Welcome to Loch Arkaig Ospreys season 8
Will Louis and Dorcha return to Nest 2?
Will someone take up residence in Nest 1?
Will any of Louis' chicks with Aila and Dorcha be sighted?
2024 season:
Louis arrived on Thursday 28th March at 15.18.38
Dorcha arrived on Saturday 30th March at 14.21.27
They reunited on Saturday 30th March at 16.13.37
First egg laid on Sunday 14th March at 11.13.48 Congratulations!!
Second egg laid on Wednesday 17th March at 05.55.52
Dorcha is injured in an eagle attack on Friday 19th April at 11.08
Third egg laid on Saturday 20th April at 02.26.08
Welcome little bob - first chick hatches! Wednesday 22nd May at 06.16.45
Welcome little bob - second chick hatches - it's twins! Wednesday 22nd May at 22.26.15
Welcome little bob - third chick hatches! Friday 24th May at 16.36.10
Sad death of little chick three Sunday 16th June at approx 19.02
Louis disappears, last seen Wednesday 26th June 11.22.56
Louis returns but is clearly not well Saturday 29th June 08.26.37
Decision made to place the two surviving chicks in a translocation programme Sunday 30th June
Licensed raptor team collects the chicks Monday 1st July 10.15
Chicks 1&2 arrive at Pego-Oliva marsh, Spain and ringed Yellow 1JW (C1) & 1JR (C2) Thursday 11th July
Sadly, 1JR (C2) started having seizures and succumbed to a heart condition Tuesday 23rd July
FLEDGE! The surviving chick 1JW (C1) found his wings and flew Thursday 25th July 3pm
Dorcha last seen on camera (Nest One) 11.19.43 Saturday 27th July
Louis last seen on camera (Nest Two) 13.31.18 Tuesday 30th July
1JW (C1) last seen at Pego-Oliva marsh (Spain) on Tuesday 10th September
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Link to February 2024 - May 2024 thread:
loch-arkaig---the-woodland-trust---february-2024---may-2024
2023 season highlights:
Louis returned on Sunday 2nd April at 12.26.54
Dorcha returned on Sunday 9th April 08.09.46
They reunited on Monday 10th April at 12.33.03
First egg laid Friday 21st April at 05.44.19
A Golden Eagle touched down on Saturday 22nd April at 11.50.56
Second egg laid Monday 24th April at 07.03.30
Third egg laid on Thursday 27th April at 07.35.39
Violent Owl strike sends an egg overboard 23rd May at 00.26.46
First chick hatches - and it's Egg3! 31st May at 13.08
Another Owl strike - Bob's unharmed. 6th June at 00.18.16
It's a boy! The chick is ringed LY7 on 9th July around 10am
Fledge! LY7 finds his wings and flies 19th July at 15.05.11
Hello Ludo! The voting results are in and LY7 is named Ludo! 19th July
Dorcha leaves on her travels - last seen on 17th August at 06.30.34
Louis was last seen on 24th August at 15.50.34
Ludo LY7 was last seen* on 25th August at 10.03.28 (*on the nest)
Ludo sighted in France 24th September! Still there 8th October
Link to 2023 thread:
https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/lochgartenospreys/f/loch-garten-ospreys/282446/loch-arkaig---the-woodland-trust---march-2023-to-february-2024
Brief history of the nests:
Hi Geemeff,
Another wonderful start to the new thread, thank you!
Looking back to the end of yesterday's reports, I absolutely loved the 'Disco Diva' vid set to 'Staying Alive' by the Bee Gees - nothing like a good sing-a-long, and a chuckle, first thing of a morning. So cleverly put together!
It was also good to see Garry at N1 again, I wonder where he spends the rest of his time?
So good to see that things are progressing well here. Fingers crossed all continues to go smoothly
Dear Garry! I have a soft spot for him.
I suspect Garry and Aida are cosied up at the other nest in Loch Arkaig on private land - the one at the western end of the loch. I hope so, anyway.
Maybe when Lewis does the ringing rounds in July, he'll report chicks on that nest.
Glad you liked the Disco Divas, Sandra - although since they've been fighting so much lately, maybe we should call them the Asbobs!
Magnificent fisherbird Louis brings three fish in under 24 minutes!
04.16.11 Fish number one
04.16.43 Louis departs the nest
04.24.22 Fish number two
04.26.12 Louis departs the nest
04.39.24 Fish number three
Fish number four arrives, another whole trout - still flapping 11.25.16
Fish number five, whole trout 12.29.54
N1 Little LBJ visits 13.43.34 (zoom) ID needed - a Linnet?
N1 Garry LV0 pays a fleeting visit 19.03.19 (zoom)
Fish number six - bob begs dad in error 21.26.42
Daily summary Saturday 1st June 2024
A record breaking day today, thanks to magnificent fisherbird Louis - he delivered three fish in 23 minutes 13 seconds: season's earliest fish, fastest fish, fastest nest to nest time, shortest time between deliveries, and all before sunrise. Louis followed that up with a further three fish later in the day, taking his tally to one hundred and forty nine. The chicks sported huge crops today, including the littlest one who attempted begging food off dad before realising it was mum who had the food and going over to claim a share from Dorcha who was doling out fish even-handedly. There was a little scrapping but not much as the chicks were too full to do much more than laze about. In other news Nest One had a visit from a little bird followed by a visit from a much bigger bird - Garry LV0 made a fleeting touchdown before flying off again. The weather was settled today, tonight's forecast is partly cloudy with light winds, and the prospect of rain tomorrow.
Night cam switches over (day cam): Nest One 00.05.28 (03.04.48); Nest Two 23.17.39 (03.42.50)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/vWefra79niY N2 Fish number one 04.16.11; Two 04.24.22 ; Three 04.39.24
https://youtu.be/rm2jf-sb98w N2 Fish number four arrives, another whole trout - still flapping 11.25.16
https://youtu.be/vrE-Y_Nzjpg N2 Fish number five, whole trout 12.29.54
https://youtu.be/F0GtIhtx3xs N1 Little LBJ visits 13.43.34 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/P5M_NMUdDGM N1 Garry LV0 pays a fleeting visit 19.03.19 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/IP8sJBIGe5A N2 Fish number six - bob begs dad in error 21.26.42
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/i--2XW43oXM N1 Second Osplet has hatched! 2020
https://youtu.be/XbNjpDD3WlQ N1 The family star on BBC Breakfast 2020
https://youtu.be/q4H8zoxABb4 N1 Four birds, one egg and a stick 2020
https://youtu.be/b2IqFZAEsCQ N2 Bob's in a food coma after a big feed 2022
https://youtu.be/BzFjPMkQWNI N2 Little bob decorates the nest 2022 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/8iA7u9vco48 N2 Aerial acrobatics as Louis chases crows 2022 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/uIyRLn_uEjY N2 Breakfast for day-old bob 2023
https://youtu.be/_JyFxdbG2YI N1 Prince’s early morning visit to Nest One 2023
https://youtu.be/ARLjY1fBI2E N1 Prince brings moss, a little bird scares Affric 2023
https://youtu.be/p1dSf6D594s N1 Male LV0 intrudes on Prince & Affric 10.24.34 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/Knfn8T1p3lI N1 Mating attempts 2023
Oh my, Louis with another half dozen fish - how fab is that, just wonderful!
I can't help with the little bird ID unfortunately, Geemeff, I hope someone else can?