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
SheilaFE said:... I had snipped a few, but failed to post, so thank you for the vid, Geemeff! Is it another case of "will this be the last time we see her?"!
I'm clipping every sighting just in case, Sheila! Surely must be soon now. Old JJ6 is still having fun down in Somerset, fishing like an expert.
There was a camera jump between 18.29.57 -18.45.40, Vera was on the nest calling when it came back, departed at 18.51.04 so presumably no fish delivery during down time.
Ian S wrote the following post at 1 Sep 2020 2:59 PM:
patily said: I wonder what suddenly sparks them to go.....Doddie so early and Vera quite late?
I don't imagine we will ever know the answer to that. Ian
There are various theories about the amount of light hitting their eyes, and weather patterns, and females leaving later than males because they need more guaranteed calories from the male parent to fuel their bigger bodies, and the female parent leaving before the chicks, but the Ospreys don't seem to have read those theories - last year's two females had one early leaver (Aug 20th) and one late leaver (Sept 6th) and this year JJ6 left a whole week before Aila. So on balance, I think Ian's given the best answer!
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023
10.30 Morning all! Vera's perched up on Pole Tree ready to pounce on Louis should he materialise with a fish
JJ8 arrived at 9:57AM
12.22, JJ8 comes to the nest from the pole tree. 12.24, she leaves the nest. I've not done a snap for a few days, so I thought I would. Ian
(c) THE WOODLAND TRUST, LOCH ARKAIG OSPREY PROJECT - POST CODE LOTTERY
13.19, very nice fish delivered to JJ8 by Louis. JJ8 had arrived from the pole tree. 13.22, she flies with the fish. Ian
15.05, another large fish. I think JJ8 was shaping up to flap Louis off the nest but he took the hint before she did. She flies with the fish at 15.12. Ian
Louis brings fish number three at 16.39, but as JJ8's away still eating that whopper fish number two, he departs with it after a few seconds.