On the 15th of March the 360 cam went live and an Osprey landed on the nest. It didn't take too long for a pair to begin bonding:
Male: BlueAX6 "Axel" - Ringed at a nest in Glen Affric on 1st July 2016, he was the only survivor of 3 eggs.
Female: Unringed "Mistle" - a very beautiful specimen, according to our long view.
(Unofficial names - LG will decide on names if deemed appropriate.)
This inexperienced couple is bonding well - Axel has been a good provider, they're both enthusiastic nestbuilders, the only element that requires more work is the mating technique.
EDIT 01 JUNE - Axel & Mistle deserted the nest in May, apparently spooked by intruders. As there has been very little activity since then, this thread will continue to the end of the 2021 season, unless dictated otherwise by ospreys.
Photo ©RSPB LochGarten
Cam info kindly provided by Peter @ Carnyx.tv:
There is an identical camera and microphone on this nest as the HD camera at Llyn Clywedog (Osprey). However the nest was struck by lightning. This took out the camera, the camera power supply and the WiFi link back to the centre. We managed to replace the power supply and Wifi but it was too late in the season to climb to the nest.
IMAGICAT
Checked back to see that Mistle has returned to the nest and is refining the furnishings. She has freckles on the feathers beneath her wings, as I believe scylla may have remarked.
Imagicat || Tiger's links || 2022 LG Obs
Very sustained mating, 10/10.
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Mating, another success. It took two tries, but she was receptive and patient.
Another successful mating! Nest cup looks totally ready. EJ would approve...
Axel is on the nest with her at the moment, while she gently begs in the beautiful light of the evening. He lifts off... and mates again.
Both padding around the nest like an old married couple, she's upped her begging. Another mating, unsuccessful. He didn't quite get enough underneath. He is gone for now, and so must I go. SYAL.
Just for the sake of record keeping, I think I can say the following
15 April 16.15 when the cam was up and down, CRinger reported an osprey on the nest. Looks female and commented that it was unusual behaviour. She looked very much at home. My comment: I wonder whether she spent some time there last year, under the radar.
16 April Fergus posted on FB a pic, poss from the VC cam, of the nest and treecam with a osprey on the dead tree/treecam.
10.51 metal clip ring F landed on the nest, possibly Norwegian who might have been around in 2019 and seen at Aviemore in 2020. Mary's vid
11.19 Blue ringed male landed, later identified as AX6(16)m hatched Glen Affric. It was thought he might be a first time breeder
17 April the cam went down at 22.01, and it didn't return until 23 April 11.44, meanwhile
20 April Fergus reported on the Forum that an unringed F had been on and off the nest all day. She was more settled than other ospreys they had seen around the nest.
22 April LG posted on FB a screen grab of Blue ringed male and an unringed F on the nest - possibly a phone photo from the VC screen
23 April cams were live. LG reported: Unringed F on the nest, and a male has been skydancing
24 April the pair were on the nest on and off during the day
18.45 Unringed female was on the nest, Blue ringed male brought in a large fish, but flew off with it. and Scylla's vid
25 April 08.22 male landed with a large fish, and the female took it, immediately started to eat it on the nest. For the next hour where were many mating attempts while she was eating the fish, and although the landings were all rough and tumble, she shrugged or tipped him off.
12.44 LG reported that our new Blue ringed male was Blue AX(16), ringed at Glen Affric on 1 July 2016. He came from one of three eggs, the second chick was found dead in the nest at ringing. Despite his age, the Forum felt he was an first time breeder.
14.53 Scylla reported "tail up!!" - successful copulation. Was it the first success, or one of a few?
18.19 A second fish delivery of the day
26 April 06.23 Mike suggests that the female's speckled necklace makes him think of the chest of a mistle thrush. He will call her Mistle
26 April 09.44 Scylla suggested AX6 could be named Axel, continuing the Scandinavian theme set by Odin, and meaning "father of peace" or variations thereon.
Our new pair became know and Mistle and Axel, until the VC decides whether or not to give them names.
Since then the pair have remained loyal at the nest, bonding, and getting much more proficient at mating. I am not sure when the first mating success would have been, but it only takes one, I guess!! I'm still thinking of the weekend, but I don't know LOL
Some people think Ospreys are a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.