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
Another perspective of the nest area: Liz Bracken took a clip of the temperature inversion round the loch at 7.20 this morning so I did one from the nest cam at the same time:
Liz' clip of the temperature inversion seen from the loch 07.20
Temperature inversion seen from the nest 07.20
14.51, JJ7 is on the nest when the phantom shadow approaches, the shadow being Louis delivering a fish. JJ7 is joined by his siblings. Ian
The shadow
The shadow identified
(c) THE WOODLAND TRUST, LOCH ARKAIG OSPREY PROJECT - POST CODE LOTTERY
Ian S said:
Fabulous shadow, Ian! You've caught it perfectly.
16.41, JJ6 & JJ8 are on the nest when Aila ("dot" markings) brings in a whole fish. JJ6 gets it (I think). Ian
EDIT - it was JJ8 who got the fish. I think JJ6 had Aila's talon instead,
17.54, JJ8 has eaten enough. JJ6 takes over the fish, JJ8 flies at 17.55. Ian
18.37, JJ6 had polished off the tail of the previous fish at 18.33. He is the only one on the nest when Louis delivers a flat fish. Louis lets it go and flies, the fish looks like it is going to flap off the nest but eventually JJ6 takes control of it. Ian
Another fish sneaked in at 15.36, fish number four brought by Louis. Aila's fish at 16.41 was fish number five.
Fish number four, headless trout 15.33.49
21.06, Louis brings a headless fish to an empty nest. JJ6 comes to the nest at 21.10, Louis flies off leaving him the fish. JJ6 flies with the fish at 21.11. Ian
Louis