(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
Thanks again for the the lovely detailed reports Sheila.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Hope you are successful in seeing something good when you are there, be it an egg or not.
The one thing I hope for is enthusiasm from the wardens about their birds and heritage.
.
SheilaFE said:05.25 An Brodie can be seen in the dark flying in
Impossible to see on the non-IR nest cam, but on the PTZ we saw Asha fly in - apparently suspicious - before 05:00. She watched and waited, then no doubt listened, till Brodie flew in:
No more from me for 11 April. Thanks to SHEILA and everyone, I gather they had another good day
EDIT
Then I came across Asha somewhat zoomed:
Morning all! Sky dance in the dark at 5:13!
I was going to say that I can't hear anything and need to get an external speaker again - but I'm hearing a GSW now, maybe it will euthanise our insect?
12 April
Asha arrived at exactly the same time as yesterday, 04:57. Brodie flew in for an abandoned mating (not her fault, dunno why he gave up) at 05:41, flew off and back to mantle at 05:45, then there was a successful mating at 05:49.
Asha's been bringing in sticks.
I'm packing up for a while.
... with gusto and may I say a signature whistle too
April 12, 2024 - Day complete
Fish: 7:19:25, 14:07:55
Mating: 5:32 S, 5:41 F, 5:48 F, 8:12 F, 9:29 S, 10:39 S, 11:02 F, 12:00 F, 12:31 S, 15:17 F, 16:21 S, 16:41 F, 16:49 F, 18:15 S, 18:25 F, 20:40 S
The (S)uccess or (F)ailure indication is purely my untrained observation.
7 S, 9 F
16:34 crow touches down on camera and Asha flaps it off