Weekly Summary – Sunday, 13th May
May 13, 2012 in Wildlife Village by Shirley D
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Good morning everyone,
I do hope that you are each having a good weekend and that those feeling a little under the weather will soon be back on form.
Just one week to go before our ‘big meet’ at Loch of The Lowes and I hope that all those attending have made their final arrangements for transport, car sharing, pick-ups and accommodation that may be required. Food and soft drinks will be provided and tea and coffee will be available in the Visitor Centre. We have been allocated the use of the Crannog Hide in which to gather should the weather not be what we hope for and have been asked by The Visitor Centre to bear in mind that all sound from the hides travels across the loch to the Osprey nest and therefore if we can contain our excitement to a minimum so as not to disturb the birds it would be much appreciated. To cut down taking over the carpark at the Visitor Centre, we have agreed again with Lowes, to car share, and leave some cars at the car park in the bus station which is situated right at the very end of the main road coming from over the bridge into Dunkeld. As far as we are aware it is free parking on a Sunday. For those able to provide car sharing and/or lifts, we will be meeting there at around 12:30pm in order that no-one has to make their way up to The Loch alone.
Remember to bring your cameras so that we can all take home some special memories of the day and share our pictures on the blog in the days following. This will be a first time gathering for some and will be wonderful to finally meet and put faces and voices to the people we correspond with on a daily basis.
On behalf of the Admins, Thank you once again for all your help in making this another special day for us all, and you never know we might even get a hatching that day!
Now to the summary of events that have taken place on the nest during this last week.
© Screenshot pictures copyright Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
Sunday, 6th May
Lady is unsettled at 2:50am but slips back to sleep for the remainder of the night. Laddie has arrived early and is incubating at 6:45am, taking a break just before 7:00am when he has a quick wing-stretch. Upon returning he has only been settled for around ten minutes when he begins alarm calling but nothing comes of whatever has caused him a disturbance. Lady is back half an hour later and lands on her observation perch quietly chirping while Laddie thinks out his strategy on whether he should move or not! On second thoughts he decides he will take a break as there must be some sticks and moss in urgent need of being gathered somewhere around the loch. He is back just a few minutes later with a large twig which he attempts to place around Lady but concedes and flies away. At 9:25am the eggs lie unprotected and vulnerable but Lady has only taken a short break and is back upon them shortly joined by Laddie who is now undertaking a few light housekeeping duties around her. It is a wet morning and the nest is once again becoming saturated having only just dried out over the last few days. Lady stands giving a few brisk wing flaps in order to shake herself down. Just before midday Laddie delivers lunch in the form of a large pike which is swiftly taken away to eat in a drier location.
Bedraggled Lady!
It is windy and wet and Laddie hunkers down bedraggled on the nest, protecting the eggs from the inclement forces. He remains there until just before 2:00pm when Lady returns having suitably feasted on the meal he delivered two hours earlier then she takes position back on the nest as Laddie vacates. Within ten minutes she is watching something in the airspace above her and begins alarm calling which brings Laddie back in like a shot and both birds mantle defensively as an intruder lands upon her perch. It is successfully evicted but remains within the vicinity while both birds continue to alarm call. Once the threat has been eliminated changeover of duty takes place and Laddie settles himself to incubate.
Following two further changeovers, the evening commences as Laddie flies in to carry out a spot of nest restoration while Lady is incubating. It is raining heavily and she is soaked but by 6:55pm her meal has been delivered and she moves to a more sheltered area to eat it. Laddie checks the eggs and turns them then sits back down to await her return. She is back by 8:10pm and other than a last brief visit from Laddie at 9:30pm all falls still and the loch-life retreats to its peaceful slumber with Lady drifting off into the land of osprey dreams.
Monday, 7th May
It has been a long night and Lady has slept with her wings slightly outstretched. At 4:50am she still appears to be dozing but will waken shortly as the loch comes to life with the sound of the dawn chorus. Laddie is witnessed as being on duty later in the morning and again at 9:40am when he delivers a headless fish as breakfast and settles himself down after checking and turning the eggs then proceeding to play with the bark and moss. Lady is back by 10:25am and once she has inspected over the side of the nest and is content that all is well Laddie vacates to allow her to take over. She remains on incubation for the rest of the morning checking the eggs at regular intervals and calling out intermittently.
