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.
Cape Verde is just of Senegal (although you might know that by now - sorry if so) only just catching up and I am going to Cape Verde on 31st October!!! Oh I will keep my fingers crossed that Bynack is alive and well and maybe I will see him. Or maybe more logically, their contact in Cape Verde will find out more information before then. And Im so pleased that Cally is safe in Spain and Alba in southern morocco. Wonderful and hope they keep safe and well. Thanks for pointing out the new blog moffer. vEry much appreciated.
All I can say is WOW! What an amazing migration this is turning out to be.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
I just checked the distances flown. Alba has clocked up an amazing 3487 KM. Cally's total to date is 2461 KM.
South of where Alba is but not too far, into the western Sahara, is a place called Laayoune. Just before that is a water system with birds on it called Dait Um Saad. Perhaps a fishing opportunity here?
But if Alba keeps flying at the coast at the rate she has been going she will soon reach Banc d'Arguin. Mauritania.
But if Alba keeps flying for the next 3 days, as she has done for the last 3 days, she will be in the Gambia! Wow, all these miles and she is less than 4 months old!
Loch Garten stats. and All the important links for LG.
moffer said: The girls latest positions.
The girls latest positions.
Many thanks. Alba took a big risk. I hope she is fine.
Tiger's Osprey News
Well, all those pelicans should mean a healthy fish supply. I hope she stops here for a bit.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Great pictures, MOFFER!
Banc d'Arguin is a National Park. See here for the video.
Looks like a good place - let's hope both girls come across it.
Bynack stopped there for a couple of days last year. I hope that Alba finds it.
Copied from 'Osprey Chat', probably better here.
What I find puzzling is the distance in latitude between Alba's last two points? The last two 32.9252 minus 27.81333 equals 5.11617 degrees, or 568Km. Between the 28th and 29th there is another gap of 3.676 degrees. So if she flew overnight and the fixes are longer overnight than in the daytime, it just means more hours, more distance covered if she keeps going. Does that make sense? The data results in the gaps in the map points to the west of Portugal and Morocco. Oh! by the way the number on the extreme right is the altitude in metres, so she flies low consistently.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies