LOCH ARKAIG - THE WOODLAND TRUST - February 2024 - May 2024

10.18.05 Dorcha returns with a stick she lands on Louis - now she’s just stood on his head!

Time to go, Louis!

Sensibly, he does!

14.53.30 Fish number two, big headless BT.

14.53.40 Dorcha takes it in a beak hold and departs while Louis settles on the eggs 

Daily summary Saturday 4th May 2024  

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A quiet day at Loch Arkaig today on both nests. Garry LV0 paid a visit but didn't bring any fish, so his tally remains at six, and there was no sighting of Aida, who we hope will become the resident female. However, Garry appeared to be chatting to an unseen someone, so perhaps she was around, just not in nest cam view. Over on Nest Two, Louis delivered two fish, taking his tally to seventy five, and spent as much time as he was allowed on egg-sitting duty, but Dorcha made it clear when she returned that his time was up and he should depart. On one occasion, she brought a big stick, wacked him with it and then stood on his head. Sensibly, he decided to take the hint and he departed. The forecast is for thick cloud and light winds tonight.

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Sadly however, the big talking point on the forum is the dreadful news of the tragic loss of Laddie LM12, resident male at Loch of the Lowes, originally partner to the legendary Lady, and now to NC0 who is sitting on three eggs. Police are involved, a crime number has been assigned and an appeal for information via Crime Stoppers has been issued. Thoughts go to the team at Lowes and Scottish Wildlife Trust as we await further information.

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Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 22.15.10 (04.08.37); Nest Two 22.06.18 (04.28.22)

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Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/UICiOHyRmbE   Fish number one, headless trout, Dorcha takes it immediately 05.41.32

https://youtu.be/wFCI5B_bVPQ  Garry LV0 arrives with moss, calling softly, who's he watching? 07.59.15

https://youtu.be/5zmxN6jpNNU Dorcha brings a stick and lands it on Louis 10.18.05 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/YscrxaNFeTk  Lunch arrives late for Dorcha, fish number two, headless BT 14.53.30

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Bonus read - It's thought Ospreys have a special eye adaption so can 'see' magnetic fields for guidance on migration:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2018/04/04/we-finally-know-how-birds-can-see-earths-magnetic-field/

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Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/RZcdDsctW8s  Stick-gate! Louis brings a silly stick 2019

https://youtu.be/MkeAZ4Rtyjw  Arkaig Ospreys star with Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin & Holly Gillibrand 2020 

https://youtu.be/8937KrWsAvQ  Aila stands on Louis' tail 2020

https://youtu.be/E9pd_5HuvsU  Hoodie chases Louis and his fish to the nest 2020

https://youtu.be/01RR3gk-KAo  WT season highlights 2021

https://youtu.be/MYwuD6jtpBA  WT season highlights 2022

https://youtu.be/CMPNawu15bo  Louis is blown away! 2023 (slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/HIbtIkk_ELg  Unringed intruder lands 2023 (slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/UYHOuHSAjdo  Dorcha's turn to show off her underpinnings! 2023

Nest One Dawn Chorus Day

06.05.30 A little bird hops onto the nest and sings occasionally before flying away. It's a Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), thanks to WT forumites for the ID.

13.28.53 Aida lands on the nest coming in from the right. She’s calling softly and is looking up behind the nest

13.35.42 Garry LV0 arrives with moss and lands on her back, the moss nearly covers her!

13.37 Aida calls loudly for fish but Garry just ignores her.

Nest One

14.08.40 Aida is calling for fish, however Garry LV0 has other ideas.

He flies off, circles round and comes in to mate, but Aida is having none of it and rejects him.

He flies off and perches on Pole Tree

Where's Louis??

16.58.25 Louis finally turns up, not having been seen since 8pm the previous day which brought grim news of the senseless killing of Laddie the resident male at Loch of the Lowes.

So it's a big relief to see him - he brings a headless trout which Dorcha seizes and flies off with.

Daily summary Sunday 5th May 2024

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Not much action here today which is a good thing after sad events elsewhere, but unusually, Louis turned up very late, bringing a tea time fish to the nest and upping his tally by only one to seventy six. No fish arrived at Nest One so Garry LV0's tally stands at six. However, Aida returned to Nest One after a day's absence and spent a few hours demanding that Garry bring fish for her. He ignored her demands, attempted mating instead, and was rejected. The wait goes on to see if this couple will pair-bond successfully this season. A Tree Pipit took advantage of their absence to serenade on Dawn Chorus Day. Tonight's forecast for the Inver Mallie area is light cloud and light winds.

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Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 22.31.42 (04.39.04); Nest Two 22.34.36 (04.49.20)

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Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/lBGD2Nv8rQw N1 A little bird pays a visit on Dawn Chorus Day 06.05.30

https://youtu.be/4KzkpgYcDBc  N1 Aida arrives fish calling, Garry LV0 arrives with moss but ignores her 13.28.53

https://youtu.be/eX9kUX1m6QM N1 Aida wants fish, Garry wants to mate and gets rejected 14.08.40

https://youtu.be/J0T2g4AjXv0 N2 Finally - Louis delivers fish number one, headless trout 16.58.25

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Bonus read - how do Ospreys fish? Some interesting facts: 

https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/facts-about-osprey-fishing

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Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/vi57aF6RvWs  Aila suffers an owl strike 2019 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/50n9gpytiy4  A typical night on the nest for Aila 2020

https://youtu.be/fCzbYErsSgA  Persistent Hoodie won’t leave Aila alone 2020 (Slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/xY2vb4cTLG8  First non-trout - headless Silver Tourist 2023

https://youtu.be/pBzJsBFIzek  Strange Osprey lands on Nest One 2023

https://youtu.be/Rg-hxBiPEPM  Aerial encounter with an intruder 2023 (zoom)

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Bonus blast from the past, a few moments of calm on Nest One from my Classic Ospreys series: 

https://youtu.be/54KuZWrqFPc Highland's Overture 2020 (Mendelssohn - time-lapse)

01:23:20 Dorcha stands up and has a stretch, moves over to the edge for a quick squirt over the side, and gives her big wings a good shake before settling back down on the eggs.