LOCH ARKAIG - THE WOODLAND TRUST - February 2024 - May 2024

16.08.25 Fish number two arrives, half an old dried up trout! Dorcha takes it anyway 

17.52.50 Louis delivers fish number three, a fresher looking fish than last time.

Dorcha takes it quickly and departs, leaving him happily settling down on the eggs 

Daily summary Friday 3rd May 2024

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Today saw the welcome return of Aida to Nest One. She looked very hollow-cropped but luckily Garry LV0 followed right behind her with a fish, taking his tally to six since they met on 28th April. It was a quiet day all round, Nest One was visited by other birds - two Wrens, a Tree Pipit and a Coal Tit, while Nest Two was visited by a pair of Lesser Redpolls. Louis had plenty of time for fishing and delivered three fish to Dorcha, taking his tally to seventy three since they reunited on 28th March, and also brought a big stick via the scenic route before managing to land it successfully. The weather was settled and dry, but tonight's forecast is for light rain and light winds. Woodland Trust treated us to fabulous drone footage of the nests, increasing our understanding of our Ospreys' world.

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Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 22.20.11 (04.21.22); Nest Two 22.23.59 (04.34.47)

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Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/D8JzRAB4-PI N1 little Wren visits 05.55.06 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/0yimE8umLLc N2 Fish number one, whole tiddler trout 08.37.55 

https://youtu.be/9NftDmPybXk N1 Garry brings fish number one for hollow-cropped Aida 10.00.39 

https://youtu.be/mmOwq1QEOTQ  N2 Louis misjudges landing with a big stick 10.23.11

https://youtu.be/zp36YlZE3yA  N2 Two Lesser Redpolls arrive and one perches near Dorcha 13.04.10

https://youtu.be/eAqcolh9_VQ N1 Woodland visitors: Tree Pipit, Coal Tit, Wren 15.15.34

https://youtu.be/1DoIxjH07Eo N2 Fish number two, half an old dried up trout 16.08.25

https://youtu.be/YQ_hVK_eiTY N2 Fish number three, much fresher trout 17.52.50

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Bonus watch - stunning drone footage of the nest area, filmed before the birds returned of course:

https://youtu.be/HKIxtz_ICXU N1

https://youtu.be/wiSNcrl7_mM N2

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Extra bonus - my video of the drone filming Nest One on 28th March:

https://youtu.be/digVShP1ssE

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Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/_ldayacEJVk  Domestic abuse? Aila wants Louis to move 2020

https://youtu.be/O66MzVbKdEk  Louis chases a Hoodie wanting his fish 2020

https://youtu.be/EXKZvJIsSnU  Poor old Louis! First a kick then a bit of fish stuck in his beak 2020

https://youtu.be/U-5w06vRVgc Dorcha wears a fake moustache 2022

https://youtu.be/475Qa4mMr_M  Louis gets a bashing with a big stick 2022

https://youtu.be/aGybeh25I3I  Size matters! Coal Tit is startled by Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/YevTSQLmv2k  A Cuckoo calls as Dorcha departs with her breakfast 2023

https://youtu.be/hr9oHiTH2EA  Mute button needed as Dorcha sees Louis bringing dinner 2023

Season's earliest fish is delivered to Dorcha

05.41.32 Louis delivers fish number one, a headless trout, which Dorcha takes immediately

05.41.51 Dorcha departs with the fish 

Wow, Geemeff, the drone footage, commissioned by the Woodland Trust prior to the Opsreys arriving, is absolutely wonderful - thank you so much for sharing!  

Your own vid of the drone at work is fab too - I thought it was an alien spaceship attempting to take up residency! 

Woodland Trust (@WTScotsocial) have just tweeted a guide to birdsong, ahead of International Dawn Chorus Day tomorrow:

https://x.com/WTScotsocial/status/1786803093746700577

None of you probably need it, but I do! 

• Sandra 04/05/2024 15:32 in reply to Geemef

  Wow, Geemeff, the drone footage, commissioned by the Woodland Trust prior to the Opsreys arriving, is absolutely wonderful - thank you so much for sharing!  

  Your own vid of the drone at work is fab too - I thought it was an alien spaceship attempting to take up residency! 
  Thank you, Sandra. George had warned us about the drones, and I was really glad to catch it on the N1 nest cam. Luckily they'd done Nest Two long before Louis and Dorcha made surprise early returns. The drone footage is absolutely amazing, so wonderful to see the nests in the way the Ospreys do.

• Shocking heartbreaking news coming from LotL - Laddie has been found dead, the police are involved, and there's a Crimestoppers number to call.

  George has posted this on Woodland Trust's forum:

  I am going to break from our usual practice of avoiding updates from other nests, because unfortunately it seems there has been a development at another nest that is extremely concerning.

  Police Scotland Tayside have posted on Facebook:

  “We are appealing for information after the remains of an osprey were found near Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, on Friday, 3 May, 2024.

  The protected species is believed to have been nesting at Loch of the Lowes, close to where it was found.

  Enquiries are at an early stage to establish the full circumstances.

  Inspector James Longden said: “It is illegal to kill any protected species and we are working closely alongside partner agencies to confirm what has happened here and whether there is any criminality involved.

  “Information from the local community could prove vital and it is important we speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area, or who may know something which could assist our investigation.

  “Any information can be passed to Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 3266 of Friday, 3 May, 2024. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

  It sounds like foul play may have been the reason for Laddie’s absence from the nest for several days.

  I just wanted to express our solidarity with our friends and colleagues at Scottish Wildlife Trust.

  As we know, these birds face all sorts of natural threats and difficulties. It is really galling to think they still have to face harm from people too.

Nest One 07.59.15 Garry LV0 arrives with moss, calling softly, who's he watching? 

08.01.21 No one comes, so Garry departs to Pole Tree and perches there