I think this will be an interesting season at Loch Arkaig - who is going to take residence is the big question?
For me it doesn't matter who, just as long as the nest is occupied.
LINK TO 2021 THREAD
LINK TO LOCH ARKAIG OSPREYS WEBSITE
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023
Permission granted! Here's Kristofer Wilson's brilliant photo from yesterday, and an enlargement showing the ring in close-up:
Another Doddie update from Kristofer this morning about 9am:
Doddie (JJ6) is still present today for his 3rd day on Shetland. He has moved to the bigger loch next door the Loch of Voe.
More good news: two other photographers were also at Sae Water yesterday, and captured fabulous shots of Doddie.
Tim Smith yesterday: … and then this happened at Sae Water! Worth the wait. Ring marking JJ6 Hunted and dived from approx 300ft
today 7.30am: Meet ‘Doddie’ voted & named after Doddie Weir by 10,000 @BBCBreakfast viewers during lockdown - Fledged from Loch Arkaig & ringed JJ6 on 2nd July 2020, so his 2nd return visit to the UK. Seen yesterday hunting high over Sae Water #Shetland #osprey a rare visitor to these islands
Andy Hall yesterday: Great moment on Shetland today with this Osprey at Sae Water
Have asked for permission to share photos.
The first news article is out there! Celebrity Osprey visits - that's our Doddie! With a lovely photo from Tim Smith
Reproduced here as it's now public domain.
https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2022/05/23/excitement-for-bird-watchers-as-celebrity-osprey-visits
George Anderson of Woodland Trust Scotland said: “This is the second time Doddie has found the limelight since leaving Loch Arkaig.
“He has found a keen audience amongst Shetland’s birders. It is almost as if raised on camera as he was, this bird was born to be a celebrity.”
And another photo from Kristofer Wilson in the Shetland Times article above
11.14 Unseen intruder causes Dorcha to leave the nest unattended
C1 and C2 13.42: RAF flypast
23.40.02 Owl strike! The owl comes from left to right and strikes Dorcha, she knew it was about as she'd been looking round restlessly and was all puffed up. Hooting was heard even before night cam switched over at 22.59.15, and hooting was heard for about an hour after the strike.
Doddie still making the news, the Oban Times today. Article’s behind a paywall but you can see another fab photo from Kristofer Wilson:https://twitter.com/geemeff/status/1529134455285235712