Right then, this weeks data is in - this week thanks to our LTV (that's Long Term Vol if you were wondering).
Rothes is still in the area around Varela in Guinea Bissau. She's had a flight out over the sea but is seemingly keeping to a pretty localised area. Mallachie is also not showing any inclination to move to a new area - the area around Jarreng Tenda and Ba Faraba Island in The Gambia is good enough for her.
Below is the first post from our LTV Douglas - we decided we couldn't let him be outside all the time...
Hi all,
I’m the current long term volunteer at RSPB Abernethy NNR and will be helping out in this wonderful Highland location until April 2010, which I’m sure will come around all too soon.
I would like to take this opportunity to let you know about some of the work undertaken and the wildlife on offer throughout the winter season on the reserve.
Since starting my placement on October 7th, as well as black and red grouse I have been lucky enough to see three male and several hen Capercallies, these magnificent birds are a target species for conservation on the reserve and indeed throughout Scotland.
So far, my work has included heather burning, wetland construction, deadwood creation, deer fence maintenance and salmon counting on the river Nethy (note from Alice as one of you asked about this - we do this by walking downstream and counting the fish, not by electrofishing), all done under the expert guidance of the enthusiastic team up here.
As my experience increases, the team have given me more responsibility for individual tasks and I would like to relate a magical experience I had on the hills just the other day. I had been asked to assess repair work needed on a section of deer fence high on a hillside and as I approached the top, a Golden Eagle rose no more than 30 feet in front of me! Now I have seen these birds before but usually just a speck in the sky, this was a mature bird and I was close enough to see the golden brown nape feathers and powerful talons and beak. I did manage a picture on my point and press camera but the one in my memory bank will stay with me forever, truly a magnificent bird.
There have been great flocks of fieldfares and redwing feeding on the rowan and hawthorn berries in the area, fattening up for what I am sure will be a very cold few months ahead.
It’s another day in the hills for me tomorrow, this time with the wardens, and I am sure I will be seeing and doing things that will appear in my forthcoming writings. Cheers for now… Douglas
Welcome Douglas! You guys are pure gold. And thanks Alice for the update; nice to know things are going along okay with the girls.
Thanks for the update as usual Alice. It looks as if your training your LTVs well. Hope Douglas continues to enjoy his work when the severe weather kicks in.
Thanks very much Alice and Douglas. I am glad that R & M are continuing to enjoy the fishing in their respective areas. Douglas that must have been amazing seeing the Golden Eagle. I have never seen one in the wild.
Good afternoon Douglas , how lucky are you to be helping at at LG and how wonderful to see that goldie at close quarters , enjoy the hills tomorrow . Thank you Alice as well for update on the girls glad they are safe and well .
Thanks for the update Alice and a very warm welcome to the Highlands to Douglas..
Excellent Blog, how lucky you were to have the opportunity of surprising a Golden Eagle, always a great sight to behold but always remember Douglas NEVER give away positions, however vague...There are4 still those moron egg thieves out there !!!
If you have never experienced a Highland winter then do be prepared for the odd -25c so stock up on your thermals too...
Over here in La Belle France we are surrunded by wrens which is a joy as we didn't have them in the Highlands were I lived and I didn't recognise the song !!Also the Robins are here now too...and Hoopoos think I have spelt that right ?? which is the most extraordinary bird and sits on our lawn looking for worms...
Anyway Douglas, enjoy the autumn sunshine and the wonderful nature around you. You will never forget this experience..
Much appreciated, both Alice & Douglas, and thanks for vivid descriptions of your work, Douglas, you were indeed lucky to have such a magical experience with the golden eagle. Hope you have more exciting chance meetings during your work which sounds very interesting and varied.
Thanks Alice and Douglas for the update. Douglas I am very jealous, having never seen a Golden Eagle in the wild. What a great memory to have.
Thank you Alice for the update. Great to know our birds are still enjoying their winter sunshine. Thank you Douglas for telling us all about your work and experiences - sounds amazing. Worth all the toil, Iam sure.
Great news all round - thank you Alice and nice to get to know you too Douglas. You have a good name - that was my Dad's name :o). The girls obviously know where they are better off and who can blame them for not moving very far. x
Thanks Alice and Douglas for the updates on our ospreys and the work going on at LG. Douglas hope you have more special times as the one you have had seeing a Golden Eagle at very close quarters. The wardens you have with you at LG have an abundance of knowledge about LG as we bloggers can verify as the things that we have learned from them on this blog is something we are all thankful for. Hope you have a happy time at LG Douglas.
Thank you for the update Alice. Great to know that both R & M seem to have found places to settle down for now at least. Simon King's report for Autumnwatch from the Senegalese coast illustrated just what a great place it is for ospreys to over-winter.
Thanks also to Douglas for the descriptive account of your work at LG. You are fortunate indeed to have had such a memorably close encounter with a goldie.
Welcome Douglas - you are very lucky as well you know to be in a position to view so many amazing scenes on a daily basis ... and you should be there when EJ returns to LG ...... enjoy your stay !
Thank you for the update on the girls Alice and a warm welcome to you Douglas. You sound as if you are having a wonderful time as well as working. I am sure that you will learn a lot and that you will be a valuable asset to the team at Loch Garten. Look forward to hearing more of your news in the future!
Hi Douglas,
I hope that things are going well there for you. See you at Loopallu next year with the efest crew eh!
cheers,
Pete
Most enjoyable read Douglas, I know the Blog is called the LG Osprey diary but its great to hear about all aspects of the reserve. Bet your day was a happier one after seeing the Goldie at close quarters, fantastic Hope you enjoy the rest of your time up there,It really is a wonderful place, wish we could get up more than a couple of times a year but hey ho, that's life : )