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

June 27

There’s worry on the chat that Louis has gone missing. What are your thoughts Geemeff?
The weather is terrible.

14.30 The chicks’ feathers being buffeted in the wind. Dorcha left the nest at 14.24.

Dorcha has been fishing, which is a first as long as I can remember?

15.14 She brought a live eel to the nest.

15.16 The chicks nearly got blown over the edge. First, the chick to the right of screen.

Then the one to the left. It was lucky that it blew into Dorcha.

Both back into position.

©️Woodland Trust

Hi Glider, I'm just back after being out all day, have been getting emails about this as I couldn't access the site.

Very, very concerning about Louis - he's fished successfully in bad weather before, but yesterday he only brought that tail-end chunk, then perched on a tree nearby where Dorcha could see him but didn't move despite her, and the chicks, calling more and more frantically.for food.

Good on Dorcha going off and catching an eel. The eel is a first for the nest, and bringing back food for unfledged chicks is a first for Dorcha.

She did bring one fish in 2022, but that was mid August, both Willow and Sarafina had been flying for a while, and she merely dropped the fish on the nest and left - and we didn't see her again until last year. Her farewell I'm-off-on-migration gift.

Hi Geemeff, thanks for the info. Perhaps Louis is unwell or has muscle damage or something. We’ve seen it before with other birds and hopefully he’ll make a full recovery.   Dorcha has done a fantastic job bringing in a meal for her young chicks going against her instincts to stay on the nest to protect them. ️

Fingers and talons crossed that whatever ails dear old Louis is over soon - likewise the weather, which is absolutely atrocious.

15.14.44 Fish number one, whole eel - delivered by Dorcha

A first for Dorcha and the first eel for the nest

OMG! The chicks are nearly blown overboard in a gale (repeated in super slo-mo)

15:16:18 First one chick is knocked off its feet, then blown towards the edge of the nest where there's a gap in the cot rails, but manages to save itself with lots of wing action, and moves back towards the centre

15.16.23 then the second chick is blown over, and luckily blows up against Dorcha, whose body stops the chick being blown further.

With Louis missing, losing a chick - or both chicks - overboard would be utterly heartbreaking.

Daily summary Thursday 27th June 2024

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Midnight finally arrives to end a dreich day filled with worry over Louis - where is he? The usually reliable super-fisherbird hasn't been seen for over 24 hours, and concern is growing. He only brought a partial fish to the nest yesterday and Dorcha and the chicks are hungry. So taking matters into her own talons, Dorcha went off and returned with an eel which she proceeded to feed to the very eager chicks, once again, she didn't get much herself. Dorcha's fish (yes, eels are fish) takes the tally to two hundred and fifty one. Despite the official forecast the weather has been atrocious and at one point, both chicks were nearly blown off the nest in a violent gust of wind. What's described as a 'moderate breeze' and heavy rain soaking the nest and its occupants is set to continue until tomorrow afternoon when there is a prospect of some sunshine. As the chicks' plumage isn't fully waterproof as yet, Dorcha still needs to act as mumbrella to shelter them, which she can't do if she's off fishing. With luck, Louis will turn up tomorrow. No action on Nest One.

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Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.38.27 (03.25.18); Nest Two 23.00.49 (03.57.48)

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Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/BQMQTT_q0yg Dorcha goes fishing and brings back an eel 15.14.44 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/lJMENKfuHSI OMG! Chicks nearly blown off the nest! 15.16.18 (super slo-mo repeat)

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Bonus read - something different to think about, here's Woodland Trust's guide to foraging and what's in season now: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2021/06/foraging-in-june/

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/foraging/foraging-guidelines

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Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/K45u41D6zlI  N1 Midnight chick fight 2020

https://youtu.be/lB9x_rg5mfk  N1 Aila wears an Eiffel Tower hat - then throws it away 2020

https://youtu.be/ZpwTFmAeZss  N1 Osplets feed themselves while Aila watches an intruder 2020

https://youtu.be/c-Np1yrrrlY  N2 Intruder Osprey full sequence 2022 (audio boosted, slo-mo, zoom)

https://youtu.be/kTnD5iZwyT8  N2 Persistence pays off! Dorcha sorts a tricky stick 2022

https://youtu.be/5GXLNowB4_A  N2 Bad-tempered bob2 has a go at mum 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/4Wv_FJSFrIw  N2 Antics with logs when Louis arrives 2022

https://youtu.be/emLHtjnOSEo  N1 Garry finally answers Affric's calls but no fish 2023

https://youtu.be/NCX9qSkiBtc  N2 Extra large late night fish supper arrives 2023

https://youtu.be/8wwUVY5L_P8  N2 Louis returns and claims some fish for himself 2023

Sadly no sign of Louis this morning and Dorcha is silent, which means she can't see him in the area.

Steve Q notes:

Geemeff said:

Saturday - 6 Fish

Sunday - 5 Fish

Monday - 4 Fish

Tuesday - 3 Fish

Wednesday - 1 Fish

Thursday - 0 Fish

Aw poor Louis, you can see his struggle.