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:
Nest Two
10.38.11 Garry LV0 lands with moss followed by Affric 152! Alarm chipping
10.38.29 Both Affric and Garry leave flying off to the right as Dorcha appears
10.38.30 Dorcha lands and hops onto the side perch
10.39 onwards Dorcha is watching something overhead, presumably LV0 or Affric.
10.40.48 She alarm chips and continues to mantle
10.41.18 Alarm chips heard off cam. An Osprey flies round and hovers above Dorcha - it's Garry LV0 - see enlarged freezeframe at the end of the clip - and he circles round, alarm chipping.
11.34.00 Dorcha leaves
Daily summary Friday 26th July 2024
The Lochenders saga continued today with a game of musical nests - after an absence of two days, Dorcha turned up paying a visit to Nest One while Garry LV0 was there, and then Affric 152 and Garry LV0 visited Nest Two, flying off very quickly when Dorcha appeared. Where were Louis and Prince while this was going on? Was Prince back at Bunarkaig looking after his and Affric's chick? Was Louis having a leisurely fishing session? Is he still around? As usual, the only answer is 'wait and see'. RAF jets did a flypast but both nests were empty at the time. More good news from Spain with a tweeted photo of our chick 1JW out and about exploring the neighbourhood, and the message "We are told all the birds are continuing to feed well after taking to the skies for the first time yesterday." 1JW is certainly better off in sunny Spain - it rained throughout the day here, there's a chance of rain tonight and tomorrow with a high of only 17°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.01.49 (04.04.45); Nest Two 22.58.14 (04.15.15)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/IQMVxtoxhek N1 Garry LV0 visits bringing moss 08.25.36
https://youtu.be/TkmVmX5YaVA N1 Dorcha spends time with Garry LV0 already there 09.18.24
https://youtu.be/MRew3k_UKwA N2 Dorcha isn't amused when Affric 152 & Garry LV0 invade her nest 10.38.11
Bonus tweet - photo of Loch Arkaig Osprey chick 1JW in Spain exploring his new neighbourhood:
https://x.com/geemeff/status/1816971724186910778
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/GrVXgF0XtTI N1 Captain nips Louis' leg 2020
https://youtu.be/LXVBy7anRo4 N1 Mum brings dinner: Aila delivers a whopper 2020
https://youtu.be/Lj4S0NPDbLM N1 Doddie and the flatfish 2020
https://youtu.be/p2y97A3kIv4 N1 Affric (Blue 152) calls for fish to no avail 2021
https://youtu.be/BBdVW_8z9rI N2 Meet Aspen (LW3) & Alder (LW4), Louis’ chicks with new mate Dorcha 2021 (thanks Lewis)
https://youtu.be/7Yz_fuHpp8Q OMG! Tawny Owl pulls Willow off the nest! 2022 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/qYDQTkEH89o N2 Relief as Willow finally returns, is unhurt 2022
https://youtu.be/4plSH4d1ves N1 &2 Flypast by USAF jets 2022
https://youtu.be/XP2ydlIOQkY N1 Garry appears out of the mist bringing a big stick 2023
https://youtu.be/isjMxlmejNs N1 One member of the threesome visits, no one else comes 2023
https://youtu.be/8-31dibUJCo N2 Ludo flies with fish for the first time - accidentally! 2023
https://youtu.be/XROITiomjHE N2 Ludo achieves another milestone - flies with fish intentionally 2023
07.34.53 A little wren appears from under the nest
07.36.09 The wren starts singing
08.09.53 A Tree Pipit arrives, followed by a second. Watch the tail bob.
08.15.40 - 081906 Three then four Tree Pipits arrive, they look like newly fledged youngsters exploring the world for the first time.
