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
I missed that CRinger, thanks.
13.59.04 Axel returned, bringing some of the fish back. There was another struggle to let go
Mistle tries to grab it
Mistle stayed holding the fish. Axel crept up and attempted to take it back, but Mistle pecked him just above his beak - don't you dare!
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
They really have been wonderful today. A fish. Nearly all the time one or 'tuther has been on nest. They have shared the fish too
Just for the record. from about 10.00
10.47.54 Mistle returned to the nest, possibly defending against unseen intruder
10.48.00 Mistle looks behind her intently
10.50.18 Mistle reacts to unseen intruder that appears to fly around the nest. She turns 360 degrees, shadow seen as osprey flies down and past the nest – carrying a fish?
Carrying a fish, blue Darvic on left leg and BTO on the right leg
10.51 Intruder still around
10.54 Mistle intruder calls and mantles again. It's overhead, flash of wing on the top fish of the screen
10.55.17 Mistle takes off – after intruder, or to get away.
10.55.57 Mistle returns alert
10.57.47 Mistle mantles, calls
10.58.10 F unringed intruder tries to land, Mistle rises and attacks her, seeing her off
11.01.57 Mistle shakes her feathers. Incident over?
11.20 Mistle calling for fish – is Axel within sight?
11.38 FISH Axel arrives with a headless fish. Just the one up to 18.03
11.38.36 Mistle takes off with the fish
11.41 Axel flies off
11.45 Osprey, Mistle?, found on a tree
11.48.20 Cam pans and back to the nest
12.20 Cam pans again, and finds Mistle ? eating a fish on a tall dead pine
12.24.30 Cam pans again, back to branch of open tree top- osprey preening.
12.24.52 Close-up – it's Mistle – weird It's Axel, keeping guard!
12.33.03 Axel returns to the nest
12.35.57 Axel flies
12.38.35 Axel and Mistle return. Leftover fish transferred with a struggle. Axel takes it and flies off
12.42.57 Mistle is pottering
13.22 Mistle still sitting doing little.
13.37.20 Axel returns with the fish tail. Mistle takes it. The fish lies to the left of her talons
13.40 Axel flew off and returned to mate – it is quite windy. I'm not sure whether it was a success
Axel flew off again and stayed away this time.
13.58.4 Axel returned, and wanders around the nest.
14.00.5 Axel flew off
14.09.18 Mistle picked up the tail end and started to eat.
14.11 Mistle flew off with the fish tail
14.12 Axel returned – where's the fish?!!
14.23.50 Mistle brought the fish tail back. Axel pulled and tugged to get it from her grasp. She hung on. He had another go and she pecked him!
14.25.20 Axel it roaming the nest, and has another go at pinching the fish. Mistle is having nothing of it. Axel flew off.
14.28 Cam went roaming again, looking for Axel.
14.30 Found him on a tree perch
14.34.32 Back to the nest, and Mistle, just standing.
14.52.40 Mistle ate some more fish. Raining.
15.18.07 Continuing to eat
15.26 She is down to the tail fin. A shake of the head and it's gone.
15.29 A bit of twig moving, and towards the cup.
15.35.48 Axel lands on her back – and a successful mating with gusto!
Axel flew off. Mistle flaps her wings and gives her feathers a shake before cleaning her bill on a handy piece of wood.
15.47.30 Mistle has flown
15.48.34 Axel returned
15.44.02 Axel had flown
16.14.58 Mistle has returned
16.16.40 Axel lands on her back – not sure whether it was successful.
Axel flew off
16.59.36 Mistle has flown ENS
17.04.54 Mistle landed on the far rim, looking very wet - it was raining earlier
Followed by Axel, who landed on 'our' side, he took looks wet. It's continued to rain I assume.
17.10.49 Axel flew off
Mistel remains on the nest.
edit: 18.15 Mistle has flown
Terrific summary, SHEILA
SheilaFE said:
Here are snippets up to that point - you may judge how the two are getting on - it doesn't look brilliant but it's nice to see Mistle commanding her fish-piece
I shan't be doing any more for a while.
Sandra P said:WOW! What a super summary of the day so far, Sheila - thank you!
A superbly scintillating summary! Hats off to Sheila!
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.