Welcome to Loch Arkaig Ospreys season 8
Will Louis and Dorcha return to Nest 2?
Will someone take up residence in Nest 1?
Will any of Louis' chicks with Aila and Dorcha be sighted?
2024 season:
Louis arrived on Thursday 28th March at 15.18.38
Dorcha arrived on Saturday 30th March at 14.21.27
They reunited on Saturday 30th March at 16.13.37
First egg laid on Sunday 14th March at 11.13.48 Congratulations!!
Second egg laid on Wednesday 17th March at 05.55.52
Dorcha is injured in an eagle attack on Friday 19th April at 11.08
Third egg laid on Saturday 20th April at 02.26.08
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2023 season highlights:
Louis returned on Sunday 2nd April at 12.26.54
Dorcha returned on Sunday 9th April 08.09.46
They reunited on Monday 10th April at 12.33.03
First egg laid Friday 21st April at 05.44.19
A Golden Eagle touched down on Saturday 22nd April at 11.50.56
Second egg laid Monday 24th April at 07.03.30
Third egg laid on Thursday 27th April at 07.35.39
Violent Owl strike sends an egg overboard 23rd May at 00.26.46
First chick hatches - and it's Egg3! 31st May at 13.08
Another Owl strike - Bob's unharmed. 6th June at 00.18.16
It's a boy! The chick is ringed LY7 on 9th July around 10am
Fledge! LY7 finds his wings and flies 19th July at 15.05.11
Hello Ludo! The voting results are in and LY7 is named Ludo! 19th July
Dorcha leaves on her travels - last seen on 17th August at 06.30.34
Louis was last seen on 24th August at 15.50.34
Ludo LY7 was last seen* on 25th August at 10.03.28 (*on the nest)
Ludo sighted in France 24th September! Still there 8th October
Link to 2023 thread:
https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/lochgartenospreys/f/loch-garten-ospreys/282446/loch-arkaig---the-woodland-trust---march-2023-to-february-2024
Brief history of the nests:
Thank you Geemeff. This is a pic of him.
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
15.18.38 Louis!!!!!!!!!
It is Louis! You hear his characteristic call before you see him, then he lands on the nest. I zoomed in, and also audio-boosted his off-camera call. Welcome home!
Oh this is wonderful news, thanks everyone!
Nest Two18.17.38 Louis departs for the night, one minute short of three hours after arriving on the nest at 15.18.38
Geemeff said:preparing the nest for his mate's arrival.
They only do it once a year, amazing that they remember what to do?
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Super news, thanks to all for reports etc.
IMAGICAT
16.34 A drone appears over Nest One - part of an aerial survey by Woodland Trust
Daily summary Thursday 28th March 2024
Well, here we all are again, the dedicated followers of Woodland Trust’s Osprey nests in Loch Arkaig, and the most important character has turned up too - welcome home Louis! Nest One was visited by a Barn Owl shortly before dawn, and this afternoon by a drone, this is an official aerial survey by Woodland Trust and will not disturb any wildlife. But these events paled into insignificance when a familiar call was heard off camera near Nest Two, and at 15.18.38 an Osprey landed to some initial confusion but it soon became clear it was our beloved Louis. This is the earliest he’s returned, and now we await his mate Dorcha and hope she arrives back soon. Louis spent just under three hours on the nest, doing a bit of nest cupping and re-arranging, and generally getting stuck into nest prep, before departing for the night. It will be exciting to see what tomorrow brings!
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/GIMvPI7mmCo A Barn Owl visits Nest One 04.55
https://youtu.be/TTl89f76fyA Welcome home Louis! 15.18
https://youtu.be/V3cBaY2_BBs Louis does some nestorising 15.37
https://youtu.be/digVShP1ssE A drone appears over Nest One 16.34
https://youtu.be/cVIM9lMwHXM Louis departs for the night 18.17
Bonus read - two books just out, Simon's book features the Loch Arkaig fish stats and has photos of Aila, Louis, and Dorcha, and Tim's book is the latest in the Poyser Monograph series of authoritative ornithology books:
'If You Build It, He Will Come' by Simon Curtin
‘The Osprey’ by Dr Tim Mackrill
Blast from the past: last season’s highlights:
https://youtu.be/9uWupO0G9tY Woodland Trust official 2023 summary
https://youtu.be/qpxRv2OIsFQ my unofficial Nest One 2023 summary
https://youtu.be/frFhrnS7Vvo my unofficial Nest Two 2023 summary
I haven't got time to watch all your vids, GEEMEFF, because I suddenly thought of the cat/s so I put your YT video list into reverse and got waylaid by Verdi and Tosca. I had to tear myself away !!!