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
.
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:
Only been one more since then, but I'm half expecting him to swoop in with a fish supper.
And still no aggro, it's wonderful.
Domestic harmony on the Loch Arkaig Osprey nest when Louis bring fish number seven
14.11.59 Louis arrives with fish number seven, headless large trout, but nobody moves to take it though, just too full.
14.29.20 Eventually Dorcha takes it from Louis, actually as soon as he makes a move to start eating it!
14.33 The chicks decide to feed despite huge crops, and move towards Dorcha, with Louis standing in front nearest the camera, blocking the view.
A lovely picture of domestic harmony. The only jarring note is the remains of ill-fated little C3, now just a small bundle of feathers rapidly being subsumed into the nest furnishings.
Daily summary Wednesday 19th June 2024
What a difference a day makes! Not only did fabulous fisherbird Louis swoop in with four fish in 26 minutes then follow it up with another three, breaking various records along the way, but there was absolutely no aggro from either of the two chicks today. The reptilian phase appears to be over, and while there will still be the odd fight, especially when they start accepting the fish deliveries themselves, the instinctive aggression of the rapid growth stage seems to have ended. The bundle of feathers that was tragic little chick3 is still visible but is melding with the nest floor and if not removed by Dorcha soon, is likely to just disappear and become part of the nest. Louis' magnificent seven took his tally to two hundred and twenty three, a remarkable achievement although the wait to see if he breaks his nine-fish record goes on. Nest One had another visit from Garry LV0 who was seen flying to perch on Pole Tree before popping in for a brief visit. The weather was as settled as the chicks' dispositions, but tonight's forecast is a damp night with light rain and light winds, with the prospect of a drier day tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.59.35 (03.07.48); Nest Two 23.23.40 (03.45.50)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/tysEIpOpLAY N2 Fish number one, small whole trout - no fighting! 03.49.37
https://youtu.be/Q0EGdJY0uLw N2 Fish number two, another small whole trout - 7 minutes 12 seconds N2N between F1 & F2! 03.56.59
https://youtu.be/rzoZoHCbQic N2 Fish number three, another small whole trout - still no aggro 04.07.04
https://youtu.be/RruBa6SD1qs N2 Fish number four, large whole trout, flapping - 8 minutes 19 seconds N2N between F3& F4! 04.15.39
https://youtu.be/k3QtoOOPyGk N2 Fish number five, large whole flapper trout looking surprised 04.51.25
https://youtu.be/FRf9mHWRQ7Y N2 Fish number six, headless trout - lovely calm feeding 06.10.10
https://youtu.be/RbzwLU7h1H8 N1 Garry LV0 flies in from Pole Tree for a quick visit 11.30.20
https://youtu.be/FTgfA522SzI N2 Fish number seven, but everyone's too full 14.11.59
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
The legendary queen of the mountain gave us an unforgettable moment on this day in 2020: Aila has a brain fade and decides to move an awkwardly shaped stick from one side of the nest to the other, apparently oblivious to the presence of her chicks. They duck this way and that trying to keep out of her destructive path, and when Aila finally leaves the nest, one of them delivers a parting shot with perfect emphasis.
https://youtu.be/g-T2vcO-j0s N1 In the Hall of the Mountain Queen 2020 (Classic Ospreys - Grieg, quicktime)
https://youtu.be/Gvtujmp8Z5I N1 Table manners: dad supervises family dinner 2020
https://youtu.be/46LzIoZ9sfg N1 Form an orderly queue 2020
https://youtu.be/JKhdYLILIj4 N2 Battling bobs 2022
https://youtu.be/-ZAKaO0NYqch N2 Bigger chick begins testing its little wings 2022
https://youtu.be/4kYvsDSTsNg N2 Chick2 foolishly has a pop at Chick1 and pays the price 2022
https://youtu.be/CkbXfiqihFM N2 Hello world! The chicks admire the view from their nest 2022
https://youtu.be/VYAZoG6rG9A N2 Louis broods home alone chick 2023
https://youtu.be/r7Bem4gmjSA N1 Affric expected fish but LV0 had other ideas 2023
https://youtu.be/T2VSwAFCAWM N2 The Glare - where's my fish? 2023
06.02.09 Fish number one, tiddler trout
06.02.26 Louis departs - 17 second handover
The small snack doesn’t last long, but the chicks share it without squabbling, with older C1 asserting its right to priority
