Loch of the Lowes (Scotland) Osprey

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August 11

NC0 and Dark Intruder

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August 17

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... soeRnvCJwl
It's that time of year when our summer visitors start to think about making their long return journey to warmer climes, including our ospreys. It looks like both NC0 and her new beau the 'Dark Intruder' have both now departed, having last been seen on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.
It has been wonderful to see her remain on territory throughout the summer, defend her nest and accept a new mate. Here's hoping we see them both return next season. Fly high!

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August 20

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... KiL9Mx9oBl
Following the Police Scotland investigation into the death of osprey, LM12, postmortem results have revealed that the male osprey died from natural causes and no criminality was involved.
The finding is a great relief and we'd like to thank everyone for the outpouring of emotion and support following LM12's death.
Female osprey, NC0, has recently departed the nest on her return migration. We hope to see her return with her new mate, Dark Intruder, next season.
https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ne ... al-causes/




August 23

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... Vp25FXavhl
It seems that the 'Dark Intruder' (who established himself on the territory with NC0 this summer) hasn't left on migration yet after all!
He has been seen periodically returning to the loch to sit on the Split Birch and today has been undertaking some more 'nestorating'. It won't be long before he does depart for good, but is perhaps waiting for the strong southerly winds to abate before heading off.
Pop by to the centre this weekend for what could be some of the last osprey sightings here for the season.

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2025

March 17

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... GbmrhVtaql
The osprey season has officially kicked off at Loch of the Lowes! The resident breeding female osprey NC0 has returned. She circled over the loch once before perching on top of the osprey camera at approximately 2:15pm. She preened for a short while before landing on the nest at 2:27pm, she then promptly started rearranging the nest before taking off at 2:31pm.
After arriving unseasonably early last year (on 8 March), NC0 has arrived back on the same day that she arrived in 2023. This will be NC0's 6th breading season at Loch of the Lowes and we are delighted to welcome her back.

https://www.youtube.com/@ScottishWildlifeTrustvideos

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March 21

NC0 and fish

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March 22

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... M92XSvKnal
Following her return on Monday afternoon, resident female osprey NC0 has been busy doing a spot of housework and feeding up after her long migration north.
Watch the clip below to see her land on the nest with her first catch of the season - though she's not alone for long!

March 23

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... ewPCxRu2zl
NC0 has had a great start to the season so far. She has been incredibly busy making many improvements to the nest and she is currently tucking into her third fish.
Here are some stunning photographs of NC0 on Wednesday, with one of her first catches of the season.
Photographs by Mark Westgarth Photography

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March 27

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... JZ7j1em4Xl
With so many osprey landing on known nest sites around the UK in the last few days we suspected it wouldn't be long before the nest at Loch of the Lowes also got some attention from birds returning for the breeding season.
Sure enough, after a some fleeting touch downs by a couple of different birds in the last few days, a male landed on the nest next to NC0 at 13:44 this afternoon, and spent around 55 minutes quietly sitting alongside her. After engaging in a spot of 'nestorating' and a failed mating attempt he flew off, leaving her alone to enjoy last night's fish supper on the 'Split Birch'.
Weather conditions are making it hard to make positive comparisons with footage of various males from last year, however this bird does not look to be the osprey known as the 'Dark Intruder' who defended the territory last season after the death of her long term mate, LM12.
It could be possible that it might be the 'Pale Male' who destroyed the eggs and tried to claim the territory as his own, or another male entirely- at this stage we can't be sure and will need to watch to see how things play out.
One things for sure, things are about to get exciting!
You can watch the action unfold here; https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/th ... es-webcam/

