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.
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 came to the nest at 11:33
A crow had just popped on
NC0 came down from the cam post, the crow scarpered! She hadn't vocalised beforehand
Just as the male had done earlier, she preened and quietly looked around in between
She had a quick look around...
...before heading off to the birch at 11:48
NC0 remained on there until flying off behind it at 12:54
14:36 It has remained ENS since.
©SWT/LotL
It was still ENS just prior to the cam going offline at 15:27
16:21 No new YT URL as yet
New YT URL from 16:52
I can't see that NC0 or the male have been on the nest. When scrolling through the footage, and stopping periodically, she could be heard fish calling on the cam post at 19:15.
22:48 Pre night cam
22:57 I just heard a ruffle of feathers (I assume from NC0?) on the cam post
14th July
Morning All
NC0 arrived on the nest at 5:15
A quick preen
She moved to the back edge of the nest where she continued to clean her feathers
She was quiet while watching the area
Her head went back briefly as she rested her eyes
6:00 NC0 quietly looked around before leaving the nest
She flew to the left, out of cam view
At 6:16, both NC0 and the male came to the nest
She arrived first, carrying a small twig in her right talons
She made a contact call on landing
The male approached as she was sorting out her thin twig
She turned and coy mantled as he landed
He did the same
NC0 did not call for fish
They altered their positions
As she turned around, her talons got caught in the sticks, she readjusted a thick one
She moved to the front, making short calls
He then moved over to the left
They both did a bit of nest tidying
She wandered over to the back edge
He flew off at 6:21
NC0 remained on the nest until 6:51
NC0 returned with a stick a couple of minutes later
She made a few alarm calls on landing
No threat seen or heard. She moved a stick
She preened on the back edge of the nest
She left at 7:15
But was soon back with some moss
7:28 A stick was next to be brought on
More preening done during this visit
It was a long visit from NC0. She flew off at 8:53
Back at 8:56 with a long, twiggy stick
She stood quietly on the front edge of the nest looking beautiful (as usual!)
NC0 eventually flew off at 9:14
11:47 As far as I can tell, it has remained ENS since she left
BFN
Interesting behaviour ... seemingly they can't easily turn off their instincts to keep nesting even though they are not actively mating and there will not be any more eggs??
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
11:53 NC0 was back on the nest, the male was sky dancing
Within a couple of minutes, the male delivered a live fish
She flew off with it in her left talons
She took her lunch possibly onto the feeding post
I have to sign off. BFN
15th July
Afternoon All,
It was too late for me last night to do a catch up report but suffice to say, even though both NC0 and the male visited the nest (either separately or together), there were no more fish deliveries.
The male landed with a long, thin stick at 6:56
He picked it up and placed it on the left edge of the nest
NC0 could then be seen making her way to the nest, flying out from the inlet
She had her own stick in her talons
Her feathers were wet
After a quick wander around the nest, she repositioned herself to the back edge and began to preen
6:59 He readjusted some sticks
She preened some more
Held out her wings
Then made a contact call and flew off at 7:02
She returned with some nesting material at 7:04
Contact calls made
The male edged closer to her...
...before flying off just over a minute later
Back he came with another long stick at 7:08
They quietly looked around
He flew off at 7:10
NC0 remained on the nest until 7:17
Distant chipping and alarm calling could be heard prior to the male landing with a stick at 10:24. It had remained ENS up until then
He began to mantle and flap his wings
He flew off
As soon as he was out of cam view, an intruder came to the nest - possibly the dark female that we've seen before?
She chipped
Then immediately flew off
Heading off to the right
Both NC0 and the male did return to the nest separately after that. There hadn't been any fish delivered
NC0 brought this huge stick to the nest at 12:11
Time for a preen
At 12:19, after a shake of her feathers
And a quick look around
She flew off
She headed directly left, out of cam view
13:22 It has remained ENS