07.50.39 Fish number two, headless big trout
07.50.55 Louis departs, 16 second handover
Dorcha starts dishing up and again the chicks share amicably
11.59.37 Fish number three, headless whopper trout.
11.59.59 Louis departs, 22 second handover
Both chicks just stay where they are while Dorcha starts on the very fresh looking orange flesh, although they do both sit up
12.01.00 C1 goes over to the fish, while C2 is content to carry on preening - no aggro!
Nest One
08.22 A small bird pops up on the left underneath the nest, then flits around for a few moments, goes underneath
08.24 pops up on the right and flies away.
21.26.14 Fish! Number four is a large whole trout. Very dark skinned-fish on top, looked completely diferent when Louis landed and the light underside was exposed.
21.26.45 Louis departs
Both chicks feed together calmly but C2 gets the most
19.52.16 Another little bird visits the nest, plays with a sprig of heather, then departs. Is it a Robin?
Daily summary Thursday 20th June 2024
Everything including the weather was settled today - the two chicks shared food amicably, Louis brought four fish, taking his tally to two hundred and twenty seven, and Dorcha took a few short breaks away from the nest. Nest One had two little songbird visitors, but no sign of Garry LV0 or any other Ospreys. The sad bundle of feathers that was Chick 3 is still visible but rapidly shrinking in the warm weather, and is starting to disappear into the nest. Tonight's forecast is light winds and light rain, which has already started as night cam cam on, and on the day of the summer solstice the day cams were on for about twenty hours.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.44.24 (03.17.03); Nest Two 23.04.41 (03.41.28)
https://youtu.be/dbPUsy22H-k N2 Fish number one, tiddler trout, C1 steps up, both share without squabbling 06.02.09
https://youtu.be/sJmM7BCDNeM N2 Fish number two, headless big trout , more amicable sharing 07.50.39
https://youtu.be/GdSitZMBDS4 N1 A little songbird visits, flits aound for a few moments 08.22.01
https://youtu.be/nUyCrKbpe6k N2 Fish number three, headless whopper trout, C1 feeds while C1 preens 11.59.37
https://youtu.be/rHetENtXjX8 N1 Another little bird visits the nest, plays with a sprig of heather, then departs 19.52.16
https://youtu.be/VcaXA_QBj4k N2 Fish number four, large whole trout, both chicks feed together calmly, C2 gets most 21.26.45
Bonus watch - film which explores how healthy woodland is critical to the wellbeing of salmon:
https://www.channel5.com/show/riverwoods-a-salmon-s-journey
https://youtu.be/Rmjbulo4xVU N1 Louis' turn to cause complete chaos 2020
https://youtu.be/8f-KcvRmHto N1 Louis delivers a fish and feeds his chicks 2020
https://youtu.be/iiHLkfmnqjY N1 Dancing beak to beak 2020 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/c2LplzgAhNc N2 Now now children - mum just watches while they fight 2022
https://youtu.be/JORel6WNxaE N2 Despite full crops the whole family queue up for fish four 2022
https://youtu.be/Ra51phCcMOI N2 Major milestone achieved as the chick self-feeds 2023
https://youtu.be/gR10HRfpcOM N1 LV0 brings Affric a second fish, intruder alert 2023 (slo-mo zoom)
https://youtu.be/cp9Wmryi8xs N1 Welcome reappearance of Prince, LV0 mantles 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/XF355t15-Og N2 Louis grabs a fish supper 2023