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Ospreys - Loch Of The Lowes, Scotland.
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A bit windy up there tonight !
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Sad, sad news - I feel gutted.
Update re situation at Loch of the Lowes ...
Following the desperately sad loss of LM12, it has been encouraging to observe NC0 spending more time off the nest caring for herself by bathing and heading off on several fishing trips. The eggs have not been viable for several days now, after an extended period of exposure at night in the rain. Given that NC0 would not have been able to incubate them to hatching and raise any chicks without her mate, this was to be expected.
Since Thursday afternoon there have been two male intruders paying her attention and although NC0 has tolerated them sitting on top of the camera or the perch, she has seen them off as soon as they try to land on the nest.
One male has been a very distinctive darker bird, with an unusual large pupil in his right eye. The other bird is much paler, with markings on the back of his head similar to NC0’s ‘rocket’ at a distance. One of his distinctive features is the pretty ‘guy-liner’ at the edges of his eyes.
With NC0 having left the area this afternoon presumably on a fishing trip, this paler male landed on the nest at 14:18 and spent the next 35 minutes trying to nest scrape and kick out the eggs. He finally succeeded in flicking one out of the nest cup onto the edge, kicked another one clean out of the nest, and crushed the remaining one under his foot.
Believe it or not this is a good outcome for NC0, as it should help her now move on from periodically trying to incubate the eggs, and make her more receptive to accepting this new male. Should she decide to pair up with this new male, it will not only make it easier for her to retain and defend her territory, but also allow plenty of time for the pair to develop a strong bond for next season. Of course, it would help things along if this new male were to start woo-ing her with some fish.
It's early days yet though, and with lots of young osprey due to return into the country any day now, there could be a lot more interest in the nest and in NC0. We will have to see how things unfold in the coming days.
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Thanks for the update, hazlinny.
I know the situation is a sad one for the female, but this resolves the future for her for now.
If she accepts another male now, would there be time to raise another brood this summer ?
Probably too early to think about that now ....first she has to find another bloke 🦅
We last wrote updating what had been happening on the nest on Tuesday evening, when the 'Pale Male' intruder came in and crushed one egg, flicked the other out of the nest and kicked the other onto the edge of the nest cup.
Later that evening NC0 returned to find her nest in disarray, rolled the remaining egg into the nest cup and attempted to incubate it for a short period, before leaving the nest for the night.
The 'Pale Male' returned early next morning (Wed 8th) and spent time rearranging the nest and bringing in sticks before finally crushing the final egg and flicking the remains clear out. Some time later he returned to defend the nest, loudly guard calling (chipping) and squealing at a sky dancing osprey (thought to be the 'Dark Intruder') overhead. He flew off the nest to give chase.
NC0 wasn't seen until later that evening when she returned to the nest, making a contact call on landing with an enormous fish. She then spent considerable time eating on the nest before flying with it out of sight, no doubt out of the eyes of hungry crows, one of which picked the nest clean later that evening.
Fast forward to today (Thursday 9th) and it was the turn of the 'Dark Intruder' (with the large right pupil) to spend time on the nest. We think at this point NC0 flew past round the Point with her fish, briefly pursued by the male, before he returned onto the nest again. It wasn't long before the 'Pale Male' put in an appearance and walloped the other osprey clean off the nest! The two were then seen chasing each other off reserve and as yet haven't been seen since.
Finally, at around 15:40 NC0 returned (without her huge fish) to her favoured 'Split Birch' perch, where she has been preening and digesting her large two-day meal .
Who knows what will happen in the next few days!?
A lot has been happening in and around the osprey nest since the ‘Pale Male’ destroyed NC0’s eggs on the 7th and 8th May, and looked to be the dominant bird taking an interest in the territory. We last saw him on the webcam knocking off and chasing the ‘Dark Intruder’ from the nest on the morning of Thursday 9th.
We were surprised therefore to see the ‘Dark Intruder’ as the osprey who returned later the next day to lay claim to the nest. It has been frequently seen on the nest, chipping at passing overhead threats, preening on top of the webcam and generally hanging around the reserve since.
Meanwhile, NC0 has been sighted regularly on several of her favourite perches and haunts off camera including the ‘Split Birch’, which she successfully fished from last night. She has been eating well and at the time of writing is tucked away on a quiet perch eating a good-sized rainbow trout , which she looks to have caught herself.
