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

Welcome to Loch Arkaig Ospreys season 8

Will Louis and Dorcha return to Nest 2?  White check mark

Will someone take up residence in Nest 1? X

Will any of Louis' chicks with Aila and Dorcha be sighted? X

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:

2016 Woodland Trust acquire the Loch Arkaig ancient Caledonian rainforest remnant and manage it in partnership with Arkaig Community Forest. An Osprey pair is seen.
2017 A nest cam is installed on a refurbished ancient Osprey nest. The old pair don't return but a young male Louis and a young female Aila take up residence and raise one male chick to fledging: Lachlan JH4.
2018 Louis & Aila return but a Pine Marten steals all their eggs.
2019 Louis & Aila return and raise two female chicks to fledging: Mallie JJ0 and Rannoch JJ2.
2020 Louis & Aila return and raise two male and one female chicks to fledging: Doddie JJ6; Vera JJ8 and Captain JJ7.
2021 Louis returns but sadly Aila doesn't. Louis takes up residence on a new nest with a new mate Dorcha and they raise two male chicks to fledging: Aspen LW3 & Alder LW4. This is designated Nest 2, no one takes up residence on Nest1.
2022 Woodland Trust install a nest cam on Nest 2. Louis & Dorcha return and raise two female chicks to fledging: Willow LW5 and Sarafina LW6. Still no residents on Nest 1.
2023 Louis & Dorcha return, and raise one male chicks to fledging: Ludo LY7. No residents on Nest 1 but male Garry LV0 spent a lot of time flirting with Affric 152 despite her mate Prince still being around.
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Louis is a father of thirteen, six with Aila (2017-2020), and seven with Dorcha (2021-)
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In hatch order 2017 - 2023:
2017 Lachlan (JH4)
2019 Mallie (JJ0), Rannoch (JJ2)
2020 Doddie (JJ6), Vera (JJ8), Captain (JJ7)
2021 Aspen (LW3), Alder (LW4)
2022 Willow (LW5), Sarafina (LW6)
2023 Ludo (LY7)
2024 males 1JR, 1JW (Spain)
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Highlights:
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2023 Nest Two highlights 
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2023 Nest One highlights 
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All captures in whatever format are copyright Woodland Trust - with many thanks for allowing captures from their nest cam livestreams.
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Osprey cams funded by People's Postcode Lottery
  • Daily summary Friday 19th July 2024

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    The day started with a temperature inversion and a spider in the mist gave a ghostly feel to Nest One, which was visited a bit later by a Wood Pigeon. Louis and Dorcha spent time on Nest Two, she was fish-calling and he was coy-mantling, there were a couple of half-hearted mating attempts and a comedy moment when Dorcha landed on Louis' wing. After they departed, a pair of Hoodies checked out the nest but they were out of luck as there weren't any scraps to be had, it's been several days since Louis brought fish to the nest, the last time was on the 15th. The weather improved somewhat after the damp start but more rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow.

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    Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.11.08 (03.33.21); Nest Two 22.57.26 (04.00.34)

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    Today’s videos:

    https://youtu.be/OD_RwDg4LUA N1 Spider adds to the eerie misty morning scene 03.59.18

    https://youtu.be/6SBcqw1oX38 N1 A Wood Pigeon visits 07.24.06

    https://youtu.be/wp5mZUIOlQU N2 No fish and a failed mating attempt 13.23.38

    https://youtu.be/1GsH538qZJs N2 A pair of Hoodies check out the nest 15.07.55

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    Bonus action - Woodland Trust guide to helping wildlife in summer:

    https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2023/06/10-ways-to-help-wildlife-in-summer

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    Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

    https://youtu.be/BIHDRrpe6Qo N1 My turn daddy! Louis feeds Rannoch 2019

    https://youtu.be/TwqqSshM42E N1 Doddie drops in to grab all the breakfast 2020

    https://youtu.be/_rU3TwEXwa0 N1 Aila brings soft furnishings to decorate the nest 2020

    https://youtu.be/-xNiwmN-xQI  N1 Doddie does an evening flypast of the nest 2020

    https://youtu.be/EYDBamjYrf8  N1 Hey! who put that there? Prince makes an undignified departure 2021

    https://youtu.be/304-lrclaZw  N1 Third visit by the new pair Blue 152 & Prince (YP) 2021

    https://youtu.be/xW2CIMG3IDM  N2 Hooked on you - the chicks get hooked together! 2022

    https://youtu.be/lmPZ_jmuEz0  N2 Dorcha reacts to an intruder Osprey seen on camera 2022

    https://youtu.be/L1DG3H9gUUM N2 RAF flypast doesn't stop Louis (2022)

    https://youtu.be/k_2pVwLNAZU  N2 Louis brings a fish and eats it himself 2023

    https://youtu.be/0QoTqAI2VqE  N2 Hop and a skip but no jump - yet! 2023

    https://youtu.be/Lq9DbF3I6J4  N2 Double helicopter! 2023

    https://youtu.be/9SyP31iXLbc  N2  FLEDGE! Ludo's off into the world! 2023

    https://youtu.be/xArpA43gG1Q N1 Affric 152 receives another fish from Garry 2023

  • Nest One

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    05.42.57 A little bird appears on the nest, singing sweetly.

    05.43.17 It disappears underneath the nest

    08.15.27 It - or another just like it - reappears and flits around

    08.15.53 It disappears underneath the nest again

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  • 18.35.28 Garry LV0 flies in from the right, east, with a stick, does some nest work and spends a few minutes.