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March 30

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... qLJdcU4Qjl
Regular breeding female osprey NC0 returned to her nest at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve on 17th March. Some ten days later an unringed male osprey landed on the nest and has been paying her visits most days since.
We have yet to observe any exchanging of fish, mutual nest building or successful mating attempts - NC0 seems to be reluctant to accept any of the male's advances. However, the pair do seem to be spending time flying the wider area together, with the new male frequently landing on the nest immediately behind NC0.
Having studied last year's footage carefully, we do not believe this to be either the 'Pale Male' who destroyed last season's eggs, or the 'Dark Intruder', (with his distinctive eye), who ultimately claimed the territory.
This male appears to be quite a large bird, fairly dark in his markings, with a heavy 'hourglass' shape on the back of his head, a brownish/orange nape, heavy markings on his forehead, a noticeably browner chest than some males and some distinctive eyebrows.
It is still early in the process of this pair bonding, and of course we could still see the arrival of any number of males vying for NC0's prime piece of osprey real estate!
Our thanks to Scott Duncan for the excellent aerial photos.

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April 3

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... RVMHcaApwl
It's been a complex last few days on the nest at Lowes, with various osprey checking out the site, creating a shift in dynamics between the key protagonists in this year's season (more on that tomorrow).
Just as we worked out the narrative of what has been going on, a familiar face briefly touched down on the nest for the first time this season; the male bird known as the 'Dark Intruder', who claimed and defended the territory last season, after the death of the resident breeding male LM12.
He was seen circling the nest for a few minutes before landing, taking a look around, flashing his unique 'cat's eye' pupil at the camera and heading off to fish on a nearby loch.
NC0 was last seen on Wednesday morning, so it will be interesting to see if this shifts the various osprey dynamics, and whether she will accept him as a mate!
Rather than 'say it with flowers', it's probably best that 'DI' announces his return with a fish!

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April 4

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... qxa5JmKtsl
As you have no doubt know, last night saw the unringed male osprey known as the 'Dark Intruder' return to the reserve, touching down briefly on the nest at 16:48.
For those of you who were following last year, you will know that after the death of the long term breeding male LM12, the 'Dark Intruder' (or 'DI' as he became known) was accepted by the resident female NC0 and successfully defended the territory with her until their migration in August.
We mentioned yesterday that things have been complex here in the last few days...
At the moment there are 5 osprey attempting to lay claim to the nest; firstly, the resident female Blue NC0 and a 'new male', whom NC0 spent time with for 4 days, although no successful mating, nest building or fish exchanges were observed in that time.
Two unringed female osprey are also in the mix, one a very dark individual, with impressive eyebrows, markings under her chin and a line from her beak was briefly seen on the nest on the 27th March and then booted off the nest on the 1st April by NC0.
The second female is also unringed, and can look similar to NC0 in certain light or when her feathers are roused. However, she has distinctive 'eyebrows', a heavier forehead and chest than NC0, a marking that looks like a 'Cluedo' piece on the back of her head and white line line under her eye. (NC0 has a break of white between her eye and her brown mask, and of course still has her silver BTO ring on her right leg).
We observed this female on the nest with the 'new male' who NC0 seems to have rejected, for ten minutes on the 2nd April. The male also landed briefly later that same day.
This female returned again on the morning of the 3rd of April, this time spending around 35 minutes on the nest, shuffling the furniture about, and also briefly landed at lunchtime. Later that evening 'DI' returned to an empty nest and flew off.
However, he was back today (4th April) at first light sitting on the camera and then on a perch below the nest, before taking to the skies to perform a sky dance for.................you guessed it, the unringed female with the 'Cluedo' marking on her head!!
The pair spent around 1hr 15 together on and around the nest, partaking in some nestorating, a possible botched mating attempt and some loud fish vocalisation by the female, before departing together.
'DI' has since been seen around the reserve on and off for much of this afternoon, bathing in the loch, preening on split birch and hopping on and off the camera, though we have not sighted the female.
Will 'DI' look to bond with her, or is waiting for NC0 to show up? We haven't seen her since the early morning of the 2nd when she spent 2 hours on the nest, the same day the female turned up with the 'new male'.
Is this a changing of the guard, or will NC0 come back and reclaim her territory, she is after all still a bird in her prime who has bred here for 5 years?
We will just have to wait and see how things pan out, and do our best to follow the unfolding osprey drama!
You can watch the meeting of the Dark Intruder and the unringed female in the video below
Don't forget to also follow the livestream (link in the comments) or even better come and visit us at the reserve!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph0U6NakMLk

