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:
09.21.14 Fish number one, headless trout (zoomed)
09.21.14 Louis arrives with the first fish of the day, a headless trout.
Dorcha takes it and starts feeding the two bobs, taking the odd mouthful herself.
Both bobs have good appetites, and feed side by side with a bit of squeaking and bobbling about, but the food generally goes directly into those gaping beaks.
Louis remains on the nest during the feeding.
Louis is desperate to feed the bobs
11.40.19 Dorcha departs, leaving Louis on the nest with the two bobs and a fish remnant
He starts tucking into it, tearing off small morsels to offer to the bobs. But alas for him, they are too full from the previous feeding, and don't accept his offerings.
He feeds himself but persists in offering food, even getting down low right up to the beak of one, but no takers
11.43.44 Dorcha returns and very firmly takes the fish away from him, just as one chick was starting to show an interest.
Poor Louis! Such a good dad! There'll be other opportunities.
Aww, Louis ️ these two are certainly getting well looked after.
I’m not sure about same day hatchings Geemeff but I know in 2023 at Poole Harbour the first 2 eggs hatched around 12 and a half hours apart. The first at 22.26 on 29 May and the second, 11.05 on 30 May.
Wow .. brilliant
Do you still watch the Lowes Sandra?
Just catching up!
Such super vids! Delighted to see a second successful hatch, Geemeff, it couldn't wait to meet is mum, dad and slightly older sibling!
ailie said:Do you still watch the Lowes Sandra?
Yes, and I'm continuing to report on the Lowes thread, Ailie
Glider said:Aww, Louis ️ these two are certainly getting well looked after. I’m not sure about same day hatchings Geemeff but I know in 2023 at Poole Harbour the first 2 eggs hatched around 12 and a half hours apart. The first at 22.26 on 29 May and the second, 11.05 on 30 May.
Thank you, Glider - I'd forgotten about that at Poole Harbour. The different calendar dates downplay the close times of the two hatches.
N1 Garry LV0 visits bringing moss 16.55.46
A distant moving speck is seen over to the left, then it comes closer to the nest and it's seen to be an Osprey
16.55.46 Garry LV0 lands clutching some moss.
He does a bit of tidying, and peers over the edge when a sound of little birds singing is heard
17.02.19 Garry departs and flies to Pole Tree
Thursday 23rd May N2 One of the bobs goes walkabout! 17.52.36
17.52.36 One of the bobs peeps out from under Dorcha and moves to the front - and then starts wandering away!
It walks around her off to the left side, and almost out of sight behind her. She looks over several times but doesn't move.
17.55.48 Dorcha stands and adjusts her position so as to move the chick safely back under her again.