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

  • There was a torrential downpour this afternoon at around 16:30 - NC0 was hunkered down

    The cam went offline at 20:20ish

    New YT URL from 20:45

    21:01 I can hear NC0 calling on occasion - possibly on the cam post

    21:03 A ruffle of feathers heard

    ©SWT/LotL

  • One landed on the birch at 22:07 - no calling heard on its arrival nor was there a sound on the cam post

    Still there at 22:29 before flying off down the inlet

    22:50 Pre night cam

    23:30

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 16th July

    Morning All

    The first visit of the day was at 7:41 when the male brought a couple of thin sticks

    He made contact calls on landing

    He attempted to move a large twiggy stick

    Looking around for NC0?

    He left at 7:43 

    It remained ENS until 9:18 when NC0 came down from the cam post - she had been fish calling

    I heard a flapping of wings, possibly to land close by. She semi-mantled

    She glanced up to the cam post

    She turned around, more fish calling

    The male landed with a twiggy stick - she asked for a fish

    He left at 9:26

    NC0 was in the same position at 9:48 - fish calling here

    She then moved forward and flapped her wings

    Intruder around?

    Something had caught her attention

    She flew off at 9:51

    ©SWT/LotL

  • An intruder landed on the nest perch at 10:00 

    Who did it see approaching?

    None other than NC0

    She turned to face the intruder

    NC0 made her way to the back edge - she was very quiet

    Then up to stand on her 'log'

    The intruder glanced briefly

    With just one flap of NC0's wings, that was enough to send the intruder off!

    It headed left, out of cam view

    NC0 watched its flight

    Then headed off in the same direction

    ©SWT/LotL

  • It remained ENS until 11:18 when the male landed - he did not bring a stick!

    He was quiet as he looked around

    He left at 11:20

    NC0 returned at 11:24 - look what she brought with her!

    Contact calls on landing

    She got a little caught up with the stick as she came onto the nest itself

    She turned to place it

    She flew off to the right at 12:04

    Still ENS at 12:44

    BFN

    ©SWT/LotL

  • It was ENS until NC0 landed on the nest at 17:35 - she had flown from behind the birch

    Her crop appeared to be full?

    She had a quick wander to the front of the nest

    Then turned to make her way to the back

    She remained in that position and, after fish calling, flew off at 17:51

    She headed left

    NC0 returned a couple of minutes later with a small twig, flying from around the birch

    Contact calls on landing

    Back onto her 'log' perch

    She remained there, fish calling, until 18:35

    She flew off to the left again

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 19:02 The male arrived at the nest with a long stick

    Contact calls on landing

    He adjusted some sticks

    He silently mantled

    An intruder landed!

    BT0 ring on its right leg - no Darvic. Distant chipping heard

    The cam juddered slightly as the intruder moved to the right side of the nest

    Could it have been NC0 who had landed on the cam post?

    It was silent

    Talons heard moving on the cam post

    The intruder flew off at 19:09

    It wasn't long until there was a landing on the nest

    The male flew off

    It was NC0

    She flapped her wings and chipped

    It took a couple of minutes for her to be more relaxed, but did occasionally chip while being watchful

    19:25 She was calm and looking around the area

    19:27 She moved to the front of the nest

    NC0 was relaxed

    She turned to move a stick...

    Stood quietly, looking around...

    ...before leaving at 19:31

    She flew high around the birch corner

    ©SWT/LotL

  • At 20:28, the male landed with some dried grass

    He attempted to move a thick stick

    It was very much tangled with others 

    He focused his attention on something.

    He flew off at 20:31

    It remained ENS after he had left.

    Pre night cam at 22:59

    23:56

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Such a beautiful account   - really lifts the spirits to see them.

  • 17th July

    Afternoon Julie and All

    Such a beautiful account   - really lifts the spirits to see them

    You're very welcome, Julie. Yes, it is good to still see them both!

    The male was an early bird, landing on the perch from the cam post at 5:16. He spent a couple of minutes on there before flying off

    He did mantle briefly but no threat seen or heard

    NC0's first appearance was at 6:49 - she brought a long stick

    She turned before landing

    Contact calls made

    The male joined her at 6:56

    She looked to see if he'd brought a fish - she did not vocalise

    She was fish calling before he left a couple of minutes later

    She flew off at 7:05

    It remained ENS until NC0 returned with a twig at 9:56

    Once again, contact calls made on landing

    She placed it on the front edge of the nest

    The male arrived with his own nest additions at 10:01

    10:04 Almost sychronised preening

    NC0 fish called prior to him leaving at 10:05

    After a little more preening and quietly looking around...

    ...she flew off at 10:10

    14:10 At present. Neither NC0 or the male have returned to the nest

    ©SWT/LotL