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April 7

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... VAofJ8zh8l
Who needs to watch 'Corrie' when you can follow the osprey dramarama instead?
Last time we wrote, the male known as the 'Dark Intruder' (who held territory with the resident female Blue 'NC0' in the latter half of last season), looked to be settling down with a new unringed female with a set of impressive 'eyebrows' and a mark on the back of head that looks similar to a 'Cluedo' piece.
For the last 3 days this pattern has continued, with the pair slowly settling into a routine of spending time together on and around nest each morning, before flying off for the day.
The male, who shall now officially be known as LM24; Lowes Male 2024 - the naming system used for unringed birds holding territory on the reserve, has been enjoying surveying his kingdom from the top of the camera, and has been seen and heard regularly sky dancing high above the nest. This is an undulating aerial dance performed by male osprey, often with fish in their talons to demonstrate their physical and hunting prowess!
It certainly seems to be doing the trick, with the new unringed female appearing more relaxed in his company and becoming more vocal in her demands for fish.
This new partnership, still in its sensitive early stages, took a big step forwards this morning, with the first mating attempts observed on the nest, although some of these were unconventional to say the least...what's the saying; 'Don't know your wing from your talon??' Poor LM24, not everyone has to perform under the pressure of being watched by eager osprey fans online and from the hides!
He quickly made up for his enthusiastic misdemeanours by bringing in his first fish to the nest for his mate. True to inexperienced osprey partnerships, the female was no where to be seen - so waste not want not, LM24 made sure it went to good use!
All of his sky dancing certainly seemed to be working, with yet another unringed female making an appearance on the nest this afternoon! She was on and off the nest multiple times, and it wasn't long before she started quietly calling for food.
Thankfully for LM24, his new mate turned up and for a while both the females sat on the nest together, with both ospreys and staff alike, looking confused (trying to work out who was who)!
Rather unhelpfully, this intruding female's markings are incredibly similar to those of LM24's current partner, with the subtle difference that her eyebrows start from the middle of her eye, rather than the front of her head, and she appears to have a rounder looking face.
After around 5 minutes of awkward staring, the intruding female flew off and LM24 wasted no time in attempting to mate again, this time opting for the side saddle approach - needless to say he wasn't successful and the female flew off!
Not one to give up, it wasn't long before he returned with another small fish to impress his mate with, but once again she was nowhere to be seen and so he tucked into his own fish supper under the close supervision of some hopeful crows!
Whilst the pair's timing and communication isn't quite in step yet, it's certainly looking promising for this young couple, and all being well we would expect them to further develop their bond over the next week.
However.......is it the last we have seen of the female intruder? Could NC0 still put in a late bid to reclaim her nest? Will LM24 manage to work out which way round he should face when mating? Time will tell...
Follow the livestream to follow the action, or even better pay a visit to the centre and watch from the hides.

