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
Nest One Last minute change of mind or clumsy landing? 09.10 Garry just glances off Affric on landing rather than the usual mating mount.
RAF are back again - doing another flypast, three jets this time 11.08
Nest One Garry finally brings a fish for Affric 12.45
Hungry chick finds an old fish tail and has a munch 20.29
21.31 Teetering on the edge! If an involuntary fledge is a fludge, is a fledge while squirting over the side a floop?
Fortunately LY7 doesn't actually go over, but it was nail-biting stuff when he was losing his balance perched on a loose stick right on the edge.
Louis brings a late night fish supper, and distracts LY7 from peering over the edge Fish number three 22.09.22
I'm thinking he'll fledge tomorrow, at 49 days old. We shall see!
Name that chick! Vote now - closes tomorrow.
Daily summary Tuesday 18th July 2023 The naming vote closes tomorrow, get your vote in quick if you haven't already. Today brought one fish for Affric on Nest One from Garry, and three fish from Louis for his family on Nest Two taking that tally to 277, but there might have been more except for constant alerts, with Dorcha flying on and off the nest alarm-calling at unseen intruders. LY7 spent a fair bit of time pancaked, especially when the RAF did a three-jet flypast. However, it was mainly the watchers who were alarmed, watching LY7 hopping over to the extreme nest edge, peering over while precariously balanced on loose sticks, and looking like he might accidentally fledge at any moment. However, his brilliantly executed helicopter today plus his new-found triangulation skills, readiness to self-feed, and unipedal posturing ability, show he is nearly ready. LY7 is 49 days old tomorrow - will it be his fledging day as well as his naming day?
Fish number one, headless trout, Louis eats it himself 04.49.46
https://youtu.be/k_2pVwLNAZU