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:
20.21.15 Fish number three! Headless big trout - is Louis gearing up for hatch day?
Dorcha takes it quickly and flies off into the sunset with it
16.12 Louis is on the nest on incubation duty. it's very warm, at least 26°C (78.8°F), and he's gular fluttering to cool down.
Birds can vibrate their gular (throat tissues) in a form of panting, as birds, like dogs, can't sweat.
Daily summary Thursday 16th May 2024
Today was very warm, with temperatures up as high as 26°C (78.8°F). Both Dorcha and Louis were seen gular fluttering constantly while on egg duty. Birds can vibrate their gular (throat tissues) in a form of panting, as birds, like dogs, can't sweat, but perhaps the heat might have been the reason Louis delivered three fish today - enjoying a cooling swim, perhaps. Louis' fish total rises to ninety nine, and we are now just five days away from potential first hatch. Dorcha got rid of a few sticks as soon as Louis brought them, and both were watching something intently but no intruder was seen. Nest One had a visitor, but not the sort we’re hoping for. Tonight's forecast is for a clear sky and light winds, with a low of 11°C (51.8°F).
Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 23.14.14 (03.54.03); Nest Two 23.29.31 (04.15.05).
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/aUfblFqYAWA N2 Fish number one, season's earliest, half trout 05.28.53
https://youtu.be/EBah_zuuOXY N2 Size matters! A little Tree Pipit visits Dorcha 07.14.46 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/psX-lwLzRlo N2 Stickgate! Sticks come and go 09.35.08
https://youtu.be/-w4qO57K1uk N1 A redpoll pays a flying visit 11.16.45 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/IT9CEyDp07o N2 Fish two arrives but both are watching the sky intently 14.53.46
https://youtu.be/zFr74qbPxN4 N2 Louis is gular fluttering to cool down in 26°C (78.8°F) heat 16.12 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/3QwyJZ6lg40 N2 Fish number three arrives, is Louis gearing up ready for hatch day? 20.21.15
Bonus read - gular fluttering explained:
https://asknature.org/strategy/gular-fluttering-dissipates-heat/ (short version)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10715914/ (long version)
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/mQZc2rxssSU N1 Midnight scare: what disturbs Aila? 2020 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/YND-HJeeMPk N1 Leverage: Aila upsets Louis' dignity 2020
https://youtu.be/xRyEpGVbcwA N1 Two pronged approach: nest-building the Louis way 2020
https://youtu.be/YTMiWlJQses N1 Louis is determined to stay, Aila has other ideas 2020
https://youtu.be/vJfJ3Y6Tmfg N1 Time to go, Louis 2020
https://youtu.be/nRt2SB2Bc58 N2 Tricky stick causes problems for Dorcha 2022
https://youtu.be/CncGyiCy2Wg N2 Cheeky Hooded Crow eyes up the eggs 2022
https://youtu.be/bKujmLG-IuQ N2 Breakfast arrives in a gust of wind but Dorcha holds on 2023
Geemeff thank you for sharing the wonderful Ask Nature website. What a gorgeous concept. I will be revisiting.
Glad you like it, Freebird - I was happy to find it on a google search.
05.26.48 Fish number one, headless trout - This is a double record-breaker - season's earliest delivery, and Louis' 100th fish.
05.26.48 Fish number one, headless trout is delivered by Louis
05.27.16 Dorcha departs with her breakfast
Geemeff said:This is a double record-breaker - season's earliest delivery, and Louis' 100th fish
What a wonderful provider Louis is, Geemeff! Wow!
Nest One 10.08.33 Little birds on and around - Coal Tit and two others
10.08.33 Little bird on the nest - Coal Tit. Another in the left hand branches, barely visible, and another flies onto the centre perch.
Repeated in slo-mo as they move so quickly.
Fish number two, a very well-munched trout
16.19.22 Fish number two is delivered by Louis, he's had a good go at it first
16.19.37 Dorcha departs with the half-fish and Louis settles down on the eggs
Any bets on how long before Louis' unsuitable stick disappears?
18.51.51 Louis arrives with a stick - he moves it around trying to place it but merely pushes it over the edge where it hangs on precariously
18.52.18 Dorcha departs and leaves Louis with his stick