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:
Thanks Wendy, glad you liked it. I thought a few moments of peace were needed after all the ggression and confusion on Nest One.
06:01:52 A tiny brown bird settles on the perch at the back of the nest; she stays until 06:02:30.
09.23.05 Two little birds visit - Great Tits? - and depart 09.23.50
06.10.37 Louis arrives with fish number one, a whole trout, Dorcha takes it and departs, leaving Lois to settle down happily to egg sitting
08.15.47 Garry arrives with a fresh fish but gets no takers
08.16.28 Departs with it, Affric’s old fish still on the nest as he heads towards Stick Tree
09.36.45 A bird is seen flying in the distance, then Garry LV0 lands on the nest, still clutching the fish he brought earlier.
Sadly, there are still no takers for it
11.00.48 Affric is on the nest, Prince appears, carrying a fresh fish, and divebombs her, came in very low, beak open, showing aggressive intent
11.01.06 She departs flying to the right, circles left in the distance then another bird - Prince presumably - appears and chases her. They disappear between the gap in the knolls.
14.11.22 Fish number two, headless trout, Dorcha seizes it immediately
14:11:35 Dorcha departs and Louis settles down to egg-sit
20.48.12 A bird is seen flying in the distance, circling round towards the nest
20.48.25 it's Louis delivering fish number three, a large headless trout. As with the first two fish, Dorcha wastes no time taking it
20.48.44 She flies off with it to eat in her favourite perching tree, and Louis settles down to egg duties
Geemeff said:Great Tits?
Definitely!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Thank you! I was catching up so quickly after being out today, I haven't really had a chance to look at the videos as I was processing them.