The map up-date on the whereabouts of our two young ospreys has gone ahead before we've been able to tell you the news ourselves, but yes, further good progress from both our birds.
I had intened to up-date the blog last night, from home, to tie-in with the map up-date at c.8pm, but alas, as you know, the Broadband service (Nano-band we call it locally) is rubbish and I was unable to get on-line, sorry. So some of you will know this already, but.....
Alba moved on from Merthyr Tydfil in Wales and left the south coast of England at the Dartmouth Estuary at 1pm on the 25th She spent the night east of Lamion in Brittany, Northern France. On 26th she journeyed across north France heading west and at c.3pm she starts to head out into the Bay of Biscay! I was about to type - that was brave of her, but of course it wasn't because with this being her first migration, she knows not what it can be like out there - a washing machine on spin-cycle. At c.9pm she was mid way across the Bay and a fix at 5am on 27th showed her to be just off the coast of Spain. At 7am she was in northern Spain and at 9am she was east of Carino. That's a relief, to have that potentially perilous leg of the jourmney behind her! She made it. Phew, or what?!
Meantime, when we last "heard" from Caledonia, tantalizingly she was half way across the English Channel. I didn't like to say it at the time - and I'm sure it was going through your minds too, but you dare not think it, but Deshar (2008) was in that position but made a fateful sharp right turn and headed out into mid-Atlantic and perished. It's been an anxious time since the last data set on Friday, but I am relieved to be able to report that Caledonia safely made landfall in France on 23rd August, at 5pm she was just north of Bayeux in Normandie. Double phew!
Caley then continued heading south through France until south of Bordeaux near a town called La Serre, Aquitaine, western France, on 26th at 9am, the last fix for her that we have, for now. Looks like she has by-passed the sturgeon farm on the Gironde River that prompted Rothes (2009) to bide there a while.
So all good so far. More on their latest whereabouts later in the week.
Meatime back at the Rez, we are still bereft of ospreys. However, Jen, John and Larua, took up a kind offer from Julian at Rothiemurchus Estate (thanks Julian), who hosted them at a late-season, very early morning visit to check for fishing ospreys at the fishery. They saw three different birds, including one juvenile sporting an aerial - one of Roy Dennis' other tagged birds presumably? So there are still ospreys in the area, but none with us currently. Our squirrels, crested tits and woodpeckers continue to entertain our visitors and there were a pair of red-throated divers on Loch Garten this morning, calling. Imagine, (or else down load the call to hear) how evocative that was, echoing hauntingly around the loch.
More anon
Thank you Richard for such good news! So far so good.
Thanks for the update - relieved that they have made it to Spain and France safely and the dreaded Atlantic bit is over.
Thanks Richard, relief all round for Caledonia and Alba. They certainly didn't hang around in the UK this year. Perhaps they were well and truly fed up with the awful weather this year and looked forward to warmer and drier climes. Safe onward journey to them both.
Richard,
Many thanks for the update, both here and on Google Earth. Good to hear they both completed the sea crossings OK.
Do you think, that while the girls are on the move, you could plot a few more positions per day, assuming you have the data? If the Points are too far apart, the Route disappears as you zoom in on Google Earth, plus having more Points would give a better idea of the route they've taken and possible stops (though I realise this is still only an indication). Many thanks.
Richard, thank you very much for writing! We knew that the girls are fine, but we wanted to hear it from you, just to be sure that it is 100% true. :-) I hope Alba will head straight southwards from now on, and that she doesn't go too west... the ocean is so close... Is there any way to know where they fish from the satellite data? Just out of curiosity.
Only guessing, but it seems likely that both are now fishing, which is good and they must be good strong flyers, which never ceases to amaze me each year. Since there are and have been forest fires in Southern France and Spain this year, that may cause them to alter course, but presumably for an osprey evasive action should not be a problem. Alba, flying through the night, I just wonder what she thought of that experience, luckily the coast of Spain must have been a welcome sight as she zoomed in to make landfall, with the light of dawn.
Great news, Richard. Thank you.
Thank You for the update Richard and the details of Caledonia and Alba's first journeys over water, it never ceases to amaze me how they can fly for so long and through the night as well. Safe journey to them both and may they have a long and productive life too!! Haste Ye Back Girls!!!!
Thanks Richard for that great news on the girls. Phew indeed!! I was really worried for Cally with her last position in the middle of the channel--I ll never forget brave Deshar.
Thank you Richard for update and yes a Deshar moment was had by a lot of us - we will never forget that time , hope our girls rest up now , I am in awe everytime these young birds fly south . Red throated divers now that is a one to see on Loch Garten
Glad that the loch Garten staff made a trip to Rothiemurchus. You may or may not wish to tell them that 15 minutes after they left 6, yes 6!, ospreys came in over the pond (1 adult and 5 juveniles) and simultaneously had a go at hitting the water!
Great news Richard about the girls I was one of those holding my breath till they got across the water....So pleased they both made it to the mainland I am sure they will have a well deserved rest in the sunshine before they continue..........Great that the staff got to go to Rothiemurchus and see the Ospreys, just reading the above posting , they might be a bit disappointed that they missed SIX Ospreys my goodness!! LOL
Phew indeed! They're not hanging around this year.... Thanks very much, Richard, for the update. Looking forward to the next one!
Thanks for the update Richard,good to know Cally and Alba are doing well.
Richard - Thank You for the update on Caledonia and Alba and to date have made excellent progress on what is a vast new experience for them.
Having visited the centre on numerous occasions this season may I also take this opportunity to Thank You personally and the wonderful cheerful team you built up this season and the icing on the cake would be for the birds to return in two years time for this team. I speak to every team member on my visits as you know I do and they have all been so dedicated to the nest in such a cheerful professional manner. - THANK YOU ALL.