No, not pens and pencils, but Rothes and Mallachie, neither making any exciting movements as far as we can tell from today's batch of data.
Rothes has been mostly sitting by her favourite fishpond. At the Birdfair, Richard spoke to Naomi, the wife of one of the RSPB's directors, who was just back from Bordeaux and saw an osprey very near to where we know Rothes has been hanging out. Was it her? We can only wonder...
Rothes did make a brief sortie to the Gironde yesterday afternoon. She actually registered as the dreaded 'negative altitude' though my guess is that she was sitting on the shore of the estuary while the tide was out. Perhaps she was watching boats go past or maybe just eating a fish.
And as you webcam-watchers know better than almost anyone, Mallachie is still in residence at the nest.
Richard's sent me a few snippets of news, though...
Today, Malcolm saw Garten making a fishing attempt in... Loch Garten! He couldn't see if she'd been successful, but it's good news that she's having a go.
The gang at Loch Garten think Odin has left, not sighted for absolute certain since Saturday morning... They thought EJ had gone too, for a while. She wasn't seen yesterday, but a fish delivered this morning was believed to be from her.
An intruder, ringed White TF, was around this morning, making Mallachie nervous and putting her off eating the fish. Will she get the message that she'll attract less attention once she's not sitting on a big nest?
The Osprey Centre is still quite busy with visitors, no doubt enjoying the extended opportunities to watch Mallachie sitting around... They've had some fine, warm, sunny weather, but otherwise it's getting autumnal and very close to a frost late last night. Come on ospreys, it's time to go...
More tomorrow.
Thanks for the update Katie, it's so nice to know about the bits we can't see! Good news about Garten attempting to fish, isn't it? Now all she needs to do is learn where to find clean water and some fish! Odin seems to have gone? Someone thought they saw him this morning, on the nest. Obviously not him then. It's so difficult to make out who is who these days, our family flatly refuses to stand still and face the camera! Bad ospreys! I do wish Mallachie would get off her tree and try to fly a bit further, and try and fish too, then I would feel more confident about her migration.
Thanks you againn pony tail girl.
What a wonderful job you have and you do it so very well. Def. break out the bubbly when this lots go :)))
Is this the longest you have had ospreys stay at LG Katie ??
Thanks Katie, what will happen if they do not go? Would they be able to survive the Scottish climate? (I bet these are very stupid questions!)
Thanks, Katie ... great to have some definite news from LG ... rather than our guesses! Glad to hear Garten is actually trying to fish ... I hope Mallachie has a go at fishing soon.
I noticed a nip in the air last night when walking the dogs so they had better get wee spurt on but Mallachie looks so contended sitting on her perch watching the world go by, like someone suggested we will have to give her a push. She is gorgeous we will miss them all but she won't go until she is ready. I have not got a clue about Garten where is she pleased to read she made an attempt at fishing although thought they waited till migration before they started fishing but you never know with this lot do you
Katie, thanks for the update. I did think Mallachie was 'home alone' earlier. Wish she would try to fish for herself - does anyone know if Rothes fished for herself before setting off? Off shortly to dig agility training. I'll check what you've all written when I come back.
Thanks very much for that comprehensive update Katie. This family are really rewriting the rule book. Eldest chick migrating first and now the male Odin going next. Who would have predicted that. We await the next episode of this great saga with interest.
Good news that Garten is at least attempting to fish. Once she finds a fully stocked source of fish she will be ok. That just leaves Mallachie. She needs to get fishing soon. The most surprising thing is that EJ is still around.
Thanks ever so much, Katie. Nice to have some background on the bits we can't see. Wonderful, in fact!
Many many thanks Katie - it's so kind of you to 'water' us. We've always got our tongues hanging out for any news.
Thank you Tish - for the heads up.
Now to read what's been said.
patriciat
What is dig agility training. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.:)) DOG sorry!!! LOL
DjoanS
GLad you heard me you cheeky wee thing!! :)))
Surely now there can be no standard rules for migration etc. for ospreys. Ospreys can't read. Eldest chick first not not the mother, then the father then what . it's just all higgledy piggledy:)
Garten and Mallachie on branch!!
Thank you Katie for the update I am sure it has cleared up a lot of points for people!! Is it a bit worrying that Mallachie is not doing much flying, will she have the stamina for a long flight, or is she just saving herself?? Good to hear her sister is at least trying to catch her own food. I wonder if EJ stayed in the background on purpose yesterday to see if her girls would fend for themselves and then realised that they needed feeding this morning. All these points just seem to go through my mind!!
Tish in 2004 the youngest chick left on 12th September.