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 flew off at 8:06

    BFN

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Afternoon Julie and All,

    NC0 has been on and off the nest a couple of times. Her latest arrival was at 13:43

    NC0 began to fish call at 13:46. The male appeared with a stick (first time I've seen him today)

    She approached him and checked his talons to see if there was a fish

    She called for fish

    It was very windy

    He flew off at 13:48

    At 13:51, NC0 was on alert

    She lay down and chipped

    The male came back

    Both were in defensive mode

    She chipped and alarm called

    He checked the sky

    NC0 watched too

    More chipping from NC0

    Distant chipping calls heard

    Both became calm

    He flew off at 13:53

    The male returned with a long stick at 13:22

    The end of which landed on back

    NC0 was still calling for fish when he flew off, just over a minute later

    At present, 15:05, she is still calling for a fish. The male has not returned

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 left the nest at 15:42 after silently looking in this direction

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 16:24 NC0 to the nest

    The male joined her, landing initially on her back - he hopped off as NC0 vocalised

    She fish called and he left the nest

    He returned at 16:28, once again landing on her back

    He jumped off

    NC0 continued to call

    He lifted off and hovered above her

    He came back down

    And landed on her back. NC0 was not best pleased and let him know!

    He flew off at 16:30

    He returned with a small stick just over a minute later

    They both eyed the sky

    NC0 reminded him that she wanted a fish

    Off he went again at 16:30

    NC0 remained on the nest until 17:15 - she was continuing to call for fish

    17:32 it's remained ENS

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 to the nest at 18:15 looking rather wet

    She preened

    She began to call for fish

    Then preened some more

    The male arrived very soon after with what appeared to be nesting material in his right talons

    It was a brief touchdown and away visit 18:16

    He was back a couple of minutes later with a stick

    NC0 fish called

    At 18:20, the male attempted to land on her again. He hovered above her

    Again, she didn't want him to

    He did not land and made an immediate exit

    Just under 2 minutes later, he was back with a small twiggy stick

    A thick stick was next

    Then a thin twig

    Te male's 'stick-fest' ended at 18:32

    NC0 remained on the nest (spent mostly preening) until flying off to the birch at 18:45

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 back to the nest at 19:27 - the wind brought her in to land sideways on

    She looked skyward

    Moved forward and fish called

    The male arrived with a headless fish (incoming, top left) shortly afterwards

    She went straight to his talons to pick it up in her beak

    NC0 began to take a couple of bites straight away

    She turned, with her small meal in her left talons

    She altered her position again and began to eat

    The male remained on the nest while she was eating and flew off at 19:32

    NC0 had finished her meal and was cleaning her beak at 19:36 - that didn't take her long!

    She called for more

    20:07 NC0 has stayed on the nest. Dozing in the evening sun at present with occasional fish calls

     

    ©SWT/LotL

  • At 20:20, NC0 moved from her position at the back of the nest to break off some bits from a left edge, thin stick

    She also moved the thick stick the male brought in earlier

    After doing a bit more nestorising, she flew off at 20:28 - she was quiet

    She then returned at 20:31 with grass in her left talons. NC0 made a contact call on landing

    She placed a thin stick from the centre of the nest

    She turned

    And stood in this position, quietly looking around

    She remained there until flying off to the birch at 20:34

    NC0 remained on there until 21:27 when she made her way back to the nest

    She began to fish call rather loudly on her approach...the male was incoming with a fish!

    It was a whole, small one

    NC0 went to retrieve it

    But it had escaped the males grip. She headed to the fish to get hold of it

    With it safe and secure under in her left talons, she took it off the nest

    NC0 took it behind the birch

    The male left almost immediately after she went out of view

    He flew over the Loch towards the birch and then turned left, behind it

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 returned, having eaten her supper, at 21:45

    She called for another fish

    She walked onto a right edge stick and called some more

    NC0 flew off to the birch at 21:48

    At 22:07, she returned - still fish calling

    NC0 remained on the nest and, still calling for fish, flew off at 22:39. A beaver could be seen swimming towards the inlet

    22:48 At present, it is quiet and has remained ENS

    Edit: The beaver swam out of the inlet just after the pic above

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 23:58 There were no more visits to the nest

    ©SWT/LotL