Writing this post has now become a monthly ritual. Last month I wrote about how by now all the various ospreys would be back back and they would all be starting to produce a new lot of little humbugs. Well I was very wrong as that is not how this season has progressed at all.
The year 2005 was a horror year in that an awful lot of ospreys did not come back. The thing was that there was no social media in 2005 and we were not so aware of what was happening as we are now. Nowadays the power social media makes us more aware of what is happening on a almost minute to minute basis.
Anyway from the 15 March the great osprey watch was on. Then first two days did not yield any ospreys. However late on 17th March we heard that the great patriarch of Rutland viz 3 (97) was back. There was a great sigh of relief as he was injured last year and people wondered if he would be back.
The feeling was that the birds would start rolling in at an ever increasing rate. Well nothing could be further from the truth. Day after day has passed and the only thing remarkable is the paucity of the ospreys.
There have been the odd good day but they been few and far between. On 19th March the Glaslyn female arrived and most people thought that 11 (98) would not be far behind. Well not so, there is no sign of him and he is now roughly 12 days late and getting later by the minute.
Neither EJ or Odin have appeared either. Lots of the countdown clocks are turning red and look like screens in the stock market on the infamous Black Monday.
There is the odd crumb of comfort. The tracked birds like Blue XD, Beatrice, 30 (05) are all on their way but making heavy weather of it in their various ways.
We hope that weather is the explanation for this strange situation and that the ospreys will all begin to arrive soon. Otherwise 2015 will long be remembered as a calamity year.
There is the odd ray of hope. The partner of 3 (97) did turn up on the 24 March. Also the Loch of the Lowes male turned up on time on 21 March. Yesterday he was joined by a new female. So at least we have two pairs of ospreys.
We await developments with great interest.
Tiger Signature
Tiger - Unfortunately I was away in Bristol this week without my full records. I think however my own records show that in 2005 both Welshpool nesting ospreys never returned and may have this from old RW stats.
Likewise I did think the female was a Black Isle bird again I must have this from old RW stats but I also had heard that it came from Perthshire and may have to ammend this.
Yes a bit of a mystery and thanks for the information and will read Page 30 - Think I missed that one and so will now wonder what did happen to 07(97) - again I have him as failing to return 2005. I suppose if he did return at that time there was few females around in 2005 for a new pairing but I thought there may be more reports of him around as he was only 8YO at the time.
Flew back home last night and may have a look at the new lady at LOTL today - its a lovely day and need to pay my SWT fees.
Very interesting 'chat' back and forth KEITH and TIGER. Thank you. Really reallly hope 2015 doesn't turn out like 2005 though.
We're the non returners in 2005 presumed dead or did any reappear in 2006. Just wondering if birds will stay put in extreme weather or whether they risk their lives to fly in bad conditions. Thanks in advance for a response
Unknown said: We're the non returners in 2005 presumed dead or did any reappear in 2006. Just wondering if birds will stay put in extreme weather or whether they risk their lives to fly in bad conditions. Thanks in advance for a response
It was so different in 2005. We sat around for hours even days on the next update so it was nothing like now. Also the information we have no is so much greater.
The only big name that did not turn up until late was Henry who arrived looking very haggard and stained with oil on 25 April.
Thanks Tiger. So none of the breeding ospreys that are well known and did not return in 2005 ever showed again. How sad.
I ask as I am getting a real sinking feeling about EJ. We sometimes forget that she is an old lady in osprey terms.
Unknown said: Thanks Tiger. So none of the breeding ospreys that are well known and did not return in 2005 ever showed again. How sad. I ask as I am getting a real sinking feeling about EJ. We sometimes forget that she is an old lady in osprey terms.
Virtually all of the well known birds returned in 2005.
As I say the news that a lot of birds had not returned emerged later.
I most seriously predict! EJ will be back - probably with Odin on her talons
Tiger and Keith - very interesting chat and question about them returning Lmac - thanks.
I wonder about what they do as they age ie if they just stop coming back so am very interested in Green J as she is old and nearing the end of her productive years.
I think they come back no matter how old they get - certainly Lady has repeatedly demonstrated that age doesn't get in the way of migrating.
It's very hard to see EJ as an old bird - I certainly haven't written her off yet.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Clare - Yes it could be in them whereby they just keep coming back regardless but I would like to think when they are no longer productive that they would stop. Fortunate Green J is tracked so hopefully we will learn more about aging birds.
I can't think of EJ as old and most certainly haven't written her off or any of the others eg Lady, Maya or 11(97) yet. So much uncertainty with all this bad weather which thankfully is to improve so I just hope they are all queued other side of the channel and we are inundated in over the next few days :-)