There was a small, headless fish delivery for NC0 at 17:23 - Laddie had flown from the birch, NC0 was up from the eggs, calling, as he made his way over the Loch to the nest
NC0 carried the fish off in her left talons
©SWT/LotL
NC0 returned to the nest with a twig at 18:40 - Laddie was aerating the nest cup
She placed it alongside other sticks at the front edge of the nest
Laddie had settled back down on the eggs
He eventually got up to allow NC0 to incubate
Off he went
19:31 It's a beautiful evening at Lowes
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20:04 Laddie to the nest with a clump of dried grasses (I think!)
NC0 was calling for more fish
She flew from the nest and headed towards the birch
She chased 2 crows from the birch...
then headed off for a flight (upwards, out of cam view)
She returned to the birch from the far side of the Loch
NC0 returned to the nest perch at 20:49
She came onto the nest and fiddled with a lichen stick, trying to get it to lay flat
Laddie stood up as NC0 approached the nest cup
Off he went, flying directly to the birch
NC0 sorted out the clump of grass that Laddie had brought in earlier and revealed its green side
Both in their same positions at 21:15
Night cam came on a minute later
©SWT/LotL
Morning All,
Laddie took over incubation at 5:30, relieving a frost-covered NC0 of her overnight duty
NC0 did not shake her wings prior to taking off
7:40 Laddie, 2 hours and 10 minutes into his shift. A couple of geese were noisily heading off from the Loch.
©SWT/LotL
8:03 Laddie dozing in the morning sunshine
There was a thud above the cam at 7:45, presumably it was NC0, there was no reaction from Laddie at the time.
BFN
There was an unringed intruder at the nest at 9:30 - Laddie came to defend and give chase while NC0 was incubating.
NC0 looking skyward
Laddie to the nest
Laddie ready to defend
The unringed intruder hovered above
Almost a touchdown
Intruder flew away
Laddie gave chase
NC0 protected the eggs by spreading her wings over the nest cup. She remained in that pose for a little while after as well.
Edit: Laddie was back to the nest with some grass at 10:18
Apologies for the delay in posting the pics.
©SWT/LotL
The unringed intruder was back at 14:37 while NC0 was incubating.
NC0 on alert as the intruder hovered above the nest
NC0 flapped it away, the intruder headed up, out of cam view
...but came back down
NC0 flapped at it as the intruder tried to land
The intruder headed off
NC0 settled back down on the eggs
She was still on alert a minute or so later, the intruder came back again - her tail was fanned as she stood up
It flew over the nest (talons in pic)
And away
NC0 resumed incubation
©SWT/LotL
Laddie to the nest for a short stay at 16:43 - NC0 was fish calling
17:40 NC0 at present
I don't think I've missed anything else 'untoward' while scrolling through the footage.
©SWT/LotL
18:20 An intruder again! NC0 chipped and stood up as it flew over the nest - BLUE RINGED, RIGHT LEG, THIS TIME! (pics taken on 0.25 speed, just as the other intruder ones were)
It veered off to the left
Could this have been 8C returning to Lowes again? Though perhaps not dark chested enough?
©SWT/LotL
20:56 NC0 has been fish calling and looking towards the birch - could Laddie be there eating a fish? It's so hard to tell in this light but he was on that branch with a small, headless fish yesterday before bringing it to the nest
©SWT/LotL