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:
20.02.49 Louis arrives chased by a Hoodie as Dorcha rests quietly in the glow of sunset.
With luck she'll have a peaceful night tonight - but it's that time when the Tawny Owls start appearing.
Not tonight, please, she needs her rest ready for egg-laying tomorrow.
Daily summary Friday 19th April 2024A very dramatic day today as an Eagle visited the area - a couple of Ravens joined in to get rid of the big raptor but Dorcha was injured in the process. It was caught in the far reaches of the nest cam view and spotted by eagle-eyed Elaine (pun intended). Dorcha's injuries don't appear to be too serious although there's blood and she's favouring one leg, but we'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings. Fortunately Osprey nests are clean as every scrap of fish is eaten therefore no rotting remains hanging around to attract parasites and cause infection. Dorcha needs to be fit for another big day tomorrw as her third egg is due, and with luck Louis will deliver more than the single fish he gave her today, which took the tally to forty four. Nest One was a lot quieter today, Garry LV0 turned up every hour for three hours with the same fish but got no takers, but when Affric 152 arrived wanting fish, he was nowhere in sight. Tonight's forecast is partly cloudy and a gentle breeze, let's hope the owls and the hoodies stay away.Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 22.00.47 (05.10.52); Nest Two 22.08.13 (05.19.40)Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/EwONgG-jTWI N1: No takers for Garry LV0's travelling fish 05.32.10https://youtu.be/QJ3wpP4IDi4 Dorcha uses her special crow voice 10.14.12https://youtu.be/BCOPgYVTB5s Drama as Dorcha fights with an eagle 11.08.01 (slo-mo repeat with zoom)https://youtu.be/nHPwQ5xDs5U Fish number one, headless trout, Dorcha's injury visible as she takes it 17.02.53 (zoom)https://youtu.be/G6MmnbWYf90 Affric waits on Nest One but Garry is a no-show 17.37.12https://youtu.be/dVOw0D9-zaU Louis arrives chased by a Hoodie as Dorcha rests quietly 20.02.49 (zoom)Bonus watch - more of Chaddie's marvellous footage of the Bunarkaig nest:https://youtu.be/IiUyyQWGxj4Blast from the past, this day in previous years:https://youtu.be/eLQgDi2VKIA A stranger follows Louis to the nest 2021 (slo-mo)https://youtu.be/PFA7mALsgFY Louis brings a fish but Dorcha's not hungry 2022https://youtu.be/NKi1Dk37uIA Affric arrives on Nest One followed by Prince 2022https://youtu.be/xm-qPYjLLnE Typhoon jets do a flypast of both nests 2022https://youtu.be/Pt6-35zGrZw N1 Prince takes a very long mating run-up 2022https://youtu.be/GLChgTeSpiA Louis chases Prince away from Nest Two 2022https://youtu.be/jsdDN8aZkdA Louis coy-mantles and Dorcha has to snatch the fish 2023https://youtu.be/9O8JWeQEXeE Dorcha uses her crow voice on a Hoodie 2023https://youtu.be/kZJTfoKO6GY Dorcha is very vocal when supper arrives 2023
EGG NUMBER THREE02.25.35 Dorcha starts squeaking02.25.40 sharp squeak02.26.08 Abrupt fanning out of tail feathers02.26.10 Dorcha stands - we have egg number three!02.28.14 clear view of three eggs
Lovely! Dorcha appeared to be putting weight on her right leg and not favouring it as much, Geemeff. Thank you
Congratulations on egg #3
Well done dorcha
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What a feisty lass Dorcha is becoming. To challenge ravens and an eagle takes some courage! I hope her injuries are as minor as they appear to be and she soon recovers. I saw a video earlier which alerted me to the 'excitement'. I must have been heart beating to watch!
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
06.16.19 Louis arrives with fish number one, looks like a whole trout.
Dorcha grabs it and goes immediately as Louis settles down to incubating the three eggs
Dorcha seized it and made off with it without the stiffness and awkwardness she showed with yesterday's fish, following being injured in the Eagle attack that morning.
Nest One
13.02.55 Garry LV0 does a flash flypast, carrying a whole fish.13.29.44 Garry LV0 returns with the now headless fish13.37.16 Departs with his fish
15.40.41 Fish number two, headless trout - Dorcha grabs itfrom Louis immediately15.40.52 She flies off with it, looking strong and untroubled by her injury