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

Daily summary Saturday 10th August 2024

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Both nest cam livestreams were restored by 9.30 this morning after yesterday's shutdown which was due to the internet connection for the local area going down. Actually, in such a remote area where it's very challenging to provide services, being able to watch the nest cams is a bit of a miracle.  Therefore tonight's bonus is about how the nest cams work with no wifi and no electrical plug points nearby. Today was wet and windy again with no sign of any Ospreys, but Nest Two did get some colourful visitors in the form of a pair of Crossbills. More rain is forecast for tonight, but there is the prospect of sunny intervals tomorrow. 

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Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.30.33 (04.45.22); Nest Two 22.23.05 (04.52.51)

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Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/AfoAgZcxRZQ  N2 Colourful Crossbills visit 17.03.20 (zoom)

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Bonus info - with no wifi and plug sockets, how do the nest cams operate?

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/behind-the-scenes/

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Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/h7sWHXV4gck  N1 Pandemonium among Pandions 2019

https://youtu.be/nEEzGfX3qOE  N1 We missed you! Welcome back Aila 2019

https://youtu.be/yvB2ZHq5W6I  N1 Just shut up and eat, Rannoch! 2019

https://youtu.be/vmct7etDQpo  N1 One fish, two fish, new fish 2020

https://youtu.be/ZJLmsHHd1Lg  N1 Captain ends up with two fish 2020

https://youtu.be/a2dk_AA0gAA  N2 Several different little birds visit the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/MBQ8n7dL9zA  N2 The chicks fight as fish number one arrives 2022

https://youtu.be/tgrYhwgMc1w  N2 Ringed intruder perches on the nest 2022 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/FFJsvTMjkzE  N2 Ludo arrives seconds after dad brings fish 2023

https://youtu.be/jUf5fhmCtZE  N2 Fish number three arrives, departs, and returns again 2023

https://youtu.be/RntY7nDorhs  N1 Prince? Unringed Osprey buzzes Garry & Affric 2023

Crossbills return to Nest Two

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08:31:06 Grey-green female crossbill appears on post, top left.

08:33:21 Pops under rear of nest.

08:34:59 Reappears at left and gives good view of yellow rump and underparts.

08:36:26 Very bright orange-red male crossbill appears from right

08:36:33 Both fly off.

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Nest One - a Robin visits

09.52.04 A Robin arrives and lands on the centre perch He pootles around the nest hopping on and off the perches

09.53.27 The Robin departs flying out of sight to the left

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Nest One: Affric 152 follows Garry LV0 onto the nest

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10.58.12 Garry LV0 arrives, settles on the nest but keeps looking around and starts mantling

10.59.20 Affric 152 lands on the centre perch, Garry goes into overdrive on the coy-mantling, chips a couple of times

11.07.34 Garry starts to fly off and Affric goes too - they fly off to centre right, as if aiming for the 'x' of the logging? roads visible behind the right knoll left of the logo.

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Affric 152 waits on Nest One to take a fish from Garry LV0

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16.44.20 Affric 152 arrives, fish calling 16.44.47 Garry arrives with half a trout - Affric seizes it

16.45.01 Affric departs with her fish

16.54.22 Affric returns with the fish remnant and tucks in

16.56.32 Affric leaves again with her fish, Garry remains on the nest

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Nest One. Affric 152 returns and wants more fish from Garry

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16.58.26 Affric returns, tells Garry she would like more fish.

17.10.27 Garry departs, flying east then circles round and lands on Pole Tree. Affric remains on the left hand perch.

17.12.32 Garry leaves Pole Tree and flies back to the nest, landing on Affric's back for a half-hearted mating attempt, slides off onto the nest. Affric keeps fish calling

17.30.00 He's still there, she's still chuntering at him

18.00 No change

18.16.22 Affric suddenly takes off with Garry half a second behind. They fly off over the right hand knoll and disappear against the background of the green belt of trees

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Daily summary Sunday 11th August 2024

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The little songbirds were back on both Nest One and Nest two, but they were a supporting act to the main event - Ospreys turned up in the shape of Affric 152 and Garry LV0. They spent a fair bit of time together on Nest One, Garry brought a fish which was seized by Affric who proceeded to leave with it, return, munch a bit on the nest and leave with it again. After finishing it she returned and demanded more fish from Garry but only got a half-hearted mating attempt from him. The forecasted thundery showers didn't materialise today but there's a weather warning for the Highlands for thunderstorms starting at 2am tomorrow, and more rain throughout the night.

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Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.14.16 (04.49.55); Nest Two 22.11.11 (05.04.26)

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Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/zbmAOdpvwjg N2 A pair of Crossbills visit 08.31.06

https://youtu.be/MLLmjh7dMH8 N1 A Robin pays a visit 09.52.04

https://youtu.be/lzSl5Wepv8U N1 Affric 152 follows Garry LV0 onto the nest 10.58.12

https://youtu.be/WceshcwWjH8  N1 Garry LV0 brings a fish to Affric waiting on the nest 16.44.20

https://youtu.be/hotAz4uBAdI  N1 Affric returns to Garry on the nest, wants more fish 16.58.26

https://youtu.be/6trrzqNVgnQ  N1 Garry returns with sticks, does a little tidying 18.31.33

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Bonus watch - how it all began! Woodland Trust Season One highlights (2017):

https://youtu.be/1q-YUOB5y4g

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Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/rY2GjdCNcrc N1 Consternation as Louis delivers only a tiddler! 2019

https://youtu.be/nTSpr1aOrZM  N1 Synchronised fishing: Aila & Louis each bring a fish 2020

https://youtu.be/x2x_b4udcHA N1 The increasingly rare sight of all three chicks together 2020

https://youtu.be/vAPEs40pRoY N1 Aila pays a late night visit 2020

https://youtu.be/VyJNaAFsN_Y N2 Pesky Hoodie is chased off by Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/5T3mVS0_x94 N2 Dorcha returns with her fish and shares with Sarafina 2022

https://youtu.be/s8ugsWCbQnU N2 Crow has to depart in a hurry when the Ospreys return 2022

https://youtu.be/WD83tUBaJ3k N1 Affric and Garry together but no fish for her 2023

https://youtu.be/z6InADXmen0 N2 Dorcha gets her foot grabbed by Ludo 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/0fW4HonvH4Q N2 Hoodie looks for scraps as soon as Ludo leaves 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/uRK3PtH_GCc  N2 Ludo is ready and waiting for Louis bringing fish number three 2023

Name        2024        last seen *            (first seen*)

Louis                       30/7   13.31.18         (28/3)

Dorcha                    27/7  11.19.43          (30/3)

Garry LV0               12/8    14.28.48         (9/4)

Affric 152                12/8    14.25.57        (10/4)

Prince                     29/6  09.24.01         (1/4)

RDF**                      21/7 11.47.05         (7/7)

Aida                         8/5 08.49.32          (28/4)

* on nest cam

**RDF = really dark female

Have watched the set-up story now with all the great footage plus the story of Louis, Aila & Lachlan ... such an amazing feat and so interesting to see how it was all constructed in that forbidding terrain ... many thanks Geemeff for all your hard work too in keeping us updated on the comings & goings often in such an amusing way   Please let them all be safe and come back next year!