LOCH OF THE LOWES - MAY 2023

  • Sandra and Richard,
    Thanks both for the heads up re the blog. Successfully found. I wonder why it's not coming up on the Trust's page.
    And I wonder what the truth is about illicit "aiding". No point in pushing that though. We're just all glad that so far, all is now well.
  • You're very welcome, cmcd! :)
  • What a whopper it was too, Jill! Well done, Laddie!

    Feed still in progress at 16:52

    ©SWT/LotL

  • This is NC0's wing stretch a few hours before the fish delivery, then the big event but just the delivery followed immediately by Laddie's entrapment and escape:

    https://youtu.be/ca9dwgoOZIk
  • PS - I did try cropping that for a closer view but it became very poor quality, even with all sorts of "sophisticated" filters, like sharpen and smoother.
  • Thank you, Scylla!!

    Part way through the feed, NC0 picked up #2 as it was taking a bite of the fish that had been offered

    It fell onto #1 

    #1 got up

    #2 finally got up after about three minutes

    Laddie arrived at 16:57 - NC0 was very vocal (short high-pitched squeaks), probably telling him she hadn't finished!

    #2 had just a had a small bite here

    Laddie left at 16:59 knowing he wasn't going to get any of this meal for now

    After having a couple more bites for herself, NC0 flew off with the fish

    She returned to the nest with the fish, thank goodness!

    NC0 continued to have a couple of bites for herself

    I'll continue on another post after I've had my dinner. BBS

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Cont'd... 

    NC0 moved the fish over to the far right of the nest, the wind was really picking up.

    She slipped towards the nest cup with the fish,

    NC0 dragged it out, walked round to the front edge where she discarded the fish

    She settled to brood, fish to her right

    She wasn't settled for long when she rose and dragged the fish to the left edge of the nest

    She took a couple of bites but did make short contact calls

    She released her grip of the fish and settled to brood at 17:10

    Fish on the left

    Laddie appeared a minute later

    He saw the fish and pulled it out from underneath NC0

    NC0 nattered, Laddie made some short contact calls in reply

    He pulled again to make sure he had all of the fish

    And flew off with it

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 17:54 Laddie returned with the fish

    NC0 commenced a feed - #2 at the front

    Laddie moved to the front, left edge of the nest as the feed continued

    And then moved further over to his left. Thanks Laddie, block our view why don't you! lol

    A swan flapped along the inlet

    Then, after making a couple of contact calls, left the nest at 18:11

    No sooner had he left, NC0 headed towards the nest cup, feed over! lol  Plenty of the fish still remained

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Laddie came back to the nest at 18:43 to collect the fish. NC0 was quite vocal!

    ©SWT/LotL