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:
19.22.23 Fish number four! Whole trout.
Dorcha takes it and the bobs take note, Louis remains on the nest as feeding begins
Nest Two 20.18 Both Louis and Dorcha are on the nest, and the nest cam catches the glow of the setting sun in a way that appears to bathe them in a purple glow
Daily summary Saturday 25th May 2024
No drama today, just two experienced parents going about raising their three lively bobs. Louis brought four fish to the nest today, including the season's first flatfish, and raised his tally to one hundred and eighteen. Dorcha did a great job of looking after the bobs, keeping them warm and cosy but most importantly, making sure all three of those gaping beaks got a share of the fish. Louis pole-vaulted in with a big cot rail, and Dorcha kept the nest clean and free of detritus by eating all the leftovers including some tough as old boots flatfish skin. Zero action on Nest One today. Weather was settled today, and the forecast for tonight is light rain and a gentle breeze.
Night cam switches over (day cam): Nest One 23.05.20 (03.27.11); 22.44.00 (04.12.01)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/1smYc-QXL_M N2 fish number one, whole trout 05.15.55
https://youtu.be/4pTHER9sy-w N2 Fish number two, live trout - bob1 has a go at self-feeding!!!!! 09.56.00
https://youtu.be/GRCzf9FTFRo N2 Olympic hero! Louis pole-vaults in 11.30.05
https://youtu.be/vZcMnDPsX-s N2 Fish number three, first flatfish of the season 15.28.17
https://youtu.be/EpDxudcMp6Q N2 Tough as old boots - Dorcha and the fish skin 17.24
https://youtu.be/jZp6oSeRQ34 N2 Fish number four, whole trout 19.22.23
https://youtu.be/P_1jqw2RRf8 N2 Purple haze: Louis & Dorcha caught in the glow of sunset 20.18
Bonus watch - all seven season highlights videos in one place:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=14840910
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/8FYcojpPJQc Louis brings a v-shaped stick 2020
https://youtu.be/sQPo3oUdJNI Louis does a mid-air handbrake turn 2020
https://youtu.be/5f4o-219oIs What time do you call this? 2020
https://youtu.be/DKhP0pbVLbQ Louis is given his marching orders 2020
https://youtu.be/if-vCqrqRLI Unusually persistent Hoodie annoys Dorcha 2022
https://youtu.be/Isc_NPFqB4M N1 Louis visits again 2023
https://youtu.be/rLwmdraNUD4 N2 Dorcha branches out 2023
https://youtu.be/jzXy4qQP_ZQ N2 Dorcha pole vaults onto the nest 2023
Geemeff said:Nest Two 20.18 Both Louis and Dorcha are on the nest, and the nest cam catches the glow of the setting sun in a way that appears to bathe them in a purple glow https://youtu.be/P_1jqw2RRf8
https://youtu.be/P_1jqw2RRf8
You get some really interesting natural special effects on this nest!
Nest Two 04:37:26 Louis arrives with a lively big trout, new season's earliest delivery.
Dorcha takes it and starts tearing in to it as the poor thing flaps and the bobs wobble to attention.
04.38.36 Louis leaves, Dorcha carries on
06:15:34 Fish number two, medium trout
06:15:34 Dorcha is feeding the bobs from the remains of the first fish (delivered less than two hours previously at 04.37.26) when Louis arrives with a second fish, a medium trout.
Dorcha leaves the remnant of fish one, and takes it immediately
06.16.07 Louis leaves, and Dorcha keeps both fish and carries on feeding
13.20.48 The nest is only occupied by the bobs when Louis arrives with fish number three, a headless trout.
Louis stands with it in his talons as the bobs are home alone, makes no attempt to start feeding
13.21.46 Dorcha returns and takes over
Dad Louis is providing so well that no one wants fish number four so he takes it away 20.25.24
20.25.24 Fish number four, headless trout. Well done Louis! Stepped up as we knew he would.
However, Dorcha just looks at it and doesn’t move, covering the chicks while it rains
20.43.24 Louis departs with the fish
Daily summary Sunday 26th May 2024
Another beautifully normal day, some might say boring, but lack of drama is very good at this time while the chicks are so young and still in the bob stage. Dorcha did a sterling job of keeping the chicks dry and sharing out the food fairly evenly, while Louis provided so much fish, the last one wasn't wanted and he took it away again. Today's delivery of four fish raised his tally to one hundred and twenty two. Zero action on Nest One, but some intriguing footage from Steve Q of the action on the Bunarkaig nest - might we soon be able to solve the question of who that pair are? Link to his video in the bonus section. Wet weather today and more to come as tonight's forecast is for light rain and light winds.
Night cam switches over (day cam): Nest One 23.06.05 (03.40.48); Nest Two 22.35.55 (04.09.45)
https://youtu.be/HDeKihZLtyg N2 Fish number one, whopper lively trout, season's earliest 04.37.26
https://youtu.be/fd8rNciXHCs N2 Fish number two, medium trout, season's fastest second-delivery 06.15.34
https://youtu.be/qgZZjeA6M5U N2 Fish number three, headless trout - bobs are home alone 13.20.48
https://youtu.be/CMBJis-X6UQ N2 No one wants fish number four so Louis takes it away 20.25.24
Bonus update on the pair on the Bunarkaig nest (thanks Steve):
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=14860033
Bonus Bunarkaig video with a blue flash at 47 & 54 seconds in, from 2020 (thanks Liz):
https://youtu.be/hMwp93LImTg
https://youtu.be/j2zFGdLHFfI N1 What spooks Aila? 2019
https://youtu.be/OtayWPtR_fo N1 Aila repels an intruder Osprey 2020 (real-time)
https://youtu.be/Ocm48b6Os7s N1 Same intrusion in slo-mo
https://youtu.be/0oxD9vodUSU N1 Cheeky chaffinch watches the changeover 2020
https://youtu.be/dedcBVUI0dQ N1 Tug of fish: Let go, Louis! 2020
https://youtu.be/AYQ--hL3MLU N1 A Jay visits 2023
https://youtu.be/EJXmdCL0D2g N2 Dorcha has breakfast while Louis does the housework 2023
https://youtu.be/MsitXypzBVY N2 A fish finally arrives for hungry Dorcha 2023
Louis is such a good provider. Some of the other males around could take a lesson from him!