(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
17.20 Asha looked anxiously above her. Brodie flew to the nest to defend against an as yet unseen intruder.
He flew off in chase
17.23 A blue ringed intruder dropped down and flew off. She stood up and flapped him? away. And returned to incubate. It shows up better on the usual cam.
17.36 Blue ringed intruder actually touched down this time. Asha had a go. The ring should be readable to others!
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Almost certainly male. Colour ring on left leg
047? This was captured at 17:23
©LG
Also looks to me like 047
Valerie, on chat, has reported the sighting of Blue Zero 47 to the Roy Dennis WF site for ID
Edit: Reported to RDWF by RSPB and not by Valerie - an error on my part. Apologies
Well done Sandra! I tried capturing it, but I couldn't zoom in enough. Yep, I agree with you both. 047. I don't have any record of him. And clearly Valerie doesn't either. 040 to 042 are Threave, 2022.
I captured it on 0.25 speed, Sheila.
Hurrah to Sandra!
From 17:20-17:36 intruder. Lands twice (17:23:05 and 17:36:06) and Asha flaps him off. Brodie gives chase. Big stick goes overboard. Intruder is identified as 047
April 24.
Brodie has really stepped up this year. Today alone he has given Asha 6 long breaks from incubating.
He's been on the egg/eggs for the following stretches:
5:06-5:30
6:30-7:40
8:14-8:43
11:23-12:08
15:17-16:05
And he's currently on the eggs at 18:44 while I am writing this.
Impressive!