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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  • 18:01 It's raining. NC0 still waiting for a fish delivery (if the male does indeed have one to make)

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 19:12 NC0 looking completely fed up waiting (silently) in the rain

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 flew off to the birch at 19:40. She had been fish calling beforehand

    She's still there, quiet at present, 19:54

    Edit: 19:54 A couple crows flew across the Loch and landed on the birch too

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 20:20 It is teeming down with rain!

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 21:08 NC0 flew from the birch. I thought she was going to make a dive at first...

    But instead, made a u-turn to head back towards the birch

    She could be seen here through the gap and continued flying to the left

    21:20 Not much chance of seeing if she is back on there at the moment, rain blobs on the cam

    ©SWT/LotL

  • There were no more visits to the nest

    At around 22:25, there was a landing on the birch. No vocalisations heard

    It was still there just before night cam came on at 22:27

    23:45 ENS

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 27th May

    Morning All

    NC0 landed on the perch at 3:26

    Pre day cam, 3:53

    She remained on there until 4:53 when she flew up to the cam post. NC0 had been calling for fish

    At 5:18, the male delivered a headless fish. She came down from the cam post to receive her breakfish

    WOW - it was the largest fish he's delivered to her so far! Had he found a different fishing spot?

    He cleaned his beak as NC0 let everyone around the reserve know that she had a fish!

    NC0 carried it off to the birch...

    And landed in the area under the feeding post

    Unsure if the male was spooked by something, but he looked in this direction and shot off the nest

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Good morning Sandra, wow, the male will get brownie points for that fish and it was nice and early too. Smile

  • It had remained ENS after the male had flown off

    7:30 NC0 landed on the birch, vocalising

    She stayed there for a couple of minutes before heading towards the nest

      

    No fish in her talons. It had been over 2 and a quarter hours since her breakfish had been delivered, so ample time for her to have eaten it

    She landed on the cam post, making a contact call

    7:36 NC0 was on the cam post, quietly chattering, when the male brought a small stick to the nest. He'd flown from around the birch corner

    A quick glance up at her

    Then another

    He flew off to the left after a brief visit

    He was back a couple of minutes later with another small stick. NC0 was still quietly chatting

    He rearranged a stick

    He glance up towards her

    Then off he went again at 7:40

    7:43 A twiggy stick was next to be brought to the nest,

    More stick rearranging

    And after some general nest tidying, flew off at 7:46

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 9:11(ish) we had an intruder, 7C1 was on the nest with the male. Was reported in UK ospreys on FB. They fly off and come back almost immediatly.