August is the month when we've seen the Loch Arkaig ospreys depart on their journey south. We've enjoyed watching them this year - the wonderful parenting skills of Aila and Louis, and the antics of their 3 chicks, Captain, Vera and Doddie.
Mary GK did an absolutely wonderful video summarising the 2020 season. Thank you so much Mary! And here is Geemeff's great compilation, thank you!
2020 last dates:
Doddie JJ6 was last seen at the nest on Saturday 15th August 2020
Aila was last seen on Saturday 22nd August 2020
Captain JJ7 was last seen on Sunday 23rd August 2020
Vera JJ8 was last seen on Saturday 5 September.
An unidentified osprey was seen off camera on Sunday 6 September eating a fish. This could well have been Louis, having arrived and found no Vera around to feed.
Doddie JJ6 was videod and photographed fishing for over a fortnight at Avalon Marshes in Somerset
Link to July 2020 thread
Link to Youtube channel
Link to Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig page/webcam feed
Two videos involving fish number five:
Doddie nearly lost it over the side, only just managed to retrieve it by grabbing the tail, his look of 'oh no what happened' is priceless! And then Doddie flying away with the remains, his first 'flight with fish' . Another milestone achieved, as well as a reliable indicator that this nest season is coming to its end.
Doddie nearly loses fish number five, whole trout 18.05.19
Doddie flies with his fish 18.44
Final fish of the day, number six, a headless trout 20.45.40
JJ8 landed on the nest this morning just before 5.50 am, she spotted an old fish tail lying on the nest, and started to eat it. JJ6 flew in and was looking longingly at her eating it
© THE WOODLAND TRUST, LOCH ARKAIG OSPREY PROJECT - POST CODE LOTTERY
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023
Mary - what a fabulous video - thanks very much.
You have captured the season beautifully.
The awesome threesome
(c) WT Loch Arkaig
08.46, all three chicks are on the nest as Louis delivers a whole fish. I won't give a blow by blow account of who gets what as it always evens itself out, JJ7 however gets the fish initially. Ian
(c) THE WOODLAND TRUST, LOCH ARKAIG OSPREY PROJECT - POST CODE LOTTERY
Ian S said:
Lovely photos, Ian, with the mist rising over the loch it's no wonder people often ask if there's a fire! As at 09.38, Captain is polishing off the tail, looks like he had the whole fish to himself.
Captain gives up on the tail and walks away, 09.41 Vera downs it instead, Doddie's not happy.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.