After Tiger started the thread for tracking Rothes and Mallachie I thought that we could do with a thread for the tracking of ospreys fitted with transmitters by Roy Dennis. As the "summer" marches on it won't be long before the only way we can get our osprey fix is to follow their migrations.
This year we have the opportunity of following all three tagged birds from last year: Nimrod, Beatrice and Morven. It will be fascinating to find out if they will winter in exactly the same place as last year, and also whether they take the same route.
Added to that Roy has tagged two more adult males this year, Red/white 8T (an Abernethy bird) and Morven's other half (Logie's ex fella). I'm not certain whether Roy has any further transmitters or will attempt to catch any more adult males but, including Rothes and Mallachie, we will be able to follow at least 7 ospreys on their incredible journeys this autumn.
Copied from the Diary...great minds think alike!
The migration is well under way, so here is a list of birds to follow, with the latest position as I know it, from websites.....the list may be incomplete, so if you can please help, add any tagged ospreys that we can follow. So far in 2007, 2008 and 2009, we have not had any simultaneous fixes, I.E. two birds in the same place at the same time. Although visual sightings have been made of pairs or groups of ospreys.
RSPB, Mallachie, Sept 3rd, Hewell HM Prison, near Tardebigge, assuming she stayed there until this morning.
RSPB, Rothes, Dr Jones' sturgeon farm, Saint-Fort-sur-Gironde, Sept 2nd. (both as per this diary entry).
HFW, (Roy Dennis), Beatrice, Malagon, Spain, on the move, 11AM, 2nd Sep.
HFW, Talisman, fishing at Findhorn Bay, 1st Sep.
HFW, Nimrod, fishing at Culbin Bars, 1st Sep.
HFW, Morven, flying from Caithness in direction of Findhorn Bay, 1st Sep.
If past experience is followed, then Beatrice should over-winter at Guadiaro river which is 340 kilometres further on. Nimrod from memory was in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau last year and had a favourite river with mudflats and Morven was on the Atlantic coast, in Mauritania and appeared to be spending every night in the desert. There were no trees where she was, so she was either on the ground or up on some rocks. Have I missed anyone? There may be some Scandinavian tagged birds this year.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
Latest on Beatrice from Roy dennis site on 03/09:
At 9am, Beatrice has set off and was about 8 kilometres to the SW, flying SW at 52 km/h. She flew on over the farmed lands in hot sunny skies with a very light north wind. At midday, she was heading straight for the distinctive mountain at Estepa, still heading SW at 38 km/h. At ipm she was travelling at 61km/h and an hour later was soaring at 1667 metres over Cuevas del Becerra - heading over the mountains north of Malaga. Her previous wintering site on the Guadiaro river is now only 62 kilometres further on and she should be there by 4pm. I wonder if she's going to spend her winter there or will she go further and on into Africa. I'd guess the former.
More from Roy
Later: Beatrice arrived by 4pm, when she was on the hill south of her favourite night time roosts by the orange groves, and an hour later was perched downstream beside the Guadiaro river at a favourite fishing place. She arrived two days later than in autumn 2008.
The only source of knowledge is experience. Albert Einstein
As the ospreys are on migration, anybody who sees one and manages to get a glimpse of the Darvic ring(the coloured plastic ring with letters and numbers) or even better a digital photograph, then Roy Dennis would like you to report it to him.
This is the link to his page with details of what to look for and what to do.
http://www.roydennis.org/osprey/index.asp?id=88
Great news about Beatrice. Lets hope all the others reach their wintering destinations safely. It is almost like having them as your own pets. Quite emotional this morning.
I whole heartedly concur Alan. I could wish that Rothes and Mallchie could winter where Beatrice is and avoid the Saraha crossing. I've learned a new term, thank you, Carol (Darvic ring).
What a star Beatrice is. Amazing to think she is already where she wintered last year (large "manly" gulp here!)
It must make all the difference to know where you are heading, like Beatrice, unlike our two girls who just feel the urge to head south.
Gary you made me smile about your large manly gulp. There are still 2 of Roy Dennis' ospreys in Scotland as well as TF so I hope they will be OK.
Margobird
margobird said: Gary you made me smile about your large manly gulp. There are still 2 of Roy Dennis' ospreys in Scotland as well as TF so I hope they will be OK.
Hi Margobird
Update on Roy's site says Morven is still in Caithness
04 September 2009
""Well, she did not leave Caithness - in the early hours of 3rd September she was at the roost south of Olginey and today at midday she was some miles west of Loch Calder, south of Reay. Dreadful wet day in Moray and overcast and windy through the Highlands""
Now Beatrice has reached the Guadiaro river it's interesting to see how closely matched her last two autumn migrations have been.