LOCH ARKAIG - THE WOODLAND TRUST - APRIL 2021 to END OF FEBRUARY 2022

Geemeff said:

there is talk that the emaciated female is Aila in such poor condition that her markings don't look the same and an ID can be better made if she returns after a good meal or two. Personally I don't think it's her, face markings a bit different, but the main reason I think not is that worn out or not, she wouldn't be silent!

Thinking about it, if Aila had got into trouble, making her so late coming home - maybe she could have got into this condition?

But I instantly thought it was a skinny male, it never entered my head it could be female until wondering about the strange non-aggressive behaviour of the fish-holder.

scylla said:

I've been up to GEEMEFF's channel to check and, sure enough, the video of the 2 on the nest is there, she must have forgotten to post it here.  I didn't discover that, however, until I'd got waylaid by her beautiful cats - oh no, not another furry family to keep track of  

Ha! If you think the cats are good, wait til you see my dragons!

Me: OMG 15.39 on lots of action, strange female, Louis excited. He left, she’s staying. Very bedraggled Aila??? Maybe??

Scylla: Scuse me for being ultra confused, but I don't have anyone at all on the nest at that time  ...I think there may have been a typo, we have a lander @ 15:48...

Me: I thought I had posted the videos here, sorry about that. After seeing your comment I checked and I had another tab open which appears to have frozen when I hit post. Hmmmm. Probably too many tabs open but the action was so thick and fast this afternoon, plus loads of whatsapp messages with the other WT cam volunteers, that I kept opening new tabs rather than taking time to shut down old ones so froze my post mid-way.

Yes a typo, should have said 15.32 not 15.39 - the female stranger first appeared when Louis arrived bearing fish number three at 15.32.50, briefly, then a much longer return at 15.48, stayed more than half an hour. This is what I posted on WT chat:

https://youtu.be/Hp6CGIv1gQQ ; Louis and fish number four? Or number three returning? followed by a Hoodie 19.40.17
https://youtu.be/OpyGsxeMGwE  Is this emaciated female Aila the Loch Arkaig Osprey? 15.48-16.19 (raw unedited footage)
https://youtu.be/JbV5G0B2isg  Louis and the strange female - or is it Aila? 15.48 -15.55
https://youtu.be/bsD5tG-ma_U  Fish number three followed by a strange female 15.32.50
https://youtu.be/yPTXIxs-4P8 ; Fish number two: Louis brings his lunch to the nest 13.09.08
https://youtu.be/Cnif4BNYFuM ; Louis arrives with fish number one 05.18.01

I still don't think it is Aila - Sorry!

I would love it to be her but something to consider is, if it was Aila do you think she would not be returning to the nest after all this time, would she stay away so long, it is around 15 hours now since they were on the nest, do you not think as it is Aila's nest that she would not be coming back to the nest even on her own without Louis.

Looking at Scylla's video, at 11 seconds in you can see the underwing dots pattern. Whilst this bird has dots underwing, I don't think they match Aila's five dots. Whereas Louis has a "moustache" just under his beak, Aila has a "goatee beard". The new bird also has the "goatee". For me though the clincher that it is not Aila is the forehead. Aila has a very pronounced almost vertical front to the forehead, whereas Louis has a more sloping forehead. The forehead of the new bird is nothing like Aila's (I think). If pushed, I would even go as far to say the new bird looked like a male to me, albeit the fact that it is very underfed makes this judgement difficult. Ian

Unknown said:

Thanks, everyone. Geemeff, do you think it was Aila?

I don't think it was Aila. front head markings quite different, not as defined eyebrows, and shallow necklace. The main thing for me was absence of sound, Aila would have screamed her head off whatever her condition. I did want it to be Aila though! And it's encouraging that we're still getting returnees so far north so late in April.

Ian S said:

Looking at Scylla's video, at 11 seconds in you can see the underwing dots pattern. Whilst this bird has dots underwing, I don't think they match Aila's five dots. Whereas Louis has a "moustache" just under his beak, Aila has a "goatee beard". The new bird also has the "goatee". For me though the clincher that it is not Aila is the forehead. Aila has a very pronounced almost vertical front to the forehead, whereas Louis has a more sloping forehead. The forehead of the new bird is nothing like Aila's (I think). If pushed, I would even go as far to say the new bird looked like a male to me, albeit the fact that it is very underfed makes this judgement difficult. Ian

I agree with you Ian - I also first thought it was male as so small, but Louis' behaviour makes it quite clear this was a female. Wondering if it might be a first time returnee? Made for an interesting day yesterday, and great timing by Jason at Wildlife Windows getting the back-up cam running in time to see all this.

Also agree with Mary, if it were Aila, she would have been back by now.

It may not be Aila, but Louis isn't wasting any time today!

13.33  Louis and yesterday's female landed together.  Louis went into  faux mantling mode

13.34

He flew off... and immediately returned for round two

She tipped him off on both occasions, and some sticks went flying the second time..

© The Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig OP/Postcode Lottery

Slo-Mo video of the two failed mating attempts.   At least she is still around, so I hope she stays so the nest does not fail this season.