LOCH OF THE LOWES, SCOTLAND ~ 2012

MaryG · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:31 pm

I'll certainly second that one! Wishing Lady well on her 2012 journey.

Read article today that stated 2011 eggs that didn't hatch were, indeed, fertile but development was arrested along the way for some reason. Author noted that unusually cold and rainy weather might have been the culprit.

PattiO · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:07 am

Just to note ..... we have received permission (finally) to post pictures as long as the copyright notice is included as well as the link to the cam ... in every post! Just like Ferenz did above! :)

Ferenz · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:00 am

© copyright Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... -of-lowes/

kittenface · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:14 am

Oldest Osprey mystifies experts as she lays 'phantom egg'

Lady the UK's oldest osprey delighted rangers when she showed the signs of laying an egg but nothing has been seen.
.
13 April 2012 12:12 GMT
Lady osprey: Oldest osprey in UK mystifies experts.

The oldest breeding female osprey ever recorded in the UK has left experts "mystified" after she appeared to lay a "phantom egg".

The 26-year-old bird, known as Lady, delighted rangers at the Loch of the Lowes reserve near Dunkeld, Perthshire, when she returned for a record 22nd breeding season, and mated with a three-year-old "toy boy".

There was huge excitement when she displayed all the signs of laying her first egg of the season, a record 62nd in her life, in the early hours of Thursday, but when she got up several hours later there was nothing to be seen.

Staff at the Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve admitted on Friday they have never witnessed such events before, but said Lady was "writing new chapters" in osprey behaviour in her old age.

Lindsey Gibb, wildlife interpretation officer at the reserve, said: "It's a complete mystery. We watched her 'laying an egg'. She went through the whole routine, wriggling on her nest, straining and arching her back, and finally looking underneath herself before settling down to incubate.

"It was classic egg-laying behaviour."

There was great excitement when she later flew off the nest and we looked for the egg on the nest camera, but there was nothing

The staff believe one possibility is that she has laid a "phantom egg".

Lady has already caused a stir at the reserve after taking on a new "toy boy" partner more than six times her junior.

The female raptor was expected to wait for her regular partner, Green 7Y or Laird, to arrive before attempting to breed again. But she instead accepted the advances of a young male who appeared a day after she returned from her annual 3000 mile migration from her West African wintering ground.

The male, which has no identifying leg rings, is known to rangers only as "Number Four" as he is only Lady's fourth partner in 22 years at Loch of the Lowes.

Ospreys are thought to be generally faithful for life.

Ferenz · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:01 am

© copyright Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... -of-lowes/

Dutch Eagle Fan · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:40 am

Quote:

<<<SNIP>>>The female raptor was expected to wait for her regular partner, Green 7Y or Laird, to arrive before attempting to breed again. But she instead accepted the advances of a young male who appeared a day after she returned from her annual 3000 mile migration from her West African wintering ground.<<<SNIP>>>

Maybe she knows something we can't begin to understand ?

Ferenz · **Posted:** Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:45 am

©Scottish Wildlife Trust

http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... -of-lowes/

Ferenz · **Posted:** Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:30 am

©Scottish Wildlife Trust

http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... -of-lowes/

Ferenz · **Posted:** Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:05 am

THE EGG!

Posted by Gabbiano/birdcam.it - http://www.birdcam.it/forum/viewtopic.p ... 2&start=15

©Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... -of-lowes/

Ferenz · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:12 am

At least I had some luck and caught the pair & 2 eggs as they changed :egg 19:

©Scottish Wildlife Trust
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/thi ... -of-lowes/

MaryG · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:03 pm

Terrific photos, Ferenz.

Glad you are posting them on several forums - for all to see! :thankyou

MaryG · **Posted:** Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:41 pm

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? :eggclap:

WILDLIFE DIARY 20TH APRIL

The really exciting news of that we have a third osprey egg laid this afternoon- a blessing beyond our wildest hopes this season. Our resident female bird showed classic signs of laboured breathing and low posture in the nest around 4.10pm and after a final shudder, she stood at 4.34 and clearly showed us the third egg- beautifully white and clean looking unlike the older two which have turned a buff colour with normal weathering. We will shortly be posting a video and photo’s of this third egg for you all to see.

http://blogs.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/osprey/