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:
Daily summary Tuesday 23rd April 2023Another three-fish day on Nest Two as supreme fisherbird Louis ramps up fish deliveries and takes the tally to fifty four, which bodes well for the time when there'll be demanding little beaks to fill, but otherwise all quiet on Nest Two. However over on Nest One the triangular situation is as confusing as ever, with Garry bringing fish but getting no takers although when Affric did turn up, she was attacked by Prince again in a display of very low divebombing with open beak. Three little birds visited in between appearances from the big birds, taking advantage of the empty nest as there is still no sign yet of it being used for raising chicks this year. Weather was fair today, and set to continue tonight, with a forecast of a clear sky and light winds.Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 22.02.32 (04.37.16); Nest Two 22.06.55 (04.55.08)Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/iH8SOEnyslY N1 Little birds visit 06:01:52 and 09.23.50https://youtu.be/hN0h7qFcRZI Fish number one 06.10.37https://youtu.be/Vrv0mGcYJF0 N1: No takers for Garry’s fish 08.15.47https://youtu.be/wpswrPe2VU0 Garry returns with his fish, still no takers 09.36.45https://youtu.be/6NqL5vXG91w N1: Prince attacks Affric 11.00.48 (slo-mo zoom repeat)https://youtu.be/RsGfdVbA-5Q Fish number two, headless trout 14.11.22https://youtu.be/oStv3X3SDiM Fish number three, large headless trout 20.48.25Bonus read - delayed incubation process explained:https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/blog/emyr-mwt/delayed-incubation-ospreysBlast from the past, this day in previous years:https://youtu.be/HC8FSMTgKWk Aila lays the first egg 2020 (Slo-Mo)https://youtu.be/Cnif4BNYFuM Louis brings a fish to the empty nest 2021https://youtu.be/OpyGsxeMGwE Is this emaciated unringed female Aila? 2021 (long version)https://youtu.be/fmNwPCmnz5k Louis the pole vaulter 2022https://youtu.be/VgOVHWjXnkk Sweet little singer singing its heart out on N1 2022https://youtu.be/qLyRSw-879A Ravens alarm Dorcha 2023https://youtu.be/45Svwh7f7qA Wind-swept lovers 2023
N1 Garry LV0 is unsuccessful at mating with Affric
12.39.36 Garry LV0 appears, flies in for a mating attempt, not successful. He has a small piece of fish when he came into view, it falls from his grasp as he comes in to land.
12.40.41 Affric 152 spots the fallen bit of fish hidden in a clump of moss and departs taking it with her
12.41.14 Affric circles round and returns without the moss but with the bit of fish. Garry is coy-mantling and she starts eating the fish
Fish number one, headless trout - Dorcha grabs and goes
13.32.46 Louis arrives with fish number one, a headless trout. Dorcha is very eager and grabs it immediately.
13.33.03 Dorcha departs with it, and Louis settles down to egg duties
Nest One Faint skydancing heard before Garry lands with a fish for Affric
15.41.35 Affric 152 is on the nest and faint skydancing is hard - she twists and turns her head towards the sound
15.44.46 Affric starts calling loudly, and Garry LV0 lands with a fish which she seizes. However, she remains on the nest with it, looking around.
Nest One Affric pecks Garry whenever he attempts to mate
16.09.25 Affric 152 has a go at Garry LV0 as he attempts to move closer to her.
Over the period of this edited clip from 16.09 to 16.17, she’s constantly pecking or attempting to peck when he moves in closer or mounts her.
He hasn't succeeded yet.
Fish number two, headless trout, a repeat of the first:
18.40.46 As Louis delivers fish number two, a large headless trout, Dorcha does another grab and go
18.41.02 Dorcha flies off with the fish, Louis does a bit of rearranging the soft furnishings then settles on the eggs
Louis has to be prised off the eggs at bed time
20.31.18 Dorcha returns with a thin stick and lays it on Louis, shuffling around him, treading on his tail and generally making it clear it's time to go.
20.32.00 He bows to the inevitable and departs. Dorcha settles down on her eggs.
Daily summary Wednesday 24th April 2024
A mild day with settled weather and not much drama. Two fish were brought to Nest One, a small scrap in the morning and a much more substantial one mid-afternoon, but although Affric 152 accepted the fish from Garry LV0, she wouldn't allow him to mate with her. He tried and tried and tried to no avail, even got pecked several times for his trouble. Chaddie reported birds on the Bunarkaig nest, one with a possible slight blue flash, at the same time as a bird on Nest One, but then it all got confusing with comings and goings and so the mystery continues. No mystery at Nest Two, where Louis brought two fish to Dorcha taking the tally to fifty six, just plenty of cooperation on incubation duties as we inch towards hatching day. Although Dorcha did have to give Louis a prod to get him off the eggs! He is a very enthusiastic egg-sitter, much more so than many other male Ospreys. Tonight’s forecast for the nest area is partly cloudy with a gentle breeze.
Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 21.49.45 (04.34.22); Nest Two 21.48.00 (04.57.14)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/mhOK8dxUvz0 N1 Garry LV0 is unsuccessful at mating with Affric 12.39.36
https://youtu.be/IvtMCezQCbY Fish number one, headless trout - Dorcha grabs and goes 13.32.46
https://youtu.be/R65sVgecqpQ N1 Faint skydancing heard before Garry lands with a fish for Affric 15.41.35
https://youtu.be/79H68JNrYSM N1 Affric pecks Garry whenever he attempts to mate 16.09.25
https://youtu.be/GPp33UX7x1E Fish number two, headless trout, Dorcha does a grab and go 18.40.46
https://youtu.be/Ml9Zzjn6cVo Louis has to be prised off the eggs at bed time 20.31.18
Bonus watch - how on earth do the nest cams get wifi in the middle of nowhere? Your questions answered!
https://youtu.be/vwCOeoNCQBI
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/48P80FIVkxg Deer caught on nest cam 2021 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/qwxy6NxweS4 Louis attempts mating the emaciated Aila-lookalike female 2021
https://youtu.be/hu1hHh5azpo Dorcha wants breakfast but Louis brings a stick 2022
https://youtu.be/qi3b0DP1-_0 Little bird departs hastily as the Ospreys return 2022
https://youtu.be/jUIZ2WGGIuc Dorcha lays the first egg! 2022 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/_Iki790Zuh4 Egg number two, with squeaking! 2023
https://youtu.be/s7nZG1Fdll0 Ravens chase Louis 2023
Hi Geemeff with Affric being so unreceptive to Garry how likely I wonder it is they will reproduce this season. Is there plenty of time yet?
There is just about enough time still - but I think it’s unlikely as she keeps rejecting Garry like she did last year too. It’s a very confusing situation as she does have her own partner, Prince, since 2021.
Prince is around but has attacked her aggressively on this nest on three occasions recently, divebombing her twice and pecking her in a very aggressive mating attempt where he dragged her backwards by her head.
Who knows how this is going to pan out? Very intriguing.