Saturday 11th was a particularly interesting day, where the ‘Dark Intruder’ defended the nest on multiple occasions from the 'Pale Male'. However, later that afternoon a fish exchange was observed between an osprey (thought to be the ‘Pale Male’) and NC0 away from the nest. This osprey took off and left NC0 to her meal. It wasn’t long however before the ‘Dark Intruder’ landed next to her and began trying to beg for food and even tried to pull it from her! Eventually, a spectacular chase ensued and NC0 dropped her fish before landing on the nest, where she sat for some time.
Since then there appears to have been a cool ‘Entente Cordial’ between NC0 and the ‘Dark Intruder’, and both were seen on the nest this morning, with the ‘Dark Intruder’ even starting to rearrange the nest. Despite calling for fish all morning, the ‘Dark Intruder’ continued to preen on top of the webcam, before NC0 finally went off to hunt for herself, returning with the large rainbow trout mentioned above.
Once again we witnessed the ‘Dark Intruder’ trying to solicit food from her, before finally heading off presumably to fish for themselves, or perhaps finally impress her with a catch!
It's fascinating viewing, and a complex jigsaw puzzle we are trying to piece together. There are bound to be other twists and turns, and potentially another swing in the dominance of the two osprey interested in the territory, which could be made even more interesting with the return of two-year olds returning to the country for the first time!
Since last Monday (13th) a cool ‘Entente Cordial’ has developed between NC0 and the ‘Dark Intruder’, with both being seen increasingly around the reserve and NC0 regularly fish calling to him for food, although she got fed up of waiting and headed off to fish for herself, returning with a large rainbow trout.
‘Dark Intruder’ & NC0 starting to get along © Scottish Wildlife Trust webcam
There have been other osprey intruding on the territory throughout the week, with up to four seen in the air at one point! On Wednesday 15th a ringed Scottish bird; Blue 247 landed on the nest for the second year in a row. This bird is thought to be female due to her markings and after being chased off by the ‘Dark Intruder’ it certainly seemed to trigger a change in NC0’s behaviour. Shortly after Blue 247’s visit NC0 has been spending significantly more time on the nest and on top of the webcam, and for the last four nights she has roosted on the nest-perch.
Since that day the ‘Dark Intruder’ appears to have grown in confidence and seems to be beginning to understand what is expected of him if he is to be accepted by NC0 and be the dominant male on the territory. He has been seen regularly and vigorously defending the nest. Encouraged by NC0’s fish calling, he has also made multiple fishing attempts from the ‘Split Birch’ and ‘Point’ perches.
As he looks to be an inexperienced and young bird, no doubt trying to partner up for the first time, his small offerings and timings up until the last few days have been out of sync with NC0, with him often landing on the nest when NC0 has not been about.
However, there was a real turning point on Sunday 19th May, with the ‘Dark Intruder’ not bringing in one, but three (small) fish to the nest for NC0, accompanied by several spectacular skydances in the a
Whilst the second fish almost went overboard and had to be retrieved by NC0, all three were successfully exchanged and it seems that NC0’s ‘gentle’ audible persuasions seem to be working – though she seems less than impressed with his nest building efforts, which whilst very enthusiastic, are a little haphazard!
All in all, things seem to looking positive for this pair, and with the whole summer ahead of they should be able to settle into a routine that enables them to bond, improve their communication and defend the territory, (hopefully) ahead of returning as a breeding pair next season.
Whilst it is unlikely that the pair will be able to breed this season, with a new bond forming it is still an extremely sensitive and critical time in the reproductive life cycle of the osprey. With that in mind we ask that people are still mindful of the space that the pair require to be able to settle on territory undisturbed.
NC0 putting in her fish order to ‘Dark Intruder’ © Scottish Wildlife TrustwWebcam
It has a been fascinating period of viewing, and a complex jigsaw puzzle to piece together. There are of course bound to be other twists and turns over the coming months, and other osprey vying for the territory, especially with the return of two-year olds currently returning into the country for the first time.
Things though are looking promising for this pair, and we will continue to keep our fingers and talons crossed for the coming months!
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