The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Wildlife => Topic started by: Fleecewife on April 09, 2018, 01:31:55 pm
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The Woodland Trust bought a big chunk of Loch Arkaig Forest recently, with help from its friends and we have a camera set up on an osprey nest there. I watched it compulsively last year, and followed the pair, Louis and Aila, as they raised their first ever chick Lachie. They all flew off to Africa for the winter, and have just arrived back after that amazing migration. They are just rebuilding their nest and furnishing it from last year, and are also busy 'making babies'. There are other osprey cams around, especially on Loch Garten with a lovely elderly female, and plenty from the states, often in crazy places. Still, my favourites are this pair at Loch Arkaig.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/support-an-appeal/arkaig-pinewoods/wildlife/osprey-cam/ (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/support-an-appeal/arkaig-pinewoods/wildlife/osprey-cam/)
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I'm impressed that they can manage tie wraps!
Joking aside, it is great to see these magnificent birds. We have them further North at Keswick and I have seen the odd one over Coniston Water.
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Further south at Keswick and Coniston? Unfortunately I don't live near the lochs so haven't seen the ospreys live, except in Africa. I can't get enough of the osprey cam and being able to watch the domestic details of their lives. Louis is good at catching fish, but both Aila and the chicks are totally dependent on him for food - no fish coming in, they die.
The cable ties are rather horrible aren't they, but last year bits of the nest were close to coming a cropper.
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The Mid Wales ospreys are back too.
Google Dyfi ospreys to find live streaming from the visitor centre.
They're easy to spot at the visitor centre but we had a brill sighting at a small nature reserve only a few miles from here, last year. A single osprey diving into the river and also having a bath!
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Ah Monty and Glesni from Spring Watch a few years back. Looks like Monty's being a bad boy before Glesni gets home! Compulsive watching.
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I'm impressed that they can manage tie wraps!
I once found a bird's nest on a chemical plant that was made almost entirely from snipped cable tie ends. I think it may have been a starling?
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Further south at Keswick and Coniston? Unfortunately I don't live near the lochs so haven't seen the ospreys live, except in Africa. I can't get enough of the osprey cam and being able to watch the domestic details of their lives. Louis is good at catching fish, but both Aila and the chicks are totally dependent on him for food - no fish coming in, they die.
The cable ties are rather horrible aren't they, but last year bits of the nest were close to coming a cropper.
Further North from us but yes, further South for you!
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Further south at Keswick and Coniston? Unfortunately I don't live near the lochs so haven't seen the ospreys live, except in Africa. I can't get enough of the osprey cam and being able to watch the domestic details of their lives. Louis is good at catching fish, but both Aila and the chicks are totally dependent on him for food - no fish coming in, they die.
The cable ties are rather horrible aren't they, but last year bits of the nest were close to coming a cropper.
Ah yes, I see. Silly me !
Not much going on in the nest right now, just both birds nest building, alternating between it looking like a dog's dinner, then all neat and ready for eggs.
Further North from us but yes, further South for you!
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Sad news today - a pine marten stole all three eggs from Louis and Aila's nest in the night. It's too late for them to lay more so that's their season ended :'(