She had a flight on afternoon of 15th to check out her alternative nest in east Moray and some local flights in west Moray, but mostly at home
Seems settled
April 9, 2012
Beatrice is spending more time at her nest, although she has also been at Morven’s nest. Yesterday, her mate had not yet arrived so that will be the reason for moving between nests, especially as Morven was not back by yesterday
Beatrice arrives home
April 6, 2012
Beatrice finally left Aberdeenshire on 5th and was flying over glenfiddich at 2pm. An hour later she had called by her 2010 nest and at 3pm was settled on Morven’s nest and spent the afternoon there, and was seen by sveral of us. She roosted there and next day at midday she was back on her own nest from early morning. Her mate has not yet arrived but her nest survived the winter.
Sheltering from the snow storm
April 3, 2012
A big snowstorm blew down from the north last night and this morning 7am to 10am she was sheltering in a wood a few miles north of Dundee. Last night she roosted a bit to the east near Monikie Reservoir. At her nest today there is 8″ of snow with frequent showers – but the sun keeps coming out and it is melting, but I do not think today is good migrating weather between dundee and Moray
Flying into bad weather
April 2, 2012
Beatrice roosted last night north side of Kielder Forest and crossed into Scotland just north of Catcleugh Reservoir about9.30am. Flew by St Boswells and Galashiels to Gorebridge by 1pm. From 2p to 4pm Sheltering in a wood SE of Tranent – probably due to NE winds and rain showers; then flew to Fife and at 6pm was SW of Cupar flying NNE at 54km/hr. The forecast tonight is for snow and strong north winds so she’ll have to work hard to get round the Grampians to Moray tomorrow.
Nearly to the Scottish border
April 1, 2012
Beatrice roosted last night NW of Fernlee Reservoir and then at 7am and 8am was near Toddbrook Reservoir in Peak District. At 11am near Keighley and at 5pm was perched near Hallington reservoir East, north of Hexham after a flight of 203 kms. Will she get home tomorrow – should be possible, but depends on weather.
Slow day
March 31, 2012
Beatrice had only flown 56 km by 4pm when she was flying over Milwich, heading for Stoke on Trent. At 2pm she was flying over Birmingham 750 feet above the houses.
Flying over Birmingham 2pm
Crossed the channel
March 31, 2012
Beatrice made a 3am BST start from Cherbourg yesterday and reached the Dorset coast just after 7am – easterly wind pushed her west and she was perched on the Dorset coast resting (may be eating) at 8am and 9am. Then she migrated north over Swanage and Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, before flying north over Salisbury Plain. By evening she settled to roost for the night 3 miles to the SE of Stratford-upon-Avon and at 10am this morning was perched a mile north.
March 30th flight from Cherbourg
Not as fast as I expected
March 29, 2012
Beatrice roosted on 27th/28th March in a big wood east of Cholet and in the morning probably fished in a lake just 300 metres from her roost. At 0700 – 0800GMT she was perched in farmland just to the north. Ar 12oohrs she was NNW at 60km/hr just west of Angers and the latest location was an hour later NW of Segre.
Roost site near Cholet 27th/28th March
Heading north through France
March 28, 2012
Beatrice left the River Adour at 1100GMT on 26th and headed north, passing to the east of Bordeaux and roosting the night east of Cognac. Latest signal (non GPS) was east of Nantes at 1634GMT on 27th. She should have reached the north coast of France yesterday and I’d expect her to cross the Channel today in excellent conditions, although easterly winds may push her into Dorset rather than Hants.
March 26th - 27th
