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

  • 22:03 When scrolling through the footage, I couldn't find any visits to the nest

    SWT/LotL

  • 18th July

    Morning All

    10:15 It has been ENS so far

    ©SWT/LotL

  • At 12:52, the male landed on the nest

    He made his way to the back of the nest

    Within moments, NC0 arrived

    She quietly vocalised

    And preened

    He moved to the left side of the nest, NC0 fish called

    He flew off at 12:55

    He was back a couple of minutes later

    She thought he'd brought a fish

    She preened (NC0 had done this too while the male was away)

    He proceeded to nest tidy

    She was very vocal

    He left again after just over two minutes

    She carried on preening

    He was back a minute or so after. NC0 prepared herself to accept a fish delivery

    He'd brought some dried grass instead, much to NC0's dismay

    More stick organising

    He turned while she preened

    Then launched himself

    Hovered

    Then landed on her in an attempt to mate

    She made it clear that he had to get off

    He hovered to land on the perch

    He flew off at 13:05

    NC0 continued with her preening regime

    After a quick look around

    She flew off at 13:10 and landed on the birch

    ©SWT/LotL

  • It remained ENS until 15:36 - distant chipping could be heard before the male landed

    NC0 was fish calling on the cam post

    He was there for a further 7 minutes before NC0 came down - she was still calling for fish

    He flew off at 15:45

    He was back just over a minute later

    Adjusted a stick and pecked at it

    He opened and closed his beak as well as shake his head several times - possibly a piece of bark had got caught?

    He moved closer to NC0, she was still calling for fish

    He left at 15:52

    Back at 15:54 with thin sticks

    15:58 NC0 was still yelling for fish

    She turned

    And, after an overhead wing stretch (Ahem, avert your eyes young man!)

    She flew off to the birch

    She left the birch at 16:01 and headed off behind it

    He flew off at that point

    He flew high, off to the left, out of cam view

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 returned, shouting, at 16:24

    The male soon arrived with dried grass!

    She was giving him 'what for!'

    He flew off about 30 seconds after arriving

    He headed left

    He returned within a minute

    He looked around

    And flew off. He headed high left, out of cam view

    NC0 remained on the nest (preening and fish calling) until flying off at 16:32

    She flew high over the birch

    It was ENS until 18:29 when the male landed with some more nest additions

    He did some nest tidying

    Then left at 18:31

    He glided off to the right

    I lost sight of him after that

    The male landed on the nest from the cam post with a bunch of sticks,at 18:56

    Repositioned a twig

    Looking for NC0?

    Flapped over to the back of the nest and stood on NC0's 'log'

    And flew off to the right at 18:58

    20:44 It's remained ENS since then

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NC0 to the nest, fish calling, at 21:56

    Still calling as she looked across the Loch

    She quietened down

    NC0 suddenly became vocal again and made her way to the centre of the nest. The male could be seen flying over the Loch, opposite the birch

    He made his way towards the nest

    He didn't land, instead, sped past behind it

    She called after him

    She made her way to the back of the nest

    And stood on her 'log'

    She remained there fish calling until leaving at 22:03

    She headed behind the birch

    It remained ENS. Pre night cam, 22:33

    23:50

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Another wonderful diary of the day - I seem to keep missing them so this is invaluable   - thank you as always

  • 20th July

    Evening Julie and All,

    Unfortunately, due to very severe back pain, I'm not able to sit at my laptop for any length of time to complete any detailed reports (yesterday was a complete no-go for me and took time out to rest!) I did, however, want to post this fish delivery which occurred at 20:04 this evening - I think this was the first time today that both have been on the nest together

    It was raining. NC0 flew around from behind birch to approach the nest - she was fish calling even before coming into view

    The male appeared almost immediately with a small headless fish

    She let all around know that she had a fish!

    He flew off...

    She followed

    They both headed behind the birch

    The whole event lasted no more than 20 seconds!

    NC0 had brought moss to the nest this morning. The male had his usual stick-fest moments and did lots of nestorising in between it being ENS for most of the afternoon

    I hope to be up to 'full speed' soon and will try to post anything significant as and when I can. BFN

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Sorry to hear about your bad back Sandra, I know how bad that can be and it affects everything you do. I hope you feel better soon, little by little, day by day it will ease. Kissing heartTwo hearts

    Thank you so much for posting the fish delivery and interaction between the birds, very much appreciated. Take care. 

  • Thank you, Glider Kissing heart

    21st July

    NC0 brought her own fish to the nest at 15:46 - she was very vocal

    It took a couple of minutes before she began to tuck in

    Almost an hour later, 16:37

    She paused and changed her position. She made a contact call

    :After acouple of minutes looking around, she moved to the front edge of the nest

    16:54 She was quiet as she looked around

    NC0 flew off with a sizable amount of her meal remaining at 16:56

    The last time I can find the male at the nest was at 10:22 - he'd brought a stick

    He flew off after just over a minute later

    It remained ENS until NC0 landed with her fish

    ©SWT/LotL