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)
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 said:Pic cropped, unable to make out its ring ID
I wonder if we'd have stood a chance if I'd had the UHD display?
IMAGICAT
6th April
Morning Scylla and All,
scylla said:I wonder if we'd have stood a chance if I'd had the UHD display?
Mmm, possibly, Scylla. I attempted to capture that pic on all of the slow settings, nothing definitive at all.
NC0 spent a rain-soaked night roosting on the perch.
During Laddie's first visit to the nest (that I could find) at 6:17, the first mating of the day occurred
A second at 7:27
A third at 7:48
7:50 Laddie brought a long, thin stick to the nest - this led to the demise of the very long, lichen covered one that framed the right side of the nest, brought in by Laddie on the 4th
It began to slip as Laddie placed his new one. Going...
Going...
Gone. There was the sound of a clunk as it hit the ground
Can really notice their size difference here
8:09 Mating
©SWT/LotL
Laddie 'chirped' as he landed with a headless fish, to an empty nest, at 9:37
Was he on alert?
NC0 landed, Laddie moved himself onto the back rails of the nest
As NC0 began to approach...
...he flew off with the fish
10:00 NC0 still waiting for Laddie to re-deliver the fish
Laddie re-delivered the fish at 10:16
His flight from over the inlet to make his way round to the nest
He took it to the back of the nest
He turned himself around
NC0 took it from him
Off she went
She landed within the birch area, marked
Laddie, then NC0 (with her fish) back to the nest
The both spent time watching the area to the right of the nest
11:08 Laddie off after spotting something
11:11 NC0 flew off with her fish
11:14 Laddie returned
He remained on the nest until leaving at 11:22
Both to the nest simultaneously at 11:29
NC0 appeared to be more on alert than Laddie - he preened
11:37 No threat was seen or heard when Laddie flew off the nest
NC0 spent a few minutes looking around
Checked that the remainder of her fish was securely in her left talons
NC0 flew off with her fish at 11:40
She veered off to the left
12:07 NC0 returned with the tail end of fish gripped in her left talons
She had a peck or two at it then cleaned her talons
Laddie flapped down from the cam post
He knew the fish tail had been discarded
He found it and picked it up
With it firmly in his beak, he flew off
NC0 on the perch at present, 12:41
BFN
What a treat! Cam zoomed in at 13:35 - Oooh, you are a stunning Osprey, NC0
A piece of bark, that been on the right edge of the nest, was flipped over by the extremely gusty wind
NC0 turned around
The rain began
The cam was re-set to nest cam view at 14:14
Laddie arrived
Laddie moved the bark back to the right side of the nest
Both being buffeted with the wind
14:20 NC0 decided it was time to leave
Gliding off in the wind
Laddie remained on the nest until 14:42
I hope this severe weather eases soon!
NC0 has been back on the nest since 14:50. She's had a fiddle with that piece of bark which had moved from where Laddie had re-set it - it's now at the back of the nest
NC0 at 15:03