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:
11.00.58 Fish number one delivered by Louis - half a brown trout.Dorcha grabs it immediately and starts eating, while Louis does a bit of nest tidying.She munches away for quite a while, then drops it and hops up on the perch at 11.14.47.11.15.13 Louis takes it and departs.
Dorcha is on the nest, fish calling. Louis lands at 17.04.52 with fish number two, a good size whole trout.
She grabs it from him, and moves over to the edge and starts eating.
Louis stays on the nest too.
Daily summary Friday 12th April 2024An exciting day, no egg on Nest Two yet, but plenty of action over on Nest One, where Affric 152 turned up, called for fish, and Garry LV0 appeared with one. He seemed reluctant to give it to her but she seized it, giving him no choice but to relinquish it to her and leave. However, after Affric departed with it, he quickly returned, followed immediately by Louis! Garry flew off and circled around as Louis landed, then Garry landed as Louis flew off, in a manic fourteen-second game of musical nests. On Nest Two, Louis delivered two fish, taking the tally to thirty three, and Dorcha is roosting off-nest again tonight. The Inver Mallie area forecast for tonight is more heavy rain, with a moderate breeze, but there's hope of getting a bit of sun tomorrow.Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 21.19.43 (05.34.25); Nest Two 21.13.58 (05.43.14)Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/t2R05W5xHZ8 Affric 152 takes a fish from Garry LV0 08.12.08https://youtu.be/ZjIl05N5jjA Louis & Garry LV0 chase each other on and off Nest One 08.52.05https://youtu.be/cODGsUlHOns Fish number one, headless BT 11.00.58https://youtu.be/XKkXU6Cd944 Fish number two, whole BT 17.04.52Bonus guide to Osprey egg production:https://kielderospreys.wpcomstaging.com/2013/05/04/copulation-and-laying-eggs-a-bit-of-a-biology-lessonBlast from the past, this day in previous years:https://youtu.be/gHON30DPkRg Nesting dance: Louis with pompoms 2021 (Classic Ospreys - Grieg)https://youtu.be/VQDncOOrCAA Lovebirds: early morning mating 2022https://youtu.be/NrNcLnttpdc Splitscreen - is this the same bird? 2022https://youtu.be/x_JJOmUeaF0 Stunning sunset over Nest Two 2022 (time-lapse)https://youtu.be/yyMQbIUN3bI Skydancing in the dark 2023https://youtu.be/UVrPq6MNPc0 Mating on the high perch 2023https://youtu.be/FxRbIZfXVYQ Fish number two, with a flypast 2023
08.40.27 Fish number one - a headless BTDorcha stays on the nest and tucks in, Louis stays and does nest tidying.Wind gusting strongly.
Nest One
12.41.20 A bird is seen flying in the distance high up from left to right, coming from between the knolls.
12.41.30 Garry LV0 lands with a fish
12.41.48 departs, flies out of sight to the left
Nest Two: 19.55 Dorcha is asking fairly politely for fish, and at 19.56.10 Louis departs.Will he return with a fish?No! 19.56.31 he returns - she chirrups at him19.57.48 he leaves again.
20.30 She's still there, Louis hasn't returned.
Will he bring her a fish supper?
Will she stay the night?
Will we have an egg by morning?
No, no egg tonight. But a fish was delivered.
20.34.23 A monster wriggling fish arrives! Fish number two is a whopper! It's very lively. Well done Louis in this weather!! The water must be very choppy.
Dorcha grabs it but has difficulty subduing it. The wind is gusting strongly.
20.43 Poor thing is still flapping feebly as she tears into its head.
20.58.58 Louis departs. Dorcha remains on the nest with the fish, now headless.
21.04.17 Dorcha departs leaving the fish behind. No egg tonight. Today is Day 14 since they reunited on 30th March
Daily summary Saturday 13th April 2024Plenty of wind and rain, but despite today's poor weather there were several fish deliveries today, including one from Garry LV0 delivered to Nest One. No one was there to take it so he left with it and returned later with a full crop, startling a little bird who hadn't noticed him. Louis brought two fish to Nest Two today, taking the tally to thirty five. The second fish was a very lively whopper which Dorcha had difficulty subduing in the gusty wind. She left the now headless fish behind when she departed for the night, which means the wait for the first egg continues. More bad weather is forecast for tonight and tomorrow.Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 21.11.19 (05.32.50); Nest Two 21.08.25 (05.42.06)Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/AXmCrM1N5DQ Fish number one, good size headless BT 08.40.27https://youtu.be/NHDU63bbEag Garry LV0 brings another fish to Nest One 12.41.30 (zoom)https://youtu.be/G1l5YJriSt8 Garry LV0 startles a little songbird 17.51.55 (slo-mo zoom)https://youtu.be/9MU4DHe21Ak No egg tonight: both depart leaving fish2 behind 20.34.23Bonus watch - Kate Humble and WT collaborate on sustainable tree protection:https://youtu.be/6av4vbNfRew?si=tcnu1RXYqV6GfbyqBlast from the past, this day in previous years:https://youtu.be/S79vEf6sTV0 Louis chases an intruder 2020 (Slo-mo)https://youtu.be/aw9gnUSlGO0 Late night drama as Louis chases another intruder 2020https://youtu.be/6yGNxv2KqNQ Misty morning mating 2022 (x-rated!)https://youtu.be/P60wseTCepU Louis brings a fish to his old nest 2022https://youtu.be/NmUONfZzPeI Louis loses a stick and nearly gets lucky 2023https://youtu.be/9dNWnjbzqEY Dorcha sees off a Hoodie 2023
Nest One Blue LV0 - Garry pays a visit (zoomed)
06.56.14 A bird flies from the left, circles towards the nest
06.56.25 Garry LV0 arrives
06.57.00 Garry departs, flies off and perches on Pole Tree
07.01.23 Garry leaves Pole Tree, flying left and out of sight