LOCH OF THE LOWES - JULY 2023

There was a dive from PF4 at 19:17

She had left the nest perch at 19:11ish and headed low, behind the greenery in the birch area - this is where PF4 had dived from (her movements could be seen through the gaps)

Her flight out of the water

She headed over the Loch, making a couple of calls, and turned to head back in the direction of the birch

She landed back in the area where she dived from

Edit: She changed her position and flew up to NC0's diving branch a few minutes after. 

Scene at present, 19:43

©SWT/LotL

Unknown said:

So it looks like we will now have to wait until next year to see if anything has befallen NCO.
She seemed to disappear after several intrusions.
If something bad has happened to her then looking on the bright side there seems to be plenty of prospective suitors about for Laddie.

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If she doesn't return next season, we'll still be none-the wiser as to whether 'it' happened here, on her migration South or on her journey back to Lowes. I really hope NC0 comes back, she's just wonderful...

A brief summary of events leading up to her 'disappearance' and my 'muses': The last fish NC0 brought back to the nest was on the morning of the 14th and she appeared well. She lost out to PF5 when attempting to take a tail end of fish (that PF4 had walked away from) that lunchtime. During the early evening, NC0 landed on the nest and made two attempts to take a fish from PF4, the youngster attacked her, then PF5 warned her off from his one. NC0 did however eat, as well as feed PF5, both from a subsequent delivery from Laddie and PF5's discarded one. All seemed ok but, was she that hungry to try to steal a meal from her offspring? Was she unable to fish for herself? Could she have been unwell?  A few questions that have been playing on my mind...

On the morning of the 15th, she lost out on a fish delivery. I was out that day so have no records, and also the LS went offline during the afternoon so was unable to scroll through any footage on my return home. Come the early evening, after the LS was restored, PF4 was eating a fish, NC0 and PF5 were waiting. NC0 bent over the left edge of the nest and picked up a small morsel of dropped fish to eat, she then stood on the lower sticks, off the nest, until she made an attempt to take PF4's fish, this led to the youngster flapping her off the nest and she headed to the birch. That was the last time she was seen on cam. Once again, that question of was she unable to fish came into my mind....

Sorry for such a long post, I'm just so worried about NC0 

Karen W said:

Thanks for all the updates. Not been around for a few days so to return to this, well its unbelievable!!

I am reminded of the battle between siblings 096 and 095 at Manton Bay in 2021. That was triggered after the male 096 took off for a few days and 095 then treated him like an intruder.

In one sense I am thinking comeuppance for PF4 after how she treated PF5.

What triggered this behaviour?

Also seems a bit early for NCO to think about setting off on her migration even though she does leave soon. Hope she's ok.

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Hello Karen,

After some 'angsty' behaviour between the juveniles on the 20th, PF5 became very dominant and took control of the nest the next day. It stayed that way until Laddie delivered a large, headless fish very early on the morning of the 23rd. PF4 came to the nest to 'challenge' him for the fish, see here for Scylla's fab video of the occurrence. Since then, PF4 has been in charge of the nest.

Yes, it is very early for NC0 to have left on migration. I remember Lassie, in 2019. It was thought she had left for her migration much earlier than usual - she didn't come back to Lowes in 2020.

Since my post at 19:22, PF4 has been returned to the nest perch, back to the birch and to the nest perch again!

At 21:26, PF4 stared intently in this direction

She shouted

The flew off

Very shortly afterwards, her calls could be heard quite close to the nest, it was as if she had settled somewhere near rather than being in flight

©SWT/LotL

21:43 It was very quiet, could this have been PF4? (centre of the highlighted area)

Whoever it was, flew off to the left from that position 

21:46

Still there, pre night cam, at 22:13. It's raining

©SWT/LotL

Morning Karen and All,
Laddie delivered a large, headless fish to PF4 at 5:40

Good to see you Laddie!

©SWT/LotL

PF4 was very much on alert after its delivery, shouting and flapping

Checking the area

She didn't begin to fully tuck in until 5:48ish - no challenge from PF5 for her meal

Taking one of a few breaks from eating at 7:13

Back to it a few minutes later

Down to the fish tail at 8:16

©SWT/LotL