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
The male came to the nest for a short 1 minute or so visit at 7:56
NC0 fish called
NC0 resting her eyes, 8:15
Off to work shortly. BFN
©SWT/LotL
Looks like NCO and dark male (?) on nest 8:54
Julie W said:Looks like NCO and dark male (?) on nest 8:54
Hi Julie, Yes, it was the dark male on the nest with NC0. He did approach her in an attempt to mate but...
...she pecked at him...
...then warned him off, both in quick succession, during that visit
A brief summary of anything notable to report:
At 9:29, the male brought a huge clump of moss to the nest
10:21 NC0 was in a quiet defensive mode
She was on alert and watchful for a few minutes before relaxing. No threat seen or heard
Another unseen intruder alert from NC0 at 11:13 - she did chip this time
She moved to the front edge and continued mantling
All was calm again after almost 5 minutes and she stayed in this position until 11:50
She came back at 12:01 for a lengthy visit, leaving at 14:00, but was back at 14:06
NC0 flew off at 14:50
Still ENS at present, 15:01
I've not seen the male back at the nest
BFN
15:57 Still ENS but I heard a ruffling of feathers on the cam post
Sounds like it's NC0 on the cam post - bursts of chipping, 16:04. Quiet soon after
Edit: More chipping 16:06/16:07
16:25 NC0 to the nest - fish calling
Checking the sky
Mantling and on alert at 16:29
16:32 Alarm calling, chipping and flapping her wings
Chipping in the distance
16:40 The male landed
Lots of chipping from NC0
All had calmed down when the male left at 16:42
He returned with a stick at 16:43
Both on alert. NC0 chipped
The male adjusted a rail stick at 16:45, things were more relaxed
NC0 began chipping again, 16:48
The male left the nest 16:49
He came back at 16:54 with a (possible) small stick
NC0 was fish calling when he left at 16:57
Back he came with another small twiggy stick a minute or so later
The male was resting his eyes when NC0 flew off at 17:00. She was shouting for a fish
The male remained on the nest until flying off at 17:03
He returned with some moss at 17:08
Off he went again at 17:10
17:34 It's been ENS since then
Off for a while. BFN
NC0 returned to the nest at 18:55, her 'shouting for fish' calls were heard before she landed
She attempted to sort out a sticky-up rail stick
She moved to the back, right of the nest
NC0 stood there, quietly looking around, until just before she began to mantle at 19:12.
She gave off a series of short chipping calls
An unringed intruder hovered over the nest
She raised her wing in an effort to get it away
It attempted to land on her
NC0 reacted and raised her head up
It hovered again
And made another attempt - NC0 reacted in the same way as before
It hovered...
Then flew off
The intrusion lasted a matter of seconds!
Nothing much happened after the intrusion, NC0 remained in that position until, at 19:59, she did a lovely leg and wing stretch
Had a quiet look around
Then flew off at 20:00
NC0 came back at 20:04 with a small clump of grass or moss in her talons. She made contact calls on landing
She did some nest tidying
She headed to the back right position again where she stood quietly looking around
At 20:13, and after looking towards the birch, she headed over there at 20:13
It has remained ENS since then. NC0, I assume, still on the birch at present, 21:30. She is not calling
NC0 made a dive at 21:50. (To note, I haven't checked the footage prior to this to see if she had made any others after she had landed on the birch at 20:13)
Splashdown!
And out
She flew over the Loch
She turned here
Once in the birch area, she flew behind it before landing on her branch. She made a few short calls
NC0 wasn't on there for long before heading off, flying from left to right behind the nest until going out of cam view
I don't think that was a fish in her talons (unless it was and she lost it) as she returned to the birch at 21:56 - she flew from right to left, behind the trees, to make her approach to it
At 22:33 NC0 called and then left the birch to head back to the nest
She made a few contact calls while turning around
She preened
And looked around. No calling
NC0 then flew off directly to the right at 22:37
23:00 It has been ENS since then and no landing on the birch either
Night cam came on at 23:06
I wonder where the male is?