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April 12

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... aWmrDZbAml
Over the last 5 days, things appeared to have settled into a fairly relaxed routine for LM24 (The Dark Intruder) and his new mate the Unringed Female. The pair have been spending more time on and around the nest, often appearing at first light, indicating they are likely to be roosting nearby. Mating has been regular, though the male is still sometimes getting himself back to front, but he has also busied himself with bringing material into the nest, skydancing and bringing in fish to his mate - everything you would expect a breeding male to do.
Throughout the week there had been little in the way of intruders, with only a fleeting incursion on the 9th April, which the Unringed Female easily defended against. Not content with LM24's offerings, she brought in a huge trout yesterday, which unusually she caught on the Loch where it is usually more common to see pike and perch.
This morning it was only LM24 who appeared on the nest at dawn, and it remained quiet for much of the day, with no sign of the Unringed Female. Ospreys can be a little bit like buses, with not much happening and then everything happening all at once! True to form it all kicked off mid-afternoon with the arrival of yet another new intruding bird (another unringed female) who was very 'hangry'!
This female wasted no time in demanding food from LM24, who although initially reluctant, passed his half eaten pike to her, before trying to attempt to mate. The female, with very striking markings (a large triangle on the back of her head, dark chest and a white gap between her eyes) was not keen to reciprocate, but quickly began rearranging the furniture. This female behaved in a way that was very confident and suggested that she may be a little older and more experienced than both LM24 and his Unringed Female partner.
The 'hangry' female (who devoured her fish) very vocally began demanding more food from the male, who was keeping a close and perhaps rather confused eye on the things from the top of the camera. After several more failed mating attempts, he finally managed to encourage the female to lift her tail and mate successfully, before......enter stage left; LM24's mate, the Unringed Female landed on the nest, flapping her wings and mantling, clearly unhappy with proceedings!! She was closely followed by LM24, who briefly touched down before being chased off by the 'hangry' intruder!
All three osprey then took to the skies in a spectacular display of flying, diving and shouting, before the Unringed Female returned to the nest. Her respite was short lived however, with the other female returning to launch another furious attack! Once again the birds took off in a flurry of talons and wings, before order finally seemed to be restored 5 minutes later with both LM24 and his mate the Unringed Female settling back onto the nest together.
Things appear to have settled down and order for now seems to have been restored, but for how long?

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April 14

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... iGV2g5oNVl
It seems that 24 hours is not just a long time in politics, but in the life of ospreys too!
Things continue to be complex and dynamic on the nest this season. With that in mind here is another update on what seems to be yet another switch in the dominant pair.
On Saturday we wrote about the Dark 'hangry' Female that landed on the nest and was eventually chased off by LM24's mate the Unringed Female (though not before scoring a free meal and some mating attempts).
All appeared to be calm and balance restored, with both the male and the female pottering about the nest and wider area, including LM24 catching a fish directly from the Split Birch. The next day began 'easy like Sunday morning' with a spot of 'breakfish' being exchanged, before the Unringed Female flew off for the day.
It wasn't long before the Dark Female returned, no doubt attracted by LM24’s skydancing, and promptly snaffled his offering of fish. She remained on the nest throughout Sunday, grabbing a much larger fish delivery from LM24 and looking very at home on the nest.
Later in the afternoon, the Unringed Female returned and the talons flew, with her attempting to evict the Dark Female in a flurry of blistering attacks. All three osprey flew off, with LM24 quickly escaping to leave the females to duke it out.
Unlike on Saturday, this time it was the Dark Female who returned an hour later to claim the nest, and has since looked every inch the dominant bird, hanging out on the nest for the rest of the afternoon and evening, and even dropping in again briefly at 11pm.
Today, as dawn broke she appeared on the nest and has been present since, receiving another good catch from LM24 this morning. She has 'nestorated', but as yet has not seemed keen to mate.
Having been able to review footage of the Dark Female in similar light and wet conditions to an intruding bird who visited briefly earlier in the season, we believe this is the female with the 'Bandit’ eye mask - who coincidently NC0 chased off the territory the day before she was last seen!
Let's hope that things settle down and whichever pair claim the nest get down to egg laying soon!

