LOCH OF THE LOWES - JULY 2022

Link to June 2022

Webcam page with links to LotL Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve FB, Twitter and Blogs >>>

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/

The Osprey Protection Programme at Loch of the Lowes is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

All captures and videos ©Scottish Wildlife Trust/Loch of the Lowes

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Things continued to go well at the beginning of June and on the 4th, we celebrated a record nine fish delivery day from Laddie. During the following week, the number of fish brought to the nest took a sudden decline and with this, we witnessed chick #3 befalling to sibling aggression - first from chick #1 and then chick #2. Very sadly, this then led to the dear Osplet being blocked from getting close to NC0 for feeding. Devastatingly, after a very early fish delivery on the morning of the 15th June, the middle chick subjected the youngest to a severe attack from which, in its weakened state, it could not get up from. The little one passed away on the nest a few hours later at the age of 23 days old.

  Purple heartSoar high and free, brave #3 - you will always be remembered...Purple heart

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Subsequent to the passing of the youngest chick, fish deliveries from Laddie began to increase with him even outdoing his previous record by bringing an amazing ten to the nest on a single day. NC0 made her first dive from the split birch (since the chicks had hatched) on the 24th June and brought her catch back to the nest, much to the surprise of the chicks!
The youngsters have continued to grow at an amazing rate and, on the evening of the 27th June - at the ages of 39 and 37 days old respectively - they were ringed. Their genders could not be determined.
A milestone for the chicks was observed on the evening of the 29th June when both self-fed and the following day, LR0 showed its strength of character to successfully claim two fish!
Hopefully, LP8 and LR0 will continue to do well and that we will witness their successful fledges this month.

Nest Updates

Arrival dates:  Laddie - 13.3.22 (c12:00)   NC0 - 23.3.22 (18:14)

Three eggs laid:  Egg #1 - 12.4.22 (18:34)   Egg #2 - 15.4.22 (16:05)  Egg #3 - 18.4.22 (12:14)

Hatch dates:  Chick #1 - 19.5.22 (10:26) - 37 days   Chick #2 - 21.5.22 (03:24) - 36 days   Chick #3 - 23.5.22 (19:46) - 35 days

15.6.22:  At 23 days old, chick #3 passed away Broken heart

27.6.22:  Our osprey chicks have been ringed! (Genders not able to be positively determined, ? both males)

Chick #1: LP8 (39 days old) - wing measurement = 360mm, weight = 1.5kg

Chick #2: LR0 (37 days old) - wing measurement = 315mm, weight = 1.44kg

Fledge dates: LP8 - 13.7.22 (10:06) 55 days old   LR0 - 15.7.22 (13:55) 55 days old

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July Blogs and Updates:

Links to blogs and updates during March/AprilMay, and June

2.7.22:  Female Osprey NC0 brings a Monster Pike to the Nest

3.7.22:  Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 13 (inclusive of ringing data)

8.7.22:  Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 14

12:7.22:  Osprey Chick LP8 Close To Fledging (SWT YT video)

13.7.22:  Eldest Osprey Chick LP8 Fledges!

29.7.22:  Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 17

  • No fish delivery arrived.

    NC0 continued to call while on the perch and she left the nest at 22:18, landing on the birch

    ENS since

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Morning all,
    It was misty and murky at 5:08 when Laddie redelivered (I assume) last night's fish. NC0 and LP8 were on the nest. LP8 was quick to take it.

    LR0 about to land on the nest, Laddie flying away 


    5:35ish LR0 took the remainder of the fish after LP8 had flown off the nest having eaten its fill.

    5:55ish Having eaten all of the fish, LR0 left the nest

    There have been no more fish deliveries.

    8:57 NC0 brought an awkward stick to the nest

    ©SWT/LotL

  • A damp LR0 joined NC0 on the nest for a short time at 9:14. I wonder if he'd had an attempt at diving?

    When the nest was empty a few minutes later, a crow came on and pottered about looking for, and finding, the odd morsel of fish

    It left and Laddie arrived

    He was sorting out the front edge sticks when LP8 came onto the nest

    LP8 pecked at Laddie

    He left the nest

    A crow came rummaging again when the nest was empty

    It moved a clump of grasses

    10:03ish There were a few intruder calls from NC0 on the cam post while LP8 was on the perch.

    LP8 on the nest

    Leaving at 10:08

    LR0 made a brief visit at 10:28. He called for fish before heading off

    10:43 ENS since then

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 13:18 Laddie to the nest with a huge...clump of dried grass, not what LR0 or NC0 (I assume, who was screeching on the cam post) were expecting!

    No malice from LR0 to his dad here, he just appeared to be food begging

    A glance up to NC0

    Off he went

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 15:02 A headless fish from NC0, LP8 was on the nest to take it from her. To note, NC0 had been on the birch deheading her catch after arriving there at 14:05ish. She hadn't dived from the birch

    14:05 NC0 onto the birch. LR0 was on the branch to her right (LR0 did fly to the nest after, that's how I knew it was him! lol)

    15:02 The delivery: LR0 arrived on the nest, NC0 left the birch

    LR0 couldn't see the fish due to the clump of grass being in the way

    NC0 moved to the back of the nest where LR0 took it from her

    Tucking in

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 15:14 LP8 flapped down from the cam post to the perch after shouting loudly while up there

    As LP8 jumped onto the nest, NC0 flew off

    NC0 landed on her diving branch of the birch

    Unfortunately for LP8, after waiting to have its turn at the fish, LR0 swallowed the fish tail at 15:21

    LR0 left the nest

    LR0 landed on a lower branch of the birch, under NC0

    LP8 took a rest

    15:28 After calling for fish, LP8 left the nest

    LP8 flew towards, and then low around the corner of the birch, its calls could still be heard

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 16:02 LP8 on the perch

    16:04 Fish calling. NC0 and LR0 still on their respective branches of the birch

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Finally, a fish delivery (albeit tiny) from NC0. 

    Incoming. LP8 (left) and LR0 were on the nest waiting

    LR0 got to it first

    LP8 pushed its way underneath NC0 to make a grab for the fish

    Then a game of 'tug-o'-fish' began between the juvies

    NC0 left the nest and let the pair of them sort it out. LP8 had the advantage as it had the most of the fish in its beak

    LP8 won

    NC0 could be seen flying over the Loch to the birch

    Needless to say, LP8 ate all of the fish

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 20:03 LR0 was on the nest, LP8 (who had left a little earlier) landed on the perch looking rather wet

    Having a good shake

    20:11

    ©SWT/LotL