Nest One
10.09.53 Garry LV0 arrives with a stick and does a bit of nest tidying, but keeps looking up
10.11.23 Someone unseen is alarm-chipping off cam
10.13.14 Garry leaves, flying to the right and out of sight
10.42.47 Garry LV0 arrives
10.44.15 Garry flies off as an Osprey approaches
10.44.19 Dorcha lands followed by Garry. A third Osprey is heard alarm chipping
10.44.54 Both suddenly fly off as another Osprey flies over, brief flash of a blue ring, is it Affric 152?
Dorcha flies left and circles round while Garry flies to the right
10.45.12 Dorcha lands in Stick Tree
11:19:25 Dorcha leaves Stick Tree and flies back to the nest (zoomed)
11.19.38 Dorcha lands and makes a very brief touchdown on the nest, alarm-chips a couple of times
11.19.43 Dorcha flies off again, flies to the right and out of sight
15.59.11 Garry LV0 returns for a very brief visit, he’s watching something above the nest
15.59.21 Garry departs just ten seconds later, flying to the right
Daily summary Saturday 27th July 2024
All the action took place on Nest One today, apart from a sweetly singing Wren and some juvenile Tree Pipits exploring Nest Two. Garry LV0 paid three visits, the first time bringing a stick and doing a bit of nest work, the second time Dorcha arrived soon after he did and then both took off in a hurry when a third Osprey, possibly Affric 152, flew overhead with a brief flash of blue Darvic ring. A little later Dorcha returned for a very brief visit, and Garry returned mid afternoon for his third visit which lasted all of ten seconds. No sign of Louis today. LizB provided another update on the Bunarkaig nest, link in the bonus section, the chick was on the nest so either hasn't fledged yet or had returned for food. The weather was a little unsettled, and at one time it was raining on Nest Two but not on Nest One, showing the difference made by the few kilometres separating the two nests. Tonight's forecast is light clouds and light winds, with the prospect of a dry sunny day tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.20.14 (03.33.35); Nest Two 23.23.32 (04.01.46)
https://youtu.be/5cs0x94tC-A N2 A sweet little singer and a variety of little birds visit 07.34.53
https://youtu.be/OuuyJzYB3ZM N1 Garry LV0 brings a stick and does some nest prep 10.09.53
https://youtu.be/K3oYtZEf5MA N1 Dorcha visits Garry LV0 but another Osprey makes them flee 10.42.47
https://youtu.be/6FoEZpmrZks N1 Dorcha pays another visit 11.19.25 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/iXEdt1LR4_s N1 Garry LV0 returns for a very brief visit 15.59.11
Bonus update on the Bunarkaig nest (thanks LizB):
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=15491480
https://youtu.be/_Z48xWVluSw N1 Oi mum! Careful with that! 2019
https://youtu.be/1Y9dGaIFCAc N1 FLEDGE! Rannoch finds her wings 2019
https://youtu.be/TPzBKE5vAEU N1 Aila & Louis steal a moment alone together 2020
https://youtu.be/aBuSSB6OHM0 N1 Louis and the lively fish - everyone wants it 2020
https://youtu.be/dmO1Gqac36Q N1 Affric nips Prince as he tries to steal her fish 2021
https://youtu.be/TbSOZNCrLNE N2 Dorcha gets nipped when she tries to steal Willow's fish 2022
https://youtu.be/PlVdlOWq8DE N2 Dorcha gives Sarafina a bit of stick and gets a nip 2022
https://youtu.be/3-PXNmOwWMk N2 Ludo arrives squeaking, lands on the high perch 2023
https://youtu.be/MbYW39m11JA N1 A flock of little visitors - Mistle Thrushes? 2023
https://youtu.be/NE8wpBW9wf8 N2 Louis gives a fish to Dorcha and does a bit of nest cupping 2023
https://youtu.be/z1_voshU-z8 N2 Flight of the Bumbling Hoodies (Classic Ospreys Rimsky-Korsakov) 2023 (quicktime) https://youtu.be/HxQNOrkv2u8 N1 Garry brings moss and takes it away again 2023
https://youtu.be/J0o52mX6AAQ N2 Dorcha is intruded upon first by Ospreys then by Hoodies 2023 (zoom)
05.42.30 Sky-dancing is heard
05.43.20 Affric 152 lands on the nest, turning her head constantly watching the sky
05.45.24 Garry LVO arrives with a fish which Affric grabs immediately, starts to eat while he coy-mantles.
05.46.09 Affric leaves with her breakfast - taking it back to her own nest for her chick?
05.47.25 Garry does a little nest work before departing
Cropped screenshots of the fish added at the end for ID purposes - pike?
.Garry's fish delivered at 05.45.24 has been identified as a perch. This is a first for the area and also a bit of a cause for concern as this species shouldn't be in this area.
WTS George says:
That looks to me like a perch, which is a coarse fish species I was not aware was in the district.
Stripes but also as it is being flown in you can see its spiny dorsal fin.
I tweeted it to Lochaber Fisheries Trust to see if they know these were around. While very common across the UK I don’t think they would be regarded as native in the highlands. Those concerned with trout and salmon populations will not be pleased to see them. They are enthusiastic predators of smaller fish and so will eat lots of parr.
Spent my youth catching these in the Forth and Clyde canal and elsewhere.
It could be that some pike angler has brought some to use as live bait and tipped the unused ones at the end of the day. That happens a lot with minnows which also don’t belong in highland lochs and can disrupt the ecology.