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:
Geemeff said:She flies off with it, looking strong and untroubled by her injury
Excellent to see, Geemeff!
Daily summary Saturday 20th April 2024
Today started out well after the anxieties of yesterday - at 02.26, Dorcha gave a couple of squeaks, shook her tail feathers, and produced her third egg. Then when Louis brought an early fish, it was seen that she was moving much more easily, allaying fears of serious injury following the eagle encounter. He brought a second fish at tea time, taking the tally to forty six, and although there were a few alarms and some sprinting on and off the nest, it was generally a calm day. On Nest One, Garry LV0 brought a fish and spent plenty of time bringing nesting materials and making the nest look very inviting. He's doing his best to promote himself as a suitable mate and with no sign of Affric 152 today, it's hoped an eligible female will come along soon. The weather was settled today and a glorious sunset seen from nest cam two ended the day, but tonight's forecast is for light rain and light winds.
Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 21.43.53 (05.03.02); Nest Two 21.40.17 (05.13.27)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/upyTm7MQoaY EGG NUMBER THREE 02.26.08 (zoomed repeat)https://youtu.be/7ycG2XOhmZE Early breakfast for the mum of three eggs - fish number one 06.16.19https://youtu.be/IrJUd9po9EQ Garry LV0 does a flypast before bringing his fish to Nest One 13.02.55https://youtu.be/PlkidBYXpsg Fish number two, headless trout - Dorcha flies off with it, no hint of injury troubles 15.40.41
Bonus watch - long lens footage taken by LizB in 2021 of Louis’ first chicks with Dorcha, Aspen LW3 & Alder LW4, in the nest area : https://youtu.be/Efd8s1nkSz8 https://youtu.be/-AQUSjWRQYE
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:https://youtu.be/wHZ82lsjm0w Is an egg on the way? Aila rejects Louis 2020https://youtu.be/PeTIDHTcCy0 Strange Osprey intrudes and Louis chases 2020 (Slo-mo)https://youtu.be/BmWPo9QWyCo Aila attacks 2020 (Slo-mo)https://youtu.be/aafgLlitPRM Louis pays a flying visit to his empty nest 2021https://youtu.be/9VqSvrxPL_E Fish fight, Dorcha wins eventually 2022https://youtu.be/Cc8twF7MOYs Dorcha stays the night on the nest 2023https://youtu.be/VhqDI8j3w8s First fish arrives and departs 2023https://youtu.be/KkIqeR_QD8A Slightly different angle to the nest 2023
00.52.53 - 00.54.33 Dorcha is peacefully minding her eggs when suddenly four gunshots are heard. She's startled and jumps up, mantling, at the first one and remains alert looking in that direction as four are heard evenly spaced apart.A light is also seen in the distance so it's probably the Arkaig Forest deer management team, and they won't be close to the nest, sound carries at night. To her credit, she stays with her eggs although clearly very startled and wary, takes a while to settle.The deer are proactively managed and the resulting venison sold to benefit the restoration of the forest, and the community.More here:https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/52112/5685-loch-arkaig-pine-forest.pdfhttps://arkaig.org/community-venison-project/
06.57.30 Louis delivers fish number one, a big whole Brown Trout.
Dorcha takes it immediately and departs with it in a beak hold.
Louis settles down on the eggs to the sounds of a woodpecker drumming and a willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) singing sweetly nearby (thanks Elaine for the warbler ID).
