Continued from July 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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From the beginning of July, all continued to go well (with both PF4 and PF5 successfully taking their maiden flights on the 9th and 13th respectively) until the middle of the month. On the 15th, NC0, after attempting to snatch a meal from her eldest offspring, was forced off the nest by PF4. Sadly, this could have been the last sighting on camera this season of such a fabulous mum. Had she started her migration so early?
Without NC0 around, things on the nest then seemed to go into disarray. PF5 began to show a lot of dominance over his sister and, on the 21st, took control of the nest. After an early morning fish delivery on the 23rd and then being 'harassed' by PF4, who tried take his meal, he himself was ousted once he had flown off nest to eat in peace. Since then, PF4 has been in charge of the nest. On the 25th, PF5 made an heroic attempt to reclaim the nest from his sister, showing off his spectacular dive-bombing skills - however this did not work.
Laddie's fish deliveries to the nest have been fraught to watch and they have almost caused him harm. PF4 has been extremely overpowering and aggressive towards him in her attempts to claim most of the fish that he has brought to the nest. There is much worry over PF5 and whether he is being fed off nest. Hopefully, that is the case now that he has claimed his own 'patch' elsewhere on the reserve.
Early evening, on the last day of the month, PF4 was seen live on cam diving from the split birch to successfully catch her first fish, albeit a tiny one. She had been making many unsuccessful practise dives from the birch on previous occasions. An initial one, witnessed on the 18th, can be viewed in this SWT video.
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)
Hatched: 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*
Fledged: 9.7.23 - PF4(f) 57 days old (10:07) 13.7.23 - PF5(m) 58 days old (09:57)
Last seen: NC0 - 15.7.23 (pm); PF5, 73 days - 28.7.23 (pm); Laddie - 6.8.23 (pm); PF4, 86 days - 7.8.23 (am)
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Links to blogs and updates during March/April, May, June, July
August Blogs and Updates (published dates)
1.8.23 LotL Fb update re 'situation' >>> Here
4.8.23 LotL blog >>> Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – Weeks 19 & 20
13.8.23 LotL blog >>> Osprey Diary at Loch of the Lowes – So Long and Fly High
17:25 Another dive but, this time, came back to the nest perch - she made excited calls on her flight
A tiny piece of 'vegetation' in her right talons
She took the 'vegetation' from her talons and dropped it
She headed back to the birch
©SWT/LotL
Sandra P said:
scylla said:
04 August - SWT blog - the videos of fish delivery conflict and PF4's successful catch are Private, according to me
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Both showing 'private' within the blog for me too, Scylla
Both of those videos can now be played!
PF4 flew from the birch at 18:43, she had been fish calling while on there
I thought she was heading towards the nest but she then turned sharply to her right (our left when viewing) after this pic She could still be heard calling
As far as I could tell, she didn't return to the birch
When scrolling through the footage from that point, I noticed that a stick on the right of the nest had been disturbed. It was then that I found a crow on the nest (19:03)
Luckily, at 19:45, I was watching 'live' when PF4's calls came close to the nest - she then must have landed somewhere above the cam. No calling at that point but there were movements. It was less than a minute after that she flew off from there - her right wing, top left of pic
She glided all the way over to the birch, only flapping her wings to head up to the branch
PF4, having been fish calling while on the birch, left there at 20:07ish as a heavy rain began to fall. She flew off down the inlet
She arrived on the nest perch at 20:15, fish calling.
On the nest, yet again calling, at 20:21, just prior to heading off. It's still raining
She landed behind the area marked
PF4 left the birch and headed down the inlet at 21:10 (she had been sitting on the diving branch).
At 22:00, before night cam on, the birch branches were unoccupied (as seen in the reflection on the Loch)
Morning All, PF4 caught herself another tiny 'Jack Pike' at 6:21 - well done her!
Splash! She dived from behind the area marked
The fish in her right talons as she landed
Tucking in
Richard B