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
And a beautiful flyover video from George:
Osprey-eye view of Loch Arkaig Pine Forest
Stunning video Thank you for posting
fish
Can'tsee who is tucking into fish but thei sibling at the front is certainly protesting
C WT Loch Arlaig
06.20, Louis brings a fish to an empty nest, the noise off camera however tells us he is not alone. JJ8 lands and shouts for a bit. JJ7 (I think) lands and only then does JJ8 take the fish. JJ7 leaves almost immediately but returns later to claim the fish at 06.59. I didn't see JJ6 yesterday but there were reports of him being on the nest early morning. Does anyone know when he was last on the nest? Ian
EDIT - to answer my own question, it looks like JJ6 was last on the nest at 05.46 on Saturday (15 August).
Louis & JJ8
Louis, JJ8 & JJ7 (I think)
(c) THE WOODLAND TRUST, LOCH ARKAIG OSPREY PROJECT - POST CODE LOTTERY
12.23, JJ7 & JJ8 are on the nest when Louis brings in a flat fish. JJ7 cleverly circles behind JJ8 and sneaks between Louis' legs from behind to grab the fish. As noted in my previous post, still no sign of JJ6 (that I am aware of) since 05.46 on Saturday. Ian
14.24, JJ8 comes to the the nest as Aila brings in a whole fish. Aila looks very hollow cropped. JJ8 follows Aila off the nest. JJ7 come to the nest closely followed by JJ8 with the fish. Still no sign of JJ6, has he departed for the sun? Ian
The fish
Aila's empty crop
16.15, JJ7 & JJ8 are waiting as Louis brings in a fish. After a minor scuffle, JJ7 gets the fish. Louis' crop lookshealthier than Aila's did. I think all of the four fish brought to the nest today have been whole, Louis must have had one to himself. Ian
Ian S said:Still no sign of JJ6, has he departed for the sun?
A good thought Ian. He's 79 days old, the age at which Rothes fledged from LG in 2009 but somewhat early for the usual fledging age.
Unknown said:
Ian S said: Still no sign of JJ6, has he departed for the sun?
Since my post, I've read on WT chat that JJ0 (Mallie) was 80 days old (I nearly said years!) when last seen on the nest in 2019. Of course not being on the nest is not the same as actually heading south but his "disappearance" is not unique when judged against last year. Ian
Richard B
There's a helluva racket coming from Vera. EDIT. That was two hours ago, but here she is anyway. EDIT AGAIN. She's back, two hours later
(c) WT Loch Arkaig