It is a windy afternoon and Lady remains on duty until 2:35pm when another large meal is delivered and Laddie takes charge of the nest. Having only been on duty for ten minutes, he is alarm calling as the resident geese have made their presence known and come a little too close again. He will no doubt usher them back to their own quarters if this is the case. Within half an hour of Lady’s departure she is back, she could surely not have consumed that fish in such a short time and must have left it in her larder to go back to later.
By late afternoon as Laddie incubates, the geese are still causing bother and can be heard honking as they fly overhead. The rain is pelting down upon the nest and he is becoming soaked, he stands to stretch his wings and dispel the water that gathers upon them, taking the opportunity to check the eggs whilst he is up. Lady returns to the nest at 7:10pm having taken shelter and quite possibly fed from the earlier fish delivery and Laddie now gets his chance to dry off in his own favoured area. He returns with some fresh bedding a short while later though Lady remains on incubation for the rest of the evening and is settled and sleeping by 10:15pm.
Tuesday, 8th May
Lady lies flat through the early hours of the morning, just occasionally opening her eyes which can be seen as the light from the moon reflects onto them. She is wet with rain and stands at intervals to shake herself free of it and re-settle upon the eggs. By 6:30am the weather has dried off a little and she waits for Laddie to visit. She takes in the sweet sound of the dawn chorus which is now in full melody and gazes out across the loch. At 7:30am she is in need of a break and takes a quick flight around the nest site to stretch her wings, returning to bask in the early morning sunlight. As she waits for Laddie to make his appearance she is visited by the little great tit which continues to pluck at the microphone covering for its own nest bedding. Laddie has been fishing early and brings in breakfast at 8:30am but must be hungry as he fails to transfer it immediately and proceeds to eat on the nest within her presence but eventually relents and stands aside to let her take a nibble also. Suitably feasted, he moves down onto the eggs and takes up incubation as Lady flies off with her meal. She is gone for almost two hours, during which time Laddie has remained alert, watching above and around him and scanning the area from left to right then back again. He takes flight as she returns and she quickly settles back onto the eggs.
During the early afternoon he is back on duty, playing with the grass and moss. Lady flies onto her perch at 1:40pm and hops down to the nest to take over. She checks and turns the eggs at regular intervals through the afternoon and spends a while preening as she listens to the small birds chattering beneath the nest. Incubation changeover takes place at 4:10pm and he remains in-situ for almost an hour and a half, occupying his time with nest tidying until she returns. At 5:50pm Lady takes position back on the nest cup once she has checked that all is to her satisfaction. She has a final break when Laddie comes in for his last spell of duty for the day at 8:00pm and is back for her long overnight incubation at 9:30pm. Laddie retreats to his own sleeping quarters and she beds down, sound asleep by 10:20pm as the loch night-life takes over to commence its own routine daily chores.
Wednesday, 9th May
It has been still and silent around the nest and Lady has had a more peaceful night than of late. She briefly stirs for a wing-stretch and preen at 2:00am but otherwise dozes peacefully. Laddie arrives at 6:40am to take over and give her that much needed break following her lengthy overnight spell of duty. The weather is calm with barely a whisper of breeze in the air as the trees remain motionless and he surveys all around him in his alert fashion whilst undertaking his important sentry duty. At 7:45am Lady returns and changeover is effected; perhaps Laddie will set off around the loch on a breakfast hunt because as of yet, no meal has been delivered. At around 10:00am both birds are on the nest but something seems to have disturbed their peace as they appear a little agitated. It could possibly be the resident geese that have become somewhat bothersome of late but whatever the disturbance, it comes to nothing and all falls back to normal. By late morning Laddie has been gathering moss which he brings in as fresh bedding but Lady is still hoping he will locate a fish somewhere along his travels.
In Fabulous Close-up!
At 12:25pm Laddie duly obliges and lunch is delivered. Not wishing to appear overly eager, Lady takes her time in rising; she must maintain a modicum of decency and not let him think he has won her over! She then inspects and retrieves the meal and flies off to vigorously tear into it once no-one is watching her. Laddie is left to settle himself down and tidy around while he incubates. He is disturbed by an intruder at 1:40pm and stands alarm calling, whisking his head around as he watches its moves intently. His calls are sufficient to keep it at a safe distance from the nest and he settles back down having checked and turned the eggs. He remains on duty for the rest of the afternoon and upon Lady’s return he is afforded a welcome break of his own, he has definitely earned one!
