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 Blogs and Updates (Published dates)
22:51 NC0 has just landed on the perch, shouting. Male still on the birch
©SWT/LotL
22:58 Resting her eyes
23:00 Preening
Edit: The male flew off down the inlet just after I captured the pic above
Then came back and flew up and over NC0 - she seemed too engrossed in her preening to notice!
She then called!
NC0 was still calling when night cam came on at 23:03
She's sleeping tucked in now, 23:42
2nd June
Morning All
Another early morning call from NC0. She was calling on the perch before flying off at 3:30
A wing stretch before leaving
It was ENS until she arrived back at 4:13 - she was fish calling
NC0 remained on the front left edge of the nest calling until the male arrived at 5:06 - a small clump of nesting material was gripped in his left talons
He left at 5:07
He wasn't gone long and he came back with a small stick. NC0 was still calling
He readjusted a thick rail stick
Then sorted out the grasses at the back of the nest
Off he went
Back at 5:12 with another stick
It was a very brief stay and when he left, he could be seen in the birch area briefly before flying off to the left, behind it
NC0 remained fish calling and then headed up to the cam post at 5:17
It then remained ENS until 7:08 when, after loudly fish calling, she came back down to the nest
The male flew in almost immediately after she had landed. Another small clump of nesting materials was in his left talons
She looked towards his talons to see if there was a fish to collect - NC0 told him of her disappointment!
He flew off at 7:10
He headed to the left, out of cam view
There were no more visits from the male after he left
NC0 remained on the right side of the nest and did some general preening, looking around and, of course, fish calling, until 8:42 when she left
9:08 It's remained ENS since then
10:39 NC0 landed on the nest, she made contact calls on landing. Seagull calls could be heard around the reserve
Quietly preening 10:42
10:44
10:46
Silent mantling and looking skyward at 11:03
It was short lived - no threat seen
11:13 While on the front edge of the nest, having a bit of a doze, NC0 was dive bombed by a seagull
NC0, at present, 11:24
11:25 Very vocal seagulls were flying around the inlet. NC0 headed off to the birch but not before...
Having a wing/leg stretch...
And an overhead wing stretch
She's still on there (and quiet) at present, 11:40
Off for a little while, BFN
NC0 left the birch at 11:54
She continued flying past the left side of the nest. I did not hear her landing on the cam post
12:25 It has remained ENS, No movement or calling heard on the cam post
I've scrolled through the footage and it has remained ENS
I noticed that at 13:47, a stick on the right side of the nest had changed position so checked it out...it was only the wind that moved it. Not sure if it was an Osprey or not on the birch at the time
16:03
The wind is extremely gusty. That stick was launched across to the other side of the nest at 16:48!