Pip pip hooray! Loch Arkaig is officially on pipwatch ready for the first Osprey chick! 20 May 2024

Thanks to Woodland Trust from whose livestream I took this clip. Check out their live cameras on Nest One and Nest Two supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ospreys
In this clip: 14.30 the nest cam starts zooming about, the remote operator is seeking the best close-up view as the first egg could hatch as early as tomorrow 21st May. The zooming soon stops and the view settles. Dorcha of course is unaware of all this. We are now officially on pip-watch looking for that first clue that hatching has begun. It will be easier to see tonight as night cam leaches out the colour from the eggs, allowing any pip or crack to be clearly seen. Eggciting!!
2024 season:
Louis arrived 15.18.38 Thursday 28 March
Dorcha arrived 14.21.27 Saturday 30 March
First Egg laid 11.13.47 Sunday 14 April
Second egg laid 05.55.52 Wednesday 17th April
Dorcha is injured in an Eagle attack 11.08 Friday 19th April
Third egg laid 02.26.08 Saturday 20th April
2023 season: Louis returned 2 April
Dorcha returned 9 April
Reunited 10 April
Egg1 21 April
Golden Eagle touches down 22 April
Egg2 24 April
Egg3 27 April
Violent Tawny Owl strike causes loss of an egg 23 May
First chick hatches! Wednesday 31 May
Remaining egg deemed unviable by mid June
It's a boy! Chick assessed as male, ringed LY7 8 July
Fledge! LY7 took to the air 19 July
Naming votes counted and LY7 is named Ludo! 19 July
Dorcha last seen 17 August
Louis last seen 24 August
Ludo LY7 last seen 25 August
Ludo sighted in France 24 September & 8 October
Garry LVO sighted in Senegal March 2024
Louis is a father of eleven, six with Aila (2017-2020), and five with Dorcha.
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)
2023 season highlights Nest One: • Lochenders! 2023 seaso...
2023 season highlights Nest Two: • Family of three in 23:...
2022 season highlights: • Nest Two in 22: Loch A...
2021 season highlights: • Loch Arkaig Osprey Cam...
2020 season highlights: • The good, the bad, and...
2019 season highlights: • Talons and tantrums, f...
2018 season highlights: • Loch Arkaig Osprey Cam...
2017 season highlights: • Loch Arkaig osprey cam...
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.
2017 A nest cam is installed on a refurbished Osprey nest. 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 and Alder LW4. This is designated Nest Two, no one takes up residence on Nest One.
2022 Woodland Trust install a nest cam on Nest Two. Louis & Dorcha return and raise two female chicks to fledging: Willow LW5 and Sarafina LW6. Still no residents on Nest One.
2023 Louis & Dorcha return, and raise one male chicks to fledging: Ludo LY7. No residents on Nest One but male Garry LV0 spent a lot of time flirting with Affric 152 despite her mate Prince still being around.
The Woodland Trust nest cam was installed by Wildlife Windows in Arkaig Community Forest, it is funded by The People's Postcode Lottery and operates on wifi provided by Locheilnet. Watch the livestream 24/7.
If you're enjoying the view from the Arkaig OspreyCam, please consider becoming a member of the Woodland Trust, buying from their shop, or donating to help preserve their home in the Arkaig Community Forest, any amount will come in very handy and be put to good use:
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/supp... (donate)
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/supp... (membership) shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ (shop)
Disclaimer: My youtube channel isn't monetised, I make no profit from my video clips of the ©Woodland Trust OspreyCam and comply with the Woodland Trust's terms & conditions. I'm a member of the Woodland Trust but not affiliated with them, just a private individual who enjoys following the #ArkaigOspreys.

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

14.30 the nest cam starts zooming about, the remote operator is seeking the best close-up view as the first egg could hatch as early as tomorrow 21st May. The zooming soon stops and the view settles. Dorcha of course is unaware of all this. We are now officially on pip-watch looking for that first clue that hatching has begun. It will be easier to see tonight as night cam leaches out the colour from the eggs, allowing any pip or crack to be clearly seen. Egg1 was laid on 14th April and will be 37 days old tomorrow - as 37 days is the average from laying to hatching, we are anticipating a hatch tomorrow. We shall soon see how quickly the first little one emerges. Eggciting!!

[@jgstuff]

Can't wait to see that first little bob!

[@suzycat2026]

So excited 😊❤

[@suzycat2026]

This is always exciting❣ Full Moon on 23rd, looks huge tonight already 🌕😻

[@carolgreene8757]

Well Louis has been practicing for this moment since he returned.. He never disappoints.. ❤

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

Dear Louis is such a good dad.. we'll say nothing about that first year when he and Aila were clearly inexperienced..

[@carolgreene8757]

@@GeemeffGeemeff Lol..yes but what a fast learner.. What a team they were..

[@fionastark7569]

Love having comments on this nest. So many disappointments this year so will be glued to these babies!!

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

Hi Fiona, why not come over to Woodland Trust's Osprey cam forum: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=14795524 lots of friendly folk there, come and join in the chat. I don't always have time to answer comments on my youtube channel, but the Osprey forum is open 24/7, always someone there to talk about all things Osprey. Give it a go!

[@NarrowRoad110]

Eggsactly! Nail biting time.

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

Check out the nest tonight, look at the eggs under infra-red night cam, and watch for a pip. If you're lucky, you might even see the egg-tooth waggling about as the chick inside gets on with the hatching process.

[@christine5557]

@@GeemeffGeemeffwow, thanks for that tip. I’ll take a look later…😍