Rothes has made it to France, yo!
I have just checked the latest data, only getting a further seven fixes on her position since 10am yesterday when we knew her to be near Torquay, Devon.
Well, at 11am-ish, yesterday morning, she set off out over The Channel at a height of 76m. The next three hourly readings gave her position as being still over the water, though passed halfway, so now technically over La Manche, I guess, but having lost altitude to 42m, then 20m and then.......worryingly........down to sea-level!
One such reading, though very, very scary after what befell Deshar last year, is really of little consequence (he says, nervously) - she may have stopped for a rest on a buoy or other Channel marker. Reassuringly, the next few fixes gave her at heights of; 16m (just west of Jersey), 47m and then a soaring 263m, (hooray!), at her last known position at 5pm yesterday 12th August, over Le Haut des Bois, south west of Saint-Malo, Brittany......phew!
Juveniles Mallachie, Garten and adault male Odin, are all still here on site, but we haven't seen adult female EJ since 9.30pm last night (12th) when she delivered yet another fish for her remaining brood. Was it her last fish, her last supper? Has she set off on migration to West Africa? Not being satellite tagged, we cannot know, but we'll watch closely for her here this evening and tomorrow to confirm whether she has indeed gone.
STOP PRESS: No sooner had I pressed the Publish button, when Malcolm phoned to say that EJ had just arrived with a fish. So she hasn't gone, yet.
Finally tonight, how spooky is this? When we got a fix the other day, on Rothes over Llanddeusant, Anglesey, I e-mailed my colleague, Alastair, RSPB Area Manager in North Wales, to jokingly tell him to watch out for our bird in his area. Unbeknown to me, he lives quite close to Llanddeusant - and it was his birthday as Rothes passed over, and get this, Alastair used to be the Osprey Warden here at Loch Garten back in 1985.
"The next three hourly readings gave her position as being still over the water, though passed halfway, so now technically over La Manche, I guess, but having lost altitude to 42m, then 20m and then.......worringly........down to sea-level!"
RICHARD THAXTON....don't do that!!!!!!!!! I was all set to call 999 then....my poor little ticker! Jeepers....!! Phew....
Thank you for the update. She's in a hurry to get to warmer climes eh? Scotland wasn't that bad, was it?? Some rain....ok, lots of rain, some thunder storms....ok, lots of thunder storms.....OK, I take it back!
Any news of EJ?
thanks for the update Richard we can now only worry about the other four doing the same thing and getting across the channel safely.
Oh my god-Richard you had me scared then, so relived she's reached one of my other favourite areas in France, around St Malo. Missing EJ today, perhaps good to go whilst the weather still holds up.
I hope Odin brings poor Mallachie a fish before it gets dark or perhaps Garten will get her one.
JILLIAN
Thanks for that Richard. I am so glad that Rothes has made it to France. It must have been worrying though when she went down to sea level. As you say the rollercoaster ride has begun in earnest. It is beginning to look like EJ may have left as she has been around a lot in the last few days.
Certainly lots of spooky goings on in Wales. I could mention the Outer Limits but I will leave it for now.
Anyway all good news. F.A.B.
Thank you for the update Richard. Here we go again - truly ups and downs, how will we cope? Very "eerie" as you say about Rothes passing over Llanddeusant on Alistair's Birthday - what a real Birthday treat for him and also his connection with Loch Garten. How kind of Rothes to call in and wish him Happy Birthday.
Thanks so much for the prompt update Richard. I can hardly believe the amount of progress that Rothes has made to date. How scary was it when you saw the altitude at zero! Look forward to seeing the updated map and lets hope she finds some good fishing grounds in France!!
Sandy P
:-) That's soo good to hear Richard, Thank you! I've been in doubt (many times ) about this "tagging-thing", but to know she´s safe in France is wonderful news.
Golly- that report was scary, Richard! So pleased she's made it over to France, bless her heart!
One down, four to go!
Mallachie and Garten on the nest just now. Mallachie finishing off her fish - don't think there will be any left over for Garten - never mind she had one earlier. If EJ has started on her migration they will have to get used to smaller fish now. Pru
Richard.... If you are going to do any more posts like that you need to provide a health warning !!!. The sharp intakes of breath and rise in blood pressure can still be heard and felt!. Good to know that she's in France but there's a long way to go. Hope the GE gremlins are sorted BUT more importantly can we look forward to the current 'system' of updates from you which frankly I think is a great idea and saves everyone a great deal of stress.....or should do!!. LOL
Richard, have you ever thought of writing a 'Thriller ' !!! I was waiting for you to say, " tune in tomorrow for the next installment" Sorry, but that was beginning to read too much like deja vu. Anyhow, thankyou and so glad to hear that Rothes eventually made it to French territory. So when I saw EJ deliver the fish last night could be the last time I see her this year!! I wish her safe return. She really is the star of LG.
Thank you for the update Richard but how mean of you to those of us who followed Deshars journey last year full of hopes and wishes only to have our hearts broken. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I saw we do not want a repeat performance. I'm extremely glad that Rothes made it across the channel, just sorry that she didn't stick around in Torquay for a little longer so that I could try and find her to see her in the flesh.
Thanks Richard for the prompt update ... fantastic news, even if a bit scary ... she's making great progress. Fingers crossed for similar results for Mallachie ... and of course Garten, Odin & EJ ... which we won't know about.
Maybe Rothes landed on a fishing boat and helped herself to one of their fish - freshly caught and no effort for her
Excellent close up of Mallachie's leg ring on a branch just now. Pru