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

  • 4th June

    Morning All

    3:29 NC0's calls could be heard echoing around the reserve before she landed on the nest

    She moved onto the perch

    Day cam came on at 3:40

    At 4:04, she was shouting and flew off to the birch

    NC0 lef the birch and made a flight down the inlet

    Within moments, she landed on the cam post, making a few contact calls

    Checking through the footage, it has remained ENS 

    At present, 7:31. No movement or calling heard on the cam post

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Still ENS, 8:08, and it's quiet on the cam post. Strange not to see the male at the nest so far

    BFN

    ©SWT/LotL

  • NCO with big fish to nest at 10ish. Male arrived about 10mins later (NCO had left with fish) with stick and started eating some leftovers

  • Apologies for photos being in wrong order

  • 12.22 Male brings stick to nest

  • NCO with big fish to nest at 10ish. Male arrived about 10mins later (NCO had left with fish) with stick and started eating some leftovers

    Hi Belinda,

    Many thanks!  Thumbsup

    NC0's fish was caught on the reserve, I think. It was very much alive and her feathers were soaked, as shown in your fab pic! She was not on the birch beforehand. (I made the time out to be 9:04ish? Oh I wish there was an on-screen clock! lol)

    She made a series of contact calls prior to, and on landing

    She gave herself a good shake!

    Initially, the male brought a headless fish to the nest at 9:42 while NC0 was still tucking in

    He watched NC0 eating (or he was eyeing up the size of her fish!)

    For a very brief moment, they 'dined' together

    At 9:45 He flew off the nest, leaving his fish in situ

    It wasn't long until a crow appeared. NC0 'grunted' at it several times in annoyance and as a warning - it wasn't going to be deterred from taking a free-meal

    It went to the perch before landing on the left edge of the nest

    It grabbed hold of the fish tail in its beak

    Dragged it across the nest

    And flew off with it!

    At 10:10, NC0 was shouting

    And flew off with her fish

    As you had said, the male arrived with a stick at 10:18

    He noticed the fish remnant on landing (your pic showed him eating it)

    ©SWT/LotL

  • Apologies for photos being in wrong order

    No problem, Belinda! Hugging

  • 12.22 Male brings stick to nest

    Apart from a crow pottering around looking for scraps, and moving sticks and nesting material about, it has been ENS since that time

    15:40 At present

    ©SWT/LotL

  • 16:20 It has remained ENS (and an extremely gusty wind at Lowes) but wanted to state that 'pagination' is now at both the top and bottom of the thread pages!

  • Totally agree about the clock