Continued from April 2024
Webcam page with links to LotL Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve FB, Twitter, Blogs, 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 or >>> Embedded YT link
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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Three beautiful eggs were laid from mid-April, with the final one arriving almost 10 hours later than NC0’s usual 72 hour 'cycle'.
Both Laddie and NC0 have had to defend the nest from many 'passing through' intruders. Could Laddie’s defence of the reserve be the reason why there has been no sighting of him on the webcam since early lunchtime on the 28th? There were a few occasions where there was a high likelihood that he may have been in NC0’s sight since then though, her loud fish calls alerted us to that probable fact.
With NC0’s last meal being delivered on the 27th, we can only hope that Laddie arrives home not only fit and well, but also with a well-deserved fish for such an amazing female Osprey – her endeavours to keep the eggs protected, warm and dry during his absence, have been truly remarkable!
As I write, it has been just over 60 hours without Laddie at the nest and we now wait, in anticipation, for a positive start to this new month...
*UPDATED 4.5.23: Heartbroken to report, that there was very sadly no positive news forthcoming regarding our dear Laddie...
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Nest Updates
Arrival dates: NC0(16) - 8.3.24 (17:52) Laddie (LM12) - 27.3.24 (16:38) RIP Laddie (LM12) - remains found 3.5.24
Eggs laid: Egg #1 - 17.4.24 (10:48) Egg #2 - 20.4.24 (10:53) Egg #3 - 23.4.24 (20:47)
*Two eggs were destroyed on 7.5.24; the third one on 8.5.24, by an unringed, Pale Male Osprey. All were deemed unviable due to being chilled and left for long periods without incubation
Links to blogs and updates during March, April
May Blogs and Updates (published dates)
2.5.24: LotL Facebook >>> Situation with regards to Laddie's absence
3.5.24: LotL Facebook >>> Update from the nest
3.5.24: LotL Blog (updated at 9pm on 4.5.24) >>> Loch of the Lowes osprey nest update
4.5.24: LotL Facebook >>> It is with a very heavy heart...
7.5.24: SWT/LotL News >>> Osprey LM12 found dead
7.5.24: LotL Blog >>> The start of a new osprey era at Lowes?
10.5.24: LotL Blog >>> Intruding Ospreys Make a Move
13.5.24: LotL Facebook >>> A lot has been happening...
15.5.24: STV News Report - North East and Tayside >>> Police say no criminality after death of YouTube star osprey 'Laddie' *Nothing 'official' from SWT/Lowes
New YT URL from 18:10
18:22 ENS at present (and has been since the cam came back online)
©SWT/LotL
At about 14.00, one of the many intruders who have been visiting the nest landed and started nest scraping purposefully. The young unringed male sets to with enthusiasm, and by the time he departed around 14.50, had turfed out two of the eggs and left the third off to the side. Now NC0 won't have to make any decisions about her three eggs following the shocking unexpected death of Laddie, she will be able to move on and perhaps take another mate this season. If she paired up quickly, there is an outside chance for a second clutch, but more realistically, the new pair would spend time bonding and start a family next year.
RIP Laddie, gone before your time..
Many thanks for the video, Geemeff.
Still ENS at 19:15. BFN
NCO left her nest 11.45 and possibly her sighted on the treetop 13.50. Has she not been back since?
A sad situation indeed, 35 minutes, and the intruder has demolished the eggs. As has been said, they were not viable, so it was for the best for NCO, she now has no need to sit on them, hopefully one of these others will be a good keeper, and for what to happen, we will need to wait and see.
Fly high dear Laddie, you are with the other precious Ospreys, that have been close to our hearts.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Hi Catlady,
Yes, the last definite sighting of NC0 was at 11:45 (as captured by Karen) and only an assumption that it was her on the birch (made by me). When the male landed, there wasn't any Osprey on the birch and I didn't, unfortunately, scroll back to see if it could have been him on there and if he had made his way towards the nest to land on the cam post.
Catlady said:Fly high dear Laddie, you are with the other precious Ospreys, that have been close to our hearts
20:06 There have been no visits to the nest (as far as I can see on scroll back). There appears to be an Osprey on NC0's diving branch of the birch at present
Edit: It flew off to the left around the birch corner at 20:10ish
A landing on the birch at 20:43
20:52
Posted on the SWT/LotL 'news feed' this evening
Loch of the Lowes osprey nest update
21:26 It flew off from the birch, heading over the Loch - went higher, out of cam view, after this pic
Didn't have long to wait until the sound of movement, then flapping wings could be heard. An Osprey appeared flying over the inlet, making its way to the birch
21:39
NC0 has just landed on the nest 21:40!
Leaving the birch
Onto the perch before heading to the nest
She touched the remaining egg with her beak
Looked in the nest cup
Went back to the egg and rolled it back into the nest cup
Settled to incubate it, bless her
She only stayed barley 5 minutes, looked at and rolled thd egg into the nest cup, flattened on the egg, and sat briefly, wriggled about a bit, and away. I wonder if she knows the eggs no use?