[seira]

April 19

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... 86DhZWc2Rl
Grab a cuppa and settle down for a full review of the comings and goings so far!
It's been a complex start to the season with no fewer than four combinations of osprey pairings appearing on the nest ;
*NC0 (resident breeding female 2020-2024, not seen since 2nd April) & a New Male
*The New Male and an Unringed Female (with the 'Cluedo' marking on the back of her head)
*LM24 (aka The Dark Intruder, who held territory in second half of 2024 with NC0) & the same Unringed Female, and finally...
*LM24 & the Dark Female (with the 'Bandit' eye mask who intruded in 2024, and possibly 2023)!
Confused !? It's taken a lot of careful reviewing and analysing to pick apart the rapidly changing dynamic, but it looks like LM24 and the Dark Female have finally become 'top ospreys' at the Lowes nest, appearing to be settled as a pair and dominant for a week!
Talons crossed for eggs in the next 7-10 days!
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[Note: The osprey which attacked and knocked the Dark Female off the nest was thought to originally be the Unringed Female (with the 'Cluedo piece' marking on the back of her head) - however, thanks to some excellent photos by Scott Duncan from the hide, we were able to spy a silver BTO ring on the right leg of the osprey!!
Yes, we got excited too thinking it might be the return of NC0, but this osprey had no white break in her brown mask behind her eye, and the underwing markings did not match those of NC0.
We have had at least 3 different BTO-only ringed osprey intruding in the last few years, so it could easily be the return of these individuals, or new ones who have lost their Darvic colour rings, which can be prone to cracking and falling off due to the impact of repeatedly hitting the water.
If we get any sightings of NC0 we will let folks know.]

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May 1

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... 6APPneee1l
It's Day 19 since LM24 and the unringed Dark Female became the dominant pair on the nest.
Having seen off a few intruders in the last few days, including a sky dancing male this morning and after a late lunch of pike, could this be the day an egg is laid? The female is certainly looking more comfortable on the nest.......

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May 3

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... dLBKKeDSal
We are delighted to hear that young female osprey 'Blue PF4' who fledged from the nest at Lowes in 2023, has been sighted on a nest at Threave Ospreys NTS with an unringed male. As a two year old, this is very likely to be her first time returning to the UK to try and find a mate and territory of her own.
PF4 survived an incredibly tumultuous season and was a very feisty youngster, who went talon to talon with her mother NC0 and father LM12 (who sadly died last season) for any food that came to the nest. She even forced her brother to disperse at a very young age to escape her admonishments!
No doubt her tough start in life will stand her in good stead when it comes to being a strong parent!
What makes this sighting all the more special, is that given the condition of PF5 when he left the nest, she is likely to be the last in a wonderful legacy of youngsters produced by long term breeding Lowes male; LM12.
See more in the post below and click a link in the comments for some wonderful videos captured by Ranger David.





Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve
Click the link for videos of Lowes youngster PF4 sighted for the first time on at nest at Threave, in Dumfries and Galloway
https://www.facebook.com/ThreaveOspreys ... 7882500171

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May 4

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... ckKSEYnWTl
We are delighted to announce the arrival of the first egg of the season!!
After an intense day of intruder activity, including a female who stole a fish and hung about on the nest for around 2 hours, the Dark Female finally settled down to lay her first egg. The whole process took ten minutes and was accompanied by copious amounts of squeaking and a 'helpful' spot of mating mid-lay by LM24!
The Dark Female (who shall now be officially be known as LF25 - Lowes Female 2025) showed off her bright reddish-brown egg at 13:58.
With the intruding osprey still in the area, this story could have plenty more twists and turns to come. Stayed tuned to the livestream for all the action, including any further eggs (hopefully) in the next few days!

egg !

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May 7

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... 9r5HAjWFFl
We are delighted to let you know that at 10.23 this morning LF25 has laid her second egg, this time was much quicker than the first, and as you can see she's a very proud mum!

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May 10

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... odQLQNcw8l
Whilst we wait to see if female osprey LF25 will lay a third egg, click on the link below to watch when egg 2 made its first appearance on the nest!

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May 17

https://www.facebook.com/LochoftheLowes ... besaPVE5Xl
The new, young breeding pair of osprey at Loch of the Lowes seem to be settling into a comfortable routine of taking turns at incubating, defending the nest site as a pair, washing, preening, hunting (in the male's case) and eating.
Watch the video below to watch male LM24 pluck out a small trout from directly below the nest to deliver to his eager mate LF25 . It doesn't get fresher than that!