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.
Clare Bailey said: I'm very relieved Cally's still in Spain. I wonder where Blue XD winters?
I'm very relieved Cally's still in Spain. I wonder where Blue XD winters?
Blue XD winters here
pretty much were Alba was.
Tiger Signature
Tiger, is that the right bird? It mentions black/white 8X.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Clare Bailey said: Tiger, is that the right bird? It mentions black/white 8X.
Yes it is the right bird. No one including Roy Dennis can explain the discrepancy. All we do know that Green J and Blue XD have been a couple since 2000.
Either it is a typo on the document or the bird was re-ringed in 2000.
Mims, Im inclined to agree with you. Ijust really hope the others will be OK, but Im very worried about them. They are just babies as you say,poor brave Alba.
Hi Clare, hope you and Limpy had a good holiday in Germany. I am also happy that Caledonia is still in Spain, much safer for her. They do seem to domuch better!
Tiger, that would be a spectacular typo. I'm inclined to think someone re-ringed him.
58willow said: Hi Clare, hope you and Limpy had a good holiday in Germany. I am also happy that Caledonia is still in Spain, much safer for her. They do seem to domuch better!
Clare Bailey said: Tiger, that would be a spectacular typo. I'm inclined to think someone re-ringed him.
Well Roy Dennis does not remember the bird being re-ringed. This webpage lay virtually forgotten for over ten years and then it suddenly became important.
In "Life of Ospreys" Roy Dennis not mention any ring for S18 which is the bird we now know as Blue XD
Interestingly on 3 March before any of this broke I wrote a piece about these birds
Clare Bailey said: Saying that, tagging doesn't seem to have hurt her either.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
Hazel b said: Well Roy Dennis does not remember the bird being re-ringed. This webpage lay virtually forgotten for over ten years and then it suddenly became important. In "Life of Ospreys" Roy Dennis not mention any ring for S18 which is the bird we now know as Blue XD
Has someone actually asked Roy (and had a definite answer) then? Must have missed that. Roy should know - doesn't he still supply all the darvics? So if Roy doesn't remember XD being re-ringed, my guess is that 'black 8X' was a typo - we know there are other discrepancies in the tracking pages on the old Rutland site.
These discussions always fascinating for me, but can't stop now - running late for monthly staff meeting...