The wind has gathered as the evening commences and Lady pecks at a twig to keep her beak in pristine condition. It is a significant ripping and tearing tool which is equally as important as those mega talons they possess and requires the equivalent of avian dentistry so must be maintained to a high standard on a regular basis. She is calling at 8:15pm and within ten minutes supper has appeared. She must therefore have witnessed Laddie at his feeding station and was letting him know she could see him, there is no way he can ignore her once he knows he’s been spotted but Laddie would not do that – would he? It is an extremely large meal which means she won’t go hungry overnight and could probably stow some in her larder for when later required. As Laddie undertakes his final incubation of the day he keeps a close check on the eggs rearranging the moss and twigs to his satisfaction then finally settles. Having been away for an hour and a quarter, Lady returns to allow him to retire to his sleeping perch for the night. He has done a good job as always and certainly does not appear to get rebuked or reprimanded as frequently as poor old Eric and 7Y did, but then perhaps age has mellowed the old girl and she simply cannot be bothered any longer! Once she has taken up position back on the eggs she settles herself down but the stillness of the night is disturbed by a low flying jet at 10:45pm. Lady is accustomed to these disturbances having witnessed them for many years and knows she will come to no harm from them. She has a wing-stretch just before midnight and beds down for the duration. Goodnight Lady!
Thursday, 10th May
Overnight has been wet for our birds and Lady has hunkered down ensuring the warmth and safety of her un-hatched young. Can she feel them moving within their shells; can they hear her and Laddie chirping and calling to one another; has their egg tooth yet formed which will give them the strength to break through the inner membrane of their shell? This is known as ‘pipping’ and chicks have a ‘pipping muscle’ located on the back of their necks to enable them to use their egg tooth to hatch. This egg tooth comes away after hatching.
It is a windy morning around the loch and Laddie is on duty, sitting tight and playing around with the nesting materials while he awaits Lady’s return. At 11:40am she flies in landing upon her observation perch then hops down to the nest bowl for a moment with Laddie. Once he has vacated, she checks the eggs and settles herself into position. She remains on incubation throughout the afternoon, turning and checking the eggs at regular intervals.
Just after 6:00pm Laddie delivers a sizeable feast which he transfers to her and she takes off. Despite her soliciting, she was somewhat reluctant to leave the eggs but she knows they are safe with Laddie in charge. He wastes no time and immediately takes over incubation. The resident geese are honking as evening draws in and Laddie rises occasionally to tend to the eggs safely incubating beneath him. Any non-hatchings which may occur this year will not be down to the lack of attention provided by our birds, as uninterrupted incubation took place from the first egg being laid. Lady returns at 8:40pm, having been absent from the nest for over two hours. She will be fully feasted and assured that hunger will not catch her up during her long overnight incubation. Laddie retires to his sleeping quarters and Lady has settled down for the night by 10:00pm.
Friday, 11th May
During the night Lady rouses to preen and reposition the eggs. Laddie is already on duty at 4:30am as dawn is approaching and the loch coming to life with its resident songbirds. He remains on incubation until almost 7:30am when Lady reappears and provides him a break of his own. Just an hour later he is back in, rearranging the sticks and nest bedding and spending a little time together with Lady before she departs again. The wind has picked up and it is getting blustery around the loch. By late morning he has been relieved of duty and Lady once again is sat tightly upon their eggs. She is unaffected by the changeable weather as, after all these years, she is more than accustomed to it and has sat through every type of weather we can possible imagine. No wonder our birds choose to holiday in warmer climes and stay there for so long!
Lady repositions the eggs just after midday and Laddie arrives to take over at 12:30pm but first spends quality time with her before she departs. She is away for just less than an hour and comes back looking wet and bedraggled. She has either been fishing or taking in the full force of the rain to be in such a wet condition. Laddie retreats to collect fresh nesting materials and locates a rather large stick which simply must become a part of their nest; it is far too good to leave behind for someone else to make use of. He struggles as he attempts to place it into position and then picks up an alternative stick which he puts onto Lady’s back to make room for it. By mid-afternoon Lady is still on duty and calling. No fish delivery has yet been witnessed and she is getting hungry. She could, of course, have fished herself earlier in the day or even eaten from her cache but there is no evidence to support this so far.
Laddie has excelled in collecting sticks and branches today and following further changeovers of duty Lady is enjoying a little evening sunshine as the resident geese make their way overhead. Throughout the evening she solicits but no meal is delivered and by 10:00pm she has given up and settled down for the long night ahead.
