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 Tuesday 23rd July 2024
The main story of today is the news just received of the sad loss of our chick 1JR. Try as they might, the veterinary team in Valencia were unable to save him when he started having seizures. More details in WTS George's post, link below. Tonight's bonus video is 1JR in happier times a few days ago, looking strong tucking into a big fish dinner. We''re happy to hear his brother 1JW and the other ten Osplets on the translocation project are all well and thriving. In other news, Dorcha went adventuring and turned up on Nest One, before returning later to her own nest. Neither of the two males were seen although sky-dancing was heard while Dorcha was at Nest One. Was it Louis, or Garry LV0, and were they dancing for Dorcha or another female? Today's weather was settled, tonight's forecast is partly cloudy with light winds, but rain is forecast for tomorrow.
WTS George: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=15457681
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.10.19 (03.37.54); Nest Two 23.04.59 (03.53.04)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/yw2IAFZ5Iro N1 Dorcha pays another visit to Nest One 09.42.30
https://youtu.be/Z8amhCfcwhQ N2 Dorcha returns to her own nest 11.16.01
Bonus video - Arkaig Osplet 1JR tucking into his fish dinner 18th July:
https://youtu.be/qaojgIgK74A=13
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/ZqWuqafl36c N1 Captain helicopters! 2020
https://youtu.be/cSDip8llxAY N1 Doddie has a tug of fish with Vera 2020
https://youtu.be/a3UUPQUtnkg N1 Low flying RAF plane causes Aila to flee 2020 (slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/9K11f2xd0Ww N1 Vera does a helicopter so high it's completely off the screen 2020
https://youtu.be/zFcnK8aIKqk N1 Aila brings a nuisance stick and stands on Captain! 2020
https://youtu.be/ZKjilVW2YjM N2 High helicopter followed by pancaking 2022
https://youtu.be/9_avX1YHofU N2 All three females want fish number four 2022
https://youtu.be/olWHydNGMV4 N2 Results are in: meet Willow and Sarafina! 2022
https://youtu.be/5B_o4EM_oyE N2 Dorcha is harassed by invading Hoodies 2023
https://youtu.be/mtWqo9g5K6A N2 Ludo helicopters with moss 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/CEDLQcHPA1Y N1 Garry arrives with a fish for Affric 2023
https://youtu.be/WcKyGvhpqI4 N2 Hangry Ludo grabs Louis' leg wanting fish 2023
https://youtu.be/4eUxHeiHn-o N2 A good long look at lovely Ludo 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/imhMDpTUYpU A look at Ludo off-nest from a mile away across the loch! 2023 (thanks LizB)
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=11315274
Nest One
08.40.50 Garry LV0 arrives with a stick, seen in the distance flying in from underneath the logo
08.41.56 does a little nest scraping
08.47.19 Garry departs flying west towards the solar panels and out of sight
18.38.14 Little birds hop up on the nest. Forum member BrendaJ describes the action:
18.41.47 Little robin arrives on the nest chases off another little bird at the left hand side of the nest at the same time a wren appears on the right hand side. Then I think two little warblers appear - the robin isn’t happy. Could have been another robin. Continues on until 18.44 when little wren disappears under the nest. Continues 18.45 onwards
Daily summary Wednesday 24th July 2024
Today was a quiet day with time for reflection after the sad news received yesterday. The consensus among forum members is that Woodland Trust Scotland, Roy Dennis Foundation, Fundación Migres and the specialist veterinary team all did their utmost to give 1JR a fighting chance, but his health was just too compromised. In domestic news, neither Louis nor Dorcha came into nest cam view today, only Garry LV0 turned up for a few minutes on Nest One which was visited later by a few little birds, some of whom are possibly living underneath the nest. The forecasted rain has turned up and a wet night is ahead, with a strong possibility of thundery showers tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.12.20 (03.53.19); Nest Two 22.49.19 (04.14.03)
https://youtu.be/5z5M0SPFXu4 N1 Garry arrives with a stick 08.40.50
https://youtu.be/mZHjWrUX0kQ N1 Various little birds flit around 18.38.14
Bonus podcast marking the 70th anniversary of the return of breeding Ospreys to the UK at Loch Garten:
Scotland Outdoors - Operation Osprey - 70 Years of Breeding Osprey in Scotland - BBC Sounds
https://youtu.be/5B4tYF5XWeI N1 FLEDGE Vera finds her wings 2020
https://youtu.be/IEpTHTQ83MU N1 FLEDGE Captain takes off <three hours after Vera 2020
https://youtu.be/CsH62EjSANk N1 Vera returns from her maiden flight 2020
https://youtu.be/_x8G4wApzFY N1 Captain returns safely but not very gracefully 2020
https://youtu.be/SEOkidLKvJc N1 Fledge compilation video: The Four Ospreys (Classic Ospreys - Vivaldi 2020)
https://youtu.be/p-G03dmBhGM N1 Oops! Doddie has an awkward moment 2020
https://youtu.be/nV0kAGoM-y0 N2 Dorcha and Sarafina just watch as Willow grabs the first fish 2022
https://youtu.be/iGA54OTD6BQ N2 Hop and a skip but no jump - Willow decides to wait 2022
https://youtu.be/wsjKHvZAXpo N2 Chicks bemused by a flapping flatfish 2022
https://youtu.be/lOKNG5FLCv0 N1 RAF jet causes Affric & Garry to flee 2023
https://youtu.be/WNOA0O4wA6Q N2 Another milestone for Ludo, dealing with a live fish 2023
Affric 152 follows Garry LV0 to Nest One
11.57.40 Garry LV0 flies in from the right with a bunch of moss
11.57.45 Affric 152 appears from the top centre and lands on the nest - Garry immediately starts coy-mantling
11.58.13 Affric jumps up onto the left perch, Garry is on the edge nearest the camera
12.01.24 She jumps down onto the nest and fiddles with some of the moss
12.02.34 Affric departs, flying eastwards
12.03.31 Garry departs, flying in the same direction
Note: re circled feather in the thumbnail: it's long been suspected that Affric & Prince are the resident pair on the nearby nest at Bunarkaig. That nest doesn't have a camera and the angle of the nest makes it difficult to see into.