    18.37.59 Garry departs, flying west and disappearing out of sight near the solar panels

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  • 18.42.42 A little bird pops up on the nest from underneath

    18.44.02 A second bird appears, also from underneath

    18.44.34 Both birds disappear underneath the nest

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  • Daily summary Saturday 20th July 2024

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    A very slow day indeed, with no sighting of either Louis or Dorcha -  the first time no Osprey was seen on Nest Two since Louis returned on 28th March. The weather was very wet today, and not very inviting, so have they left on migration, are they still around, will we see them tomorrow?  Nest One saw some activity today, with visits from little songbirds and a visit from Garry LV0 who arrived with a stick and proceeded to do some nest prep before flying off. Tonight's forecast is partly cloudy with light winds, but rain is forecast for the rest of the week.

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    Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.05.33 (04.14.02); Nest Two 23.24.21 (04.24.56)

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    Today’s videos:

    https://youtu.be/Vkh1bYP9V_U  N1 Sweet little singer visits 05.42.57

    https://youtu.be/U2bBn4PpMoM  N1 Garry LV0 brings a stick and does nest prep 18.35.28

    https://youtu.be/jN1-tY56wnA  N1 A pair of little birds pay an early evening visit 18.42.42

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    Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

    https://youtu.be/bzD0ewEZPy0  N1 FLEDGE!! Mallie takes her first flight! 2019

    https://youtu.be/nyUAdw2pU64  N1 I'm home mum! Mallie lands gracefully after her maiden flight 2019

    https://youtu.be/NZL4TzrXZJ4  N1 A different perspective: the family in split-screen, 2020 (thanks LizB)

    https://youtu.be/Dn8RbvlOV_s   N1 Vera lands on Captain 2020 (slo-mo)

    https://youtu.be/S9BxyRx0wUA  N2 Night moves: LW5 prepares for liftoff 2022

    https://youtu.be/EcWKtfYf9OU  N2 Have fish will travel: Fish number two arrives, departs and returns 2022

    https://youtu.be/Mz4fJSZ_LUQ   N2 Dorcha and LW6 fight over a fish 2022

    https://youtu.be/T8wtZ_Zrq_E  N2 Ludo's first flight today, second flight 2023

    https://youtu.be/kYV3QZ-BIa8  N2 Ludo's eventful third flight - gets divebombed and crash lands  2023

    https://youtu.be/ZtKWJC9nqiU  N1 Affric eventually gets a fish from Garry  2023

    https://youtu.be/VmlZ8LP5KjU  N2 Ludo makes a perfect landing this time  2023

    https://youtu.be/HQpwZ0KNtUU  N2 Ludo gets tired of waiting and self-feeds  2023

    https://youtu.be/n5V3RcoCZJI  N1 Garry arrives with a third fish for Affric  2023

    https://youtu.be/yx5Yoxe0feY  N2 Not tonight! Dorcha's not accepting of Louis' attentions  2023 (zoom)

  • 18.42.42 A little bird pops up on the nest from underneath

    18.44.02 A second bird appears, also from underneath

    I’d say the first looks like a juvenile robin and the second a wren Geemeff.

  • Thank you, Glider, I've amended the description. I think this odd couple may be nesting underneath the nest, there's plenty of room for several little birds to tuck themselves away.

  • Sunday 21st

    Wow! Unpicking this morning's action

    Dorcha and Louis on Nest Two

    Garry on Nest One

    Dorcha departs and turns up on Nest One with Garry

    The really dark female with the striking markings (RDF) turns up on Nest Two with Louis!

  • 10.48.58 An Osprey is seen in the distance flying towards the nest

    10.49.05 Dorcha arrives, fish-calling

    10.49.15 Louis arrives, no fish. He coy mantles over on the left edge while she chirrups at him and the wind blows in loud gusts

    10.52.16 Louis moves into the nest cup, Dorcha carries on telling him fish is required

    10.55.42 Louis attempts mating but it’s much too windy and he can’t get his balance and slides down

    10.58.54 Louis departs, flying left and immediately out of cam view but not out of Dorcha’s sight - she keeps calling

    11.04.24 Dorcha departs, flying lochwards through the rain which has started falling heavily

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  • Who's on the wrong nest? 

    Dorcha should be on Nest Two, and Affric should be on the Bunarkaig nest!

    11.27.59 An Osprey flies towards the nest, in the distance another Osprey flies right to left across the screen

    11.28.01 Garry LV0 lands coy mantling. Alarm chipping heard off camera.

    11.28.50 An Osprey approaches in the distance from under the logo

    11.28.55. The Osprey lands - it's Dorcha! Alarm chips still be heard close by - a third Osprey is around

    11.28.58 Dorcha leaves in a hurry, flying to the right

    11.29.00 An Osprey wing appears on the left close to the camera - it’s Affric 152

    11.29.02 Affric arrives, Garry flies upwards as she lands

    11.29.07 Garry lands again - alarm chipping heard but not clear where it’s coming from.

    11.29.10 An Osprey approaches from top left, right of the solar panels, flying towards the nest

    11.29.20 The Osprey flies over the nest, doesn’t land (not clear on zoom who it is)

    11.31.14 Affric flies onto the front perch. Garry continues coy mantling

    11.33.20 Garry moves to the nest cup, Affric jumps down to join him

    11.36.26 Affric jumps onto a branch on the right of the nest just out of sight

    11.37.16 Affric leaves the right hand branch and flies onto the front perch

    11.38.25 Affric appears to spot something and flies off in a hurry

    11.39.48 a bird flies in from the right below the nest, Garry mantles

    11.42.20 Garry leaves flying west towards the solar panels and out of sight

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