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 Monday 20th May 2024
Today brought another surprise visitor to Nest One - Affric 152 arrived, not having been seen since 24th April. We'll never know why she turned up, perhaps a break from egg-sitting, if she is indeed the female on the Bunarkaig nest, but it was lovely to see her. Some little birds visited as well, but seeing a gorgeous big beautiful female Osprey on the nest just looked right. As has been said before, the wait for permanent residents on Nest One continues. Over on Nest Two, Louis broke his record again when he turned up just after 5am with the season's earliest fish, and brought a second fish later to take his tally to one hundred and seven. We are officially on pip-watch! Egg1 is 37 days old tomorrow, and the nest cam has been zoomed in the better to catch all the action. Pipping could happen at any time now and plenty of eyes will be watching closely for that magic moment. Weather was fair, tonight's forecast is clear sky and light winds, but there's a possibility of light rain showers over the next couple of days to welcome the bobs.
Night cam switches over (day cam): Nest One 23.39.55 (03.27.49); Nest Two 22.51.17 (03.38.52)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/pf4pQzY_fh8 N2 Another record-breaking earliest fish 05.01.45
https://youtu.be/RzesNNYmIkE N1 Little birds flit about 06.02 & 09.19
https://youtu.be/i9K2-HCbD-o N1 An unexpected visitor arrives - it’s Affric 152! 11.05.30
https://youtu.be/Nrr-H6eK0m4 N2 Pip pip hooray - cam's been zoomed 14.30
https://youtu.be/P81chr8zJFs N2 Fish number two, headless BT 18.03.05
https://youtu.be/5fl9uzsupuY N1 A Jay (Garrulus glandarius) perches on the centre perch 20.35.52
Bonus read - interesting results giving hope against the scourge of HPAI (bird flu):
https://www.startribune.com/as-bird-flu-spreads-to-dairy-cows-minnesotas-raptors-show-signs-of-building-remarkable-immunity/600367169/
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/I6EiEJdBMEk N1 Aila's misty morning flypast 2020 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/GYmMQvGGdbE N1 The eggs are bugged! 2020
https://youtu.be/56srG8Li0pY N1 Two mating attempts by The Stranger and Blue 152 2021
https://youtu.be/Gki0u5vCQg4 N1 Blown away! Comical failed mating attempt 2021
https://youtu.be/eY3vcsWUfmk N2 Very early breakfast for Dorcha 2022
https://youtu.be/XZMfSUpsMc4 N2 Little bird singing away on the high perch 2023
https://youtu.be/sTZm9BK7okg N1 Affric's (152) and LV0 visit Nest One! 2023
https://youtu.be/ROkPADnW6JI N1 Louis brings a fish to Nest One 2023
https://youtu.be/xnz4CJLptDs N1 & N2 Travelling fish number two takes the long way round 2023
00.53.38 Tawny Owl attacks!
No harm done, but Dorcha didn’t hear a thing
Nest Two Tawny Owl attacks, quick hard silent strike. Video in realtime with super slo-mo repeat
00.53.38 Comes from the left, Dorcha is completely unaware until it hits her.
We’ve been wondering where they are, having heard them but not seen them.
That was completely silent, no owl calls before or after, and Dorcha was busy having a preen, she heard nothing.
Luckily no harm done and Dorcha soon settles back down
04.55.53 Louis arrives with fish number one, a headless trout. Dorcha takes it immediately, after he releases it from his talons
04.56.36 Dorcha departs with her breakfast
She might be in need of a break - she was struck by a Tawny Owl at 00.53.38, luckily no harm done to her or the eggs!
This is once again the earliest fish of the season, but not his all-time earliest which was at 03.04.05 on 4th July 2020
The Jay is back, assuming it’s the same one from last night 05.55.22 A Jay flies onto the nest, perches on the centre perch and calls softy. Who's s/he calling to? No one is seen.
05.56.02 The Jay departs westwards, flying out of sight to the left
15.21.05 Fish number two, a headless trout, arrives
15.21.24 Dorcha departs with the rather stiff-looking fish, and Louis settles down to egg duty
No pip seen as yet, I zoomed in on the eggs but can't see any change.
Daily summary Tuesday 21st May 2024
Today started with another surprise visitor but this one was less than welcome as it took the form of a Tawny Owl attacking Dorcha, about an hour after midnight. Dorcha took a hard hit but neither she nor the eggs appeared to be harmed. This attack was not unexpected, owls have been heard calling nearby occasionally over the past few weeks, and in fact, it's very brave of a Tawny mum to take on her much bigger neighbour in order to protect her owlets who are leaving the nest and exploring their surroundings about now. Having said that, let's hope not to see her again any time soon as we await the imminent arrival of a little bobblehead emerging from its shell. Louis outdid himself with another season's earliest fish delivered just before 5am, and brought a second this afternoon taking his tally to one hundred and nine. No activity on Nest One apart from a quick visit from a Jay, there was a bit of rain but more is on the way as tonight's forecast is for thundery showers and light winds.
Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 23.05.31 (03.00.23); Nest Two 22.34.04 (04.16.20)
https://youtu.be/EKDZm4svj04 N2 Tawny Owl attack - no harm done 00.53.38 (slo-mo repeat)
https://youtu.be/wT9nc-Mu2Mw N2 Season's earliest (again) breakfast 04.55.53
https://youtu.be/vxm_bBzofYc N1 Jay returns 05.55.22 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/Pkvj9gJbijI N2 Fish number two is a bit stiff! 15.21.05
Bonus read - Woodland Trust guide to Tawny Owls (Strix aluco)
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/birds/tawny-owl/
https://youtu.be/y5N9tfD_PEE N1 What scares Louis off the eggs? 2019
https://youtu.be/Z6OExIKyXtQ N1 Pickup sticks: Aila ejects Louis 2020
https://youtu.be/EZIX7mYVxBM N1 Louis organises the new cot rail 2020
https://youtu.be/1xPGFsZ34Rc N1 Hungry Aila calls for fish 2020
https://youtu.be/gnWD639_5Ag N1 Early morning mating attempt in high winds 2021
https://youtu.be/U9Owo_N_ch4 News! Doddie JJ6 sighted in Shetland! 2022
https://youtu.be/fHuHEbhUV_c N1 Louis lands on Nest One giving little warning chirps 2023
01.42.32 Another owl attack
04.15.45 PIP!!
06.17 Welcome little bob!