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.
Alan, I see no reason why Nimrod won't end up exactly where he did last year.
As for Rothes, time will tell but I have an inkling that she will also end up in the same general area as Nimrod.
Nimrod is following last year's path and is making progress down the French coast.
Red 8T has made a rather curious u-turn in the Mauritanian desert. Otherwise making good progress.
Rothiemurchus still in the same, rather mountainous, area. Good map of him following a river through a valley.
Thanks for the updates Sandy
Not been online much today so great to be able to catch up here:)
Thank you Sandy for the update. Strange u turn by RED 8T but it must be disorientating in the desert if the weather is bad. Hopefully all will be well.
That is a strange turn by Red 8T but at least it isn't over water.
Ninmord is following closely his route from last year. I find it fascinating.:)http://www.roydennis.org/osprey/index.asp?id=175&sid=84
Alan, if you remember, Nethy did a similar thing last year, although she was still in Algeria I think, before resuming in the right direction. As you rightly say the weather is crucial to a desert crossing so hopefully whatever has caused this detour will abate to allow him to continue his migration.
gary a said: That is a strange turn by Red 8T but at least it isn't over water. Ninmord is following closely his route from last year. I find it fascinating.:)http://www.roydennis.org/osprey/index.asp?id=175&sid=84
Gary, I think it's great that we have the three of Roy's birds to follow on their second autumn migration, and to compare their routes from one year to the next. Surely this is a fantastic opportunity to understand the factors that influence their route.
Beatrice's route this year was almost indistinguishable from last year, in both direction and method.
Morven appears to have been blown off her more overland route of last year but has managed to re-adjust to make it to north Africa.
I must admit I've been waiting for Nimrod expectantly to see how he would cope with this year's unusual weather patterns (with high pressure up north we have had easterly or north-easterly winds for some time now). If you look at his route this year he kept as far east as he could before using the wind to swing quickly westwards to pick up on familiar landmarks in Wales and then to follow almost exactly last year's route to France. How on Earth does he "know" how to do that?
All I can say is that these birds continue to delight and fascinate in equal measure!
Ditto your remarks, Sandy. Delightful and fascinating!
Coming back to Rothiemurchus, if he were to continue a bit further North, he would soon reach the Douro river which I imagine would give better fishing opportunities. I might be wrong, of course, but its a much wider river to the one he is following now. Of course, North will be against his migratory instincts. . .