Saturday, 12th May
Lady has had a quiet night, stirring only to reposition herself and the eggs and take an occasional wing-stretch. Laddie is an early visitor just after 4:00am with the tail end of a fish for Lady’s breakfast but she shows no interest and flies away leaving it on the side of the nest. It is a beautifully sunny morning at the loch and Laddie is still on duty at 6:30am. Lady re-joins him following her morning break and only then proceeds to tuck into the remains of the fish delivered earlier. Following a further changeover of duty Laddie is undertaking some nestorations involving stick moving and finally settles down once he is happy with his work. At 9:30am both birds occupy the nest with periodic changes throughout the morning. Laddie continues his nest building, at one point bringing in another stick and sitting directly upon Lady thereby rendering her unable to move.
Fish Delivery at 5:00pm by Neil Macdonald
The afternoon has remained dry and Lady sits resplendent in the glorious sunshine. However, she reaps revenge upon Laddie when she returns from a break at 3:20pm carrying a large moss and lichen covered branch, dropping it right on top of him. He looked up at her questioningly before taking flight, did he get the message? Just after 5:00pm Laddie delivers what looks to be a complete fish and Lady is up before he has even landed. She takes it to an eating perch somewhere around the loch leaving Laddie to take over incubation yet again.
The wind has picked up as twilight draws in and Laddie arrives with another large stick which fits just nicely onto Lady’s back. By late evening she is incubating and at 9:48pm repositions the eggs. She takes a final break to stretch her wings just after 10:00pm and settles herself down for her long overnight duty. Goodnight Lady!
A SONNET FOR LADY FROM LADDIE
Oh Lady, grand and stately, you’re my object of desire As you nest within your eyrie, set my beating heart on fire I saw you as I passed your loch, your home for many years And could not leave you sat alone to wait in vain through tears. I stopped to offer comfort, bring a smile back to your face You told me of your ‘Laird’ who last you saw in this great place You thought that time was passing and too late it might have been To undertake your duties there befitting of a Queen. We discussed the situation and concluded that we should Assess our growing friendship, for if your Laird returned he would Expect to reaffirm the bond you held with him so dear When the eggs you bore together sadly failed to hatch last year. I substitute for taking care of you and tending to the nest In his absence I’ve restored the structure to its very best Your Laird would want you safe and warm in this adverse and stormy weather My Lady, for you alone, I will provide for this endeavour. So together we are coupled as we sit in fine resplendence And the eggs that form our bond will soon hatch into our dependents Graceful young to hold our genes and to the population add And continue this great story of a ‘Lady’ and her ‘Lad’.Finally, could anyone wanting to purchase the 2011 fundraiser book “The Lady Returns”, please leave their names on the list which is under the “Fundraising” drop down menu, and “Names for Book Request”. Add your name in the “Leave a reply” box at the bottom of the page and one will be ordered for you. I am hoping to have these delivered from printing before the meeting on 20th May and can distribute them at that time. For those that are not attending I will arrange for them to be posted out as I did last year. The price will be £14.00 (plus postage) For those that have already pre-ordered please check the list and make sure your name is included. If it is not, let me know please!
Nestcap Saturday 12th May 2012 Fish Deliveries – 2 04.05 Laddie arrives for 1st changer over with a fish for Lady, but she’s not interested, and flies off 06.28 Sunshine on the Loch of the Lowes and Laddie on the nest. He gets up for a stretch of his wings. He has found the remains of a fish in the top of the nest and eating some, now joined by Lady, who flew in from over the Loch. They are both eating it together now.06.31 Laddie flies off, leaving Lady incubating the eggs. 06.38 Laddie back with the piece of fish he flew off with. Lady shouting at him. He is eating it on the nest.
06.41 Lady gets up and takes it off him, she flies off and he gets onto the eggs. 07.35 – Laddie still on the nest. 07-48, Laddie on the eggs, in lovely sunshine. Maybe today the fine weather will result in better fishing. 08.39 BOTH ON NEST 09.27 Just looked in at Lowes – BOTH ON NEST, CHANGEOVER 11.50 Laddie flies onto nest and immediatly sticks a twig across Lady’s backwhile she is lying very low in nest, he’s sitting on her now! 11-50, Laddie lands on the nest, and proceeds to put a stick across Lady`s back and then walk on her head
11-52 he is standing right over her, she cant move as her head is under his bum , and he is still moving sticks.
