Pictures from an email
OCTOBER - probably my most favorite month. Weather is usually cool, clear and crisp. The leaves in their brilliant hues are making spectacles of themselves against blue skies. I feel certain that it is just as lovely in Scotland as it is here in southern Ohio.
Millicent and Breagha are seemingly settled in their winter headquarters, while Druee has flown on her merry way, wild and free, unencumbered except for her blue identification ring. We hope that she too is comfortably settled in her winter home.
Osprey news from here on out will likely be scarce So any information that anyone has about ANY OSPREY will be doubly appreciated here on the October Gabfest. Or news of interest of any wildlife, for that matter.
October is the month some of us start our Christmas cakes. I do a short version which will not be started until December, but this month I will definitely be thinking ahead for decorations.
The October nights have a way of going from cool to COLD, so the bright, crackling fires of the Gabfest Chat Room will be very welcome. Come on in, pull up a rocker and set a spell. We can talk of ospreys past, present and future, Christmas cakes, streetwalks, gardening or whatever suits our fancy.
Hi Keith, as I check in for one last peek before heading to bed, I see that you are up and off for an early start. So you have been in my favorite part of Scotland (Lerwick and the Shetland Islands) during your week of silence. I hope you are not stuck at all but get home in good time.
I am glad you Identified he two birds for us. I have recently become much more interested in the translocation project, but have not yet individualized the birds.
It is late for me and I will read your posts more carefully in my morning.
Hi, June. I think those big birds in the feeders are "Plain Chachalacas". They're a chicken-like bird. There are several species of Chachalacas throughout Central and South America, but the "Plain" ones can be found as far north as the Rio Grande Valley. The first article I linked below says they're also called "Mexican Tree Pheasants." Funny to see those chickens in a feeder. :-)The articles say they're very noisy.
Info:
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.../chachalaca.phtml
www.allaboutbirds.org/.../id
Also, June, the orange and black bird at the other feeder looks like a "Baltimore Oriole" to me. That's not a bird on their list, so I could be way wrong. I checked, and Orioles do migrate through South Texas at this time of year. So you may have been lucky enough to see one on migration.
ELCANO (YELLOW NC) - Male translocated from Aviemore to Udaibi.
Few weeks without news of GPS transmitter carrying Elcano. The last signal sent was near Saucelle, a small village on the border of Salamanca with Portugal, in the Natural Park of Las Arribes del Duero. We do not know what was the reason of the failure receiving the signal. We suppose that this is probably an error in the device itself
DARWIN (YELLOW NA)- Male translocated from Kinbrace to Urdaibi.
Just as happened to Artia last year the same fate happened to Darwin. He was electrocuted in power cables not far from Logrono only a day into his migration.
He was retrieved by the project.
Oh dear, Keith. I was only checking out the web site the other day for the first time during this migration. That is so sad, and must be very disheartening for all concerned.
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
And finally IRADIER (YELLOW P8) translocated from Thurso to Urdaibai.
Again never reached the African continent. Four days into migration the signal became stationary.
The project retrieved a few osprey feathers and it appeared that the bird was attacked by a predator possibly another raptor.
So to summarise we have three of the five tagged translocated birds confirmed as dead and one missing in action and the fortunate bird Humboldt making it to South East Senegal in 16 days.
SHIELA - From last season and this we can hope that some of the birds that were not tagged may make it back.
Translocations are tough as we know from the early years at Rutland Water but look at it now 18 years on.
I find it rather sad that Scottish osps are translocated and fail to migrate or things happen. But (she shrugs her shoulders) we know that the chances of a first migration as so low. But what I do find uplifting is that a number of unringed birds are being seen on their journey south, within the UK. There must be more around.
Good afternoon all. Keith thanks for the updates of the translocated birds to urdaibai. Not looking great but as you say Rutland water also started badly and now look at the success is is today!
4 out of 5 is not good and 3 confirmed dead but we know that the mortality rate is high for young birds on their first migration :(