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LOCH ARKAIG - The Woodland Trust - May 2020

Korky
30/04/2020 22:57

Link to April thread

Louis arrived on the 5th April and Aila a day later. They were quickly into the old routine of making the nest cosy, stickifying, catching and eating fish, and mating of course. Three eggs were laid ON THE SAME DATES as last year - 23rd, 26th and 29th April. Last year's eggs hatched on 1 and 4 June, although egg 2 failed during hatching and was removed from the nest on 7 June. Let's hope for a healthy trio this year, although we don't want a repeat of snow on 13 May.
  • 20/05/2020 23:56 in reply to Mary C
    Unknown said:
    Thank you again for taking the time to do it

    Thank you for taking the time and trouble to let us know we're useful, MaryC :)

    I'm just sauntering thru the day, here was Aila with the "powdered snow" look during an undisturbed night - but needless to say she didn't allow herself much sleep:

    Couldn't resist a portrait in the pre-breakfish misty light:

    10:17, this should have been a fish!

    12:32 a sturdy stick from Aila:

    14:11 - good whole fish but not very photogenic:

    Aila's clump:

    18:37 - I'm glad that Louis had eaten quite a bit of this fish, as he looked quite thin and certainly empty-cropped earlier:

    After 21:30 Louis brought 2 sticks, neither risible ;) in quick succession and did some housework, very sweet - then he flew off out to the left:

    Aila is so far dry tonight.

    IMAGICAT

  • 21/05/2020 07:21

    Good Morning All

    Thanks for the catch up Scylla - beautiful misty portrait ….  

    I have scrolled back over 3 hours, and can see no fish delivery as yet. 

    This is this mornings catch up. 

    Aila incubating blissfully

    Louis arrives with a cot side (a big one) Smiley

    Aila flies off and Louis begins to place it to where he thinks it should be

    Aila arrives back with a mini cot side

    Louis flies off and Aila goes to almost settle down on the eggs, when she sees the new addition, gets up and places it where she thinks it should go

    Quite proud of herself she is

    She then nods off now and again

    She is awaiting breakfast, hopefully she won't have to wait too long. 

    © THE WOODLAND TRUST, LOCH ARKAIG OSPREY PROJECT - POST CODE LOTTERY

     EJ's Memorial  Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023

  • 21/05/2020 07:23

    Morning all, no major activity to report so far this morning. Aila briefly left the eggs at 05.16 but was back within a minute. Louis brought in a less than brilliant stick at 05.25 and had a wee lie down on the eggs. Aila had a bit of a tidying up session at 05.54 to 05.56 approx, I think Louis' stick has joined the (what must be huge) pile of sticks on the ground below the nest. Ian

  • 21/05/2020 07:29

    Louis has just arrived back with another big stick.   Aila not pleased she is chirping she wants fish.  

     EJ's Memorial  Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023

  • 21/05/2020 08:55
    Any hopes Aila had of an early fish are dashed. 08.51, Louis is back with (this time) a sensible stick. He takes over incubation. Ian
  • 21/05/2020 09:03

    Wee shoogle of the eggs by Aila, then as Ian says, Louis arrives, no bacon, but takes over.

    (c) WT Loch Arkaig

  • 21/05/2020 12:01

    11.59, decent sized headless fish, Aila takes it in accordance with procedure! Ian

  • 21/05/2020 13:03
    12.31, Aila returns empty taloned. She has to employ the "hitting with stick" and "standing on tail" techniques to move Louis. It takes a couple of minutes but eventually he relinquishes the eggs to her. Ian
  • 21/05/2020 18:14
    I've been offline for a few hours, here is a brief summary of the afternoon. 16.24, Aila leaves the nest with a couple of alarm calls. She returns at 16.27. At 17.00 Louis brought in a reasonable headless fish which Aila took per the operating manual. 17.43, Louis is on the eggs and gives about half a dozen alarm calls whilst looking skyward, he stays put so not leaving the eggs. Louis is currently incubating. Ian
  • 21/05/2020 18:21 in reply to Ian S
    Thanks Ian, much appreciated.