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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

   

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   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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

  • Am so glad she got some food. She sure is great at fishing.

  • At 21:28, Calls from NC0 could be heard. She then appeared at the top, left of screen carrying her fish, heading towards the birch

    She flew directly left, out of cam view, but then reappeared flying into the area of the birch highlighted

    Very soon after, the male (I assume) was flying in the direction of the birch - he went into the same area as NC0. Vocalisations were heard for a short time afterwards

    21:57 It has remained ENS

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 9th June

    Good morning Julie and All

    There were no nest visits overnight.

    The male made a very brief appearance at 4:34

    As he left, a beaver could be seen swimming from left to right across the Loch

    He wasn't seen then until 5:28 - what a stick!

    He placed it on the front edge

    As well as doing a fair bit of nestorising, he nest scraped too

    He flew off at 5:35 after a rather lengthy stay

    It remained ENS until 7:20 when he brought a short stick to the nest

    A twiggy stick at 7:25

    And another short one at 7:28

    He was away at 7:30

    A crow pottered about looking for any scraps at 8:47

    9:00 A spider made its way across the cam lens Scream

    At present, 9:46, it has remained ENS. I've not seen or heard NC0

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 11:43 It has remained ENS

    I'm out for a while. BFN

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Afternoon Sandra and all :) - btw, getting a message that my posting frquency has exceeded the permitted rate. Not sure why.

  • Hi Julie, Slight smile

    Oh, I've never had that message before - how odd! Thinking

    Still ENS, 14:58

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Neither NC0 or the male have been seen 

    A crow was on the nest briefly at 17:08. I'd only knew something had been on there after noticing a front edge stick had moved

    It flew up to the cam post

    18:21 At present

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 landed on the nest at 19:49

    She jumped up off the stick her talons were on to stand on the centre of the nest

    She turned and snapped of a twig from a thin stick

    She stood on this side of the nest quietly looking around...

    ...and resting her eyes

    NC0 began to fish call, at 20:13, when looking across the Loch

    She altered her position at 20:21

    More fish calling

    I assume it was the male who landed on the birch at 20:25ish

    He remained there until 20:30ish, flew over the inlet (reflection shown in light blue) and headed behind the tree (highlighted yellow)

    20:32 NC0 quietly rested her eyes

    She vocalised at 20:38 as the male flew from right to left, over the Loch, to land back on the birch

    She called on occasion and also rested her eyes

    After a leg and wing stretch

    And some more calling

    She flew off at 20:53

    The male remained on the birch until 21:08ish when he flew off down the inlet ( his reflection highlighted in light blue)

    21:52 It's remained ENS and, after periodical checks, neither NC0 or the male have been back on the birch

    ©SWT/LotL

  • The male landed on the nest at 22:34

    NC0 arrived

    She did not vocalise

    He edged closer to her. She made quiet calls

    The male jumped over to the left side of the nest

    Then flew off at 22:36

    22:38 NC0 was making short vocalisations, not fish calls

    22:40 She fiddled with the same stick as earlier this evening

    She also did some general nest tidying

    At 20:42, she flapped up to the perch

    She preened while on there and was continuing to do so as night cam came on, 23:16. The male was not roosting on the birch

    23:42

    Resting at 23:44

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 10th June

    Morning All

    NC0 remained roosting on the perch overnight

    3:54

    She came down to the nest at 3:55

    She quietly looked around

    At 3:58, she looked down in this direction

    And off flew that way

    It remained ENS until 6:51. NC0 could be seen flying from left to right behind the nest...

    ...before landing with a clumps of grass/moss gripped in both feet

    She made a contact calls on landing

    NC0 was being buffeted by the wind at 7:19

    At present, 7:33. The wind is still quite strong

    I've not seen the male

    ©SWT/LotL