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:
Geemeff said:Lovebirds - Dorcha gives Louis a hug
Aww, I think we could all give Louis a hug with the way he is providing for his little family, Geemeff!
Beautiful!
Glider said: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!!
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.
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!!
That is a very valid point, Glider, I've been wondering that myself. I don't have Scylla's talents or ability to monitor and record multiple nest, I don't know how she does it, she's a marvel.
I do hope Garry's continuing absence means he is with Aida or another female, he deserves it, he made N1 so inviting, so with luck he's done the same for his female's nest.
07.03.54 Fish number one, small whole trout. Louis stays to watch as Dorcha starts feeding the chicks.
07.06.14 Louis departs
09.48.12 Fish number two - half a very blue-looking fish in the cam lighting
09.54.39 Louis departs, the fish is being rapidly demolished. Good to see despite the beaking that bob1 isn’t preventing the others from being fed as happens on some other nests.
All three sit up for a feed, and Dorcha shares out among the three of them.
WT forumite FlyingFish notes: "analysing this particular feeding session it all works out very neatly:
Dorcha ate 51% herself, Chick 1 got 22%. C2 got 16% and C3 got 11% - an almost perfect 4:3:2 ratio for the 3 chicks."
Geemeff said:WT forumite FlyingFish notes: "analysing this particular feeding session it all works out very neatly: Dorcha ate 51% herself, Chick 1 got 22%. C2 got 16% and C3 got 11% - an almost perfect 4:3:2 ratio for the 3 chicks.
Dorcha ate 51% herself, Chick 1 got 22%. C2 got 16% and C3 got 11% - an almost perfect 4:3:2 ratio for the 3 chicks.
Crikey, well done to FlyingFish for the stats! It was a beautiful feed to watch, thanks Geemeff!
20:15:43 A Hooded flies over Dorcha and the bobs, and lands on the left hand perch - she uses her crow voice but the Hoodie doesn't move
20.15.50 She moves nearer, putting herself between it and the bobs, and chunters at it until it flies off
Daily summary Thursday 30th May 2024
A quiet day with a visiting Hoodie causing minimal disturbance for Dorcha. Louis brought three fish for the family, taking his tally to one hundred and thirty nine, and he and Dorcha spent some time together on the nest chatting today while the bobs scrapped a bit, chirruped a little, and ate a lot. All normal behaviour for the eight day old bobs 1&2 and the six day old bob3, they're all growing rapidly and looking good. No action on Nest One, weather was settled, no overnight disturbances last night, more than nineteen hours of light on day cam today, and tonight's forecast is partly cloudy with light winds.
Night cam switches over (day cam): Nest One 23.45.15 (03.44.53); Nest Two 23.04.18 (04.13.07)
Today’s videos, all Nest Two:
https://youtu.be/zvCAZRsORE8 Louis stays to watch Dorcha feeding the chicks 07.03.54
https://youtu.be/sbuPANX8fcM Fish number two - half a very blue-looking fish 09.48.12
https://youtu.be/C-1xtIi0F7s Fish number three, nice big whole trout 16.42.37
https://youtu.be/jxIswCWcVkE A Hooded Crow flies over Dorcha and the bobs and lands on the perch 20:15:43
Bonus guide to rapid growth in Osprey chicks:
https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/blog/emyr-mwt/rapid-growth-phase-young-osprey-chicks
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/-PvBNg1uPlg N1 Breakfast en famille - a trio of Ospreys 2020
https://youtu.be/J-eMdhZQ1dM N1 The nest stars on Channel 4 News 2020
https://youtu.be/PV3tmFjs-JM N1 Louis steals Aila's fish 2020
https://youtu.be/dBErD1FDEbE N1 Louis brings fish and bob gets a share 2020
https://youtu.be/6yNtTCebeuY N2 Arkaig Ospreys on BBC3 2023
https://youtu.be/01W-hMq84CE N2 Listen to the egg chupping 2023 (audio boosted