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:
N2 13.22.22 Dorcha gets fish number two, another headless BT - lovely orange colour flesh
Louis arrives at 16.46.21 with fish number three, a headless BT, but Dorcha just mutters and doesn't take it.
Louis departs, and when he returns with it at 17.09.15, Dorcha takes it from him after a few moments.
She departs with it at 17.10.15
Daily summary Wednesday 3rd April 2024No visitors to Nest One today, apart from a four-second touchdown by Louis - is he checking out his old territory, or just passing through ? He and Dorcha were busy on Nest Two with mating and nestorising, and the nest is filling up nicely with soft moss ready to cushion the eggs when they're laid in a couple of weeks time. Louis brought three fish to the nest today, taking the tally to fourteen. There was some discussion of Osprey lifespans, is citizen science, ie nest cam watching, going to change the current estimation of an average lifespan of 7 - 10 years? Louis is already at least ten years old, and appears to be in his prime, having fledged eleven chicks to date. The weather was reasonably settled although the wind was gusting at times, however tonight's forecast for the Inver Mallie area is drizzle and a gentle breeze.Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 20.59.09 (06:04:29); Nest Two 20.49.12 (06:11:22)Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/obGJXl8TQhw Fish number one, headless BT 07.46.24https://youtu.be/XRUIQug73eo Louis touches down briefly on Nest One 11.35.18 (slo-mo repeat)https://youtu.be/8Y0IMx-aZHk Dorcha gets fish number two, another headless BT 13.22.22 (zoom)https://youtu.be/dZWAEwRxHGA Dorcha accepts fish number three at the second offering 16.46.21https://youtu.be/NKWmX-eR-94 Successful mating on Nest Two 19.26.15Bonus read - beach cleanup benefits the Loch Arkaig area:https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/bakkafrost-scotland-beach-cleans-cooke-scotland/salmon-farm-volunteers-collected-236-tonnes-of-beach-litter-last-year/1748879Blast from the past, this day in previous years:https://youtu.be/09TOby_yPfU A Woodpecker visits Nest One 2021https://youtu.be/9AMwVKh0POw A Chaffinch pays a fleeting visit to Nest One 2021https://youtu.be/zVUJ0fenW3E A Blue Tit visits Nest Two 2022https://youtu.be/-BwfbQolDAE Aerial antics: Crow chases a Buzzard near Nest Two 2022 (slo-mo zoom)https://youtu.be/_Er_85c3FZU Louis brings a fish supper but Dorcha’s not home yet 2023https://youtu.be/o6wbe4WZCVc Louis brings a large clump of moss to Nest Two 2023
Dorcha arrives on the nest shortly before Louis lands at 09.22.35 with the first fish of the day, a partial Brown Trout.
At 09.25.30 Dorcha eventually takes the fish from him, and flies off with it at 09.26.01 leaving him on the nest.
N1 09.24.10 Prince lands on the nest at 09.24.10 and stays for a few moments before departing at 09.24.54, flying away towards the two knolls and disappearing behind them.I zoomed in as he's such a pretty boy!
Nest One 09.34.31
The one-ring Stranger makes a quick touchdown, stays three seconds, departs at 09.34.34 (slo-mo repeat with zoom)
Geemeff I'm seeing huge blank spaces on this page where I'd expect to see your vids 'n pics ️
IMAGICAT
Oh! You must be in stealth mode, Scylla, because I can see them all!
I can now see the stranger touchdown but no others. WEIRD !!!