Continued from May 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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Two healthy chicks hatched successfully from eggs two and three. The first egg laid was non-viable and, hopefully, it will be able to be retrieved from the nest, at the time of ringing, as to ascertain the reason why.
During the middle of May, Laddie sustained an injury to his flank and NC0 was without a meal for 87 hours due to him not being able to hunt. It was pure relief when he finally arrived with a fish, at a critical time too as the first chick had just hatched. Laddie excelled himself on the evening of the 25th, bringing in an absolute whopper of a fish which fed both chicks and adults multiple times throughout the evening, during the night and well into the next morning.
The end of the month saw some 'difficult' behaviour from #1 on its younger sibling, not only restricted to mealtimes either. With longer gaps, on occasion, between fish being brought to the nest by Laddie (probably due to his defence of the nest and area from intruders, of which there had been many last month), #2 has been the subject of dominance and aggression. We can only hope this begins to lessen in the coming days and weeks.
NC0 has been doing a sterling job with feeding both chicks ensuring, as much as possible, that the youngest receives its fair share as well. She has also shown great maturity when defending the chicks and nest from intruders too - she is definitely a force to be reckoned with!
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*
Ringed 22.6.23: Chick #1 - PF4(F) 1.85kg Chick #2 - PF5(M) 1.2kg *Egg #1 retrieved for analysis*
Link to blogs and updates during March/April, May
June Blogs and Updates (published dates)
2.6.23 LotL blog >>> Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 11
9.6.23 LotL blog >>> Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 12
20.6.23 LotL blog >>> Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 13
24.6.23 LotL blog >>> Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Week 14 (The Ringing of the Chicks)
00:20 NC0 with her two sleeping chicks
©SWT/LotL
The first fish of the day was delivered at 11:04
The fish was still alive
NC0 had to deal with the fish before offering, chick 1 was being fed here
She altered her position at 11:14ish, #2 was still in submission
#2 was up and fish begging
But then as it attempted to join the feed, #1 showed its dominance
11:21 #2 received a couple of pieces fish from NC0...
Before #1 turned and 'ushered' its sibling away
11:29 #2 had moved its position
#1 turned and went on the warpath again after #2 approached NC0 for a feed
When #2 got itself close again, it shyed away from NC0's beak offering fish
Unsure who was being fed here at 11:38 but NC0 had been in this position for a while
But all become clear at 11:49 - look at #2's crop! YAY! The fish was all gone.
There haven't been any other fish deliveries as far as I can tell. Also, I can't see any other visits from Laddie on scroll back. He must have been in the area at some point mid-afternoon because NC0 was in fine voice!
Scene at 17:05, #1 closest to NC0
A decent-sized headless fish (ie it's not a tiddler) from Laddie - 20:32
Richard B
20:38
20:41
20:44
20:48 NC0 offered to #2 after #1 had lay down, it seemed a bit nervous and turned its head away
But then got its confidence to take a piece offered
NC0 gave a couple more pieces to #1 then back to #2
20:51 Well into a private feeding!
20:54 NC0 gave every last piece of flesh from the fish to #2 then she swallowed the fish tail
About 5 or 6 more pieces were given to #2 during the tidy up
NC0 called for more fish
#2 didn't have a huge crop at the end of the feed but there was one nonetheless
#2 snuggled under NC0's left wing
21:18 Scene at present
Unknown said:After the usual slow start No 2 seemed to get a good feed at the end, a healthy looking crop.
As long as a fish is large enough, I have confidence that #2 will get fed at some point during each session, it just needs to bide its time - though it is so frustrating for us when watching!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr