(I am starting a new thread for April because, for sad personal reasons, Korky cannot be with us until further notice so the March title cannot be edited.)
Please read Korky's comprehensive March 2024 intro.
Asha and Brodie
Last year they arrived on 04 and 14 April respectively.
The end of the 2023 season was marred by the aggressive intrusion of BlueKL5 "Klive" (thank you, Fergus). We have no idea if the 2 youngsters were fit to migrate.
We haven't heard anything from HQ but it appears that the cams are not quite ready, despite snaps being posted to Facebook 10 days ago together with a query about the lack of IR for the third year in a row - and the streaming is unsteady and unreliable. When LG issued a warning about a delay to the opening of the season, it seemed to refer only to the Visitor Centre.
The PTZ now
Quote RSPB YT Channel: When the Loch Garten Nature Centre opens on April 15th, this camera is controlled by the centre staff during work hours, so please be gracious if you find it staring at an empty tree! The birds react quicker than the staff are sometimes able.
IMAGICAT
@Catlady. I was on duty when EJ laid that egg after the first egg for a number of years had been smashed. Hope I am there to witness the laying of the first egg this season.
April 11, 2024 - Day complete
Fish: 8:09:57, 13:30:31
Mating: 5:10 S, 5:25 F, 5:42 S, 5:52 F 5:57 F, 6:02 F, 6:27 S, 6:37 F, 7:05 F, 10:23 S, 10:41 S, 11:13 F, 11:44 F. 15:32 S, 16:41 F, 17:12 F, 17:50 S, 18:30 S, 18:48 F
The (S)uccess or (F)ailure indication is purely my untrained observation. Thank goodness for the PTZ cam and its close up shots!
8 S, 11 F
@ Canuck - did she move her tail to 1 side and there appear to be cloacal contact? Yo really need both for an S.
Thank you Canuck. Successes appear 50:50 at the moment, but it only takes one, I imagine!! Thank you.
I remember watching a wonderful video with OVS and Henry and EJ. I think it was 2004. It was both informative and instructive!
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
FYI Research has shown that generally the % of successful matings increases each year that the pair are together.practice between 1 pair makes perfect?
Hi EJFan. Yes, I look for those two things. Whether she moved her tail up and he swung his around and down.
Canuck I would have loved your attention to detail as a residential vol at LG. Hats off to you!
Well compared to last year they actually look like a pair now! It will be interesting to see if she pecks and flaps him off the nest when the chicks are being fed, and he brings in a fish.
Continuing from earlier
10.41 Asha returned and stood beside Brodie. He lifted up and came down on ther back. Probably a successful mating. He flew off, and returned with a stick.
Lots of to-ing and fro-ing getting sticks and arranging them.Brodie pops in with bits too.
11.44 Another mating. I really couldn't tell whether it was successful or not, her tail was well up and as far as I could tell his tail went under, but I wouldn't like to bet on it He flew off.
13.29 She was on her haunches moving twigs, and keeping low. Then spotted Brodie
FISH NUMBER 2 A HALF EATEN RAINBOW TROUT
and she flew off.
14.30 He returned with some soft furnishings , dried grass possibly, and watched around before moving sticks and nest cupping.
15.03 Brodie leaves
15.32 Asha returns followed by Brodie to mate. He leaves.
15.44 She flew off, intruder chipping.
15.45 An osprey flew away from us against the sky, and into the far distance.
15.58 Asha returned stickless, but moved another as she chirruped.
16.38 Brodie returned with a licheny stick. She chatted to him.
16.40 Brodie let the wing lift him up and down for an attempted mating. I can't confirm its success!
16.55 She has just been standing on the nest since then.
Up to date. The wind is still blowing, but the sun is out.
Thank you SheilaFE for your detailed reports. I look for mating attempts and fish deliveries within them. Plus I also enjoy your commentary of their married life together.
Another amazing report Sheila! Such a shame that you didn’t give us the compass direction when he returned to the nest with his fish.