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
16.00 Louis has landed, looking around
16.02 Aila joins him
16.03 Louis leaves, Aila moves some nesting material around
16.05 She is still there on her own
© The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
"Louis & Aila 14:43-15:34 Fish to 'n fro, nestorising, intruder alert" (subsequent activities will be tackled after a break, SYAL):
16.07 Louis returns - I hadn't noticed before, but I think he had a fish in his talons. Aila made a grab for it and succeeded.
16.08 and Aila flew off with the fish
Louis nestorises and nestcups, but the wind it still strong enough to move the soft furnishings!
Next he attacks the large stick at the front of the nest
and 16.14 looks around him - what's that?
Not sure
Hmmm!
and a clear of the throat or a yawn!
More goes at the big stick
and then attends to soft furnishings again
16.31 Louis has flown
16.43 Louis returns with a long slender stick
and then a spot of nestcupping
and stands on lookout
Aila returns, fishless
Louis attempt to mate, but ended up just standing on her back
after which he flew off, and returned 16.53 to attack the big stick again
I think they are looking very much more at ease with one another today.
Edit: 17.04
17.07
and Louis flew off
17.19 Louis has returned, no mantling at all!!