Dorcha returns after the Loch Arkaig Osprey chicks have been removed, but can't settle 1 Jul 2024

Thanks to Woodland Trust from whose livestream I took this clip. Check out their live cameras on Nest One & Nest Two supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ospreys
In this clip: 15.11.38 Dorcha makes a lightning fast touchdown on the empty nest, her first visit since the chicks were taken, and departs almost immediately, grabbing a bit of fish as she goes.
16.42.30 Dorcha lands on the nest for a second, flies off alarm-calling.
16.43.15 Returns to the high perch
16.46.25 Dorcha seen flying towards the logo
17:21:42 Dorcha drops down, grabs a large piece of fish
17:21:47 Dorcha departs
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
First chick hatched 06.16.48 Wednesday 22nd May
Second chick hatched 22.26.15 Wednesday 22nd May
Third chick hatched 16.36.10 Friday 24th May
Sad death of little chick three approx 19.02 Sunday 16th June
Louis last seen Wednesday 26th June
Louis returns uninjured, with fish, Saturday 29th June
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)
2018 No chicks - Pine Marten stole all the eggs
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.

[@christine5557]

You did a good job as Mum against bad odds. Your chicks are safe. Eat well, stay strong and healthy to live and fight another day…Much ❤ to you Dorcha.

[@roseLA1216]

😢 as a mum my heart goes out to her and hope that next year will be better wherein we will all be able to witness their chicks fledge❤️🙏🏼

[@suzycat2026]

My heart flies to devoted Mum Dorcha ❤ 😢 They all had a last huddle together this morning because of more heavy rain. We all knew this would be very distressing for her. She cuts a lonely figure on her perch. Just hope that she & Louis can build themselves up enough for long migration journey. Good luck to the 2chicks who will be fed plenty now & hopefully fledge successfully in Spain. 🐱🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Jimmo85]

My heart breaks for Dorcha and Louis. Wish there was a way to let them know their babies are safe. What a rollercoaster this has been ❤

[@kathleendolan8876]

Glad the chicks have went to help a breeding programme. Better than starving to death here.

[@jimmcintosh9045]

With the aggression of one chick, the death of another and louis struggling to fed them the woodland trust hands were forced into taking them away , sad for us all.

[@christinebatscher7018]

Oh sooo sad for Dorcha and Louis😢😢😢😢😢

[@carolgreene8757]

Poor Dorcha.. 😢

[@Greatgran1954]

So sad 😢

[@robsin2810]

All creatures have very deep feelings. Here is the proof.🙏👍🇦🇺

[@haitch04]

Sometimes we have to be cruel to be kind as it were. The parents will soon recover and continue with their lives and the chicks should thrive and make good parents themselves once cared for and raised.. Predation on chicks is not uncommon and often the birds need more than one attempt to raise a successful brood. They're hardy souls and we really should not credit them with having human feelings, they cope better than us❤ Thank you to Woodland Trust and all associated for all you do.

[@robom7722]

Very sad for parent but glad they save 2 chicks who will look after I understand why I would like to see update photos of 2 wee chicks to grow up Parent are brilliant ❤ and dad must be very tired because of the weather maybe

[@lindaj5492]

So poignant … 😢. Glad she was able to get a free meal from the fish fairies. Any sign of Louis?

[@anniemac3075]

Dorcha obviously distressed finding an empty nest, it's not just humans who feel grief when they lose their children. Yes she & Louis will soon recover from the shock & get on with their lives but it's wrong to assume they don't have feelings for their family & each other because they're birds. Looking forward to seeing them next year bringing up their next brood, fantastic their chicks are doing well in Spain.

[@debbieneel8344]

Hard to settle when large being have taken the kids. I understand why- but the don't have a clue

[@jtate333]

do you feel she was throwing the fish away, she seemed to fly off with some and returned quickly without it.

[@jandolan7509]

So sad for her she so confused.

[@FL.native]

Feel bad for her but atleast the babies didn't die from a slow death 😢

[@alancurrie9108]

why have the chicks been removed?

[@eah8101]

So it is firmly established that Dorcha returns to the nest after human intervention: first for supplemental feeding, now after the 2 remaining chicks were removed -- perhaps it would have been better to: 1) remove/save the 3rd chick before it perished, and 2) continue supplemental feeding, waiting to see if Louis started to deliver enough food again, i.e. rather than taking the drastic step of removing the chicks

[@thehighvibe5528]

not good in any way say what you want but i dont agree

[@nix1059]

I certainly have reservations about the actions taken.but I'm sure it was done in all the birds best interests.

[@suzycat2026]

I'm still torn, Ospreys are so precious. Surely both surviving is better than 1, possibly none. Feel I must trust the experts opinion, is a first for me to witness this in many years observing. Human activity almost made these precious birds extinct in UK & Ireland. The translocation project has helped repopulate the Species to what we have today. Wishing Louis & Dorcha time to heal , they both need build up for migration. The 2 chicks have a better chance now, I look forward to updates.

[@janiedunn637]

I just ain’t sure. I feel 😞 especially with the situation in Loch of The Lowes. It’s a lovely place

[@barnowlwatcher]

What is not good, that the chicks have a chance of survival in being part of a translocation project? I don’t look at this as a real “intervention” where we don’t let nature take its course and let them starve to death, but rather an opportunity to establish the species elsewhere. I imagine any other nests in this area are having similar problems and nature will do its thing. I would say these two are the lucky ones but my heart aches for the parents.

[@christine5557]

🤔 No intervention to safe life? Let nature take its course? Do you views apply to all life?