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

WendyBartter said:

Terrible wind, could scarcely believe my eyes, poor Dorcha & chicks

It was ironic that the forecast specified 'light winds', Wendy!

Makes me wonder what they'd call strong winds - tornado, perhaps?

Anything stronger could have decimated the nest entirely ... gulp!!

17.39.58 Fish number three, headless trout

17.40.29 Louis departs, 31 second handover

Both chicks have full crops but line up anyway, and are happy to share the fish as Dorcha dishes it out

Fish number four, tiddler snack

19.55.54 Fish number four, tiddler trout. Dorcha takes it, the chicks aren't interested

19.56.01 Louis departs

19.56.20 Louis returns with a clunk, as if he were up on the camera pole

19.57.23 Louis leaves again

19.59.18 Dorcha downs the tail

Dorcha uses her scare-crow voice

19.23.00 Dorcha keeps looking around, on alert

19:23:13 A Hooded Crow flies from left to right and perches on the Scots Pine Dorcha keeps watch and uses her special barking-tone crow-voice

19.23.43 The Hoodie leaves the Scots Pine and flies in the direction of the nest - Dorcha watches and uses her crow-voice again

19.24.00 Dorcha relaxes a little having seen off the Hoodie

Daily summary Friday 21st June 2024

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Today started with atrocious weather not matching the overnight forecast. The 'light winds' ended up blowing poor Dorcha completely over, showing off her underfluffies and giving her a bit of bother righting herself again, while the 'light rain' soaked the chicks too big to fit completely underneath her now. But things looked up when Louis arrived with a tiny breakfast and proceeded to feed one chick while Dorcha fed the other from last night's remnant, giving a cosy scene of domestic harmony. After Louis had had a quick go at removing the remains of chick3, Dorcha succeeded, flying off with the sad bundle and disposing of it in the forest. Bye bye little bob3 - gone but not forgotten. Louis brought four fish to the nest, taking his tally to two hundred and thirty one. The Hooded Crows were interested in the nest but Dorcha scared them off with her special crow voice. No need to scare off the little Robin who visited Nest One today as there were no other vistors. Tonight's forecast is light rain and a gentle breeze - let's hope it turns out that way as the family could use an undisturbed night tonight with the prospect of disturbance by the Red Arrows doing a flypast tomorrow.

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Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.47.27 (03.12.07); Nest Two 23.10.54 (03.55.16)

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Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/WERbYCv-hTw  N2 A gust of wind blows Dorcha completely over 02.50.08

https://youtu.be/gXy_08Aum1E  N2 Fish number one, trout tail-end 05.36.12

https://youtu.be/hHXYtXsSXnQ  N2 Simultaneous feeding by both parents 05.44

https://youtu.be/oE5jRyFGIpg  N1 A cheeky Robin visits 05.47.13 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/DDlOGyMil1A  N2 Warning - graphic: Dorcha removes the dead body 08.50.30

https://youtu.be/DahvNKRdcZk  N2 Fish number two, large live trout - C1 refuses to be prevented getting a share! 14.48.00

https://youtu.be/QLyDm0Wwygw  N2 Fish number three, large headless trout, the chicks share happily 17.39.58

https://youtu.be/Gd2KYCoS5YY  N2 Dorcha uses her crow-voice on a nearby Hoodie 19.23.00 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/cuMv-BAPvxQ  N2 Fish number four, tiddler snack, Dorcha wolfs it in 4 minutes 19.55.54

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Bonus action - if you're near London and fancy dressing as a tree, Woodland Trust wants you tomorrow:

https://x.com/geemeff/status/1804283965270012389

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Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/dMSX41ilEWY N1 Bob3 unwisely attacks Bob1 and is severely punished 2019 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/4NuK-piiMIQ  N1 On edge: adventurous Osplet wanders a bit too close, mum takes charge 2020

https://youtu.be/8zTUfiR4Kg0  N1 Oh poo! Synchronised squirting 2020

https://youtu.be/ueug1mnixBE  N1 Chicks fight, mum moves out of the way 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/jbHh2h0h4h0  N2 Louis drops the fish as he goes 2022

https://youtu.be/QGLfl9w6bug  N2 Battling bobs have a bash 2022

https://youtu.be/TvuGHqiM79c  N2 Dorcha throws a stick over the younger chick 2022

https://youtu.be/EtId8vXnQaA  N2 Dad's been to Nestbase but mum's bemused 2022 (Artistic Ospreys)

https://youtu.be/f7khlqE0vDM  N2 Stickgate! 2023

https://youtu.be/tJWT9yQlrKU  N2 Mum squashes & bashes, chick gets cross 2023

https://youtu.be/mH07mCCV0xo  N2 Mum and chick work together to tidy the nest 2023

https://youtu.be/29zjMxxlvjA  N1 LV0 wants payment from Affric for the fish 2023

https://youtu.be/M-jHiFV3RYQ  N2 Louis delivers a huge Silver Tourist 2023

04.19.55 Fish number one, headless trout

Dorcha's body blocks the feeding, both chicks were up to get food but can't see if both are eating

04.20.15 Louis departs, 20 second handover

06.47.28 Fish number two, small whole trout

06.47.46 Louis departs, 18 second handover

The chicks gather round but one chick is more interested in preening and wing-stretching than eating, although offered bites by Dorcha

06.53.30 Dorcha downs the tail

06.54.08 A little bird hops onto the left side of the nest, stays a few seconds. Think it's a Coal Tit

07.57.38 Garry LV0 visits, flying in from the right (east) and lands on the nest.

Stands quietly, doesn't do any nest prep

08.00.16 Departs flying towards the solar panels and out of sight to the left (west)

15.05 Not long now until we might see or hear the Red Arrows on nest cam - Loch Morar to Loch Lochy is nearest us

Depart Prestwick Airport – 2.55pm

North of Suachrie – 2.57pm

Balochroy – 3.03pm

Crachan – 3.12pm

South of Loch Morar – 3.17pm

Loch Lochy – 3.22pm

Kinch – 3.28pm

Forres – 3.32pm

Arrive at RAF Lossiemouth – 3.33pm

UPDATE - they went south of Loch Eil instead, so we didn't see or hear them on nest cam