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
A few snips of her earlier visits.
05.57 calling for breakfish
06.05 where are you Dad?
She flew at 06.06
06.57 she returns
07.01 looking serene
07.01 she flew off again
07.19 she returns, ever hopeful
07.20 was the last time I have seen her so far - I have other tabs and things open, but surely I would have heard her arrival!!
© The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
JJ8 has returned. It is getting more blustery and now raining
and yes, it was her arrival call that alerted me!!
12.28, JJ8 comes to the nest. Ian
EDIT - after calling on and off, she leaves at 12.35.
12.28 JJ8 is back. Calling loudly and looking intently. Is Louis hiding from her?
I just wonder whether she saw him and landed in hope, again.
12.32 more loud calling looking to the right and behind - a perch?
It's quite windy too. Waiting.... 12.34 Has Louis got a fish? So many unponderables!
Oh dear, where is Louis. Has he abandoned her? It's very windy
Time for a quick preen
I think there must have been another osprey flying thru. She called angrily and sort of mantled briefly
14.47
The nest is blowing a lot in the wind.
15.02 JJ8 has flown. Is the last we will see of her? She was on the nest for quite a while, not calling. Perhaps considering her migration?
Edited, with thanks!
Sheila "Oh dear, where is Louis. Has he abandoned her?" As far as we know, he left last year before JJ2 did, so there is a chance. Or possibly the conditions are so bad he can't fish. JJ8 has left again. Ian