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:
Daily summary Saturday 27th April 2024
Both weather-wise and on the nests it was a calm day today, not much happened. A Great Tit popped up on Nest One for a few moments then later Garry LV0 turned up, did some nest prep and flew off to perch on Pole Tree but attracted no Osprey visitors. Louis and Dorcha had one or two minor alerts, took turns incubating, shared two fish, which took the tally to sixty one, and later Louis had a bout of clumsiness resulting in standing on her tail. Or perhaps it was intentional, as she then flew off leaving him happily egg-sitting. Tonight's forecast is for light rain showers and light winds, which will help keep away the owls heard hooting nearby last night.
Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 22.04.39 (04.44.45); Nest Two 22.20.29 (04.49.26)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/ZG-P1yQatxo Great Tit visits Nest One 06.32.38
https://youtu.be/-JTu8Cr1Guo First fish does a flypast before landing 07.39.18
https://youtu.be/MfQttkWT3Uk Garry LV0 leaves Nest One and perches on Pole Tree 09.03.50
https://youtu.be/fqQH8JkDhSY Fish number two, headless trout 17.14.28
https://youtu.be/B-zPWF3ZiJg Takes two to tangle: Loch Arkaig Ospreys bump into each other 19.54.48
Bonus read - "a rollercoaster ride of drama, triumph and tragedy” state the folk who fund the nest cams:
https://www.postcodelottery.info/news/latest-news/tune-into-loch-arkaig-osprey-cam
Blast from the past, this day in previous years
https://youtu.be/q_WwmwEsYBA Louis won't let Aila have his fish 2019
https://youtu.be/p3aqIV2VHuo Owl attacks Aila 2020 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/OsGsdpzZVdY Owl strikes Dorcha as she guards her egg 2022 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/2RPYImn6HsQ Egg number two for Dorcha 2022
https://youtu.be/AtdFILU2Sm0 Owl attacks minutes after the second egg 2022 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/E2U7-JML07w Egg number three! 2023 (zoomed)
https://youtu.be/jT3MesYLieY Hooded Crow intrudes on Dorcha 2023
Hi Geemeff, thanks for your continuous updates!
This was posted on Tweed Valley Osprey Project Fb yesterday
Fantastic news, thank you Sandra
NEWS Nest One
Looks like Garry LV0 has found a girlfriend! Unringed female turned up and took his fish!
4.17.35 Someone does a flypast the nest
14.17.38 Garry LV0 arrives with a fish
14.18.09 Unringed female lands, Garry coy-mantles
14.20.47 He departs with fish, she remains
14.2210 Garry returns clutching the fish, lands on her back, not successful, flies off with the fish
14.23.31 He returns, lands, she comes over and grabs the fish - he flies off, she remains on the nest with the fish
14.26.21 She departs
14.26.57 She returns with the fish, perches on the left hand perch
14.27.12 He returns, makes as if to land on her, she ducks, he lands on the nest
14.28 Both look skywards
14.31 She tucks in, he does a bit of nest prep
They both stay on the nest together, she keeps eating
Geemeff said:Fantastic news, thank you Sandra
You're very welcome, Geemeff!
Geemeff said:Looks like Garry LV0 has found a girlfriend!
Oh I do hope she stays!
Nest One 11.15.27 Garry pays a quick visit
11.15.54 He departs
13.09.47 A little bird visits, it’s a Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), singing very sweetly.
13.10.36 Departs but can still be heard singing
I hope Garry’s new friend stays too. Can’t wait for tomorrow to see!
How sweet the little singing wren is on nest one. He’s probably about the size of an Osprey egg but weighing much less!
Nest One
Unringed female appears and takes Garry's fish! 14.17.38
This is very promising - and she's very pretty, with a 'clean face' like Aila had. But no, it's not Aila..
14.22.10 Garry returns clutching the fish, lands on her back, not successful, flies off with the fish