I think this will be an interesting season at Loch Arkaig - who is going to take residence is the big question?
For me it doesn't matter who, just as long as the nest is occupied.
LINK TO 2021 THREAD
LINK TO LOCH ARKAIG OSPREYS WEBSITE
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023
https://ospreycam.net
6th October Good morning all, a few quick updates on the four Ospreys being tracked by Conservation Without Borders for Flight of the Osprey (#FOTO)
Rutland's Blue 4K has crossed the Sahara. According to my latest email from Tim Mackrill, he must be at his wintering grounds in the Pongo River estuary in Guinea by now. The #FOTO team are currently in El Hociema in Morocco and will be visiting the estuary when they get to Guinea. They have a good chance of spotting 4K as he usually roosts in the same tree.
Blue 4K hatched in 2013 and has broken a couple of records this year! He's a first time dad this year at the ripe old age of 9 years old (two chicks: female Blue 2H7 and male Blue 2H8), and is also the first Osprey to breed at Belvoir Castle in 200 years.
Of the three Tweed Valley juveniles, sadly there's been nothing from Kirk Blue 707 since the data on 5th September showing him out at the sea off the west coast of Ireland. However his brothers Tweed Blue 706 and Glen Blue 708 are doing well and still in the same areas of Portugal and Spain where they first made landfall after leaving the UK.
Both took a somewhat precarious path out to sea, both had long exhausting flights. If Tweed had gone a little further west and not turned slightly south east, he would have missed land completely, and Glen had a miraculous escape by finding a ship to land on. Actually two ships, and the data shows he spent about 12 hours aboard giving him a nice long rest. He then headed south again, found a rocky outcrop off the coast of Spain, zoomed about a bit before deciding that was no good and flew south making proper landfall on the mainland.
Photos of current position are the latest data downloaded this morning at UTC+3 (UK+2).
Tweed this morning
Tweed's journey
Glen this morning
Glen's journey
Both brothers this morning - they're actually not far apart
Nest 2 has had several visitors since the family departed (Louis 8th and Sarafina 9th September). These two Hoodies had an interesting interaction on 4th October, looks like they were reinforcing their pair-bond.
And several little songbirds have turned up, a veritable flock on 26th September
Nest 1 has also had visitors, these little songbirds turned up on 2nd October
1st November. Quick update on Flight of the Osprey (#FOTO): the team have arrived in Senegal, they're camped at ZebraBar inside the Langue de Barbarie National Park. Starting to see many Ospreys now.
Blue4K is roosting happily on his favourite tree in the Pongo River Estuary in Guinea, and the last remaining Tweed Ospreys juvenile, Glen Blue708, has finally made a move south on the 30th, leaving the Anllons area in Spain where he's been for weeks, and is now (1st Nov at1am UTC+2) nearly at the Portuguese border. Fingers crossed he doesn't go through the area where his brother Tweed Blue706 was recently predated by a Goshawk..
News! News! News! Willow LW5 sighted in France! Was back in September, George has just been notified and posted now: We have a report of Willow spotted in France! maryannsteggles.com/.../loch-arkaigs-lw5-in-france
Very sad news: RIP Doddie Weir, Scottish rugby legend for whom Woodland Trust 2020 Osprey Doddie JJ6 was named in tribute.
Condolences to his family and friends.