11-53, he is off. 10.55. I didn’t think Lady would give up her comfortable spot, and off he flies. Lady rearranging moss around her chest, sitting in 11o’cposition. 12-11, Lady sitting in glorious sunshine. 12.33 Is it the static cam that is still on? 13.31 The picture of the nest is very poor. Lady is beginning to call out and it’s windy 14.29 Really awful picture today ~ guessing it’s Lady on the nest but struggling to make out who it is! 15.11 Lady incessant in her calling now 15.14 Laddie arrives empty talloned. Lady still in full nagging mode, leaves in a hurry. 15.23 KARMA ~ Brilliant. Lady arrives back with a thick stick. Promptly places it on Laddies back and stands on it, only for a few seconds though and he is off!! 15.41 Lady shouting again, plus getting feed back from the VC by the sounds of it of her shouting too 16-16, What is that to the left of Lady? a big fish, or her wing at an awkward angle?. 16-38, She has just moved and you were right MARION. Thank you. It did look rather odd though. Nightwatch Notes from Loch of the Lowes: http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/ 17.01 Fish Delivery, looks like the head is still on. Lady up before Laddie landed, straight on it and off. He gets onto the eggs 18.00 Static camera on 18.43 Lady arrives on her perch. Laddie flies off and Lady flies down into the nest. 19-06 just logged on in time to see Laddie land. Then he picks up a stick and drapes it across Ladies back.
19-07, now he`s off. Lady trying to put stick back in place in front of her. 19-11, Lady now in dappled sunshine. Beautiful. 22.06 Lady just flew off for a little wing stretch, but was back in less than a minute 22.37 Lady looks well settled now 23.26 Lady still has her head tucked under her wings sleeping 23.45 Lady up and gives her eggs a little turn and then settles down again, and she lays her head back down again
I would like to wish our good friend Susan (USA) a very Happy Birthday. Have a wonderful day Susan and hoping all of your dreams come true! xxx
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=3489620475167&source=jl999
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The Dyfi Osprey Project and the Scottish wildlife Trust have kindly given their permission for us to post still and video images from their webcams. To visit their sites please click on the relevant link. Loch of the Lowes. Dyfi Osprey Project.
going to get Emma, back soon xx
I wish that bloomin’ wind would stop a while, we don’t want scrambled eggs now….
If the rain holds off, the nest will be dried through.
have I spoken too soon as it looks Lady? is wet, is she???
E x
Happy birthday sUSAn
Have a fantastic day 
I have had to decrease top and bottom of picture from Lowes, so that I can’t see all the branches dancing about, wasn’t helping my vertigo!
E x
Nora feeding Monty!!
http://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/blog/category/this-week
I just love the degree of detail Ems posts on their blog, and his humour too – I loved his inclusion of the Fender Stratocaster!!
Sorry I’ve not been around much today, I went back to bed at midday, as I’m just getting ready to go and do a rare night shift! Catch you all tomorrow!! xxx
The bit about the guitar made me laugh too, Nick!!
Not long now Nick!! Stay chilled at work. See you tomorrow xxx
Fi, that footage is amazing. The look of horror on Monty’s face when she tries to give him some fish is absolutely hilarious!
That’s amazing footage. Thanks, Fiona
Brilliant video, thanks Fiona xxx
Super Clip Fiona, Thanks, that’s now in my favourites. xxx
fantastic Fiona, Ems has such a great way with words to and can be so funny.
Loved the footage of Nora trying to feed Monty, Awww bless her xx
Thanks Fiona – absolutely brilliant
Marion x
Hi Again, thanks for all the Replay’s Susan, great to see again, and also one’s that I missed.
Guess what, I don’t believe this any more than you probably will, I won another Double CD on air today, was watching the Cam’s off and on, heard a clue on Air so phoned in, could not believe it when Tom Ferrie the DJ rang back, to say I’d won, he said “Didn’t you win Recently” said yes about a fortnight ago, told him I was doing exactly the same as last week or whenever. So when Numpty here was put on Air he asked what the Weather was like here, I said same as yours you’re only down the Road aren’t you, no I’m in Glasgow he say’s, I honestly thought it was only Tayside the Programme covered. Now the Proud owner of a Heavy Metalish Cd with only about 3 names I recognise, well He said off Air, not advisable to play too loud. Will be interesting to hear…..Guess who will not be phoning Tom Ferrie in a Hurry. LOL
Thanks Lowes for the Great Close Up’s of Lady again today.
