LOCH OF THE LOWES - MAY 2023

Continued from March/April 2023

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/

For the latest 'live' YouTube link, visit >>> SWT YT Channel

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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NC0 surprised us all when she arrived back at Lowes first, with Laddie making his initial landing exactly 6 hours later. She laid her three beautiful eggs after almost near-perfect, precise intervals of 72 hours between each one. Both Laddie and NC0 have regularly exchanged incubation duties and have been very attentive to protect their eggs, and nest, from multiple intrusions during April. The hatching window will open around the 10th May, all being well.

  Nest Updates

Arrival dates: NC0 - 17.3.23 (07:43)  Laddie - 17.3.23 (13:43)

Eggs laid: Egg #1 - 4.4.23 (09:32)  Egg #2 - 7.4.23 (09:39)  Egg #3 - 10.4.23 (09:10)

Hatch dates: Chick #1 - 13.5.23 (11:59 fully out of shell 12:11)  Chick #2 - 16.5.23 (04:19)  *Egg #1 - DNH*

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Link to blogs and updates during March/April

May Blogs and Updates (published dates)

6.5.23 LotL blog >>> Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 7

8.5.23 SWT video >>> Time for a Wing Stretch and Pre-Hatching Egg Close Up

11.5.23 LotL blog >>> Who’s Been On My Nest? A Closer Look at the Threats and Intrusions Faced by a Pair of Breeding Ospreys

12.5.23 SWT video >>> Osprey Chick Communicates with the Outside World

13.5.23 LotL blog >>>Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 8

13.5.23 SWT video >>> First Osprey Chick of the Season Hatches

14.5.23 LotL blog >>> Concern over male osprey, LM12

15.5.23 SWT video >>> Fish Supper and First Feed for Osprey Chick

16.5.23 LotL blog >>> An update from the osprey nest

17.5.23 SWT video >>> Second osprey chick hatching 16 May 23

20.5.23 LotL blog >>> Osprey Diary at the Loch of the Lowes – Week 9

27.5.23 LotL blog >>> Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 10

  • Thanks Sandra and I think you will need a well deserved break !!

    Exhausting reading so I can imagine what it was like reporting the incident.

    Hate these intrusion - just such a worry for chicks also NCO being dive bombed but we don't want Laddie distracted from fishing as he will naturally defend first.

    Fingers crossed the intruder moves on quickly.
  • Cont'd from previous post.

    NC0 commenced a feed

    Laddie left the nest

    NC0's position meant that the view to the feed was blocked. She finally walked away from the fish to tidy up at 14:06

    .

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 went for a comfort break at 14:56 - cam zoomed in

    #2 stood up

    Some debris could be seen above its right eye, it used the egg in an attempt to dislodge it

    Could see #2's crop here as it turned its head

    NC0 returned

    #2 rubbed its eye again

    NC0 took hold of the fish

      

    And ate some for herself

    Then commenced to feed the chicks and again, no view for us! lol

    Laddie arrived at 15:00

    He flew of after a couple of minutes

    NC0 stopped feeding at 15:08 and walked away from the fish. The chicks looked full

    A bit of tidying up before settling to brood. The chicks were chupping

    Laddie came to retrieve the fish and took it away

    He landed to the left of the birch (his wing in view)

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Karen W said:
    Thanks Sandra and I think you will need a well deserved break !!

    Exhausting reading so I can imagine what it was like reporting the incident.

    Hate these intrusion - just such a worry for chicks also NCO being dive bombed but we don't want Laddie distracted from fishing as he will naturally defend first.

    Fingers crossed the intruder moves on quickly.

    ---------------------------------------------------------

    Hi Karen,

    I was on catch up for most of the intrusion so I didn't know when it was going to end - so glad when it did! lol

    Yes, hopefully the intruder has moved on -  I wonder who it was? On the leg capture I took of it, I couldn't see any rings (not that I've studied the pic) and for it to also land on the nest, well!

    Pleased that Laddie was able to fish during that time!

  • 16:05 Laddie returned the fish

    He flew off. A missing tail feather?



    Another blocked view of NC0 feeding the chicks!

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Feed over at 16:15. NC0 released her grip of the fish and resumed brooding two satisfied chicks

    Current scene at 16:30

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Laddie collected the remainder of the fish at 17:08

    I didn't see Laddie flying over the Loch immediately afterwards

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 17:21 NC0 went off for a comfort break - cam zoomed in

    Pre a healthy PS from #2

    #1 did a PS too which landed out of cam view

    NC0 returned

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 17:57 Laddie to the nest with a small tail end of the fish

    #1 on the left

    Laddie left the nest

    #2 did turn away or a very brief while but soon came back to be fed

    NC0 swallowing the fish tail

    On tidy up, NC0 gave #2 a couple of pieces

    NC0 tucked the chicks in before brooding


    ©SWT/LotL

  • 19:32 NC0 currently calling for more fish!

    ©SWT/LotL