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
Vera, eating with a side order of gusto
(c) WT Loch Arkaig
That's a lot of fish she's got, thank goodness
Turns out Vera swapped a scrag end for a whopper from dad
15.38, thanks to those who posted during my unauthorised absence, I've just logged on (been on gardening duty) to see a large chunk of fish on the nest. The heavy rain might keep it reasonably fresh. Ian
EDIT - there may be two bits of fish on the nest, the large obvious bit and remains of a flat fish at the centre bottom of the screen.
Vera's having a fish-tastic day
The delivery was by Louis at 16.12. JJ8 had a few pecks at the fish that has just arrived but is now eating the large chunk that has been lying on the nest. Ian
(c) THE WOODLAND TRUST, LOCH ARKAIG OSPREY PROJECT - POST CODE LOTTERY
16.33 JJ8 is on the nest when Aila arrives with a very large flat fish. JJ6 turns up and doesn't know who to take fish from (JJ8 or Aila). Eventually he settles for the fish that Louis brought in at 16.12. Aila had let go of the flat fish but she has to step on it as it starts flapping. 16.38, Aila is feeding JJ8 from the flat fish she has just brought in while JJ6 continues to eat from the 16.12 fish. Ian
Aila delivers a very large flat fish.
JJ6 thinking of stealing from JJ8 before he changes his mind.
Aila just about to deal with the flapping flat fish
16.54, JJ8 has stopped looking for food (at approx 16.46) from Aila. She is still not eating much compared to JJ6 who is tucking in for Scotland. Ian
EDIT - 16.57, she is now taking food from Aila again.
...and JJ7 lands on the nest with a flat fish which I assume he didn't catch himself
17.04, after leaving some of the 16.12 fish at 17.02, JJ6 has a good feak of his beak & flies off. 17.05, JJ7 arrives and takes the flat fish from Aila. Aila starts eating the (trout?) that has been lying for a while. JJ7 spots the small bit of fish that JJ6 left & starts on that in preference to the flat fish. Ian
JJ7 is now standing with a small piece in his foot & being fed by Aila from the trout. JJ8 is not eating despite there being two flat fish (by my reckoning) on the nest. 17.16, Aila now feeding both JJ7 & JJ8.