Maggie you ought to go for three in a row! well done.
Dx
Thanks Deirdre, but I have been so lucky with Tay Am over the years think I’ll leave the weekend phone in’s alone now. LOL
LOL, trust you Maggie lol, but that was great that you won again, good for you. xx
Well done Maggie
Congratulations Maggie!
Thanks Everyone.
Wish our poor Two were not so Windswept, and there seems to be no respite till about Wednesday, There are Thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow….hope they have that wrong.
17.43 Laddie lands on the nest, but way to windy so flies off again. Lady is hunkered down.
Bless her she is soaking
© SWT http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
A close up the nest earlier
© SWT http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
17.49 Dont you just feel for her, wish the wind and rain would cease.
© SWT http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
18.17 Night camera switches on
18.29 Lady quite flat in the nest, which is being blown all over the place. And it is to get worse tonight from what I hear. So glad she got that fish today
BARBARAMC & VILLAGERS – Great news from Threave, thanks for letting me know Barbara, I spoke to Karl the Ranger,wouldn’t you know he was having a day off and was fishing in Perthshire, so I felt a bit guilty bothering him, he didn’t seem to mind even thought he had been waiting for this trip with his mate for four years! Uuuupppss!
Anyway he said that he had a text from one of the volunteers at Threave saying there had been three ospreys there yesterday, as twitter said Barbara, they have started mating, I don’t use twitter so if you see any more can you let me know. Perhaps one of the volunteers tweets. Seems like the ladies waited till Karl was away before returning, hope they can agree which is to be the wife.
Lovely day at Carsington, settled in now for couple of weeks now, walked the length of the dam wall today, was very windy! Pretty knackered when I got back with the dogs. No wildlife so far.
Ospreys have visited Carsington this year, but have not stayed, which is a shame, perhaps next year.
Spoke to soon about the wildlife being absent, Sid or Sylvia squirrel has just had a recce round our van, eyeing it up for an early morning break in to the larder I think. It looked quite a small one, female or youngster, grey of course, the other colour disappeared from this area a long time ago in the 1950s I think, my Dad remembered reds when he was a boy.
Jenny C xx
Hi Jenny
great news about the ospreys at Threave’s, something to look forward to.
So you have had a fleeting visit from Sid or Sylvia squirrel already, lol, better make sure the larder is shut tight, lol. Such a shame that the Red’s have disappeared from there all those years ago
xxxx
Hi Jenny
I don’t do Twitter either but noticed you hadn’t been on since Marion mentioned it yesterday, so thought you may not hear until tonight, was just lucky I had your number. Great news, anyway, will look forward to hearing about their progress
BarbMc
x
Great news about the Ospreys at Threave Jenny. Sounds like you will have to hide the larder in the boot again so Sid or Sylvia cant nibble xxx
Hope you see the Osprey’s at Threave Jenny. Nothing is Squirrel Proof except probably your car boot. Enjoy your visit. xx
19.05 The wind at the nest is still awful, and poor Lady still quite flat in the nestcup keeping her eggs warm
JOYCE C – Have replied to your emails and sent you a private message, I’m not to familiar with the reply system so I hope you get them. Look forward to hearing from you.
Jenny C xx
Those winds are mighty fierce at Lowes just now. So windy that I suspect Lady Marge’s next meal may be a flying fish
JOYCE C – Have received both of my emails back as undelivered, so I have gone on to members site with your message from last night on and have replied there, hope this works.
Jenny C
More sightings today from Birdguides:
18:14 13/05/12 Osprey Wilts Downton
17:08 13/05/12 Osprey Lincs Messingham Sand Quarry 10:00
16:44 13/05/12 Osprey Aberdeenshire Ythan Estuary 16:40
16:19 13/05/12 Osprey Anglesey Alaw Estuary 15:00
15:58 13/05/12 Osprey E Yorks Spurn
15:08 13/05/12 Osprey Northumbs Cresswell Pond NWT 14:00
15:08 13/05/12 Osprey Staffs Belvide Reservoir (PERMIT ONLY) 08:00
14:44 13/05/12 Osprey Staffs Maer Hills 14:40
14:31 13/05/12 Osprey Northumbs Holy Island 14:15
14:16 13/05/12 Osprey E Yorks Carnaby 11:50
Poor Lady, just been out and it was difficult enough on ground level, never mind way up a Scot’s Pine Tree!!! Hold in there Lady, surely it has to improve tomorrow???
