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: I still don't think it's certain that Caledonia is staying in Spain. The latest date a juvenile osprey tracked from the UK has left Europe for Africa is 12th December; that was T03, a Rutland Water bird from 2000. If Caley is still in Seville on the shortest day - 21st December - then I will believe she has made the "decision" to stay.
I still don't think it's certain that Caledonia is staying in Spain.
The latest date a juvenile osprey tracked from the UK has left Europe for Africa is 12th December; that was T03, a Rutland Water bird from 2000.
If Caley is still in Seville on the shortest day - 21st December - then I will believe she has made the "decision" to stay.
Well we are now on 22 December, and Caledonia is still, we understand, still in Seville!! The next few weeks will be interesting.
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Unknown said: The best news Caledonia is still in Spain :)
The best news Caledonia is still in Spain :)
"Only two things are infinite - the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not too sure about the universe..." - Albert Einstein
The best start for the New Year Caledonia in Spain.
Happy New Year and hope a good 2013.
Unknown said: The best start for the New Year Caledonia in Spain.
Yep, new blog entry from Richard here
Unknown said: Happy New Year and hope a good 2013.
Still no update on Google Earth since 27th November though. It seems they still haven't got the new software working.
I know I am greedy but maybe we might get another update Thurs/Friday. Not sure if Richard is off until 8/1 and a bonus for New Year and it was appreciated :)
Fantastic News today that Caledonia remains in South of Spain after the New Year.
Statistics have shown that we have had in the past massive movements of juvenile ospreys well into January, February and March until the adults start to return home.
However this has been in the areas around Senegal as the dry season bites hard - Now with Caledonia there is no need to do this and am feeling confident she will stay put in The South of Spain unless something else triggers her to move further south.
The winter weather is fine where she is settled and I guess there must be an abundant supply of fish on her short exploratory trips.
Keith fantastice news and for all of us, we all hope Caledonia stays in Spain.
I think Blue XD wintered where Alba was when he was tracked and not 100%
I hope Caledonia stays but intrigued by no other young tracked and was thinking along the lines. I wonder if EJ does not go all the way to Senegal also.
Could it be different Genes as I believe Odin not the father. Maybe Ej's Gene's kicked in now and not usual for Spain. Probably pie in the sky and a stupid question.
I hope she stays and not going to tempt fait as looking good but not definate.
I am so happy as all and thank Richard for posting on his break :)
edited
I have also been pondering over the past few weeks what triggers Caledonia to stay in Spain.
Yes Blue XD had been known to winter in the Delta du Saloum 9/2000 thro 3/2001 when he was monitored.
Now previous offspring birds of Odin and EJ also went to Western Africa and so did offspring of OVS and EJ.
Could it be genes ?????? - The above data does not appear to say so.
Me I am puzzled what triggers an osprey to do what - so I will say B & B - Not a silly question at all and would very much like to know what others may think.
Help us out with this mystery.
Keith/B&B - Well there are more learned people around who will probably give you a more logical explanation. We do know that Beatrice and Green J winter in Spain, and there was another who wintered in Portugal I believe. Maybe those people that have been around when Beatrice made her first migrations can remember, did something happen significantly with the weather that year that made her decide to stop in Spain, and after being there a while she thought that the place was suitable enough for her, good roosting spots, good fishing, why fly any further, the same scenario could have happened when Green J stayed too, but I cannot remember anything significant happening that would have made Caledonia decide to stay in Spain.
As I said before AP reports sightings daily on Ospreys in El Hondo in the Costa Blanca, even some in France, are these all over-wintering Ospreys then? so maybe there are a lot more Ospreys over-wintering in Spain than we know about.
Ok this is said with tongue in cheek, (I hope that Green J and Caledonia never cross paths as I can see Green J thinking, don't you look a bit like someone I know very well) LOL....
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023