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:
Daily summary Friday 19th July 2024
The day started with a temperature inversion and a spider in the mist gave a ghostly feel to Nest One, which was visited a bit later by a Wood Pigeon. Louis and Dorcha spent time on Nest Two, she was fish-calling and he was coy-mantling, there were a couple of half-hearted mating attempts and a comedy moment when Dorcha landed on Louis' wing. After they departed, a pair of Hoodies checked out the nest but they were out of luck as there weren't any scraps to be had, it's been several days since Louis brought fish to the nest, the last time was on the 15th. The weather improved somewhat after the damp start but more rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.11.08 (03.33.21); Nest Two 22.57.26 (04.00.34)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/OD_RwDg4LUA N1 Spider adds to the eerie misty morning scene 03.59.18
https://youtu.be/6SBcqw1oX38 N1 A Wood Pigeon visits 07.24.06
https://youtu.be/wp5mZUIOlQU N2 No fish and a failed mating attempt 13.23.38
https://youtu.be/1GsH538qZJs N2 A pair of Hoodies check out the nest 15.07.55
Bonus action - Woodland Trust guide to helping wildlife in summer:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2023/06/10-ways-to-help-wildlife-in-summer
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/BIHDRrpe6Qo N1 My turn daddy! Louis feeds Rannoch 2019
https://youtu.be/TwqqSshM42E N1 Doddie drops in to grab all the breakfast 2020
https://youtu.be/_rU3TwEXwa0 N1 Aila brings soft furnishings to decorate the nest 2020
https://youtu.be/-xNiwmN-xQI N1 Doddie does an evening flypast of the nest 2020
https://youtu.be/EYDBamjYrf8 N1 Hey! who put that there? Prince makes an undignified departure 2021
https://youtu.be/304-lrclaZw N1 Third visit by the new pair Blue 152 & Prince (YP) 2021
https://youtu.be/xW2CIMG3IDM N2 Hooked on you - the chicks get hooked together! 2022
https://youtu.be/lmPZ_jmuEz0 N2 Dorcha reacts to an intruder Osprey seen on camera 2022
https://youtu.be/L1DG3H9gUUM N2 RAF flypast doesn't stop Louis (2022)
