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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  • The second attempt at posting my early morning report!

    NC0 did not spend the night at the nest. She arrived on the perch at 4:00

    She was in the midst of preening when two geese were having a chase over the Loch

    NC0 began a chase of her own!

    They headed off around the birch corner...

    ...as did NC0!

    She was soon back in view and landed on the birch

    NC0's next appearance on the nest was at 5:38 - she called on landing

    After spending around a minute on the nest, quietly looking around...

    She headed up to the cam post

    It remained ENS until 7:30 - a Redstart was singing on the right edge stick

    It flew off as NC0 approached

    The male then made his first appearance, flying from around the birch corner

    He landed on her

    Then scrambled to the front edge of the nest

    NC0 made a series of short calls

    The male left the nest...

    ...then came back down in an attempt to mate, she lifted her shoulder 

    He landed back onto the nest

    She called for fish

    He lifted off again

    And made another mating attempt, NC0 was having none of it!

    He hovered

    And, after trying his luck again...

    Flew off

    He returned a couple of minutes later, 7:37, with clumps of nesting material in his talons

    NC0 was fish calling

    He left after a short 2 minute stay

    The male soon came back with some grasses

    He flew off at 7:41

    The male came back at 8:35, both were on intruder alert

    NC0 was mantling before he arrived

    He flew off - no threat seen

    She pancaked the nest for a short while

    But then relaxed

    He then paid another visit to the nest after bringing in a stick, at 8:30

    NC0 fish called

    He flew off at 8:34

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Good morning Sandra. Hate it when that happens

    Yes, sooo frustrating! Scream

  • NC0 calling for fish at present, 10:25. The male has not been back to the nest

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Calling, NC0 flew off the nest at 10:40

    Still ENS at 10:49

    ©SWT/LotL

  • The male landed on the empty nest, at 14:16, with a headless fish. No-one had visited since NC0 flew off this morning

    He made a contact call on landing

    After quietly looking around, he flew off with his fish

    It was an extremely brief visit. No calling heard from NC0

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 14:47 It's remained ENS since then

    ©SWT/LotL

  • An Osprey landed, with a contact call, on the birch at 17:53ish

    18:00

    It's been ENS other than that (as far as I can tell)

    ©SWT/LotL

  • It was NC0 who was sitting on the birch. On her way to the nest, and on landing  at 19:08, she was calling for fish!

    She wandered around the nest while calling

    19:10

    19:12

    19:16

    At present, 19:37, NC0 has remained on the left front edge...still calling for a fish

    I wonder if the male still has the headless one from earlier?

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 left for the birch to continue her fish calling at 19:48

    She returned to the nest at 19:52. I think it was a beaver swimming towards the inlet

    Time for a quick preen

    At present, 20:07, NC0 in the glow of the evening sun - she was quiet here but has since began to call again!

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Back to the birch, still shouting, at 20:22

    And to the nest again at 20:28

    She was quiet

    At 20:30, she headed back to the birch - where she still is now at 20:34, not calling

    ©SWT/LotL