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

  • 29th June

    Morning All, 

    A BTO ringed Scottish female has intruded the nest on a couple of occasions 

    4:55 The male landed

    He was dive bombed. Chipping heard

    He flew off as the intruder came to the nest

    She chipped

    It appeared to be the same one who had intruded before

    Moving sticks

    She remained unchallenged on the nest until 5:14ish. The male brought a stick while she was on the perch

    Onto the nest

    He remained in that position for over 3 minutes before flapping his wings and then hovering over her

    Then landed on the cam post

    He must have left there to return a couple of minutes later with some moss

    It wasn't long after that when NC0 made an appearance (she had flown from the birch corner). She hovered

    Then landed 

    Scene a couple of minutes after NC0 arrived

    5:28 The male had already flown

    NC0 launched herself

    That didn't budge the intruder

    At 5:36, the male brought a stick!

    NC0 landed on the cam post

    The male flew off as NC0 made her way onto the nest

    The male came back with a stick

    NC0 flapped her wings

    She then flew off but came back to dive bomb the intruder

    That was the intruder's cue to leave!

    5:32

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Good morning Sandra, you’ve nothing to apologise for. You do an amazing job covering this nest and we are grateful for any posts you make, brief of full.  HuggingTwo hearts I know ospreys can take over our lives at times! Smile 

  • Morning Glider

    Thank you and yes, they certainly do! Blush

  • The intruder was very persistent...

    She returned at 5:57 - the male flew off after bringing another stick to the nest

    Again at 7:11 after NC0 brought a 'log' to the nest

    NC0 'dismissed' her at 7:18

    She left the nest to chase her away

    NC0 was on the nest when the intruder came back at 8:14

    She mantled before flying off - the intruder landed

    NC0's tail, top right

    She checked the sky before leaving around a minute later

    As she turned left behind the nest..

    ...NC0, I assume, came zooming in from the left side, flying behind the nest and away (gosh, was she quick!)

    I did not see where the intruder went straight after...

    ...but there was a flight over in the birch area around 10 seconds later

    Both the male and NC0 have been back to the nest since then and at present, 11:20, it is ENS, as it has been since 9:04

    BFN

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Significant!

    At 14:28, the male landed with a fish

    He went on alert

    Who should appear? Yep, the BTO ringed female

    He flew off with the fish

    She remained on the nest

    The male reappeared with the fish at 14:35

    She made a beeline for his talons and stole the fish!

    He flew off

    She flew off too, with the fish, making short chipping calls

    She could then be seen flying towards the inlet

    Another was over in the birch area (I assume the male?). He flew left to right over the Loch

    She came back to land on the perch

    She remained on there, unchallenged, to eat

    The intruder finished the fish at 15:00 - cleaning her talons here

    She came onto the nest and called

    She cleaned her beak

    She waited around on the nest

    She finally flew off at 15:14

      

    She headed left, over the inlet

    ©SWT/LotL

  • At 15:56, our dear NC0 landed on the nest

    She stood there looking around as well as doing some preening

    She flew off at 16:12

    She returned at 16:24 - calling for fish

    After a few minutes, she began to flap her wings on alert and moved to the right of the nest. The intruder landed again!

    16:30 There was a brief face-off

    Then NC0 flew up in an attempt to oust the intruder

    Then, with talons showing, she almost connected with the intruder to ensure she cleared off!

    NC0 remained on the nest until leaving at 16:37

    ©SWT/LotL

  • The intruder came back at 17:36. NC0, who had been on the birch, had already spotted her approach and made her way to the nest

    She hovered over before landing

    NC0 turned

    She launched herself at the intruder

    That made her leave!

    NC0 gave chase, 17:37

    19:12 It has remained ENS since then

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Gosh, that is a very determined intruder taking on NC0 and stealing one of her fish from the male! Flushed

  • Yes, Glider, I hope NC0 has now moved her on! Fingers crossed

    20:33 NC0 had been on the birch and made her way to the nest. I couldn't find any other visits prior to this

    She called for fish

    Then was quiet and watchful

    She remained quiet and flew off to the birch at 20:42

    It remained ENS after that. NC0 was not on the birch pre night cam coming on at 23:12

    23:50 At present

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 30th June

    Morning All,

    NC0 was the first to arrive on the nest at 4:12. She flew in from the right

    She made a contact call on landing

    A quick preen

    She was quiet as she looked around

    She looked up to the cam post

    Then headed up there less than a minute after arriving. Three contact calls made

    It remained ENS until 7:54 when the male arrived with a stick. No calling heard from NC0

    He picked it up and placed it on the front edge of the nest

    He quietly looked around

    The flew off around a minute after landing

    ©SWT/LotL