https://youtu.be/k_2pVwLNAZU N2 Louis brings a fish and eats it himself 2023
https://youtu.be/0QoTqAI2VqE N2 Hop and a skip but no jump - yet! 2023
https://youtu.be/Lq9DbF3I6J4 N2 Double helicopter! 2023
https://youtu.be/9SyP31iXLbc N2 FLEDGE! Ludo's off into the world! 2023
https://youtu.be/xArpA43gG1Q N1 Affric 152 receives another fish from Garry 2023
Nest One
05.42.57 A little bird appears on the nest, singing sweetly.
05.43.17 It disappears underneath the nest
08.15.27 It - or another just like it - reappears and flits around
08.15.53 It disappears underneath the nest again
18.35.28 Garry LV0 flies in from the right, east, with a stick, does some nest work and spends a few minutes.
18.37.59 Garry departs, flying west and disappearing out of sight near the solar panels
18.42.42 A little bird pops up on the nest from underneath
18.44.02 A second bird appears, also from underneath
18.44.34 Both birds disappear underneath the nest
Daily summary Saturday 20th July 2024
A very slow day indeed, with no sighting of either Louis or Dorcha - the first time no Osprey was seen on Nest Two since Louis returned on 28th March. The weather was very wet today, and not very inviting, so have they left on migration, are they still around, will we see them tomorrow? Nest One saw some activity today, with visits from little songbirds and a visit from Garry LV0 who arrived with a stick and proceeded to do some nest prep before flying off. Tonight's forecast is partly cloudy with light winds, but rain is forecast for the rest of the week.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.05.33 (04.14.02); Nest Two 23.24.21 (04.24.56)
https://youtu.be/Vkh1bYP9V_U N1 Sweet little singer visits 05.42.57
https://youtu.be/U2bBn4PpMoM N1 Garry LV0 brings a stick and does nest prep 18.35.28
https://youtu.be/jN1-tY56wnA N1 A pair of little birds pay an early evening visit 18.42.42
https://youtu.be/bzD0ewEZPy0 N1 FLEDGE!! Mallie takes her first flight! 2019
https://youtu.be/nyUAdw2pU64 N1 I'm home mum! Mallie lands gracefully after her maiden flight 2019
https://youtu.be/NZL4TzrXZJ4 N1 A different perspective: the family in split-screen, 2020 (thanks LizB)
https://youtu.be/Dn8RbvlOV_s N1 Vera lands on Captain 2020 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/S9BxyRx0wUA N2 Night moves: LW5 prepares for liftoff 2022
https://youtu.be/EcWKtfYf9OU N2 Have fish will travel: Fish number two arrives, departs and returns 2022
https://youtu.be/Mz4fJSZ_LUQ N2 Dorcha and LW6 fight over a fish 2022
https://youtu.be/T8wtZ_Zrq_E N2 Ludo's first flight today, second flight 2023
https://youtu.be/kYV3QZ-BIa8 N2 Ludo's eventful third flight - gets divebombed and crash lands 2023
https://youtu.be/ZtKWJC9nqiU N1 Affric eventually gets a fish from Garry 2023
https://youtu.be/VmlZ8LP5KjU N2 Ludo makes a perfect landing this time 2023
https://youtu.be/HQpwZ0KNtUU N2 Ludo gets tired of waiting and self-feeds 2023
https://youtu.be/n5V3RcoCZJI N1 Garry arrives with a third fish for Affric 2023
https://youtu.be/yx5Yoxe0feY N2 Not tonight! Dorcha's not accepting of Louis' attentions 2023 (zoom)
Geemeff said:18.42.42 A little bird pops up on the nest from underneath 18.44.02 A second bird appears, also from underneath
I’d say the first looks like a juvenile robin and the second a wren Geemeff.
Thank you, Glider, I've amended the description. I think this odd couple may be nesting underneath the nest, there's plenty of room for several little birds to tuck themselves away.
Sunday 21st
Wow! Unpicking this morning's action
Dorcha and Louis on Nest Two
Garry on Nest One
Dorcha departs and turns up on Nest One with Garry
The really dark female with the striking markings (RDF) turns up on Nest Two with Louis!
10.48.58 An Osprey is seen in the distance flying towards the nest
10.49.05 Dorcha arrives, fish-calling
10.49.15 Louis arrives, no fish. He coy mantles over on the left edge while she chirrups at him and the wind blows in loud gusts
10.52.16 Louis moves into the nest cup, Dorcha carries on telling him fish is required
10.55.42 Louis attempts mating but it’s much too windy and he can’t get his balance and slides down
10.58.54 Louis departs, flying left and immediately out of cam view but not out of Dorcha’s sight - she keeps calling
11.04.24 Dorcha departs, flying lochwards through the rain which has started falling heavily
Who's on the wrong nest?
Dorcha should be on Nest Two, and Affric should be on the Bunarkaig nest!
11.27.59 An Osprey flies towards the nest, in the distance another Osprey flies right to left across the screen
11.28.01 Garry LV0 lands coy mantling. Alarm chipping heard off camera.
11.28.50 An Osprey approaches in the distance from under the logo
11.28.55. The Osprey lands - it's Dorcha! Alarm chips still be heard close by - a third Osprey is around
11.28.58 Dorcha leaves in a hurry, flying to the right
11.29.00 An Osprey wing appears on the left close to the camera - it’s Affric 152
11.29.02 Affric arrives, Garry flies upwards as she lands
11.29.07 Garry lands again - alarm chipping heard but not clear where it’s coming from.
11.29.10 An Osprey approaches from top left, right of the solar panels, flying towards the nest
11.29.20 The Osprey flies over the nest, doesn’t land (not clear on zoom who it is)
11.31.14 Affric flies onto the front perch. Garry continues coy mantling
11.33.20 Garry moves to the nest cup, Affric jumps down to join him
11.36.26 Affric jumps onto a branch on the right of the nest just out of sight
11.37.16 Affric leaves the right hand branch and flies onto the front perch
11.38.25 Affric appears to spot something and flies off in a hurry
11.39.48 a bird flies in from the right below the nest, Garry mantles
11.42.20 Garry leaves flying west towards the solar panels and out of sight