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:
06.03.41 Dorcha arrives fish calling
07.46.37 Dorcha flies up to her perch
08.03.51 back down to the nest
08.07.46 back up to perch
08.41.13 back down
08:47:27 Dorcha leaves and flies off to the left of the nest
13.22.34 Dorcha returns, still fish calling
14.00.00 Still on the nest, still calling
15.48.15 Dorcha finally departs.
No Louis
20:31.31. Dyson and Henry arrive on the nest looking for a free meal
But they're out of luck as no fish have been delivered for more than 24 hours - and Dorcha left immediately with the last one, so one Hoodie departs quite quickly, the other waits a few seconds longer
20.32.08 The second one departs
22.14.25 Dorcha returns, lands on the high perch
22.34.57 She departs in a big hurry, more like diving off the nest, but only to fly around and return immediately, calling as she lands
23.06.48 Dorcha departs, probably for the night. No fish today! No Louis on camera
Daily summary Saturday 6th July 2024
Dorcha visited the nest several times today and spent long periods fish-calling, but to no avail. Louis didn't appear on nest cam although the off-nest reports from LizB showed he was in the area for long periods of time but chose not to respond to Dorcha. He has brought four fish to the nest for her since the chicks were removed on 1st July, perhaps he'll arrive on the nest with one tomorrow, or possibly give it to her on her favourite perch tree. No activity at Nest One today, no sign of Garry LV0 and the only other nest visitors were a pair of Hoodies pecking around Nest Two without finding any scraps. The weather was much more settled, none of the thunder showers materialised, and tonight's forecast is partly cloudy with light winds, and some sunshine with a few showers tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.39.42 (03.29.32); Nest Two 23.27.44 (03.33.56)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/3dWj2hvSzvE N2 Dorcha arrives early but no response 06.03.41
https://youtu.be/jE9WeBXZE4g N2 Dorcha returns at midday but still no Louis 13.22.34
https://youtu.be/fKAlAJUJQ0Y N2 Dyson & Henry arrive but there aren't any scraps for them 20.31.31
https://youtu.be/yCVDmwY87Ic N2 Dorcha pays a late evening visit and calls to no avail 22.14.25
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/7KRmCdBb43o N1 Aila steals the tail from JJ0 2019
https://youtu.be/IJbN78plGes N1 Aila brings an awkward stick and departs leaving the chicks to deal with it 2020
https://youtu.be/GPP6BnMS860 N1 Louis brings fish but everyone's full 2020
https://youtu.be/DsSnlV5Rboo N1 Tiny tiddler fish number seven arrives looking surprised 2020
https://youtu.be/TN3x2Q7o6-0 N2 Louis is bemused Dorcha's not there to get the fish 2022
https://youtu.be/2lrzmpxBxeY N2 Deep breath moment as the chick wingercises in strong wind 2023
https://youtu.be/GE92_8se1OU N1 Garry arrives for the usual morning housework stint 2023
https://youtu.be/2hfH5BfMnXk N2 Little birds visit 2023 (slo-mo, zoom)
https://youtu.be/wRArI63rNNo N2 Louis brings a big whole trout 2023
https://youtu.be/vItPqUHe7oQ N1 Garry keeps trying his luck, more fish is needed.. 2023
https://youtu.be/CNrwPRe0qX4 N2 This time Louis brings a live mackerel 2023
Nest One - 15.06.42 Who's that landing on the nest?
It's Dorcha! Her first ever visit. It's definitely her - freezeframe at the end shows her landing on Nest One and then on Nest Two - the underwing spot pattern is a perfect match
She chased the intruder off Nest Two and all the way over to Nest One.
Nest One
Nest Two
Louis arrives without fish - Dorcha yells at him
13.01.45 Louis arrives but without fish again. Dorcha follows fish calling, he coy-mantles and she checks under his wing for fish
Her calls ramp up when she realises there isn't any
13.05.10 After flying onto the side perch Louis departs - maybe he feels like fishing now?!
But Dorcha's still calling so he must be nearby, not gone fishing
Intruder overflies Dorcha on the nest
13.35.35 Dorcha's on the nest when an intruder approaches and overflies the nest.
She mantles and calls and the intruder flies off
Unringed intruder female lands next to Louis
13.55.40 Louis lands followed by very dark female intruder - he mantles, intruder leaves
13.56.10 intruder back, moves right behind him, leaves
13.56.30 Dorcha arrives, Louis leaves 13.57.08 Dorcha leaves 13.57.37 Intruder flyover
13.57.56 Dorcha returns 13:58:05 Intruder in background, flying left to right
13:58:20 Passed low over nest threatening Dorcha.
13:58:56 Intruder lands on the Scots Pine in front of the nest a little distance away, watched carefully by Dorcha