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
15.36, JJ8 has flown off in the direction of the loch. Ian
16.48, JJ8 comes back to the nest as Louis delivers a fish. She leaves with it at 16.49. Ian
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
She is very quiet now, holding on to the half fish, looking around. 17.45 has now begun to tuck in.
twisting a beakful from the fish
Is Louis taunting her from a perch, with his flat fish?
and back to her fish
© The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP
The last bit of fish has disappeared down her gullet
She cleans her beak, has a shake 17.57
and she flies off 17.58
18.34 she returns with gentle chips, looking for Louis
It seems she is still hungry!
Here's the disappearing flatfish video, I used the screenshot of them peering in amazement at the spot where it disappeared as the thumbnail:
18.55 she flew off after periods of contemplation and calling. She is just off the snip!