Continued from May 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since the 9th May, a dark, unringed male intruder (with a distinctive large pupil in his right eye and who the team at Lowes has estimated to be 2-3 years of age) has been a regular visitor to the nest. The Pale Male, who had ‘destroyed’ the three eggs on the 7th/8th May, has not been seen on camera again and it was mentioned that this new young male had chased him from the area.
He has delivered many small fish ‘gifts’ (three in one day on a couple of occasions) and a sizable larger one to NC0 - her calls expressed how grateful she was - but that did not stop her from catching her own huge meal on the 23rd May, to satisfy her appetite. His many mating attempts have so far been rejected by NC0 though this has not put him off from making continuous efforts. The Dark Intruder, as named by staff in the hides on the reserve, is showing great nest building skills - bringing in a multitude of various-sized sticks and soft nesting material.
Although the relationship is in its early stages, NC0 appears to have accepted him as a 'potential' future mate and they have been observed working as a team to defend the nest against seen, and unseen, intruders - all encouraging signs for the beginning of a possible new chapter here at Loch of the Lowes.
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
June to end of season Blogs and Updates (Published dates)
20.6.24: LotL Fb >>> Update re NC0, DI and two female nest intruders
Afternoon Kate,
Super pics, especially the one showing NC0's flight away! Thank you!
A summary of events prior to Kate's post and NC0's flight off the nest at 12:38
As far as I can tell, it remained ENS until the male arrived with a stick at 9:15
Contact calls on landing
NC0 could be heard calling before she appeared just around a minute later
He flapped his wings and coy mantled. NC0 was half-heartedly fish calling
He left at 9:20
The male returned a couple of minutes later with clumps of moss/grass in both feet
NC0 called louder this time for fish after he had readjusted some sticks...
And did some general nest tidying. It was quite breezy at the nest
9:25 NC0 began to mantle - intruder around?
She headed to the centre of the nest. He started mantling
She lay down for a short while
Both watchful
The male left at 9:28
Back with another stick at 9:35
And at 9:40
It was during this visit that both were on alert again. He chipped
All calm again at 9:47 - no threat seen
He flew off at 9:51
A twiggy stick was next to be brought to the nest at 9:53
A short one at 9:56
And yet another at 9:59. Each occasion, NC0 was calling for fish
There were no more visits to the nest from the male. NC0 remained on the nest until 10:45. The wind was really picking up before she left
NC0 came back with both feet full of moss at 11:22. This was the visit Kate reported
©SWT/LotL
NC0 was back on the nest at 13:08
14:16 Quiet and periodically closing her eyes
At 13:24, she became very much on alert
She chipped
More chipping
An unringed (female?) intruder to the nest, 13:26 - short alarm chipping calls from NC0
It landed
Both were silent
NC0 attempted to flap it away
Which it did...
...initially!
Then 'she' came back
Both were silent. The intruder remained in this position for almost 3 minutes
NC0 glanced towards 'her' a few times
Pic to show back of head differences
Then 'she' eventually flew away at 13:33 after NC0 moved slightly
NC0 remained on the nest until 13:45
At 14:00, NC0 came back, she was chipping
She began to mantle a minute or so after landing
No threat was seen or heard
She preened
The flew off at 14:13
It remained ENS until she came back at 15:45 - contact calls on landing
Lot of preening done
She stayed on the nest until the male delivered a fish, at 16:47. It looked a bit scrappy
NC0 took her meal off the nest
After pottering on the nest, he flew off at 16:50
NC0 was back at 17:05 with what looked like a clump of grass in her left talons. She was calling
She is still there at present, 18:20. The male has not returned
NC0 flew off to the birch at 18:56
NC0 is on the nest at present, 19:36, fish calling. She had returned at 19:29
19:44 A beaver was swimming out of the inlet
19:45 NC0 calling really loudly! She has been focusing her attention towards the birch
Edit: 19:47 He landed on NC0's diving branch
The male left the birch at 18:49ish
He flew down the inlet then veered off to the right, behind the trees
He did not reappear over the Loch
Isn’t it amazing seeing beavers here too. I can’t remember any before this year?
NC0 has been on and off the nest (spending brief periods on the birch) on a few occasions since my last post
Still calling at present, 20:47, after arriving back to the nest (again) at 20:41