08.30.33 A little bird flies from the left onto the centre perch, it's a Pipit (thanks Steve Q for the ID)
08.31.16 It gives its wings a good shake and departs, bouncing away to the right (zoomed)
Geemeff said: 00.52.53 - 00.54.33 Dorcha is peacefully minding her eggs when suddenly four gunshots are heard. She's startled and jumps up, mantling, at the first one and remains alert looking in that direction as four are heard evenly spaced apart.A light is also seen in the distance so it's probably the Arkaig Forest deer management team, and they won't be close to the nest, sound carries at night. To her credit, she stays with her eggs although clearly very startled and wary, takes a while to settle.The deer are proactively managed and the resulting venison sold to benefit the restoration of the forest, and the community.More here:https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/52112/5685-loch-arkaig-pine-forest.pdfhttps://arkaig.org/community-venison-project/ https://youtu.be/S6oy9ymBRzM
https://youtu.be/S6oy9ymBRzM
Update 17.00 21st April:
I've just received this response from local resident and Woodland Trust volunteer Liz B:
"The gunshots heard were from wild boar shooting that Achnacarry Estate carry out. It had nothing to do with deer stalking or Arkaig Community Forest/Woodland Trust. The shooting was outside the forest boundary but as it was a still night the sounds carried. The light at the time of the first gunshots was on the other side of the loch but there were vehicle lights around 01.34.38 which were from the estate vehicle travelling along the track just above the larch trees on the right. Let's hope it's not repeated."
Nest One 09.34.53 Garry LV0 arrives with fish. He spends his time on the nest looking around, but no takers
09.43.12 Garry departs with his fish
Come on females!
14.13.34 Fish number two, headless trout. Dorcha seizes it and departs with it in her talons. Louis settles down to egg-sitting.
18.42.17 'Lord Hood' arrives, perches and poses - looks quite at home, he is a very shiny and dapper Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix).
Daily summary Sunday 21st April 2024Just after midnight, Dorcha was startled by four gunshots in rapid succession, followed by a few more a little later. LizB ascertained it was wild boar shooting on a private estate outside the Arkaig Forest boundary, the sound carried a good distance as it was a still night. Dorcha didn't flee the nest, and although on high alert, stayed with her eggs, let's hope she has a peaceful night tonight. Louis brought two fish to the nest, taking the tally to forty eight, and Garry LV0 brought one fish to Nest One but got no takers. Two other birds did visit Nest One, but neither was an Osprey, just a Pipit and a dapper Hoodie. Affric 152 failed to appear again today, with luck she's sitting on eggs on her own nest and will leave him alone to find his own female. It was dry today and set to continue overnight as tonight's forecast for Inver Mallie is partly cloudy and light winds.Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 21.53.21 (05.11.38); Nest Two 22.03.00 (05.19.57)Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/S6oy9ymBRzM Gunshots at midnight startle Dorcha 00.52.53https://youtu.be/lct564i4tQo Fish number one, whole trout, Louis settles down to birdsong 06.57.30https://youtu.be/xcvODW1HntI Nest One 08.30.33 A little bird perches on Nest One 08.31.16https://youtu.be/DJxMmArqkFI Garry LV0 brings fish to Nest One 09.34.53https://youtu.be/HfWbHmpU5bg Fish number two, headless trout, Dorcha grabs and goes 14.13.34https://youtu.be/JGy17RT7faA 'Lord Hood' arrives, perches and poses on Nest One 18.42.17 (zoom)Bonus activity - Woodland Trust guide to finding your nearest bluebell wood:https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/woods-through-the-seasons/spring/best-bluebell-woodsBonus guide - When you've found your bluebells, here's how to tell the natives from the foreigners:https://www.instagram.com/reel/C57L84xJydm/Blast from the past, this day in previous years:https://youtu.be/DTX8U2NE7Cg I said fish - that's a stick! Aila attacks Louis 2020https://youtu.be/zHAY_VCv_qE RAF Typhoons disturb Aila 2020https://youtu.be/iem0--gNv-M Louis sees off a determined Hoodie 2021https://youtu.be/nSGs7vbqFTc Pretty little Siskin visits 2021https://youtu.be/_aOu-EIRKIE First egg! Well done Dorcha! 2023https://youtu.be/o0RwzsSpsvQ Louis incubates as Dorcha leaves with the first fish 2023https://youtu.be/kpUzCIo4Wpc Hoodie disturbs Dorcha 2023