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
Welcome little bob - first chick hatches! Wednesday 22nd May at 06.16.45
Welcome little bob - second chick hatches - it's twins! Wednesday 22nd May at 22.26.15
Welcome little bob - third chick hatches! Friday 24th at 16.36.10
.
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:
Successful mating at 17.50.04, and again a few minutes later - not wasting any time!
15.40 Dorcha gets some little visitors. Repeated in slo-mo.
It's been suggested they are Grey Wagtails.
Nest One 02.00.07 A Tawny Owl visits, perches on the centre perch, calling. A male is heard calling in the distance.
The female spends an unusually long time on the nest before departing at 02.39.45. (zoomed)
05.54.02 Dorcha arrives with night cam still on, was heard calling off-camera for a couple of minutes before landing
06.16.04 After moving a few sticks, she starts to feed on the remains of yesterday's fish.06.17.07 Dorcha flies of with the fish tail.
06:16 04 After moving a few sticks, she starts to feed on the remains of the last fish.06.17.07 Dorcha flies of with the fish tail.
06.23.19 Dorcha returns
06.35.18 Louis arrives with fish number one, well-munched brown trout - Louis keeps it.
06.48.15 Louis departs
06:52 42 Louis returns with a stick!
06.54 Mating - looked successful
08.27.40 Louis brings a second fish - headless brown trout. This time he allows Dorcha to take it immediately.
Maybe to stop the din? She dos have good lungs!
Good morning Geemeff. It was late last night before I heard the news of Dorcha’s return. That’s amazing, she is super early this year and Louis didn’t have to wait long to see his mate again. So pleased so see them reunited again.
Morning Glider - happy Easter! Sooon we'll have our own Easter eggs. It's so wonderful they've both turned up early this year.
No sleep til September now..
Great to see Dorcha reunited with Louis, Geemeff. Super news!
07.08 Big stick covered in lichen arrives. It's placed precariously and goes overboard by lunchtime.