LOCH OF THE LOWES - April 2024

Continued from March 2024

Webcam page with links to LotL Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve FB, Twitter, SWT News Feed and to Donate >>>

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/

For the current 'LIVE' YouTube link, visit >>> https://www.youtube.com/@ScottishWildlifeTrustvideos/streams

The Osprey Protection Programme at Loch of the Lowes is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, with funds awarded by Postcode Planet Trust

All captures and videos ©Scottish Wildlife Trust/Loch of the Lowes

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It was a very welcomed surprise to see NC0 arrive back from her wintering grounds on the 8th March, her earliest return to date! NC0 kept herself occupied while alone - catching some impressive-sized fish to eat as well as preparing the nest in readiness for future eggs. To note, her severely split blue darvic ring (as seen last season) is missing and she now only wears a BTO ring on her right leg.

It was a nail-biting time for us waiting to see if dear Laddie would make an appearance too and, little did we know, that it would be a further 19 days before he made his ‘grand entrance’ on the 27th, being ‘escorted’ to the nest by a flock of very vocal gulls!

Having settled into their usual routines on the nest and around the reserve, we now look forward to watching this season’s events unfold.

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Nest Updates

Arrival dates:  NC0(16) - 8.3.24 (17:52)   Laddie (LM12) - 27.3.24 (16:38)

Eggs laid:  Egg #1 - 17.4.24 (10:48)   Egg #2 - 20.4.24 (10:53)   Egg #3 - 23.4.24 (20:47) 

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Link to blogs and updates during March

April Blogs and Updates (published dates)

17.4.24: SWT/LotL blog >>> First osprey egg of the season at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve

17.4.24: SWT video >>> NC0 Laying First Egg of the Season

20.4.24: SWT/LotL blog >>> Second osprey egg of the season at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve

20.4.24: SWT video >>> NC0 Lays Second Egg of the Season

24.4.24: SWT/LotL blog >>> Third osprey egg of the season at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve

24.4.24: SWT video >>> Female Osprey NC0 Lays Third Egg of the Season

30.4.24: LotL Fb >>> Regarding Laddie's absence

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  • Sandra, you did catch the main rainbow and the second one is very faint and may have been fleeting. Your rainbow photo of NC0 is gorgeous. HuggingRainbow

  • Oh, so I did! lol Smiley 

    Thanks Glider Hugging

  • NC0 with a clump of moss at 16:18

    She chipped a few times on landing - no threat seen

    16:29 Laddie with a second, small fish of the day for NC0

    She took it, and some nesting material, off the nest

    Edited in:

    NC0 headed towards the birch

    After flying high over the birch, she made a u-turn and headed back towards the nest but...

    Went low and passed behind it

    NC0 could then be seen flying back towards the birch. Laddie was nestcupping

    She took her fish to the area marked

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Laddie posed in front of the cam from 16:41 until he left the nest at 16:53 - a few sample pics Heart eyes

    He made a few contact calls just prior to flying off

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Laddie with fish #3 at 17:31 - it appeared to be headless

    NC0 down from the cam post

    No hiding it Laddie!!

    The fish and nesting material (again) were in her talons as she flew off

    She flew to the birch and landed on the feeding post, as marked

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 returned to the nest perch, without any fish, at 17:47 - she was only there for a couple of minutes

    Since then, NC0 hasn't left the nest after arriving at 19:55, Laddie hasn't been back

    She landed from the cam post, Laddie was possibly? in his roosting spot on the birch

    20:09 There was quite a bit of rustling very close to the nest, NC0 had been looking around

    Then, at 20:10, this duck then flew away from wherever it had been

    She moved to the perch at 20:26. Laddie was in his roosting spot n the birch

    Tucked in and sleeping at present, 21:38

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 9th March

    Morning All, it's raining again! 

    6:03 NC0 remained on the perch throughout the night, Laddie on the birch

    6:08 NC0 jumped onto the nest and gave her wings a flap

    Laddie then flew from the birch...

    ...and landed on the nest

    He had a good-sized headless fish in his talons which NC0 took from him. He must have caught that yesterday evening?

    Her fly-away was too blurred to post

    NC0 was back with a tail end of the fish at 7:06

    She discarded the remainder of her breakfish on the front edge of the nest. Laddie came to collect it at 7:12

    He flew off with it after this pic

    Back he came at 7:46, still some remaining fish in his right talons

    He looked around and waited 

    NC0 did not come to the nest so Laddie took the fish away at 7:49

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 to the perch at 8:02 - a crow (I think) was sitting on a lower tree branch

    An impressive PS

    The crow had flown

    NC0 flew off from the perch

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 8:40 Both Laddie and NC0 headed towards the nest

    Laddie, without any fish, made his way to the cam post

    NC0 looked up to the cam post

    She then stared at something of interest...

    ...and took flight

    Laddie onto the nest at 8:43

    NC0 to the perch moments after

    8:53

    Laddie left the nest at 9:11

    NC0 at present, 9:26

    Edit: Unless I've missed it, I can't find any mating occurring between them so far this morning

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Both been on nest for a while