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
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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:
She is favouring that right leg, look at her in the fish video I'm about to put up, she has blood on both sides but only on the right leg, and has trouble picking up the fish in her left.
The encounter was at 11.08, the blood's not visible until 13:15:49 but I thought it might be that the injury was higher up, not on the leg itself, and the blood took time to run down through her feathers.
Then JXD said:
Had a look back and when she came back at 11.13 her leg looked ok but when Louis came and took over duties at 11.34 she stood on her left leg only
which fits my theory
17.02.53 Fish number one, large headless trout, Dorcha's injury visible as she takes it
Aw, poor Dorcha, hope the leg will be okay. Not fresh blood but it looks a nasty cut on the leg
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Meanwhile, back at Nest One - dear Garry LV0 is doing his best to attract a female.. but....
No takers for Garry LV0's travelling fish first seen at 05.32.10, then back again at 06.30 and 07.31 - he brings it back every hoi=ur on the half hour but no one is there.
I wish Affric would pair with him or leave him alone! This poor boy's hormones are raging, he needs a female and we need a proper resident pair.
From Chaddie earlier today:
Geemeff said:She is favouring that right leg
Yes, I noticed that in your 17:02 video. As Catlady has said, it appears to be a nasty cut. It's quite similar to the one Flora at Alyth had on her right leg on 3rd April - that healed well.
Many thanks, Geemeff, I hope Dorcha can have a bath at some point to give it a good clean.
I was thinking the very same thing about Flora Sandra. The blood makes the injury look worse but hopefully it’s just a bit sore and will heal quickly. She was very brave defending her eggs.️ ️
Her third egg is due tomorrow! Hope all will be well. But she's a tough old bird, and the injury looks not too drastic, so fingers crossed.
10.14.12 Hoodies hop up on the nest, and Dorcha uses her special crow voice to get rid of them
17.37.12 Affric waits on Nest One but Garry is a no-show, they've managed to miss each other today. Is that an accident, or does the unseen Prince have something to do with it?