I hope so Fiona, it is awful here too xx
20.04 Lady turns the eggs
20.10 Laddie flies onto the nest, Lady does not get up, maybe she expects him to go fishing!!
20.11 Laddie flies off
I am nicely chilled. Toad in the Hole just about ready, glass of red to wash it down with. Then off for an early night. See you all tomorrow. Sleep tight and sweet dreams. Stay safe Lady and Laddie xxxx
Enjoy Jan – sleep well.
Dx
enjoy the rest of your evening Jan and the glass of Red, lol
Sweet dreams xxxx
Still the wind blows up at the Lowes – no I’m not beginning to write a poem, but how I wish that our dear Lady might get some peace from the howling og the wind, constant swaying of her nest and the ruffling of her feathers. Much as I would love to see a hatching on the 20th or thereabouts, I think that it might be best if those babies wait a little longer until things calm down. For the last couple of hours I have been immersed in the most beautiful music as I watched the Final of the BBC’s Young Musician of 2012. The three instrumentalists were so young, in fact today was the 16th birthday of the young lady who played her choice of a Verdi ‘concerto’ on the recorder, the first time for this instrument in any of the competitions. The other two instrumentalists were both just 15, in fact the cellist had her birthday just last week! She played a concerto by William Walton, and the third musician, a pianist, played the beautiful Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Goodness knows how the judges, all eminent in the field of music, managed to choose a winner, but they did and it was the young cellist from East Sussex. She attends a local comprehensive school where she is now studying for her A-levels, then travels up to the Royal Academy of Music every Saturday to attend various classes, and also over to Holland once a month to an Academy there where her cello teacher is a Russian. She is a delightful girl who becomes part of her cello as soon as she starts to play with such feeling for the music and with such poise. A heavenly two hours. Now I am going back to read all about what has been happening here while I have been ‘away’.
Sounds like an excellent final Rosy, must catch it on IPlayer, a fine achievement by the winner
as she has come through the hard way, quite different to actually going to a music school full time.
Like you have not enjoyed seeing Lady blown about today.
Dx
ROSY – Thanks for letting us know who won the Young Musician of the Year, I saw the chellist in the heats, she is a worthy winner.
Jenny C
20.31 Im sure I can just hear Lady shouting, her beaks moving anyway in time , lol
The wind actually stopped for a moment at the nest.
copyright swt http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/#
21.01 Lady and her nest still being blown from side to side
couple of clips for you from earlier
20.09 LADDIE LANDS ON LADY’S BACK
Lol, just shows how bad the wind was.
CLIP FROM 5.24PM CHANGE OVER, BUT LADDIE IS LISTENING TO THE GEESE
Hello villagers! Just got through reading the blog from yesterday and today – and again, as ever, a great big thankyou to Shirley for the weekly round-up and that fantastic poem! I really think that is how our Lad thinks – yes he is a clown at times but an adorable one, and although she shakes her head in despair sometimes when he brings home moss instead of a fish, I am sure the bonding is very secure and bodes well for the arrival of the chicks!
I had a great time with my brother and his lady, and the weather was lovely! Very warm, sunny and dry, just a bit windy over the Reservoirs which made the water very choppy so not good for reflections, but I managed to take a few pics – my favourites being of some Little Egrets nesting in the trees over on the far side of the Reservoir which I managed to get with my little zoom at its fullest stretch! Also here is a pic of a family of Canada Geese – they were walking along the path towards us but then Mum decided to lead them all into the water and the little ones all plopped down after them, with Dad bringing up the rear – awww. I think I can only put up two at a time so will wait until tomorrow for a few others.
Hi Jill, Im so glad you had such a lovely time with your family. Love the pics, they are great, especially the geese with their chicks, all 6 of them. Lucky you seeing the Egrets too xx
thanks Susan – actually there are 7 goslings, if you enlarge the pic you can just wee a bit of yellow fluff at the base of Dad’s neck as chick hides behind him lol
Aww, lovely photos.
what lovely photos,glad you had a good time.Therecseems to be more egrets about we sometimes see one at Carew but always too far away to get a picture,Thanks for putting that on.xx
Thanks Angela – yes we were lucky seeing the Egrets – there is a large heronry there and also cormorants nesting in the trees but this is the first time I’ve seen Egrets there – there were about 6 of them.
