In this opening thread for Loch Garten for 2024, we remember Trevor, who sadly passed away on 20 February. Trevor was a great contributor and friend on the community forum, and especially on the Loch Garten thread and was the last person to comment on this thread to the end of February 2024.
community.rspb.org.uk/.../1452441
In 2023, resident female Asha returned on 4th April and was courted by various males, latterly ‘Unringed Male’, with no sign early on of Axel (AX6 - 2016) her partner in 2022. She became the proud parent of 3 eggs (laid on 25 and 28 April and 1 May), of dubious fatherhood, but probably URM (unringed male) – later named Brodie - who had a lot of trouble fending off intruders, which made him a bit flaky in the fish catching and delivery department early on. The main intruder was KL5.
Chick 1 hatched 'early morning' on the 4 June and chick 2 overnight on 6 June. One egg didn't hatch (maybe number 1). KL5 continued to intrude, as did Axel. Brodie disappeared on a few occasions for a couple of days (no fish were delivered over the first weekend after hatching) but he got into his stride on 1 July, delivering fish to the nest every day bar 1 thereafter, with a record count of 7 on the 21st July. Asha also fished and delivered a salmon on the 3rd July. Ringing day was 12th July - 2 boys - 2C5 (oldest) became Sid (Vicious) and 2C4 (youngest) became Harry (Nilsson). 2C5 fledged on 1 August and 2C4 on 2 August.
Asha was last seen on 8 August. Thereafter, the nest became a tough watch on occasion, as KL5 started intruding again big-style, attacking the juveniles. 2C4 was last seen on 11 August, and 2C5 on the 12th. Brodie was last seen on 24 August, but was around less than KL5 who was seen nestorising on occasion and who is possibly shaping up to be the main man for 2024? Time will tell…..
A lovely scylla-snap of Asha and Brodie from 2023 to help us instantly recognise them when they return
Many thanks Korky for the opening of 2024 season ... Asha returns, just hope that whoever is the dominant male looks after her well!
Also remembering Trevor and sad he went before being able to see an Osprey on this nest!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Thank you for new season's thread, KORKY! I await the arrival of this season's Ospreys with excitement, apprehension and anxiety - what will be will be.
Me too
WendyBartter said:Also remembering Trevor and sad he went before being able to see an Osprey on this nest!
IMAGICAT
Thanks for the re cap. The trials and tribulations of Sid and Harry... it was emotional. Godspeed to them all.
Me three
Thank you so much Korky, for starting what hopefully will see the return of our pair, albeit at the end of the month. My thoughts are also with Trevor's family.
In many ways I hope that we get a different male. I am sorry to say I don't think he is 'good enough' for Asha/Mistle! But I don't wish him ill, and will gladly welcome him if he does return. I wonder what will unfurl during the season! Oh, and welcome back everyone, and newbies to come!
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Thanks for the new start to 2024, Korky. Nice that you paid tribute to Trevor as well, sad that he is no longer with us. Fingers crossed for the safe return of our Asha and Brodie or KL5, as long as he has calmed down a bit!! Can't wait, only a few weeks until we hopefully see ours and the others return home safely.
I also hope that we get our regular posters back with us once the season gets underway, hopefully we will have navigated our way around this new site, or maybe it will be updated again, back to the way it was!!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Thanks Korky for starting off the thread for the new season. Lets hope its a good one here
Indeed Karen, and a good one everywhere, but I guess there'll be the usual ups and downs and we'll all have nail biting moments!
Haha, am growing my nails in anticipation and have purchased a wig!!
Well, he'll be older, more mature Sheila . I think he was a first time dad for a start and certainly better than Axle. Pity he deserted his family at an important time though. I''m trusting the same for Elen at Glaslyn - hopefully be more respectful of Aran.