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 Sunday 18th August 2024
Not much happened today, Garry LV0 provided the only action on either nest when he popped in to Nest One with half a flatfish in his talons. Ironically Affric 152 wasn't around to take it, so he departed with it less than a minute later. LizB posted a possible reason for her absence: "Bunarkaig update - second hand information, but apparently the male was fishing in the bay this morning for around an hour, making a few trips back to the nest with fish for the chick. Perhaps there was plenty for Affric too which might explain her lack of appearances at nest 1 today". Weather was wet as forecasted, and will remain wet for the rest of the week, with winds varying from gentle to moderate.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.47.38 (05.09.00); Nest Two 21.39.08 (05.12.56)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/paY4d-BqJBw N1 Garry LV0 brings fish - no one's there 13.11.38
Bonus watch - From Perthshire to Africa, SWT's google earth video of an Osprey migration route:
https://youtu.be/bu_fiEUCti0
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/Byh5piovzJo N1 Vera warns Captain away from her fish again (2020)
https://youtu.be/xePfaGQRHAg N1 Captain loses out again when Aila brings fish (2020)
https://youtu.be/s2viBEKEJ6c N1 Finally a fish for Captain: Vera's not getting this one (2020)
https://youtu.be/v2fD9DsBVCg N1 Poor Aila's hard work wasted as a flapping flatfish flaps to freedom (2020)
https://youtu.be/SeZmXDPfEc4 N2 A bedraggled looking Louis delivers fish number three (2022)
https://youtu.be/7b-3XueqcRg N2 Ringed Osprey intrudes on furious Ludo 2023 (slo-mo, zoom)
https://youtu.be/VJE2lAih1Q0 N2 Pesky Hoodie keeps intruding on Ludo 2023
https://youtu.be/58lp4IOqOdc N2 Another intruder! Unringed Osprey flies over Ludo 2023
https://youtu.be/QHRe50HU0-k N2 Garry LV0 intrudes again and actually lands on Ludo! 2023
Nest One
05.32.36 A Robin hops up on the nest for a few moments
05.32.58 The Robin departs. This is the only visitor to the nest today, no sign of Garry LV0 today.
He only put in a brief appearance yesterday, has he left?
Daily summary Monday 19th August 2024
No activity on the nests today bar a fleeting visit by a little Robin. Has Garry LV0 headed south? He only made a brief appearance yesterday, and with the wet and windy weather which is set to continue for days, he may have decided to seek out warmer climes. As always, nothing is certain so it's wait and watch to see if he turns up again. If you've enjoyed watching the Osprey cams this season, the bonus section has the different ways you can support Woodland Trust.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.48.46 (05.20.05); Nest Two 21.37.58 (05.21.11)
https://youtu.be/2UwIdLfYcRc N1 A Robin is today's only visitor to the nests 05.32.36
Bonus action - if you’ve enjoyed the Osprey cams, here are some ways to support Woodland Trust:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/act/
https://youtu.be/5PfPQ-9ZyEQ N1 Aila delivers a fish to screaming Vera 2020
https://youtu.be/W1MXcuMt0uk N1 Highland clearances - Vera starts removing the furnishings 2020
https://youtu.be/ngSh1EuUCcg N1 Louis brings a mummified fish 2020
https://youtu.be/Myx6Rdxsh0I N1 Great variety of visiting birds including a Goldcrest 2022
https://youtu.be/GNqEU8ybOvY N2 Willow’s turn to get a fish 2022
https://youtu.be/G5izkTAqpV8 N2 Sarafina crash lands on top of dad 2022
https://youtu.be/JMaXGFkR25I N2 Louis arrives with a lively flatfish for Ludo 2023
https://youtu.be/3olepcmN2CE N2 Ludo battles to hold his fish on his Scots Pine perch 2023
https://youtu.be/6PPR89rU_jQ N1 A little songbird pays a brief visit 2023
https://youtu.be/SuJsNcz7b5k N2 Ludo battles Hoodies on and off the nest 2023
Daily summary Tuesday 20th August 2024
Nothing to say, not one visitor big or small on the nests today. Affric and Prince are perhaps still around looking after their fledgling on the Bunarkaig nest as the male and chick were seen there as recently as Sunday 18th, but Bird Guides reports more and more sightings of Ospreys on the move and we wish all of them a safe migration journey and hope to see the adults back next year. The wet and windy weather certainly makes migrating now the best option, for Scottish Ospreys anyway.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.41.41 (05.08.00); Nest Two 21.36.44 (05.13.09)
Today’s videos: None!!