Thanks Fiona – the weather had a lot to do with it too – nice and sunny so all the waterfowl were out preening.
Jill I am so pleased you had a lovely day with your brother and his lady. The weather sounds a lot better there than up this way and even worse at Lowes. I love the photo’s. I have never seen a little Egret, they are truly beautiful birds. As for the Canada Geese and their little ones, just so cute, a lovely Awww capture. Looking forward to the next pics. xxx
thanks Jan yes I was lucky with the weather too – going to try and put up a couple more pics if it will let me!
Lovely pics and glad you had a good time with the family
Thanks Neil – not a tiny patch on yours but not bad for a small compact camera!
Lovely Pictures Jill, love the Geese and their young Thanks. xx
About ten minutes ago, when I started this posting, I reported that Lady had just got up off her eggs for a ‘comfort break’ and a wing flap before hastily returning to her incubation, lest the eggs became chilled. Once again, however, that and the rest of my post disappeared and I was whisked back to the Lowes cam!!! I wish there was some way that I could ‘fix’ this reply box, so that everything doesn’t disappear should I touch some part of the keyboard and away it goes. I’ll try and remember what I was saying .
SUSAN, Thank you so much for all your screen photos today and specially the videos, particulary the two showing Laddie delivering fish to his Lady. Thank goodness she has had plenty to eat today as she battles against the elements to protect her precious eggs. Well done LADDIE for managing to catch those fish in such horrendous conditions.
FIONA What extraordinary behaviour from Nora over at Dyfi. Monty’s expression was a picture wasn’t it, as if to say, what on earth do you think you are doing! Perhaps Nora had a brainstorm thinking that her eggs had already hatched. Many thanks for bringing that gem here.
Well MAGGIE, winner of CDs! Who knows, perhaps you will be asked to appear on your local TV to explain your ‘strategy’! Mind you, can’t say I’m keen on the type of music.
MARION, hI. Thank you for your links today, I haven’t read all of them yet, but was so interested in reading all about those 73 Herrons’ nests built in the same wood in Somerset. Even down there the bad weather delayed their building of those nests. I tend to concentrate so much on our birds, that I forget all the struggles for other birds of all kinds and sizes at this time of year, desperate to carry out breeding. At last, Rothiemurchas is back in the UK. I do hope that it isn’t too late for him to find his own lady with a nest so that he can get down to the business of starting a family of his own.
JILL I’m so glad you had such a great time with your brother and his lady over the weekend, specially as your visit had ha-d to be postponed recently – no migraine this time.
I know there are so many more posts on which to comment, but I hope you will forgive me dear friends, if I just send this now before it disappears AGAIN.
Thanks Rosy – yes no migraine! Fingers and everything crossed it stays that way for next weekend!
Hello Rosy, I would use term Music loosely in this case. Take Care and will look forward to meeting you again next weekend. xxx
Well not been up the the Loch today, think i would have been sick trying to follow the nest about in the view finder lol. Went out with the wife for a wee walk and did take the camera with me, as always haha
Little Wren from today, not the best pic but alright for a snap shot.
Fantastic pic Neil, Little Wren has a good beak full of food. xx
hi neil so whats wrong with that one then i would be happy with it lovely shot nice and sharp and not the easiest of birds to photograph are they brian.
Bit of a clutter in the background and a touch to much Noise Brian, im a real critic of my own work and im always looking to get better mate.
hi neil i think we are all the same looking for that perfect picture all the time brian.
Beautiful wren Neil – I would be proud of that pic – its a stunner!!
Hi Neil, I think it is a beauty of a picture, I have no idea why you dont think so. Stunning picture of the little wren xx
Think that was the best plan Neil -wonder what pictures you might be showing us from your ‘wee walk’! Father Owl over at the Barn Owl Trust has just arrived in the nest box with a nice, large, fresh meal for Mother owl who now has some owlets to feed but don’t know how many.Back at the Lowes weather continues wild, can’t help worrying that poor Lady won’t get any sleep.
Weather has calmed down a bit up here in the last hour, so should be better up at the Loch aswell.
Right off again, as you can tell I am restless and excited.
I hope Julie is ok as I have not seen her about today (((Hugs)))
See you tomorrow xxxx