Is this emaciated unringed female Aila the Loch Arkaig Osprey? Events of 15.48-16.19 on 23 Apr 2021

Thanks to Woodland Trust from whose livestream I took this clip. Check out their live camera supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ospreys
This clip shows the happenings on the nest between 15.48 and 16.19, raw unedited footage. The female stranger returns, quickly followed by Louis still clutching the third fish of the day. The markings look similar to Aila's but also different. There is speculation that this could be Aila in such poor condition after a hard journey that it's difficult to ID her. My feeling is that it's not her - Aila would fight for her nest and take the fish from Louis, make him give it to her, but time will tell if she returns to the nest after a good meal or three. Louis coy-mantles but won't give her the fish. If Aila, she's uncharacteristically silent, but again, could be down to her emaciated state. Louis leaves with the fish at 16.03, and the female remains on the nest until 16.18. WT chatter Tiger Mozone says: 'When ospreys are migrating they live off their fat supplies by a mechanism called Beta Oxidation. The reason why birds do not appear hungry when they arrive is cause they are still burning fat. It takes a few days before they can switch mode and get back to eating normally.'
UPDATE 22nd May 2021. Sadly this skinny female is not Aila, who hasn't returned from migration this year. Louis has found a new mate and is nesting at a new nest nearby but without a nest cam. We don't know what happened to Aila, migration has plenty of perils, nor do we know what happened to the female in this clip as she hasn't been seen since April. We hope she fattened up and found herself a nest and a mate.
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The Woodland Trust nest cam was installed by Wildlife Windows in Arkaig Community Forest, it's funded by The People's Postcode Lottery and operates on wifi provided by Locheilnet. Watch the livestream here • Loch Arkaig Osprey Cam...
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Disclaimer: My youtube channel isn't monetised, I make no profit from my video clips of the ©Woodland Trust nest cam 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 Aila & Louis and their family.
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[@suzycat2026]

Thanks Geemeff 🤗 I witnessed this interaction live. Thought of her being Aila went through my mind too. If she had traumatic journey & lost weight, would that make her necklace less pronounced? 18days late, like 6 others in UK.🙏🏻 She was definitely thin.. But I feel younger ; Louis led her there , but always keeps his back turned coy mantling .💜 Louis & all of us were willing her to take that fish from behind him! Maybe she doesn't understand this courting behaviour yet, but at least she stayed a while. Looked as if she was getting a show from something in the sky. Possibly Louis sky dancing? Next time, I hope he circles & comes in to pass fish to her. We all on edge of our perches. 🐱♏☯️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

She could do with feeding up and a long rest.

[@suzycat2026]

@@GeemeffGeemeff Oh indeed! 💜

[@jennifers4528]

The male looks huge compared to her.. Her head markings are so defined and she is a very beautiful female. Its just sad to see her so thin. Hopefully, she sticks around..

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

She is sticking around, Louis is bringing her fish and they've been seemn mating on one of the non-camera nests nearby.

[@sammartindale8123]

Looking back on last year's footage and paying particular attention to the markings on the top and back of the head, I would say I am 99% sure that this is Aisla.

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

So you'd be in the yes camp, there's about a 50/50 split, Sam. I'm in the no camp.

[@sammartindale8123]

@@GeemeffGeemeff I couldn't say I am in the yes camp only the "hopeful" camp. However whether or not it is Aisla, it is great to see any of these magnificent birds doing well and maintaining a breeding presence in the stunning Highlands.

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

@@sammartindale8123 👍

[@AndyMac48]

Louis arrived back at the nest with a fish at 1940..stayed for 4 minutes after being pestered by a crow which he chased off. No signs of the female osprey. I am unsure if this is Aila, as she looks ‘young’ and a lot skinnier. Why wouldn’t Louis interact if it was Avila?

[@amc3]

Was thinking the same, another female was on the nest a few days ago, this one was pushing her wings as if to say " look at me" Possibly looking for her first mate? Sadly, I fear Aila is no more, she is over three weeks late. I`m no expert, but I think there females have been observing from and distance and looking for a mate.

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

Louis was interacting, it's called coy mantling when he turns his back, holds on to the fish and pretends to mantle. But this female wasn't strong enough to take it from him although she did make a couple of moves towards it.

[@birdlover6842]

It appears to be a stray male or female osprey. Maybe a sub adult. It is a hard life out there. Poor osprey.:(

[@suzycat2026]

I'm sure it's a young female. ,Louis is coy mantling, courting behaviour 💜🙂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

She looks like she had a very hard journey and hasn't been able to find food - Loch Arkaig is full of fish, maybe once she's rested she'll get a good meal.

[@tigermozone3967]

@@GeemeffGeemeff When ospreys are migrating they live off their fat supplies by a mechamism called Beta Oxidation. The reason why birds do not appear hungry when they arrive is cause they are still burning fat. It takes a few days before they can switch mode and get back to eating normally.

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

@@tigermozone3967 very interesting, thank for that. Have quoted you in the description.

[@margitmargit1837]

❤💙💚

[@jackkaspersson7497]

If it was Aila wouldn't she have gone after Louis' fish?

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

Yes, I think so. Louis would have coy mantled and kept it away from her, part of courtship behavious as he's doing here, but I think Aila would have allowed him so far, then stepped in and taken it. Just my opinion based on previous observation.

[@jackkaspersson7497]

@@GeemeffGeemeff Thanks! She's so skinny - I thought it was a male osprey when she landed on the nest.

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

@@jackkaspersson7497 She's in a sorry state

[@jackkaspersson7497]

@@GeemeffGeemeff Hope it's not more than an empty stomach. Fishing seems good in the Loch ???

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

@@jackkaspersson7497 Fishing is very good in the loch but she'll need to build up slowly after her long flight back.

[@carolynwoodman1734]

Ditto. Fiver that it's her.

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

Sadly not Aila, it now (22 May) looks like we must cherish our memories of our dear departed Aila...

[@carolynwoodman1734]

What happened to her?

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

We don't know, I'm afraid. But I think she would have recovered from the ordeal of migration and been able to fish and fatten up seeing as she had the strength to fly up to the nest.

[@lindaj5492]

Would previously paired birds recognise one another immediately? I’m tempted to think - if it is Aisla - that Louis is letting her know how cross he is about her late arrival 🙂

[@suzycat2026]

Thats a funny thought Linda! 🙂 I'm pretty sure they would recognise eachother immediately. Hoped it was Aila too.💜 Louis is coy mantling, maybe she's young & doesn't understand his courting behaviour. We all on the esge of our perches! 🙏🏻 I so hope, IF Aila doesn't return, he can have family with 1 of these new females ~ he's such a great Dad & provider. 🐱♏☯️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

He was displaying courtship behaviour called coy mantling, he did it with Aila when she returned last year, pretending to mantle, and not allowing her to take the fish. This female is in very poor condition, and nothing came of the encounter although she stayed on the nest for a long time. Personally, I don't think it is Aila.

[@martyngallogly5212]

Not behaving like Aila

[@GeemeffGeemeff]

I agree with you Martyn, sadly, I don't think it is her..