This thread has been set up to follow the travels of Caledonia and Alba, the young ospreys raised at Loch Garten in 2012.
Their mother is “EJ”, the resident female at Loch Garten since 2003; there is some doubt about the identity of their biological father, given EJ’s dalliance with a male from a neighbouring nest, Blue XD, both before and after the return of her regular partner Odin, who raised them.
Caledonia hatched on 16th May and Alba on 18th May; they both fledged on 14th July.
This is a link to the Loch Garten blog describing the ringing and satellite tagging.
Caledonia’s ring is Blue/White AA1, reading downwards. Alba’s is Blue/White AA2, reading upwards.
Following the tracking
This page gives a quick overview of the routes on a map, which will be more useful once they start migrating.
If you want to look at the routes in more detail on Google Earth, this page contains instructions on setting up your PC to do this.
This blog contains some useful information about how the tracking works – we are now on a 3-day reporting period.
Unknown said:Tiger/Keith do you know if all juveniles go to Africa on first migration and then choose to stay on the continent in later years or do some never go as far as Africa in the first year?
We know of two juvenles at least that stopped in Spain or Portugal.
06 (01) the infamous Rutland bird stayed in Portugal
Then the equally famous SSK who in 2002 got into deep difficulty over the Atlantic before making it back to Portugal and stayed there. See page 102 "Life of Ospreys"
On another thread we were talking about a French osprey called Tom who overwintered in Portugal.
We do not know how Green J and Beatrice came to overwinter in Africa.
Tiger Signature
I have posted on Gabfest about this fantastic news but no harm repeating here Isn't it wonderful? Have I got it right that Alba flew for a whole day and a night to cross the Bay of Biscay? They have both done so well God speed Caledonia and Alba
TIGER - I was about to discusss the case of SSK a remarkable Bay of Biscay crossing and the rest before turning back towards the most SW tip of Portugal. I think after that flight and fright I would stay put in Portugal.
Roy mentioned to me some time ago that he thought Beatrice may have had a similar fright one year and then decided Spain was for her.
patily said: I have posted on Gabfest about this fantastic news but no harm repeating here Isn't it wonderful? Have I got it right that Alba flew for a whole day and a night to cross the Bay of Biscay? They have both done so well God speed Caledonia and Alba
Unfortunately there are no times on the Loch Garten points but it seem clear that Alba flew through the night.
Keith,
Maybe.....except that Rothiemurchus had a similar fright on his first migration (10-11 Sept 2009), but still went on to Africa........and made 2 other long sea crossings in his 2011 migrations.
Unknown said:TIGER - I was about to discusss the case of SSK a remarkable Bay of Biscay crossing and the rest before turning back towards the most SW tip of Portugal. I think after that flight and fright I would stay put in Portugal.
Yes SSK is a never to be forgotten osprey. She was Nora's (The Dyfi female) aunt. So I wonder where Nora winters?
Unknown said: Keith, Maybe.....except that Rothiemurchus had a similar fright on his first migration (10-11 Sept 2009), but still went on to Africa........and made several other long sea crossings in his 2011 migrations.
Maybe.....except that Rothiemurchus had a similar fright on his first migration (10-11 Sept 2009), but still went on to Africa........and made several other long sea crossings in his 2011 migrations.
It will be interesting to see if Alba does a stopover in northern Spain.
I have just read the story of 06(01) and it has moved me to tears as these wonderful birds often do.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
NiteOwl said: I have just read the story of 06(01) and it has moved me to tears as these wonderful birds often do.
06 (01) was a bid that wrote her own rule book. I just realised tonight that she was a sister of 8 (97) the famous Rutland male who could never find a partner. All the Scottish lasses would stop and get him to feed them for a week before they headed up north.
Then eventually he found romance.......