LOCH ARKAIG (The Woodland Trust) - JUNE 2019

Aila's crop looks full too Keep up the good work Louis

Last evening a small whole fish was brought in, Aila looked very ready for it an immediately started tucking in and fed the chicks after a few bites for herself.

There was never a better view of this fish:

#2 got a few little bites, #1 got lots and lots of bigger ones.  #2 was leaning forward but needed to shift itself forward.

Returning from flyabout:

Poop time:

The occasional brief zuzz:

It had been raining lightly for most of the night.

A stretch preparatory to flyabout:

Then I got a 10-minute buffer.  I believe there's something wrong with the network card on that laptop but have not been able to fix it so far - I don't think that all the buffers are the cam's fault, but it probably is at this time of the morning.

Another of those small black fish:

This is just for the sake of Louis:

#2 did a lot better at breakfish feed :)

This is just for the sake of Aila ;)

Another feed during which #2 got some:

That whole fish was gone in under 10 minutes total, I'd say.  Aila just had the tailfin.

Up to 07:30.

I'm logging off for several hours.

Feeding time. Chicks looking strong. And it's not raining.

(c) WT Loch Arkaig

Aila's been very active!  First lots of preening:

Then... she could teach Louis a thing or two about stick selection!

Then she brought in a clump of ???

FISH !!!

Then a feed, both got some.

Aila's been having massive preenning sessions - don't tell me off !!!

This looked like ready-to-weave coconut matting material - there was a piece of bark caught up in it, maybe that was all she intended to pick up?

WHOPPER is back on the menu !!!

Then at least a 15-minute feed, #2 had a rest in the middle.

The coconut matting (with more bark to be seen within) got caught on Aila's talon and #2 got caught in the coconut matting:

Got out OK:

Aila carried on as if it wasn't there:

I'm having trouble navigating this hour.

After the feed Aila took the coconut matting all over the nest:

Most of it ended up at the front of the nest:

This is Louis arriving to seek out his fish:

I had to post that before finishing because it got unmanageable.

Louis had to disinter the fish, then started on some nibbles:

Aila arrived back:

Louis flew off with the fish - no blur !!!

Lots more preening:

Louis brought back some fish:

After a feaking potter Louis flew back to the stick tree, Aila fed the chicks with her back to us, then a muscle-relaxing stretch:

Potter-preen-preen, and then another one:

And another one!

More preening:

And another one o' them!

And, amongst the preening, yet another one o' them from a different angle again! ... Before flying off and returning with a tiny something:

Then!  Louis had obviously taken a lesson from Aila :)

Aila sorted Louis's stick:

Then more preening !!!  She can't get enough of it on this dry day :-*

Now she's not preening - oops, yes she is, just little nibbles.

What a happy, happy day, it's been so therapeutic and uplifting, going thru the past hours - thank you, Aila and Louis and the children :-*

Looks like that good stick from Louis was a mistake on his part ;)

Aila was left to sort this one:

Then another, as Aila shifts the existing log-like stick from back to front:

Louis's still on the nest, following someone we can't see, now both he and Aila have eyes on the skies.

17.19  Aila is brooding the osplets while Louis tucks into a fish beside her!  She has been calling quite loudly at times!

Initially I thought he was hanging his head in shame, but then I noticed the fish in his talons.  He was tucking in.  

Well, Aila, if you want a fish you have to claim it!

He landed with the fish about five minutes ago.  Aila remained brooding, and chuntering!

© The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP

Aila eventually took the fish, both chicks getting a good feed. Ian

EDIT - feed over, a good chunk of fish left for later (or for Louis!)