Continued from May 2024
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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
I think the dark male is getting the fish call mixed up with the stick call (but he did bring one fish today )
Lol, Glider!
NC0 called as she left the nest for the birch at 19:24
She made a clockwise circular flight in that area prior to landing
NC0 remained there until 20:15 when she came back to the nest
She stared quietly in this position for around 15 seconds
Then began to call for fish
At 20:25, NC0 moved to the centre of the nest, calling, and prepared for a fish delivery
There was a flight overhead (I assume by the male)
After going out of view briefly, he came back, flying to the right
I lost sight of him after that
She called. Had he flown in this direction, out of cam view?
NC0 was standing quietly at 20:28
The male did not come to the nest and NC0 flew off at 20:47, making a few fish calls as she was leaving
21:18 It has remained ENS. I can't hear any movement on, or calling from, the cam post
©SWT/LotL
At 21:28, NC0 could be heard calling. She appeared low over the Loch and landed on the birch
Having been fish calling, she flew off, low to the left, at 21:32ish
Chipping and alarm calling heard at 21:35. No-one on view
At 21:38, there was a flight from right to left over the Loch
It landed on the low branch of the birch
It had hardly settled before flying from there. Fish calling heard (reflection highlighted in yellow)
After flying down the inlet, it veered off to the right
Immediately, NC0 then flew from beyond the birch corner (reflection highlighted in pink)
As she was making her way back to the nest, 21:39, the other Osprey appeared from the right
It continued to fly to the left, out of cam view just prior to NC0 landing on the nest, fish calling
Still calling at 21:45
While NC0 was calling in this position, the male was on NC0's diving branch of the birch
At 21:55, he made a dive...
...and it was successful!
NC0 went straight to his talons
It was only small but gratefully received
The male took off...
And flew over the inlet towards the trees
Before landing back on the birch
She vocalised before leaving with her supper
The male was not on the birch when NC0 came back to the nest at 22:08, no remaining fish in her talons. She could be heard calling before landing
She cleaned her beak
Calling very loudly at 22:19
She turned and altered her position
She did several crop drops
NC0 remained in that position on the nest, still calling on occasion. At 22:36, the wind was picking up
More fish calling
Then she flew off from the nest at 22:38
NC0 was not on the birch pre night cam at 23:05
23:34 It has remained ENS
8th May
Morning All
NC0 arrived at 3:45. Initially, she went to land on the perch
Her right foot slipped...
Which made her fly off, heading right, over the trees behind the nest
She then reappeared to make a safe landing on the nest
She called for fish
5:37 Quietly resting her eyes in the morning sun
NC0 remained on the nest until leaving at 5:39. She had an overhead wing stretch
A wing and leg stretch
A quick look around
Then away. The male did not come to the nest during her long time there
It stayed ENS until 7:05 when NC0 came down form the cam post
She silently flapped and mantled on landing
A shadow appeared over the nest before a flight over (top). It headed high left, back over the nest after this pic
She altered her position but was still watchful
A few minutes after, she fiddled with a twiggy rail stick
7:12 She moved to the right side of the nest and stood quietly
She was preening prior to leaving at 7:40. Again, the male did not appear
8:40 It has remained ENS since NC0 flew off. It is quiet
9:32 Still no visits. The wind is picking up
I'm out today. BFN
Evening All,
I've just had a quick scroll through the footage and found that there was a fish delivery this afternoon
14:04 NC0 was on the nest, she went on silent alert
She lay down in the centre of the nest briefly, keeping low
She watched the sky
Then moved closer to the right edge to do the same
She chipped on a few occasions
Watched the sky again
14:05 She then became aware that the male was around and began to fish call
She stood up and shouted in preparation for a fish delivery
The male had a headless fish
He landed on the front edge of the nest
It took NC0 two attempts to pick it up in her beak
She silently flapped her wings and mantled
The male appeared to be coy mantling rather than in a defensive mode
NC0 relaxed, the male cleaned his beak. The wind was gusty
She began to call to let 'everyone' know she had a meal
NC0 flew away with the fish in her left talons at 14:07
The male cleaned his beak again
The strong wind caught his wings
He cleaned his beak again
Then left the nest at 14:09
Apart from NC0 being on and off the nest throughout the afternoon (she even brought a stick) and the male visiting a few times (in stick mode), I can't find anything else to report.
Hmm, NC0 has just landed with a freshly caught WHOPPER!! 20:11
The fish flapped as she stood on it with both feet
She began to eat
At present, 20:21, she's continuing to tuck in
At 20:23, she shook her feathers...
Flapped her wings
Made a couple of contact calls
Then took her huge meal off nest!
She was not seen flying over the Loch
Let's hope her talons had a firm grip on that massive fish!
At the time of posting (20:38), it's remained ENS