Highland Foundation for Wildlife
Marsh Harrier  -  Chick 21197

Tay Ringing Group
 
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Marsh Harrier
2004 Migration
2006 Migration
Bird 21197
Bird 21251
Marsh Harrier Photos

 
Bird 21197
 Ringed: Tay reed beds.
 9th.July 2006,
 Ring No.  FP14010.
 Female, largest of four young.

 

This bird was fitted with a 20 gram Microwave Telemetry Transmitter, powered by a solar
panel. This will hopefully provide longer tracking than a conventional battery model.

This chick wandered quite widely, spending much time near Lundie Loch, north of the Tay, and was then near Bridge of Isla on 29th August, Kirriemuir on 30th August and between Alyth and Glamis on 2nd September and then for a few days it has been back at the Tay reedbeds and then on 9th was along the River Isla east of Meigle.

Then its migration starts - see below.

 

         BIRD 21197
DATE

 NOTES
10th Sep Back at Lundie lochs
11th Sep Still there near Long Loch
13th Sep 0500 hours very good signal -.roosting in fields by Hill of Baldowie, north-west of Long Loch
15th-16thSep Roosted overnight east of Newtyle - same area 
19th Sep Again roosted Newtyle - same area 
21st Sep Very good signals - roosted overnight along the Carse of Gowrie near Errol on the shores of the Tay
22nd Sep At 9am the bird had flown inland and northwards to the east of Blairgowrie.
23rd Sep Roosted overnight on moors north of Darvel, midway between Kilmarnock and East Kilbride
25th Sep 4.30am very good signal - roosting north of Penwhopple Reservoir, 8km east of Girvan.  (this day the other marsh harrier 21251 migrated down the Ayrshire coast and must have been close to each other)
26th Sep Close to Turnberry golf course on Ayrshire coast in the afternoon
28th Sep Moved 25 kms north-east to north of Kirkmichael
29th Sep Roosted overnight just south of Newton Mearns, south of Glasgow - bird was midway between Eastwood and Bonnington golf courses.
30th Sep Same location
7th Oct One very poor signal with no co-ordinates 
8th-9th Oct Two poor quality B signals from widely separated places at 11pm last night - Shannon estuary, Ireland or in East Lothian - but it could be anywhere from examination of these signals. But the data suggests bird is still alive and its the radio which is not transmitting well - so fingers crossed for a good signal
12th-13th Oct Again very poor signals - starting to get concerned that something is wrong.
14th Oct Another poor quality signal - an examination of the activity sensor readings is starting to suggest that this bird might have been killed or died - but hope not. Unfortunately it is dead.
15th - 27th Oct Occasional signals received  so radio is still transmitting on 401.650 MHz in short bursts of data lasting less than a second every 60 to 70 seconds; it is probably somewhere just south of Newton Mearns. If any one finds it or a radio enthusiast picks up the signal we'd like to hear.
Feb 2007 Occasional signals continue to be received, presumably when the solar panel is activated; we think the bird and radio are in thick vegetation. Several people have tried to find it without success. Many thanks to them.

 

Migration Map

(Using DMap - lines connect locations and are not necessarily flight lines)

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