Recently LizB was able to get a photo showing a blue ring on the female and an unringed male, which fits with Affric & Prince. The ring wasn't readable.
However, LizB noticed a broken feather, and says: "As Affric comes in to land with outstretched wings at 11.57.44 - 45 you can see the notch out of her second primary feather (second from the end of the wing tip) on her left wing. The exact same spot as the Bunarkaig female in my photos."
Looking 95% certain the Bunarkaig pair are indeed Affric & Prince.
Nest Two 13.43.15 Louis lands with a stick.
He tidies up, does some nest scraping and sits in the nest cup for a bit
13.51.37 Louis departs
NEWS!
FLEDGE! Surviving chick 1JW fledged today!
Daily summary Thursday 25th July 2024
Today we received the wonderful news that the surviving Arkaig Osprey chick 1JW has fledged! All eleven members of the Scottish cohort took to the skies over Valencia today, more info in WTS George's comment, link below. A bright spot in an unusual season. His dad Louis was also around today, visiting his nest bringing a stick and doing a little nest work, good to see him after an absence of a few days. Nest One also had Osprey visitors - Affric 152 arrived moments after Garry LV0 did. Neither stayed long, and both flew off in the same direction. With an identical broken feather spotted by LizB on both the blue-ringed Bunarkaig female and on Affric when she landed on Nest One, it's almost certain they are one and the same. With an unfledged chick still on the Bunarkaig nest, what's Affric doing on Nest One with Garry? The forecasted rain was much in evidence today, and more expected tonight with thundery showers overnight easing off to light rain tomorrow.
WTS George’s comment https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=15479208
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.59.55 (04.13.42); Nest Two 22.46.53 (04.15.09)
https://youtu.be/Dy4yQvefzA8 N1 Affric 152 follows Garry LV0 to Nest One 11.57.40
https://youtu.be/ePTJwID4lmQ N2 Louis visits his nest bringing a stick 13.43.15
https://youtu.be/kroSVUdVBKU FLEDGE - the great news that 1JW has found his wings and flown 15.00
Bonus photos - 1JW on a feeding platform near to the aviary:
https://x.com/WTScotsocial/status/1816566018589770050
https://youtu.be/kGQ3dyIJkCg N1 Doddie piggybacks on Louis 2020
https://youtu.be/y_H5V8LSawI N1 No one wants Louis' fish so he takes it away 2020
https://youtu.be/y4c9zsaxflg N2 Synchronised flapping as mum watches 2022
https://youtu.be/PYaDCd_5M0c N2 High off the screen helicopter! 2022
https://youtu.be/B4EbyOjxxKc N2 FLEDGE! Willow finds her wings 2022
https://youtu.be/X839GjpyvY0 N2 Sarafina reacts to seeing Willow 2022
https://youtu.be/8-Wb41wJuH8 N2 Willow’s second flight via nest cam 2022
https://youtu.be/dJ9IvFCEPbk Willow's second flight via long lens 2022 (thanks LizB)
https://youtu.be/sI6lN7wD5OA N2 Ludo and the Jay 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/9FcJOMLI9Cg N2 Ludo allows Dorcha to take the fish 2023
https://youtu.be/k0pKZzcF5Zc N1 Garry seems reluctant to give Affric the fish 2023
https://youtu.be/9NadyAHk6Gc N2 Ludo lives up to his name and plays on a seesaw 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/S3V8_nzaX6I N2 Ludo grabs Dorcha's head feathers to stop her getting his fish 2023
Special blast from the past: On July 25, 2020, the world came together to tell the story of a single day on Earth, hundreds of thousands of members of the public responded showing their typical day. This was my entry:
https://youtu.be/dvhu_pfem50 Life in a Day: distant cousins 2020
08.25.36 Garry LV0 arrives with moss. He mantles and looks skyward
08.29.07 Garry alarm chips
08.29.23 An Osprey lands in the pole tree
08.30.30 Garry LV0 leaves and flies between the pole tree and the stick tree
09.18.24 Garry LV0 returns with moss
09.18.54 Dorcha lands, Garry coy mantles - she's visited several times recently!
09.19.48 Garry leaves heading east, Dorcha stays, just standing quietly 09.21.49 Dorcha leaves heading west
09.46.12 Garry returns later with more moss and does some nestorising
09.48.05 He leaves