LOCH OF THE LOWES - May 2024

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  Broken heart

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 

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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

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  • I heard possible buzzard? calls at 18:18

    Osprey still on the birch

    Edit: Osprey flew off to the left at 18:22

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 20:20 Still ENS. A single gun shot heard

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Well, I wonder where NC0 and the male are? It remained ENS - no sighting on the birch pre night cam at 22:30

    23:17

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Sandra wrote the following post at :

    I heard possible buzzard? calls at 18:18

     —————————————————————————————

    I scrolled back to listen and I agree it was a buzzard Sandra.

  • Aww, thanks for the confirmation, Glider!

  • 23:45 NC0 landed on the nest perch, with chirps!

    She almost lost her footing on landing

    Cleaning her talons

    23:28 She closed her eyes

    00:02 Cleaning her beak on the perch. Had she just finished eating her huge fish from the 23rd, or could she have had a fresh one today? Hmm... Thinking

    00:05

    Now sleeping

    It's fantastic to see you, NC0!

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Glider said:

    Sandra wrote the following post at :

    I heard possible buzzard? calls at 18:18

     —————————————————————————————

    I scrolled back to listen and I agree it was a buzzard Sandra.

    Yer tiz (that's Cornish):

    Probably the only service I'll perform while doing a quick check thru the threads and pruning the day's downloads.

    IMAGICAT

  • 25th May

    Morning Scylla and All

    Thank you for the vid!

    The male arrived at 5:02. NC0 had been resting her eyes just beforehand

    She gave short vocalisations 

    NC0 preened 

    When the male flew off after the short visit, the stick on the right edge that he'd brought yesterday, slipped further down

    He could be seen flying left over the inlet

    The male came back with a stick, landing on the edge

    His talons got caught up with it as he moved his position

    No harm done 

    Rain drop on the cam lens

    After a few minutes of nest tidying...

    ...he flew off

    NC0 remained on the perch (she did a healthy PS and cleaned her talons)

    Until flying off to the birch at 5:32

    It remained ENS (as far as I could tell) until 7:52 when the male brought a long stick to the nest

    I could hear NC0 calling from somewhere, not close by

    He looked to the cam post - NC0 was on there

    He flew off and around but the came back down to the perch at 7:55. There was a possible attempted mating on the cam post before he landed on there. NC0's voice still doesn't sound right - quite hoarse

    He spent a fair bit of time on the perch, preening

    He eventually flew off at 20:32 - the longest I've seen him staying at the nest

    He was back with a small stick a short while after

    There was another short visit from him after this but it has been ENS since 8:35

    9:09 NC0 still on the cam post, calling

    Edit: The male brought a long stick to the nest at 9:11. NC0 still on the cam post

    ©SWT/LotL

  • The male did some nest cupping at 9:13

    NC0 was on the cam post vocalising.

    Lots of nest arranging by him during this visit

    ©SWT/LotL

  • He's a very pretty osprey