending the nest together. Louis reminds me a bit of a better trained George, but I have a lot more faith in Louis! Time will tell, and they did produced the lovely Lachlan in year one. I do hope we get to see or hear of him at some point.
    Aila remains on the nest alone.

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • 15/04/2019 17:13

    Aila is calling.... Louis drops down and yay, I think contact was made this time!!  He has flown, Aila picks up a stick and places it on the right side.

    © The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • 15/04/2019 17:23
    Looking around at some of the other nests I think Louis needs to up his game in building it up. This nice soft bouncey cup seems to be full of sticks and debris and not at all inviting to nestle a clutch of eggs in, let alone the barriers to prevent wandering chicks from falling out! Perhaps they are waiting a break in the wind!

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • 15/04/2019 17:27
    Louis just did 2 paddlings but didn't get Aila to respond fully. One could hope she's too eggy, but it seems early in view of history this season.

    IMAGICAT

  • 15/04/2019 17:30
    17,29 Louis has taken off again. I like the way she calls gently and he comes to mate!

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • 15/04/2019 18:17 in reply to SheilaFE
    SheilaFE said:
    Looking around at some of the other nests I think Louis needs to up his game in building it up. This nice soft bouncey cup seems to be full of sticks and debris and not at all inviting to nestle a clutch of eggs in, let alone the barriers to prevent wandering chicks from falling out! Perhaps they are waiting a break in the wind!

    Its pretty difficult for nest building at the moment with 30 mph winds blowing straight up the valley and over the nest.

    I expect Louis will be pretty busy over the Easter weekend rebuilding.

    Richard B

  • 15/04/2019 18:20

    Yes, Richard, I can almost feel the strength of it just by watching the nest swaying!

    After clearing her throat and looking around, she flew off at around 17.40, opening her wings and almost without a beat she glided over the back.
    Currently ENS

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • 15/04/2019 21:41
    Thank you all so very much for the information and pics and news. i am really encouraged by this nest now. I hardly have time to watch these days so it's good to be able to find relevant and pertinent news re Aila and Louis.
    Have to agree - it's a pretty bare nursery at the moment but as Richard says ... it's hardly the weather to do anything except hold on to their tail feathers. Calmer and warmer weather (I understand) is coming along so I am sure Richard is correct in saying Louis will be busy over the Easter weekend.
  • 16/04/2019 01:54
    Have just found that I switched off the recorder at one minute to 6 this evening and didn't switch it back on - it's too long ago to roll back to cover the next couple of hours so we'll just have to hope nothing life-changing happened :(

    IMAGICAT

  • 16/04/2019 05:45

    Louis's been waiting for some time, I can't check if he's been on 'n off 'n back, because you-don't-want-to-know-why.

    IMAGICAT