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 Saturday 10th August 2024

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    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. 

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    Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.30.33 (04.45.22); Nest Two 22.23.05 (04.52.51)

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    Today’s videos:

    https://youtu.be/AfoAgZcxRZQ  N2 Colourful Crossbills visit 17.03.20 (zoom)

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    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/

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    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

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    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.

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  • 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

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  • Nest One: Affric 152 follows Garry LV0 onto the nest

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    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.

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  • Affric 152 waits on Nest One to take a fish from Garry LV0

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    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

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  • Nest One. Affric 152 returns and wants more fish from Garry

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    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

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  • Nest One Garry returns alone

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    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

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  • Daily summary Sunday 11th August 2024

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    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.

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    Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.14.16 (04.49.55); Nest Two 22.11.11 (05.04.26)

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    Today’s videos:

    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

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    Bonus watch - how it all began! Woodland Trust Season One highlights (2017):

    https://youtu.be/1q-YUOB5y4g

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    Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

    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 Blush  Please let them all be safe and come back next year!Fingers crossed

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr