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
Special bonus! Long-lens footage of Sarafina off the nest with her fish, thanks to LizB, who says:
"I managed to follow Sarafina when she left the nest with her 18.21 fish. She landed on the same tree I saw her fly to after she'd been practicing her fishing manoeuvres and dives in the loch the other day. I initially thought she'd dropped the fish as she left the nest in such a hurry and she sat for some time not eating, but eventually she started to eat and I was able to get a short video clip around 18.40. She was still sitting in the same spot at 20.30 as dusk was falling."
Wednesday 31st August Good morning! Business as usual as an early fish is delivered for Sarafina
06.02.54 Fish number one, live brown trout
Another live brown trout, this poor fish is still flapping as Sarafina tears into it
14.35.14 Fish number two, big flapping BT
Louis brings a third fish to the empty nest, waits patiently for five minutes, no takers, so he departs with his fish. The silence is unusual. LizB reports Sarafina's still in her favourite perching tree eating fish number two, which was pretty big and delivered an hour and a half before number three.
16.04.47 Fish number three, headless BT
16.09.26 Louis leaves with the fish
1st September: they’re still here! Little birds visited both nests this morning, Hoodies too, before Louis brought a fish at 13.36.
08.50 Songbirds on Nest Two as Osprey calls are heard nearby (sounds like Sarafina)
09.48 Little birds on Nest One
13.36.06 Fish number one, whole mackerel. Sarafina arrives seconds before Louis.
Is this the last sighting of Sarafina on the nest? 13.41
Answer: no it's not! She's just turned up and received a fish from Louis
17.16.22 Fish number two, headless BT
17.41.45 Sarafina departs in a hurry with her fish, alarm calling
Friday 2nd September Early morning calls were heard off camera getting more insistent, then Sarafina arrived on the nest at 06.10.56 followed a couple of minutes later by Louis with breakfast
06.13.15 Fish number one, headless BT