DAILY UPDATE (Loch Garten nest) Saturday 6 July 2013

Just seen the start of the return - thanks for the video, Scylla.  Did you notice they used different bags to return them?  The new-looking light green bags with wrap around zip looked a bit tricky to close.  The old battered bags on return were larger and with a simple straight opening!

Thank you Limpy and Scylla for taking the time and trouble to post your vids and pics.  I really appreciate how gruelling it must be!  Four minutes for my post to arrive, but not be seen, refresh and it's there.  I'm sure posting vids must be really frustrating for you.

Wotadin and Moffalot haven't moved yet, and still no sight of EJ or Odin.

scylla said:

Can see packs but I cannot see any antennae.

I noticed that too - it would be a very good thing if they are new tags without antennae, I always wonder about Ceulan's tag having caught in the nets :'(

Return of chicks to nest, second chick lands on its feet!

(Please visit the site to view this video)

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Well Done Scylla/Limpy for the videos, its nice to be able to look at it all happening again, things get missed on first view.

Scylla - well it can only be a good thing if no antennai! 

 EJ's Memorial  Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023

I need to thank Clare who made sure I  was up to catch it,I did miss the first part off first one being bagged.

So I am so sorry about that.

Thank you all for your kind comments.

I agree that it must be far better without the aerials/antennae.  Ceulan may have freed himself without it.

SheilaFE said:

Interesting about the apparent lack of aerial.  Can someone tell me what the difference is between the two types of tag, other than the obvious lack of aerial of course!  LOL

The new transmitters use mobile phone signal rather than satellites, and are, I think, considerably cheaper. The major snag is, of course, that they only work when there are mobile masts within a reasonable distance.

One of the European projects used them last year, and found that they lost touch with some birds for weeks or months at a time. I would have thought they were more suitable for use on adults than juveniles, to be honest. If these are the new type, there will be a lot of folk panicking if the chicks decide to winter somewhere sparsely inhabited with no mobile masts!

It may just be that we can't see aerials because of the angle and current light conditions, though. I thought the new backpacks were a bit larger than the traditional type, and these look just the same as the normal ones.

Thought I just heard an adult chirrup.

Thanks Rachel.  As you say, the backpacks do look to be the same as in previous years.  Perhaps once they start to move around we will get a better view.

I will feel happier when EJ returns, and better still if Odin brings in a fish.  I wonder whether they have already had an early breakfast.  Must go for now - with regret!

They've not moved in 45 minutes or so.  Hope they are not too shocked.  Come on EJ, come back and check on them.

With the sun shining, are their now two dark lines along both the backs of M&W?  Aerials perhaps?

Oh it takes so long!