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/
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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
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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
NC0 back to the nest, calling, at 22:34
22:40 Resting her eyes while occasionally calling
Going to take a short break. BBS
©SWT/LotL
NC0 remained on the nest until 22:50.
She had continued to fish call
She gave the back of her head a good scratch
And off she went, flying directly to the right
00:20 NC0 has not returned
7th June
Morning All
NC0 arrived on the perch at 3:23
She remained at the nest until 4:09 when she flew off to the birch
She was back at 4:54
Looking towards the birch area, fish calling at 5:00
Quietly waiting at 6:48
First visit to the nest from the male, 7:26 - no stick! A Jay was making calls close to the nest (I recognise that from yesterday)
He left at 7:29. NC0 was fish calling
Back a minute later
He left and came back with some moss/grass at 7:35, it was another brief visit
NC0 at present, 7:40 - she's quiet
8:18 NC0 is still waiting quietly. Let's hope the male's on a fishing trip!
Edit: She's now on the birch
BFN
The nest remained empty until 12:00. NC0 came down from the cam post and prepared herself for a fish delivery
...a good-sized headless one duly arrived!
She turned
Announced to all that could hear that she had her lunch
Then flew of with it and headed around the birch corner
A crow landed on the perch a short while after
The male quietly approached it
And then it flew away...
But not for long!
It dug about in the area NC0 had stood with the fish
The male turned and glared at it
The crow jumped off
The male flapped his wings
The crow could be seen flying over the inlet towards the trees
The male remained on the nest, nestorising, until flying off at 12:05
It remained ENS until 13:45 when NC0 arrived, no remaining fish in her talons
She was calling for more
The male joined her almost two minutes later, carrying a long twiggy stick
He moved a rail stick
Then attempted to place his new one
NC0 joined in
Off he went at 13:48
Back with a small stick in his left talons at 13:50
NC0 was fish calling
He left at 13:52
NC0 remained on the nest
15:08 She fiddled with that long twiggy stick
And dragged it across the nest
Here might do...
Or here
A crow landed on the perch at 15:15 after she had been attempting to sort out the stick for quite a while
It didn't budge from the perch, NC0 made no attempt to flap it off. The wind was quite gusty and the crow left at 15:22
She went back to arranging the stick
NC0 stayed on the nest until 16:02
NC0 returned just over a minute later
The male followed immediately
She headed straight over to his talons, expecting a fish
She fish called
He flew off almost straight away
16:04
He was back with a stick at 16:05 - the wind was very strong
Again, NC0 looked at his talons
She continued to fish call
He was away again at 16:06 - he glided off in the wind
16:08 He returned with a stick
He spent longer on the nest this time
Flying off at 16:12
NC0 remained in that position on the nest and then flew off, directly to the right, at 16:27
At present, 17:21, it's remained ENS since then
Seeing the dear NC0 on nest at 18:50
NC0 back to the nest from the cam post at 18:05
She immediately began to be on alert, flapping her wings and mantling - she was silent
No threat was seen or heard
NC0 preening at 18:07 and was relaxed on the nest until...
18:32 - she began to mantle again
An intruder flew over the nest
It flew off to the right
The unringed intruder landed
NC0 lifted her wings to turn slightly
She made her way closer at 18:37
And flapped it away
NC0 mantled for a short while after...
But soon relaxed
NC0 had been silent all throughout the intruder's 5 minute stay
Julie W said:Seeing the dear NC0 on nest at 18:50
There she was Julie!
And she's still there at present, 19:20