LOCH ARKAIG - THE WOODLAND TRUST - June 2024 - February 2025

13.08.50 Garry LV0 arrives

13.09.28 Leaves 13.12.46 Back again, staying a bit longer this time

13.25.04 Garry leaves again

13.26.54 Returns with a stick, tidies the nest and does some nest cupping

13.29.03 Garry leaves and doesn't return - no sign of the Dark Female

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18.08.40 Louis does some coy mantling and Dorcha checks him for hidden fish

18:48:50 Louis does a bit of nest-scraping

18.51.32 Both birds suddenly fly off having been watching something

18.52.06 Dorcha returns, still fish calling

19:28:18 Dorcha leaves for the night

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Daily summary Thursday 11th July 2024

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The big news of the day is the safe arrival of our chicks at their new home in Valencia and they are now sporting their new yellow Darvic rings. The submissive chick is 1JR and the dominant one is 1JW, and they looked cosy together in their nest in the photo posted by Woodland Trust Scotland on their social media channels, link in the bonus section. Their parents spent time together today on the nest before an unseen intruder caused them to flee, Louis did a little nest-scraping and a fair bit of coy-mantling but still didn't bring any fish for Dorcha, although we don't know what fish exchanges might be taking place off-nest. Garry LV0 visited Nest One bringing nesting materials and doing a bit of housekeeping, but there was no sign of the Dark Female. it would be good to see him with a mate, perhaps they are connecting off-nest. The weather was settled today, the sun broke through a few times, and the forecast for tonight is partly cloudy with light winds.

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Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.32.11 (03.36.07); Nest Two 23.26.04 (03.40.16)

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Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/CscB0UbvO3c N2 News update - chicks safe in Spain and have been ringed 09.00

https://youtu.be/hT20jh6SGBU N2 Dorcha & Louis together on the nest but no fish 09.56.50

https://youtu.be/RQNxDQEbg5s N1 Garry LV0 visits but no sign of the Dark Female 13.08.50

https://youtu.be/VS4q1tY2vks  N2  Dorcha & Louis spend time together until scared off by an intruder 18.08.40

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Bonus photo - our chicks in their new Spanish nest:

https://x.com/WTScotsocial/status/1811382187171758498

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Bonus song - The Osprey Song - performed by the Juniors at Hurst Lodge School:

https://youtu.be/KoOQK6ejuXY

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Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/NlWKFq-pDyU  N1 Get up now or I'll kick you! 2019

https://youtu.be/HiCN2VDBqnk N1 Our very own WTS George interviewed live on BBC Breakfast 2020

https://youtu.be/cEaL60HJzls  N1 Furiously flapping fish doesn't get away 2020

https://youtu.be/CNIM2qr6JP8  N1 Blue 152 & Prince return yet again to Nest One 2021

https://youtu.be/Ru6t2HVRXYU N2 Dorcha in the nest with the chicks 2021 (thanks to LizB)

https://youtu.be/GlRI7_GJluw  N2 The nest is getting crowded: Louis drops and goes 2022

https://youtu.be/FpGi61XiX-A  N2 Late night fish supper 2022

https://youtu.be/UTEZmj4j_u4 N1 Affric's fish calling, Garry follows and tries to mate 2023

https://youtu.be/47cCoZV8Ll8  N2 Dorcha arrives with a twiggy stick, chick gets in a flap 2023 (quicktime)

https://youtu.be/8DYpWypp4Uc N1 Garry's saved some fish for Affric 2023

https://youtu.be/OSiAPBo5554  N2 Sky high mating 2023 (zoom)

Footage of the Spanish aviary, with 1JR in the second half

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Woodland Trust Scotland tweets on X.com (Twitter) with footage of the Spanish aviary where the chicks are being looked after until they fledge.

The aviary sides will drop down and the chicks will be able to come and go as they test their wings.

They'll continue to be fed until they leave on migration.

The second half of the clip shows the submissive chick 1JR.

I brightened and sharpened the footage which was taken through the aviary mesh.

Many thanks to the RDWF and Valencia translocation project for sharing this footage.

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nest One

06.34.00 little birds arrive - Great Tits, I think. Hop around checking out any food items

06.38.32 A visit from a pair of little brown, speckled birds, possibly juvenile Robins, who share the nest with the Great Tits

06.42.42 The last one departs

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Nest Two

09.29.21 Garry LV0 arrives with a stick. Sits looking gorgeous on the side perch keeping a lookout for passing females. Where are they?

Here is a desirable male, good fisher bird, own nest - ready for the taking!

09.57.50 Garry departs

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Good to see the chicks settled in their aviary in Spain with their new roommates. They’re looking well. Their weight was so low when they first left the nest. 

I just can’t understand why Garry is still single either! He tries so hard.

Dear Garry - good looking, great nest, and provides fish too - come on females..!

It's fabulous seeing the chicks' new surroundings, and to have 1JR walk right in front of the camera looking nicely plump for a lovely close-up is just wonderful. Some people still think removing them was wrong - well, I think we would have have three dead chicks this year without WTS seeking advice and being granted a licence to remove.

N2 Dorcha does her exercises before leaving 

12.16.37 Dorcha is alone on the nest, fish-calling.

She starts stretching her amazing wings and doing gentle exercises. Still calling! But gets no answer.

12.18.21 Dorcha departs

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