Well Mallachie didn't stick around close to Rothes for long. After that 5km close flyby and change of direction back to the north, that's where she continued heading. On Friday it was back into The Gambia by 4pm passing by Soma, Kunjo and Sanka Lang - where she roosted on Friday night (23rd). On Saturday she was back into north Senegal by 10am, though only briefly - being back into The Gambia by 11am. She crossed the River Gambia passing Potodi and Palaka, then roosted on Saturday night near Sotokoi. Sunday saw her give up the move move move mentality for a restful day - staying close by Sotokoi near the river all day and roosting there again. The latest point I have for her is 7am this morning when she was in the same area.
Rothes meanwhile had a very uneventful weekend movement wise - she barely moved away form the Varela area in Guinea Bissau. Though she did head out over the sea briefly for a couple of hours yesterday (26th).
Thanks to this week's short term volunteers who entered a lot of the data today (I did some too - so if there are any mistakes when the map gets published you can blame me!).
More tomorrow.
Oh well. C'est la vie. They may meet up again one day. Thank you so much Alice (and the volunteers). Still good to hear R&M are safe.
Thanks very much Alice. Mallachie is probably still scouting around for the best wintering quarters. Rothes seems settled for the moment.
Thank you once again Alice (and the volunteers) for the update. Mallachie seems to be having a good look around before settling down, unlike Rothes who looks pretty much settled now. Maybe Garten is close by and taking all the fish!
Thanks again, Alice ... great to get more news. Mallachie is obviously still looking for her ideal wintering spot ... and Rothes seems settled ... for now!
That's good news Alice. Both birds seem to be quite happy to explore or rest, according to their whims, and maybe that's how it should be. Had a great mental image of Garten, wolfing down big fishes, after reading pru's comment above!
Thankyou very much, Alice and vols - good to know that once more all is well with 'the girls'. Maybe they've both decided they quite like where they are now and will stay put for a while?
Thanks Alice and Volunteers good to know the latest news will check it out on GE later!!
Well, they are still showing their individuality, despite the shared genes! Thanks, Alice and volunteers, for todays update.
Thanks Alice and volunteers for the updates. It is always good to get news of Mallachie and Rothes. Perhaps they have found their home now. It would save us a lot of worry if this is the case although to be fair the news this year has so far been good news. Long may it continue.
Thanks Alice, great news
Alice - thank you for the update. Will we ever know what prompts these juveniles to settle in one place?? To me, it seems that the 'tagged' adults return to their favoured wintering sites, but just what is it that determines where a juvenile will 'winter over'?? Or will we discover that they travel around and then settle. I do so hope that we will learn from Rothes and Mallachie about how juveniles spend their time before returning to our shores. We all thought that we would learn so much from Nethy only to be thwarted.
I'm loving their journeys - let's hope that all three of them make a return journey in a couple of years.
Thank you Alice for your report.
Will we ever know what prompts these juveniles to stay in a wintering place - or do they just wander and explore. The adults seem to return to very familiar ground each year - what ever makes them decide? We all thought that Nethy would provide us with some answers - she was such a feisty bird, maybe she's still out there. I really hope that Rothes and Mallachie (and Garten, I can't leave her out) are going to show us all just what happens in the next couple of years.
And then, they will return to our shores .... how wonderful would that be??
So, did Mallachie fly by and say "Oh no, there's big bossy sister. I'm going elswhere"? LOL
What a pain in the *** having to re-join just to comment on here .... RSPB get yourselves together .. this is the second time I have had to change info - password and such .... next time I shall not be re joining this blog - totally fed up
I was Taff and a different avatar on the last comment I made ................ Crazy !