We have reached SEPTEMBER, the month which gives us the sad task of adjusting to empty nests. The end of the 2014 Osprey Season is upon us. And already, even as we were celebrating in our hearts the closing of a near perfect season at Loch Garten, we were SHOCKED into awareness of the difficulties facing our juveniles as they start their inevitable migration to warmer climates. Our Seasca already has been lost over the Bay of Biscay, Once again one of our precious chicks is “lost – presumed dead.” Even as we mourn Seasca we hope and pray for a safe journey for Millicent, who has after taking a bit of a back-and-forth stop-over in England, arrived safely in Spain. Also our good wishes are with the baby of the family, Druie. For those who have taken Druie to heart as a favorite, the parting is especially difficult, for she is not sat tagged and so the farewells are now permanent, with only a faint hope that her wee blue ring may one day be spotted and identified.
So what does September and the winter hold for THE GABFEST? As Fish and Keith have so recently pointed out, The Gabfest has changed. We have dropped in numbers and more importantly we have pretty much lost that all-important special GABFEST SPIRIT which embodied fun, cooperation and friendship as we discussed every aspect of the osprey which after all are our reason for being, along with any topic which struck our fancy. Many times during the past year and especially the past months I have thought The Gabfest was doomed to extinction. But we are still here.
Will we make it through the winter or even through September? Will there be enough of us to share a few long winter evenings with some good music? Will anybody be interested in the fun and camaraderie of a few group streetwalks? What about Christmas Cakes? Will we have a Bake-Off this year? If we do, it will be our third. I hope all these questions will be answered with a yes, but only time will tell
I myself plan to follow Millicent’s migration with close-up maps and, so long as it is available, streetwalking. Where there are no blue streets for my little man to settle on, perhaps I can find some photos of local scenes. Also more of Seasca and other Loch Garten birds, as well as tracks of osprey from other nests. But why let me have all the fun? I hope this is something we will all participate in together, whether it be to post maps or streetwalks of your own OR to comment on those posted by myself or others OR to make requests, as Ann already has.
It is going to be a long cold EMPTY winter so lets light the GABFEST FIRES in the fireplace of our Gabfest chat room and all gather in to have a good time. Who knows, we just might rekindle that wonderful old GABFEST SPIRIT of fun, goodwill and gab.
Thank you Keith
This appeared on my Facebook page
Yes Keith, osprey fly over the Isle of Man, including these three from Loch Garten as recorded by Google Earth.
On the map above, the green line is Rothes, eldest chick in the 2009 nest and sister of Mallachie and Garten.
Orange line is Tore, first-born in the 2011 nest and sibling to Bynack.
The blue line of course is Seasca. At this level her flight line disappears over land and camouflages over water.
Posted by birder on 2 Sep 2014 9:26 PM :
June you may not be able to see it but part one is on YouTube Roy Dennis Osprey Spanish Translocation Part 1:
OOPS!! Birder, when I copied your post, it brings forth the video, which was not my intention. It is a great video, but if it is not allowed here I suppose I can delete it and will do so if need be.
My purpose in forwarding your message was to ask if there is a video for Translocation Part 2. Actually I may be able to google it myself.
Knowing the video probably existed, of course I was able to find it. I shouldn't act so helpless. :) And here it is: "Roy Dennis Osprey Spanish Translocation Part 2"
www.youtube.com/watch
Thank you, Birdie, for bring this program to us by giving us the link to Part 1.