Loch Arkaig Ospreys season 7
Will Louis and Dorcha return to Nest 2?
Will someone take up residence in Nest 1?
Will any of Aila & Louis' chicks be seen (Doddie JJ6 is a good bet!)
Link to 2022 thread (season 6)
community.rspb.org.uk/.../1394415
2023 season highlights:
Louis returned on Sunday 2nd April at 12.26.54
Dorcha returned on Sunday 9th April 08.09.46
They reunited on Monday 10th April at 12.33.03
First egg laid Friday 21st April at 05.44.19
A Golden Eagle touched down on Saturday 22nd April at 11.50.56
Second egg laid Monday 24th April at 07.03.30
Third egg laid on Thursday 27th April at 07.35.39
Violent Owl strike sends an egg overboard 23rd May at 00.26.46
First chick hatches - and it's Egg3! 31st May at 13.08
Another Owl strike - Bob's unharmed. 6th June at 00.18.16
It's a boy! The chick is ringed LY7 on 9th July around 10am
Fledge! LY7 finds his wings and flies 19th July at 15.05.11
Hello Ludo! The voting results are in and LY7 is named Ludo! 19th July
Dorcha leaves on her travels - last seen on 17th August at 06.30.34
Louis was last seen on 24th August at 15.50.34
Ludo LY7 was last seen* on 25th August at 10.03.28 (*on the nest)
Ludo sighted in France 24th September! Still there 8th October
We wish all of them fair winds and fine fishing, and hope to see the adults safely back in 2024!
Brief history of the nests:
Link to Woodland Trust Osprey page: keeps coming up as blocked! Weird! copy and paste then join up:
https:// www woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/
community.rspb.org.uk/.../loch-arkaig---the-woodland-trust---march-2022-to-end-of-february-2023
Dorcha bringing her one and only fish on 18th August 2022 before departing and not being seen again
Louis incubating the eggs while Aila is seen flying with a fish in the misty distance on 9th May 2020.
All captures in whatever format are copyright Woodland Trust - with many thanks for allowing captures from their nest cam livestreams
05.43.41 Louis reacts to the chupping!
05.44.44 Louis leaves the nest for a fly around, the egg is chupping. Nice view of the pip.
05.45.11 An Osprey flies past the nest from right to left. Sound of wings before Louis reappears - is Dorcha nearby? Was that her doing the flypast?
Louis returns at 05.45.37 from a different direction.
13.08 Hatch!!!
Unofficial time 13.08. May have been a minute or two earlier but parents were blocking the view. Edited and zoomed video.
14.53 Proud parents and a good look at little bob (zoomed)
Wonderful news! Congratulations to all at The Woodland Trust, Dorcha, Louis and of course you too, Geemeff. Thank you for all of the continued updates!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Besides all the joyful activity on Nest Two, Nest One also saw a lot of action today:
AM: This clip shows Affric (Blue 152) arriving on the nest at 10.49.15 followed by Prince at 10.50.18. His ID isn't confirmed, however I think it is Prince, her mate since 2021, who hasn't been seen this season until very recently. Happy to be corrected. They are intruded upon by another Osprey, Prince goes into full defensive mode, and the intruder is barely visible as a wingtip on the top right of the screen. It's not Louis or Dorcha as they're both back on Nest Two at this time, staying with their chick as it hatches. Prince leaves at 11.01.54, soon after the intruder, and Affric stays on for a little while before also departing, at 11.10.15.
PM: This clip shows Affric (Blue 152) arriving on the nest alone at 15.14.40 and departing at 15.22.34. She returns at 15.28.40 and starts fish-calling, and moments later Prince arrives at 15.29.35 with a fish, which she seizes. She stays a while before departing at 15.46.09 with her fish, and he remains a lot longer, flying off at 15.46.14. Later Prince returns alone at 16.23.32, does a bit of nestorising, then departs at 16.36.35.
10.59.32 Louis brings the second fish of the day. The egg has been chupping away merrily, so Dorcha stays on the nest to eat.
Got so eggcited, I forgot to post this earlier!