LOCH OF THE LOWES - June 2024 to end of season

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

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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.

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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

Last seen dates:  NC0(16) - 13.8.24  Dark Intruder - TBC

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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

17.8.24: LotL Fb .>>> Migrations?

17.8.24: SWT YouTube >>> Last Osprey Sightings of the Summer?

20.8.24: LotL Blog >>> Osprey LM12 died of natural causes

23.8.24: LotL Fb >>> Dark Intruder still at Lowes

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL 

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 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

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Seeing the dear NC0 on nest at 18:50

    There she was Julie! Smiley

    And she's still there at present, 19:20

    ©SWT/LotL