LOCH ARKAIG - THE WOODLAND TRUST - MARCH 2022 TO END OF FEBRUARY 2023

Willow's wonderful wings in slo-mo with zoom 07.34

Fish number two, large headless BT, Willow is waiting and grabs it 10.32.43

Hoodie cleaning crew move in 11.01

Fish number three, slightly munched trout for Sarafina 11.31.19

Some little birds visit Nest One 11.50

Fish number four, another lightly munched BT. Willow arrives seconds before Louis 14.00.54

Colourful little Redstart visits Nest One 15.58

Final fish today - fish number five, headless BT, lightning fast handover to Sarafina 17.03.49

Thank you for everythig, GEEMEEFF - loved Willow's Wonderful Wings and the obliging Redstart and... and... and

scylla said:

Thank you for everythig, GEEMEEFF - loved Willow's Wonderful Wings and the obliging Redstart and... and... and

Thank you Scylla

Some exciting news this morning from Liz B: Sarafina’s been seen trying to fish! With the confirmed sighting of the Poole Harbour chick 5H1 sighted attempting to fish recently, we might need to re-write the rule books. It never seemed logical to me that chicks would wait til on migration to learn - much more logical they’d start practising while dad was around to deliver guaranteed meals.

Around 07.15 I spotted an osprey flying low over my side of loch. It made three unsuccessful dives, from a relatively low height, then flew over to a dead tree on the far side of the loch where it sat for around ten minutes before flying off to another dead tree. On its way over to the second tree it made a series of twirls and dives which isn't the sort of behaviour you would expect from an adult who'd just failed to catch a fish for its offspring, so I'm wondering if it could have been one of the juveniles having a practice. I see LW6 hasn't been fed yet so could it have been her? I was hoping whoever it was would fly back to the nest for ID but no luck, they disappeared in the trees eventually.

EDIT Have spotted it again back in the first tree it landed in. Then followed it along the loch and back again to the nest and Sarafina has appeared on camera 08.05!

Geemeff said:

Willow's wonderful wings in slo-mo with zoom 07.34

https://youtu.be/R-KhzHiFgLw

Oh WOW! Fantastic, Geemeff! Willow's mid-air spin too...what a delight!