Bonus Highlands walk report including Loch Arkaig:
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=125825
https://youtu.be/Yd1ewTA5XUI N1 Confirmed: Mallie's last sighting 2019
https://youtu.be/_KpwQfuqoKM N1 Louis delivers breakfast to the chicks 2020
https://youtu.be/oV0xULDqc8o N1 Vera won't let Captain land 2020
https://youtu.be/HdBhIBNM4Z4 N1 Fish galore! Number five and six arrive close together 2020
https://youtu.be/E2rkkuQt9i0 N1 New record: ten fish delivered to the nest in one day! 2020
https://youtu.be/hYqOz1WxvYU N2 Willow gets the fish so unhappy Sarafina attacks Louis 2022
https://youtu.be/GFNYWi-SL0M N2 Sarafina grabs the third fish but still turns on dad 2022
https://youtu.be/Vzhact0OjMk N1 Brief touchdown by Garry after a battle by Stick Tree 2023 (slo-mo zoom)
https://youtu.be/ifOD0Vp1lSI N2 A lively flatfish for Ludo! 2023
https://youtu.be/SnQa5dZu1zM N2 A Jay visits and completely ignores the flatfish Ludo left behind 2023
An interesting article about Loch Arkaig. It mentions the lost Jacobite treasure of course, but it doesn't mention the real treasure - the Ospreys!
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/lifestyle/hidden-gem-highland-loch-treasure-33503936
09.34.52 Two little birds appear on the left, a Warbler and a Coal Tit
09.35.16 Another Coal Tit pops up from underneath in the centre
They flit on, around and underneath the nest for a few moments before disappearing.
Good to see any action on the nest, looks like Garry LV0, last seen on 18/8 at 13.11.38, may have headed south
Daily summary Wednesday 21st August 2024
Nest One had a few little songbird visitors today despite the wet and windy weather, but otherwise no activity. Garry LV0 was last seen briefly on Sunday 18th and seems to have left the area, so with increasing reports of final sightings from UK Osprey projects, tonight's bonus is the excellent webinar on Osprey migration by Dr Tim Mackrill.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.35.33 (05.14.32); Nest Two 21.27.36 (05.19.35)
https://youtu.be/08N3dt1mD6k N1 A Warbler & Coal Tits visit 09.34.52
Bonus info - Osprey migration webinar with Tim Mackrill:
https://youtu.be/JXWgoSF-Yrk
https://youtu.be/EFESyoIZBbs N1 Captain gets to the first fish before Vera 2020
https://youtu.be/chOE0W5yflU N1 Windy weather causes problems for Vera 2020
https://youtu.be/SjvNYi9ORUQ N1 Is Captain afraid to land because Vera's there? 2020
https://youtu.be/isl01eB4yfI N2 Louis gets dragged across the nest 2022 (slo-mo zoom)
https://youtu.be/Fyd3AAcVbP8 N2 Repeat intruder is finally identified - hello LV0! 2022 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/5mnbQkI40Uc N2 Female sparrowhawk perches on Dorcha's perch 2022 (slo-mo zoom)
https://youtu.be/mwNXC6vdg3I N2 Milestone moment as Sarafina flies with fish for the first time 2022
https://youtu.be/n9IRTcR7Ov0 N2 No one's there so Louis takes the fish away again 2023
https://youtu.be/roqXRkZyM3o N2 Aerial manoeuvres before Ludo and Louis land 2023
https://youtu.be/hbnViikSk-A N2 Who's that bellowing boy? It's Ludo with a fish! 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/f6JoGKn_g48 N2 Ludo departs without a fish supper 2023
Nest One Fantastic! A lovely surprise.
13.19.20 An Osprey flies in - it's Garry LV0! So he's still with us, not headed south just yet.
He stands on the left-hand edge and preens
13.35.57 Garry departs, heading to the right - eastwards.
New footage of our Osprey chick 'Jaws' 1JW - I've cobbled together another video for those who don't get on with TwiX:
Video of Jaws 1JW, plus photos of the late Paen JH3, both taken in Parque Natural del Marjal de Pego-Oliva Spain