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 One
07.34.31 Four Bullfinches appear and fly around nest.
The collective noun is a bellowing of Bullfinches. They lack the black cap so look like juveniles.
07.35.25 They fly off again
12.24.16 Affric 152 lands on the nest
12.26.38 Garry LV0 lands and starts coy-mantling.
Affric checks him for fish but there isn't any this time, he gave her one early this morning
12.35.36 Affric leaves in a hurry, flying off to the right
12.38.28 Garry leaves, flying to the right
Daily summary Sunday 28th July 2024
No sign today of Louis, last seen on 25th July, or Dorcha, last seen yesterday, and no activity of any sort on Nest Two. Over on Nest One, Garry did some early morning sky-dancing with a fish, which may have been why Affric 152 arrived on the nest and stayed long enough to take the fish from him when he landed. The fish was an unusual one, a Perch, first time seen on the nest and possibly a cause for concern as they shouldn't be found in this area. Link below to WTS George's comment about this. Affric flew off with the perch - perhaps she was taking it back to her chick on the Bunarkaig nest. A bellowing of Bullfinches visited the nest before Affric returned at lunchtime but was disappointed when Garry joined her without bringing her another fish. The weather was settled and sunny today, but drizzle is forecast for tonight, with more rain tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.56.03 (04.13.18); Nest Two 22.45.47 (04.23.40)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/0IsE6V9aoyo N1 Sky dancing heard then Garry lands with fish for Affric 05.42.30
https://youtu.be/njpggXeqWMs N1 A bellowing of Bullfinches visit 07.34.31
https://youtu.be/Iyy_ZwZ_cM8 Garry LV0 joins Affric 152 on the nest 12.24.16
Bonus info on Garry LV0's unusual fish - European perch (Perca fluviatilis):
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=15497584
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_perch
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/gbDyPy05oZ0 N1 Rannoch returns from her maiden flight! 2019
https://youtu.be/m3hGiOukFAc N1 Aila won't let Doddie have the fish and gives it to Captain instead 2020*
https://youtu.be/I6MoXdpNorE N1 A clashing of wings as Captain steals Doddie's fish 2020*
https://youtu.be/k81D94zH6eM Woodland Trust on BBC Radio 4 Today programme 2022
https://youtu.be/TKl9zD6QNyk Steve Marsh of Woodland Trust interviewed on BBC Breakfast 2022
https://youtu.be/ueML5sB6Nko N2 Willow shows off her helicoptering skills 2022
https://youtu.be/m2UllXhOh7Q N2 Dorcha sidles over and takes the fish from Ludo 2023
https://youtu.be/QeGiIOmv2pk N2 Great drama with Hoodies 2023
https://youtu.be/P7EffOrKIW0 N2 Intruder Osprey divebombs Dorcha 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/3UAwW_lPkRQ N1 Affric wolfs down the fish Garry brings her 2023
https://youtu.be/eI3WnvjSWM4 N2 There's blood on Louis! 2023 (zoom)
*Background: Captain was C3, C2 was very dominant and C1 got fed first, with C2 being fed next. The watchers were always concerned about Captain getting sufficient food, so there were cheers when he starting standing up for himself.
Nest One:
15.00.53 Garry LV0 arrives, alarm chipping and watching someone unseen overhead He’s flat-cropped, hasn’t eaten recently
15.02.20 Garry departs, flying out of sight to the right close to the camera.
15.35.54 Garry LV0 returns
15.36.22 Affric 152 arrives with a very full crop
15.36.40 Garry alarm chips, both look up, presumably another Osprey's around. Alarm chipping continues sporadically and they both continue to watch the sky
15.43.32 Garry attempts to land on Affric - she anticipates him and shrugs him away. He moves to the left edge of the nest and mantles while still watching the sky
15.45.48 More alarm chipping from Garry
15.47.36 Garry flies towards the camera and over Affric who reacts angrily - he turns and circles off towards the rock square on the right. Affric watches the sky for a bit
15.51.46 Affric leaves flying between the knolls heading off to the right towards Bunarkaig
18.43.18 A Wood Pigeon flies onto the centre perch and stays for a few moments - there’s a double rainbow to the logo side of the nest.
Daily summary Monday 29th July 2024
Another day with no sign of Louis or Dorcha, but once again Garry LV0 and Affric 152 visited Nest One, two visits from Garry LV0 and one from Affric 152, no fish were brought today. A Wood Pigeon was the only other visitor. LizB gave us another update on Affric's nest at Bunarkaig: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=15508869.
The forecasted rain materialised, tonight's forecast is light clouds and light winds with a chance of rain, but tomorrow's looks more promising with sunny intervals and a gentle breeze.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.45.51 (04.24.09); Nest Two 22.38.14 (04.30.25)
https://youtu.be/ZozTNcuC3a0 N1 Garry LV0 arrives alarm-chipping 15.00.53
https://youtu.be/7vYMN9QOr90 N1 Affric 152 follows Garry LV0 when he returns to the nest 15.35.54
https://youtu.be/VDKpq9TtiJk N1 A Wood Pigeon perches for a little while 18.43.18
Bonus aid to help to combat the climate crisis - plant a Woodland Trust tree, packs available free for schools and communities. Application deadline 26th August, please share:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/
https://youtu.be/65VTcTWBkVY N1 What makes the chicks go on high alert? 2020
https://youtu.be/5Z0vj85sWko N1 Aila's waiting for Louis' fish but lets Doddie take it 2020
https://youtu.be/xpyogWxLzQ8 N1 Captain's share 2020
https://youtu.be/Lij7mWnm70A N2 Mini fledge but so far and no further! 2022
https://youtu.be/JqvlmVGLJPg N2 Lovely helicopter but still no fledge for LW6 2022
https://youtu.be/tFxRlDePet8 N2 Fish number one and only, headless trout 2023
https://youtu.be/6v_LyOHunUU N2 Louis has a stand-off with a cheeky Hoodie 2023
https://youtu.be/BwkefmoTjdQ N1 Affric arrives, waits, no response, departs 2023
https://youtu.be/Lbdqih9j8Jk N2 Three Hoodies work cooperatively until chased away by Louis 2023
What bird flies near Nest One? (slo-mo repeat with zoom)
07.40.03 A grey bird with black on its wings does a fast flypast in the distance, caught on nest cam.
In real time then slowed down and zoomed on repeat, has been ID’d as a Wood Pigeon.
Affric 152 pays a quick visit to Osprey Nest Two (slo mo repeat with zoom)
10.56.22 Affric 152 pays a quick visit
10.56.36 Affric departs, flying straight off then circling round in front of the nest and flying off to the right, repeated zoomed in slo-mo
LizB notes faint skydancing can be heard very briefly as she flies off. Louis? He arrives on the nest a few minutes later at 11.06.50
Louis is back on his nest after a few days absence.
11.06.50 Louis arrives with some moss, does some nest tidying and a bit of looking around surveying his territory
11.24.17 Louis leaves