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
A second and final fish arrives at 17.59.55
Wet and windy night, so no disturbances for Dorcha. Louis arrived early with a tiny tiddler breakfast at 05.26.09 Dorcha grabbed it and started eating immediately. Louis moved a few sticks around, she departed to eat in peace.
08.08 Intruder alert! Sounds like skydancing before the intruder lands at 08.09.00 then alarm calls heard after the invasion attempt.
08.10 Plaintive whistling calls like a Buzzard makes, heard, also Louis alarm-calling.
Better version, hi def with slo-mo and zoom. Is this the same long-legged male who intruded a few days ago?
08.08 Intruder alert - sounds of skydancing are heard
08.09.00 Unringed male lands then alarm calls heard
08.09.17 Louis lands on the Scots Pine to the left of the centre nest perch, while the intruder circles overhead. Louis alarm chips at him
08.10 Plaintive whistling calls, like a Buzzard, are heard, also Louis alarm-calling.
08.11.35 Louis leaves the Scots Pine and flies off to the right.
12.31.05 Louis delivers a much better sized fish, headless, so he had his lunch first.
14.34.45 Funny moment as a woodpecker climbs up the side apparantly unaware of Dorcha above. As it pops over the edge, Dorcha see it, raises up and mantles, and both she and the GSW get a fright.
Very slow Sunday, and no sign of a pip yet. There goes my guess of first hatch this morning - wonder if it is E2 and E3 left, so no hatch before 31st?
08.09.43 Louis brought a fish and later, around lunchtime, considerately moved the big branch blocking the view - now Dorcha's just covered the eggs with a clump of moss!
20.33.26. Finally! Fish number two, headless trout, arrives. Nice orange flesh but looks a bit stiff. Dorcha grabs it and goes.
No pip that I can see, thinking the lost egg was E1.