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 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?

  • 6th April

    Morning Scylla and All,

    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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • What a treat! Cam zoomed in at 13:35 - Oooh, you are a stunning Osprey, NC0 Hugging

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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!

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL