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/
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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
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
At present, 9:46, it has remained ENS. I've not seen or heard NC0
11:43 It has remained ENS
I'm out for a while. BFN
Afternoon Sandra and all :) - btw, getting a message that my posting frquency has exceeded the permitted rate. Not sure why.
Hi Julie,
Oh, I've never had that message before - how odd!
Still ENS, 14:58
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
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
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
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