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.
I agree with Tiger's suggestion
As Val ( of VAP) points out on todays blog, Robert lives an hour away from Caledonia's 'home''. He is being so kind sending these updates to this page and I hope he will continue, but I don't feel that he should feel pressurised either.
There was a Google Earth update last night covering 31st Jan - 6th Feb; the period of Roberto's first sightings of Caledonia and the VAP team's visit.
These are the points at the roost and in northern Seville:
According to Richard's comments on the blog, the 31st Jan point is at 8.00 GMT/9.00 Spanish time - just before Roberto first saw her, and in the same area around Alamillo bridge.
The more northerly point on Sunday 3rd, at the same time, is I think when the VAP team and Manu were watching from Alamillo bridge - she was also back in the area, just south of Barqueta bridge, at 16.00 GMT
Thanks Sue - what a built up area to the east
Hi Folks I actually ponted out on the blog that Manu lives an hour away from Seville , it is Roberto who lives and works in Seville and travels to work every day over the Alamillo Bridge , Manu has his own business doing guided trips mainly around the 'Donana' it was him we employed to take us around to find Caley , all that was done before Roberto had seen Caley - that was sheer coincidence but was good for us as we then managed to introduce Roberto to Manu and I am sure they will keep in touch . So it is Roberto in Seville , Manu may sometimes go but he is a busy man organising his trips . Hope this clears up who is where !!!
Valerie
Thanks Val.
NEW BLOG from Richard
I thought I would bring this lovely link about Caledonia here, which Mulberry put on 'Gabfest' this morning.
http://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/News/RSPB-Osprey-update-12022013.htm
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
Thanks NiteOwl it should be on here :)
Hi everybody,
Finally, I got the photo of Caledonia I was looking for using digiscoping, though the quality could be better. I can now be 100% sure that I was monitoring her and not other unknown satellite osprey sharing Caledonia’s wintering area ;)
She was eating a mullet-like fish on a pylon close to the Guadalquivir river this morning. You can see how the pale tips of upper feathers have disappeared due to natural wear, and how the colour of upper parts, especially wings, is much paler because of decolouration by sunlight. The eye colour is also more yellow (like in adult birds) than typical orange-brown of chicks-fledglings. In short, she is progressively maturing and she should start moulting flight feathers.
Roberto