LOCH ARKAIG (The Woodland Trust) - JULY 2019

Aila responds to an intruder that must have followed her to the nest

She is wasting no time before she tucks into the fish.  Where's Mallie now that there is fish around!

She is also keeping an eye on the skies around her - looking for the girls perhaps, or the intruder?

14.58  Aila has flown with her fish off to the right

© The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP

I think this is Aila who's brought her fish in and a juvie taken it, Aila is slightly alarm calling.

(Sorry, can't watch properly at the mo.)

Hi SCYLLA No sign of Aila Youngster doing well with the fish Just swallowed a great long strand

Rannoch has arrived and has found some pieces of fish dropped by Aila

15.02 Aila returns with the fish which Rannoch grabs

Aila flies off - intruder?  Rannoch drops

Nah, no probs, get on with eating the fish

Eating a big fish can be difficult to control!

Aila intruder called off the nest

15.09  and Rannoch hits the deck

15.09 back to eating the fish

15.12 it suddenly got quite gusty and Rannoch needed her wings to keep her upright.  Then back to the fish!

© The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP

Accordingto the chat it is Rannoch with the fish

Oooh!  I was convinced it was Rannoch!  In fact I would swear it was Rannoch!  JJ2 on the blue ring I think.

She has now had her fill, and there is a fair portion remaining.

Ten minutes ago she was on the right side and with a squeal she dropped away!

Aila returned to claim the left over fish.

Lots of buffering my end now but chat said she flew off at 15.57.

Nice to see the sun out again.

I really must go and get on with other things, but just to say I have a pair of collard doves and a female pheasant under the feeders and three goldfinches and four blue tits on them. Two blackbirds have just flown and a f chaffinch has arrived! Ain't nature wonderful! Sorry, off topic!
ENS and a sunny scene

CATCHUP - after an empty-nested night for the first time :'(

Not unusually, a misty morning:

First appearance, I don't know which juvie it was:

A little preen and looked around:

Flew - she eventually meandered out of the top-right corner as a speck:

Back again (if the same one):

Some prance-flapping:

This time flew downwards, I couldn't see where she went:

Someone back for 13? minutes:

First FISH !!!  Mallie got it - protested when (presumably) Rannoch landed on the campost, Rannoch came down and tried to take the fish, got a discarded morsel which was too difficult/unpalatable to eat, eventually got fish, Mallie flew completely out of sight past both notable trees, Rannoch even ate tailfin for the cam:

Aila had already been on the nest a couple of times, this time she came to defend, couldn't see intruder:

Louis brought her a FISH :)

She ate some, then fed Rannoch:

Another intruder alert:

Peace:

Despite that fish from Louis earlier, Aila looks empty-cropped:

Lots of hanging around by both juvies, then Aila brought a clump:

EDIT - Forgot video of Mallie trying to take Aila's leg off:

Very basics of Aila with fish defending and bringing again for Rannoch:

.

That's all I shall be contributing for a long while.  Hope I haven't duped you, SHEILA, I saw your great snaps but you know about my short-term memory probs ;) xxx

Aila called, intruder warning, a short while ago, but didn't come to the nest. Now Mallie is in full flow demanding fish, having missed out on the last one which Aila brought in and later finished when Rannoch had had her fill.