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:
Daily summary Tuesday 28th May 2024
No action on Nest One today but plenty on Nest Two, not all of it positive. Bob1 went for a mini-walkabout in the early hours, and there was some fun when Dorcha and Louis brought sticks at the same time. An intruder Osprey made its presence known but only managed a couple of flypasts, didn't land on the nest where the bobs took advantage of the adults' absence to have a go at each other. Or rather, bob1 picked on bob2 who then picked on bob3, with bob1 joining in as well. That's why it's called the pecking order, they are establishing dominance and little bob3 will just have to put up with it until this phase is over. Fortunately dad is supplying plenty of fish and mum is making sure bob3 is getting a share too - Louis brought three fish to the nest today, taking his tally to one hundred and thirty one. In other news, Steve Q managed some footage of the Bunarkaig nest, links in the bonus section. It rained lightly on and off throughout the day, and more expected tonight with a forecast of drizzle and light winds.
Night cam switches over (day cam): Nest One 23.12.44 (03.12.41); Nest Two 22.49.10 (04.08.31)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/sTHSYQ4KVQM N2 Bob1 goes walkabout 01.45
https://youtu.be/X51TjfeJxUY N2 First fish, small whole trout 06.36.36
https://youtu.be/j0iNsHP5DO8 N2 Intruder! 07.54.06 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/L2qiFmIVhr0 N2 Dad watches over the chicks from the Scots Pine 08.10.05
https://youtu.be/nmeP-Yt1SGo N2 Sticky situation, the bobs expected food 09.33.52
https://youtu.be/t-dcZH-_1T8 N2 A fine fat whole trout arrives, fish number two 12.02.03
https://youtu.be/CsuRz6UM-uA N2 Vicious chick fight - bob1 & 2 pick on bob3 15.54.31 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/j9HE636vtNo N2 Fish number three, flatfish 17.17.17
Bonus watch - footage of the Bunarkaig Ospreys (thanks Steve):
https://youtu.be/kKF_T4jYY3Y
https://youtu.be/yK4S0u_GLFE
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/y7ET68xy91E N1 Aila sees off a white-ringed intruder Osprey 2019 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/nJLG-B-k1-0 N1 Boomerang battering of both Louis and the eggs! 2020
https://youtu.be/gmWbHK39O1Q N1 Listen as the first egg prepares to hatch 2020 (audio boosted)
https://youtu.be/H7hDnahc0is N1 Aila & Louis react furiously to an intruder Osprey 2020 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/t7Jcx7w0cdw N1 Louis brings moss to his old nest 2022 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/qTxZ8m6t7eo N2 Substantial breakfast for Dorcha 2023
https://youtu.be/Ua6ckCIJ8H8 N2 Finally! A second fish twelve hours after the first 2023
I’m hoping that as long as bobs #1 and #2 are well fed, they’ll leave #3 alone.
Geemeff said:Bonus watch - footage of the Bunarkaig Ospreys (thanks Steve
Many thanks for posting the links to the Bunarkaig Opsreys, Geemeff. Great filming from Steve...a big thank you to him too!
I couldn't watch your vid showing the youngsters 'pecking order' (personal choice), but do appreciate you letting us know. Let's hope things calm down!
Rock chick song and dance 23.57 (zoom)
Fish number one, lively trout but Dorcha blocks the view 04.32.44
Fish number two, small whole trout, all the bobs get some 07.18.55
Louis and Dorcha have a chat 08.31
https://youtu.be/IaCjZWujPjI Dorcha is branching out! 09.48 (double time)
Bob3 starts a fight then leaves bobs1&2 to get on with it 11.42.18
Fish number three, headless BT 12.17.06