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

  • It remained ENS until 20:37. NC0, calling, landed on the birch. What a rainy evening!

    She was there for a matter of seconds before flying to the nest

    She was quiet as she looked around and made her way over to the right side of the nest

    NC0 began to fish call again as she turned around

    Then quietened down again

    Resting quietly at 21:03

    She began to call at 21:07 and then left the nest

    She landed on the birch

    She left the birch as the male approached her there - he landed on her diving branch as she made her way back to the nest

    She flew behind the trees to make her approach, her calls could be heard before and as she landed on the right side of the nest

    She shook her head and flapped her wings in an effort to get rid of the rain from her feathers

    The called some more

    The male left the birch a few minutes later and headed down the inlet

    He then came back into view, approaching the nest

    He flew over her

    NC0 continued to call for fish after that

    She then flew off to the left at 22:25

    NC0 could not be seen on the birch just before night cam came on at 22:50

    23:24 She has not returned

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 14th June

    Morning All

    NC0's first visit of the day was at 4:23

    She gave her feathers a shake before looking around, calling for fish

    She flapped onto the nest and, after calling some more, flew up to the cam post

    She came own from there at 6:07

    She flapped her wings...

    And gave her feathers a shake

    NC0 positioned herself on the right side of the nest and shouted for fish

    Still there at present, 7:21

    I have not seen the male

    Edit: As I was posting, she headed back up to the cam post (7:22)

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 8:10 NC0 is still on the cam post, fish calling on occasion

    BFN

    ©SWT/LotL

  • The cam went offline this morning

    New YT URL from 9:53

  • Not a lot has happened at the nest since the LS came back on - it was ENS at the start of it

    NC0 landed on the nest at 10:57, she made a contact call on landing

    She spent the majority of her time preening

    At 11:14, she quietly looked in this direction

    Then flew off

    Heading left, out of cam view

    She returned with a stick at 11:38

    More contact calls made

    She placed it on the left side of the nest

    She quietly looked around an preened on this visit

    She looked to the left at 11:54

    Then flew off in that direction

    NC0 came down from the cam post at 12:30

    She made a few chipping calls on landing

    She chipped again

    She then became quiet and watchful on the back right edge

    12:34 After looking to the right, she left the nest

    15:00 There haven't been anymore visits to the nest since then (it's been raining for quite a while)

    I haven't seen the male so far today while the cam has been streaming

    ©SWT/LotL

  • At 15:47, NC0 came down from the cam post fish calling rather loudly

    She vigorously flapped her wings as she as calling

    Her feathers were wet from the rain

    She quietly stared in this direction

    They eyed the sky

    NC0 was intently watching some thing here (her head moved from side to side)

    The she flew off, past the right side of the cam - she had been on the nest for less than 2 minutes

    Her wings could be heard flapping away from the nest (ie she did not land on the cam post)

    At 16:01, she returned, loudly fish calling

    She looked up towards the cam post

    Within moments, the male flew down with a fish!

    NC0 was quick to retrieve it

    She flapped her wet wings

    He cleaned his beak

    She flapped her wings again

    NC0 then let all around know that she had a fish

    She moved her fish to the back edge

    The male cleaned his beak again as NC0 still gave excited calls

    She then flew off, the fish in her left talons

    She headed directly left after this pic

    Before e left at 16:04, the male stared at something of interest

    Aha, that's who he must have spotted! A crow hopped onto the front edge and pottered around on the nest for a little while

    17:45 As far as I can tell, it has remained ENS since then

    BFN

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 18:16 NC0 had been on her branch of the birch. She began to fish call and and left there to make her way back to the nest

    The male then came in to view, flying behind her

    He had a small fish in his talons!

    She went straight to his talons

    And retrieved it

    He flew off almost straight away and headed directly to the left

    She flew off, the fish in her right talons, almost immediately after he had

    I think she landed on the feeding post, just off to the left here

    .   

    At 18:28, the male made the briefest of visits. He made contact calls just before and after he landed. His talons were empty

    He looked silently to the left before making a contact call on his flight away

    NC0 could be heard calling

    He flew over the Loch. NC0 was dipping her talons

    I lost sight of her flight away after this

    She must have flown around the corner as she soon appeared flying from the birch area - fish calling

    She landed back on the nest

    NC0 called for fish here

    And here

    She nestorised

    Then was soon looking around quietly

    At 18:49, NC0 was shouting for fish - the male was on the birch

    Off she went...

     .

    And landed on the birch

    I can't find any more visits to the nest and at present, 21:46, NC0 (I assume) is alone on the birch - she is quiet

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 was quiet before leaving the birch at 22:49. There had been no more visits to the nest

    She landed on the perch, making a few of contact calls as she did so

    She turned and began to preen

    She scratched the back of her head

    More preening

    NC0 was still preening at 23:07

    Night cam switched on at 23:11

    00:19 She has remained on the perch and is sleeping fully tucked in

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 15th June

    Morning All

    NC0, fish calling, left the perch for the birch at 4:15

    Around a minute later, the male arrived - no calling from NC0

    He rearranged a stick

    She then began to call and headed back to the nest

    She was requesting a fish

    He lifted off and made an attempt to mate - NC0 pecked him off

    She made her way to the back of the nest, still calling

    He then flew off

    NC0 remained on the nest until 4:20 when she went back to the birch

    ©SWT/LotL

  • At 4:55, an unringed female intruder landed!

    NC0 left the birch...

    She was out of cam view here

    And landed on the nest

    NC0 turned

    The intruder moved to the left

    She launched herself in a bid to move the intruder on

    And flew away

    That didn't work

    She returned shortly after

    Without making an attempt to oust the intruder, NC0 then flew off again, 

    She was then on her way back!

    Divebomb!

     The intruder then flew off on her own accord at 4:59. Looking carefully at the pics, she had a BTO ring on her right leg!

    ©SWT/LotL