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:
Fish number four, huge whole trout 13.34.51
Peregrine flypast 16.49.52 (super slo-mo, zoom)
Lovebirds - Dorcha gives Louis a hug 18.29.59
Fish number five arrives in a sunset glow 21.00.59
Daily summary Wednesday 29th May 2024
Today was all about fish - Louis delivered five fish, although one or two did travel on and off the nest when the chicks were full so he took the fish away. This takes his tally to one hundred and thirty six, he got a hug from Dorcha. Little bob started a fight with middle bob who then turned on big bob and of course big bob retaliated, but little bob moved out of the way and let the other two get on with it! The Merlin app identified a fast moving blur as a Peregrine but even zoomed slo-mo could only capture a blur. Perhaps, like Sparrowhawks have done in the past, it might visit the nest one day and let us admire it. No action on Nest One again, and the forecast is light rain and light winds through the night - will bob1 want to go walkabout like last night's midnight song and dance routine?
Night cam switches over (day cam): Nest One 23.42.14 (03.31.19); Nest Two 23.04.33 (04.04.09)
Today’s videos, all Nest Two:
https://youtu.be/3PgLtnW4E7I Rock chick song and dance 23.57 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/l7xeALU-uww Fish number one, lively trout but Dorcha blocks the view 04.32.44
https://youtu.be/XQA-9K4Tu90 Fish number two, small whole trout, all the bobs get some 07.18.55
https://youtu.be/UJaqA0uIc_I Louis and Dorcha have a chat 08.31
https://youtu.be/IaCjZWujPjI Dorcha is branching out! 09.48 (double time)
https://youtu.be/RSx0V5DBRHA Bob3 starts a fight then leaves bobs1&2 to get on with it 11.42.18
https://youtu.be/OD9etQnmoh4 Fish number three, headless BT 12.17.06
https://youtu.be/m1HMLaKaD-M Fish number four, huge whole trout 13.34.51
https://youtu.be/dvjU_tCwviI Peregrine flypast 16.49.52 (super slo-mo, zoom)
https://youtu.be/VrWzAVSrBHw Lovebirds - Dorcha gives Louis a hug 18.29.59
https://youtu.be/38GAjtlL70M Fish number five arrives in a sunset glow 21.00.59
Bonus read - Nature Recovery Report showing how everyone can benefit:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/publications/2024/05/trees-and-woods-for-nature-recovery-in-scotland/
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/JrHUpXY-a7c N1 First chick has arrived! Happy birthday Doddie-to-be 2020
https://youtu.be/gOLg_bK_xP0 N1 First look at his chick for Louis 2020
https://youtu.be/8s40lObbaYA N1 First really good look, and a magic moment with mum 2020
https://youtu.be/oMbnjRm-XpA N1 First squirt just misses Aila's fish supper 2020
https://youtu.be/OmRsqDDynoY N2 Dorcha goes for a quick comfort break, no pip visible 2022
https://youtu.be/7BLSruxJFzE N1 Affric (Blue 152) and Prince? on Nest One 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/KBZ2QR7ya5Q N1 Louis does a bit of nestorising 2023
https://youtu.be/wKZuLPNZEOI N2 A close up look at the eggs - is that a pip? 2023 (zoom)
Morning Geemeff brilliant clips so entertaining of a morning!
Morning Freebird - glad you like them, it was a busy day on the nest yesterday! I was out for most of it so had to scramble to get everything recorded last night, sorry it was all so late being posted.
Good to see that although bob1 is actively beaking the other two, it's mainly when s/he is hungry or to assert dominance if one of the other two starts an argy-bargy. Bob1 isn't preventing anyone from eating, as I've seen on other nests, sadly. So fingers crossed all three make it to fledging, it's looking good.
Geemeff said:Rock chick song and dance 23.57
That was so funny Geemeff. What a character, Dorcha’s got her work cut out!
Geemeff said:Dorcha is branching out! 09.48
No wonder Dorcha is adjusting the cot rails with her little night bird on the go!
Geemeff said:Morning Freebird - glad you like them, it was a busy day on the nest yesterday! I was out for most of it so had to scramble to get everything recorded last night, sorry it was all so late being posted. Good to see that although bob1 is actively beaking the other two, it's mainly when s/he is hungry or to assert dominance if one of the other two starts an argy-bargy. Bob1 isn't preventing anyone from eating, as I've seen on other nests, sadly. So fingers crossed all three make it to fledging, it's looking good.
I agree with Freebird, it was all very entertaining. The 3 bobs all look like they are doing well, such a good nest.
If Garry had a mate and was bringing 5 fish to nest 1 as well, I don’t know how you would cover it Geemeff!!