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 Saturday 10th August 2024
Both nest cam livestreams were restored by 9.30 this morning after yesterday's shutdown which was due to the internet connection for the local area going down. Actually, in such a remote area where it's very challenging to provide services, being able to watch the nest cams is a bit of a miracle. Therefore tonight's bonus is about how the nest cams work with no wifi and no electrical plug points nearby. Today was wet and windy again with no sign of any Ospreys, but Nest Two did get some colourful visitors in the form of a pair of Crossbills. More rain is forecast for tonight, but there is the prospect of sunny intervals tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.30.33 (04.45.22); Nest Two 22.23.05 (04.52.51)
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/AfoAgZcxRZQ N2 Colourful Crossbills visit 17.03.20 (zoom)
Bonus info - with no wifi and plug sockets, how do the nest cams operate?
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/behind-the-scenes/
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/h7sWHXV4gck N1 Pandemonium among Pandions 2019
https://youtu.be/nEEzGfX3qOE N1 We missed you! Welcome back Aila 2019
https://youtu.be/yvB2ZHq5W6I N1 Just shut up and eat, Rannoch! 2019
https://youtu.be/vmct7etDQpo N1 One fish, two fish, new fish 2020
https://youtu.be/ZJLmsHHd1Lg N1 Captain ends up with two fish 2020
https://youtu.be/a2dk_AA0gAA N2 Several different little birds visit the nest 2022
https://youtu.be/MBQ8n7dL9zA N2 The chicks fight as fish number one arrives 2022
https://youtu.be/tgrYhwgMc1w N2 Ringed intruder perches on the nest 2022 (slo-mo zoom)
https://youtu.be/FFJsvTMjkzE N2 Ludo arrives seconds after dad brings fish 2023
https://youtu.be/jUf5fhmCtZE N2 Fish number three arrives, departs, and returns again 2023
https://youtu.be/RntY7nDorhs N1 Prince? Unringed Osprey buzzes Garry & Affric 2023
Crossbills return to Nest Two
08:31:06 Grey-green female crossbill appears on post, top left.
08:33:21 Pops under rear of nest.
08:34:59 Reappears at left and gives good view of yellow rump and underparts.
08:36:26 Very bright orange-red male crossbill appears from right
08:36:33 Both fly off.
Nest One - a Robin visits
09.52.04 A Robin arrives and lands on the centre perch He pootles around the nest hopping on and off the perches
09.53.27 The Robin departs flying out of sight to the left
Nest One: Affric 152 follows Garry LV0 onto the nest
10.58.12 Garry LV0 arrives, settles on the nest but keeps looking around and starts mantling
10.59.20 Affric 152 lands on the centre perch, Garry goes into overdrive on the coy-mantling, chips a couple of times
11.07.34 Garry starts to fly off and Affric goes too - they fly off to centre right, as if aiming for the 'x' of the logging? roads visible behind the right knoll left of the logo.
Affric 152 waits on Nest One to take a fish from Garry LV0
16.44.20 Affric 152 arrives, fish calling 16.44.47 Garry arrives with half a trout - Affric seizes it
16.45.01 Affric departs with her fish
16.54.22 Affric returns with the fish remnant and tucks in
16.56.32 Affric leaves again with her fish, Garry remains on the nest
Nest One. Affric 152 returns and wants more fish from Garry
16.58.26 Affric returns, tells Garry she would like more fish.
17.10.27 Garry departs, flying east then circles round and lands on Pole Tree. Affric remains on the left hand perch.
17.12.32 Garry leaves Pole Tree and flies back to the nest, landing on Affric's back for a half-hearted mating attempt, slides off onto the nest. Affric keeps fish calling
17.30.00 He's still there, she's still chuntering at him
18.00 No change
18.16.22 Affric suddenly takes off with Garry half a second behind. They fly off over the right hand knoll and disappear against the background of the green belt of trees
Nest One Garry returns alone
18.31.33 Garry LV0 returns with a couple of sticks, does a little nest tidying
18.33.46 Garry departs, flies towards the logo then circles round and disappears against the greenbelt again
Daily summary Sunday 11th August 2024
The little songbirds were back on both Nest One and Nest two, but they were a supporting act to the main event - Ospreys turned up in the shape of Affric 152 and Garry LV0. They spent a fair bit of time together on Nest One, Garry brought a fish which was seized by Affric who proceeded to leave with it, return, munch a bit on the nest and leave with it again. After finishing it she returned and demanded more fish from Garry but only got a half-hearted mating attempt from him. The forecasted thundery showers didn't materialise today but there's a weather warning for the Highlands for thunderstorms starting at 2am tomorrow, and more rain throughout the night.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.14.16 (04.49.55); Nest Two 22.11.11 (05.04.26)
https://youtu.be/zbmAOdpvwjg N2 A pair of Crossbills visit 08.31.06
https://youtu.be/MLLmjh7dMH8 N1 A Robin pays a visit 09.52.04
https://youtu.be/lzSl5Wepv8U N1 Affric 152 follows Garry LV0 onto the nest 10.58.12
https://youtu.be/WceshcwWjH8 N1 Garry LV0 brings a fish to Affric waiting on the nest 16.44.20
https://youtu.be/hotAz4uBAdI N1 Affric returns to Garry on the nest, wants more fish 16.58.26
https://youtu.be/6trrzqNVgnQ N1 Garry returns with sticks, does a little tidying 18.31.33
Bonus watch - how it all began! Woodland Trust Season One highlights (2017):
https://youtu.be/1q-YUOB5y4g
https://youtu.be/rY2GjdCNcrc N1 Consternation as Louis delivers only a tiddler! 2019
https://youtu.be/nTSpr1aOrZM N1 Synchronised fishing: Aila & Louis each bring a fish 2020
https://youtu.be/x2x_b4udcHA N1 The increasingly rare sight of all three chicks together 2020
https://youtu.be/vAPEs40pRoY N1 Aila pays a late night visit 2020
https://youtu.be/VyJNaAFsN_Y N2 Pesky Hoodie is chased off by Dorcha 2022
https://youtu.be/5T3mVS0_x94 N2 Dorcha returns with her fish and shares with Sarafina 2022
https://youtu.be/s8ugsWCbQnU N2 Crow has to depart in a hurry when the Ospreys return 2022
https://youtu.be/WD83tUBaJ3k N1 Affric and Garry together but no fish for her 2023
https://youtu.be/z6InADXmen0 N2 Dorcha gets her foot grabbed by Ludo 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/0fW4HonvH4Q N2 Hoodie looks for scraps as soon as Ludo leaves 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/uRK3PtH_GCc N2 Ludo is ready and waiting for Louis bringing fish number three 2023
Name 2024 last seen * (first seen*)
Louis 30/7 13.31.18 (28/3)
Dorcha 27/7 11.19.43 (30/3)
Garry LV0 12/8 14.28.48 (9/4)
Affric 152 12/8 14.25.57 (10/4)
Prince 29/6 09.24.01 (1/4)
RDF** 21/7 11.47.05 (7/7)
Aida 8/5 08.49.32 (28/4)
* on nest cam
**RDF = really dark female
Have watched the set-up story now with all the great footage plus the story of Louis, Aila & Lachlan ... such an amazing feat and so interesting to see how it was all constructed in that forbidding terrain ... many thanks Geemeff for all your hard work too in keeping us updated on the comings & goings often in such an amusing way Please let them all be safe and come back next year!