The satellite-tracked ospreys are off!

It was great this morning to logon to the Argos tracking station and find that Beatrice had started her migration. She left on 9th August, just one day later than last year, so it will be interesting to compare the two autumn’s migrations. She has reared two more young and they were both at the nest when I had a look on the 11th August. She travelled expertly down the eastern side of the country and last night was roosting near Retford. This is just under 50 miles north of Rutland Water, where she called by last year at the time of the Bird Fair. I telephoned Tim Mackrill and they will look out for her at Rutland today; she’s a bit early for the Bird Fair, but maybe she’ll hang on there. Richard Thaxton texted me yesterday to say that one of the young ospreys from Loch Garten had reached Wales – here’s wishing it a successful migration. Finally, I took Gandalf, the eagle owl, who has helped me catch some adult ospreys this summer, back to his home at the Falconry Centre at Huntly – his summer holidays are over!