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:
They take a moment to drop in on my tablet but do get them all!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Hmmm. Weird indeed.
Here are the links instead:
https://youtu.be/LwifGVTKdqM Prince visits N1 briefly 09.24.10 (zoom)https://youtu.be/-DKJ2GjsVLY Fish number one, well-munched trout remnant 09.22.35
Scylla, I’ve had blank spaces on a few threads too. I just refresh the page and the photos/videos appear.
N2 Dorcha is on the nest at 17.30.02 when a Great Tit lands briefly on the branches on the left, is startled by Dorcha who flicks her tail feathers, and moves quickly to a different branch before flying off.
Repeated in slo-mo and zoomed.
Dorcha's on the nest calling for fish. At 17.23.04 Louis appears with a nice sized fish but does a fast fly past - and keeps going!
Finally at 17.47.04 he reappears with fish number two, now headless, lands, and Dorcha grabs it.
Dorcha departs with it at 17.48.08.
Louis is such a super provider, Geemeff!
18.38.30 Louis returns with an unsuitable stick and nearly pokes his eye out*. He moves it around until he places it near the edge of the nest.
What's the bet it goes overboard quite soon? I zoomed in on his antics.
*Not really, but that's what grownups always used to say when we were playing!
He is that, Dorcha's only been back five days and he's brought 16 fish to the nest already.
Daily summary Thursday 4th April 2024A reasonably quiet day today on Nest Two - Louis brought two fish to the nest, taking the tally to sixteen. Not bad considering Dorcha only returned five days ago. He also brought some unsuitable sticks, which either already went overboard or are in imminent danger of doing so. The main excitement was over on Nest One, with flying visits from Prince and the single-ringed stranger. Over in Bunarkaig, Chaddie reports that Prince visits that nest several times daily and is doing a lot of nest prep, but no sign of his mate Affric 152 yet. Affric and Prince are the likely parents of 2022 Bunarkaig chick Fishy, LV7, but that nest failed last year, which might lead them to Nest One instead. Then there's Garry LV0, sighted in Senegal last month, who showed a definite proprietary interest. If Garry returns, and if today's stranger is female and sticks around, that's a potential match for him. Many 'ifs' right now all scenarios are possible, and we'll be watching keenly to see what transpires. Tonight's forecast for the Inver Mallie area is heavy rain and a gentle breeze. The Met Office got it spot on last night, if tonight's is accurate, Louis & Dorcha are going to have a wet night.Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One (05.54.13) Nest Two (06.0.13)Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/f--JW877XlM The one-ring Stranger makes a quick touchdown: N1 09.34.31 (Slo-mo repeat with zoom)
https://youtu.be/LwifGVTKdqM Prince visits N1 briefly 09.24.10 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/-DKJ2GjsVLY Fish number one, well-munched trout remnant 09.22.35
https://youtu.be/t24Vr9A4BSE Great Tit is startled by Dorcha 17.30.02 (Slo-mo repeat with zoom)
https://youtu.be/GuwVyW75D1Y Fish number two, headless BT, lands after its flyby 17.47.04
Bonus watch: WT video showing the construction of Nest Two:https://youtu.be/xtwK6Yz1YNQBlast from the past, this day in previous years:https://youtu.be/m3stOsTU74g N2: Blue Tit arrives for his regular morning raid 2022https://youtu.be/qWWDUb_DC14 A pair of Coal Tits check nest 1 for nesting material 2022https://youtu.be/5vKz_gfgz6E Louis delivers a fish but no one's thome yet 2023https://youtu.be/i0XuwWH2CEY Wind-assisted nestoration! Louis gets a helping hand 2023https://youtu.be/k8lP42KRt_Q More moss and more wind-assisted nestoration 2023
06.16 Louis skydances at dawn before landing on the nest. He looks around but Dorcha doesn't appear, so he departs singing as he goes.