With our "agents" Roberto and Manu in Seville, we are in the very privileged position of being able to get regular sighting reports and feedback on the movements of Caledonia in her chosen wintering area. How brilliant is that !  It feels like we are actually there and R & M are our virtual eyes. Thanks chaps, for your sighting news and other information on Caley's whereabouts and movements.

Seeing her on their way to work and on their local patch, means that their feedback for us is more up-to-the minute than the satellite data downloads, which are not in real time and lag behind.  So what follows is a little "old news" in a way.  Neverthlerss, for completeness, the latest information received from Mike (thanks Mike) is as follows. The data included records for 31 January and Caledonia was indeed, as reported by Roberto/Manu, on the Rio Guadalquivir near the El Alamillo bridge at 08.00 hrs GMT (09.00 hours local Spanish time).  She was back again on the Guadalquivir on 3rd February.  On 2nd and 4th February she was resting 15 km NW of the Huelva site near the El Esparragal reservoir.  On 6th February at 16.00 hrs she was travelling SE some 8.5 km NW of Huelva.  So over the last week she has done a fair bit of travelling.

Roberto has sent this photograph, showing  Caley eatign a fish on top of a pylon.  Apparently, he has also seen her "hanging out" with another osprey, an adult bird, seen  fishing in close proximity to her and perched on the same pylon.  Hmmm, has she got her eye on a potential suitor? Or just taking advantage of a masterclass in being an osprey from an adult osprey?  It would be amazing wouldn't it, if it happened to be EJ or Odin?!!  I'm sure if he gets the chance to check for rings, he'll be sure to tell us.

Next question is, what is the other species of bird on the pylon beneath Caley?  On size and the suggestion of bluey-grey colouring to the head, I'd guess it is a male kestrel, though perhaps a bit thick-set, so a roller maybe? But a bit early I'd say for rollers to be back in Spain, unless they too have started to over-winter. Or is it a rock thrush? Roberto, can you tell us what it was?  Many thanks.

Spring was in the air on the walk to work today. Great spotted woodpeckers drumming is now a given every morning. Chaffinches have joined the chorus of songsters now too, along with blue, coal, great and crested tits, plus cavorting ravens, tumbling about and appearing to have fun.

More news later this week, but next week Mike is unavailable to check on data, but Jayne will take a look, and hopefully report on the basic news.