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*
20.5.24: Article from raptorpersecutionuk.org >>> Update on death of Osprey ‘Laddie’ from Loch of the Lowes Reserve in Perthshire (Link provided by SheilaFE - with grateful thanks)
21.5.24: LotL Blog >>> Skydancing, Nestorations and Fish – Positive News from the Nest (Four SWT videos included)
30.5.24: LotL Blog >>> Fish, ‘Flowers’ and the Battle of Blue ‘7C1’ – An Update from the Osprey Nest
Just heard a thud' possibly on the cam post 20:45 Edit: No, it wasn't on the cam post but on the lower branches of the nest tree
After some rustling, there was a flight to the perch - it was a crow!
At the back of the nest
It headed to the centre of the nest and picked up a chunk of fish innards?
And took it off the nest
©SWT/LotL
It, i assume, came backless that 2 minutes later,. It found, and ate, this within the front edge of the nest. More fish remnants, I think
Then found some more
Picked this piece up in its beak
20:53 Took it to the left edge of the nest and flew downwards
It did come back to forage the area NC0 had been eating a couple more times after that and, with an empty beak, finally flew off at 21:00
©SWT./LotL
Scene at present, 21:34. Geese can be heard honking from somewhere on the reserve
My take on the events from yesterday evening to this morning with NC0's final egg, heavily edited video but all clips in the correct time sequence:
Resident female NC0 returns after the pale male had destroyed two of the eggs and pushed the third out of the nest bowl earlier on the 7th. She moved it back into the nest bowl again, and overnight she guarded her egg and brooded it at times. In the morning, 8th May, she must have sensed the pale male was near as she started fish calling but those calls turned into alarm calls and she flew off.
Moments later the pale male appeared and immediately set about throwing out the egg again.
Glad to see that egg has finally been crushed or thrown overboard, during a cam outage. Now NC0 can concentrate on finding a new mate - looks like pale male is putting himself forward as a candidate. He could seal the deal by bringing a fish, but will he? Meantime, she is catching some lovely big fish!
(It would be a lot easier if LotL put a timestamp on their livestream - just saying..)
9th May
Morning Geemeff and All,
Super vid, Geemeff, thank you so much!
My word, the dark marked male has been on the nest! Just double checking now...
5:53 It had been ENS up to this point
It moved its position to the right side of the nest
No, it wasn't him! The right eye was 'normal'! EDIT: Please see Scylla's video here for confirmation that it was indeed the dark unringed male, with the enlarged pupil (apologies). EDIT 2: Also confirmed by Lowes on Fb later this afternoon
Up to the perch
Flew off at 6:00
It came back at 6:05. There were a couple of Ospreys about, that one and another - flights over the Loch and chipping heard prior to it landing
A flight over the trees - could this have been NC0? Something (fish?) in its talons? Flew into the birch area marked
One flying down the inlet, came low from beyond the birch corner. Chipping heard
Inlet Osprey, flew back and behind the trees (sorry, it's a blur!)
This one from the birch, flying from right to left, high over the Loch
Intruder landed, chipping - possibly the one that flew from the inlet
Away, 6:08
8:12 ENS at present, and has been (as far as I can tell) since the intruder flew off earlier
Off to work shortly. BFN
Great coverage as always Sandra, thank you.
Absolutely brilliant Sandra - willing an elgible suitor to woo her.
Had a few fly-in visits at 9:27, looked like he was chasing something away/defending the nest from something else. Was very quick and erratic.