LOCH GARTEN - MARCH / APRIL 2022

Hey guys,

If you have a look back to 9.30 this morning you will have seen that we had an intruding osprey. We think it has been hanging around a little bit today but there has only been one sighting of it. The pair have been feeding well and often we have found they are using perch sites out of view of the camera and the centre. Only once have we managed to pinpoint the male feeding fish sitting on a low down perch out the back of the nest in the bog.

Things are looking promising for our breeding season but I am not going to get my hopes up until there is an egg in that nest. We know from last year's experience that this pair is flighty so we will have to wait and see if they are going to stay.

I think the nest move was a big improvement not only for us watching the sunrise but the birds seem to have taken to it. Long may it continue!

I missed the pecking, CC. Thank you.
Mistle flew to the dead tree on the left - the one near the old cam tower. She is on the very left hand side, almost out of sight.
14.19 she appeared over the back of the nest, almost out of nowhere, made a contact call and started moving twigs around. She is still there 14.40 watching around.

How lovely to hear from you Fergus, thank you.

I will check out the earlier intrusion.   I thought there might have been a 'distant' intruder around at about 12.52.  Mistle and Axel appeared to be mantling.  We know he tends to do it initially on being together, but it is unusual for Mistle to do it.

I am hoping they will be successful, fingers and toes are tightly crossed.  They are a very attractive pair.  But I hope he steps up with Daddy duties when the eggs start coming!

14.47 Mistle is looking keenly around.

I took another look at the vid at 12.52 when Mistle was on the perch alone. She started to mantle before Axel returned and she dropped to the nest when they both mantled briefly.
I couldn't find anything at 07.30 other than she was very alert, which could be indicative.
15.24 Mistle is on the nest, quiet and alone. The wind has got up and the clouds look dark.

15.09 Axel landed to mate

15.11 Mistle raises the volume and solicits.  Axel faux mantles, again!

15.14 Axle flies, and returns - and mantles

Axel didn't stop for long.  Mistle is quiet, and waiting

© RSPB - Loch Garten & WildlifeWindows 

Helloooo Fergus - lovely to see you and thank you for popping in with a different persective  

Fergus C said:

If you have a look back to 9.30 this morning

I set out to trawl right thru the morning but got waylaid @ 06:00, when there were more-than-usual smaller birds in the sky.  Corvids, yes (we can hear as well as see them) but I wondered if there was at least one raptor in the mix, even maybe one of our Goshawks - but my ID skills are truly pitiful.

Also, I started to extract a couple of clips for slomo but got digressed by life events.  I have to break off again now, so lord knows when I'll pick up from 6 o'clock - but we have the excellent obs of others to keep us posted  

Hello folks and thanks for all the updates. I'm out and about so not able to catch up fully or post much. No fish yet today?

No, Korky, no fish that I have found, and none reported elsewhere.

Oh my goodness, poor Axel looked terrified. Thank you for finding that episode, Scylla. Once Mistle had joined Axel, they were both quiet. which is odd. I would hazard a guess that none was an osprey, otherwise one of our pair would surely seen them off? Certainly corvids, but one or two larger raptors as well? I did replay at 0.25 speed but that didn't help me. One thought, you don't usually see a large number of crow together. More likely rooks or jackdaw.
Mistle is on the nest, calling very loudly for her fish supper.

18.10 FISH at last!!

Mistle took her fish to the far left, out of sight

Axel  did a spot of housework and flossed his beak on the rim before flying off at 18.18hrs

© RSPB - Loch Garten & WildlifeWindows