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
Woo hoo … thx for the info .. found it
Question please, can we no longer access the live camera via the RSPB LG website, like we have always had? Do we need to go through youtube?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
.
Lynn L (catlady)
I don't think they've finished the setting up yet - eg, no IR on the nestcam (and I'm about to test the PTZ again, it wasn't streaming properly yesterday):
EDIT - I remember now that there's been no IR on this nest cam for the past 2 seasons cos HQ were worried it might scare off Mistle, as she was then, she and Axel having abandoned the nest when they were pestered by intruders in their first attempt - 2021?
IMAGICAT
23 March
At last, the birdie drought is broken! (Of course I've probably missed loadsa little birdies since the cam's been up but I decided to make a dubious claim )
Saw your comment on live chat. Surely the occasional coal tit on the branches to the right of the nest outweighs the sight of Ospreys on the dead tree top? I am sure this must be the reason for the positioning. Equally certain it will be commented upon in the next blog entry. Currently taking bets as to what decade that will be posted.
Oh what insight, EJFan
In perhaps a more serious note.. I ask our resident expert about what is causing the camera buffering? Poor internet signal? Poor quality camera? Very interested to hear your thoughts.
EJFan We cross-posted.
IMHO, the reason for cam probs is inattention. If WildlifeWindows are still curating the cams I'm surprised they haven't been sorted by now, they're usually very efficient.
Just thought i would post something to test my setup, I have just read on the YouTube Loch Garten camera that the first Osprey back last year was on April the 4th, do you think this years arrival will be earlier or later?
regards for now
Dave