Loch Garten ospreys on their way to sunnier climes

Both the Loch Garten osprey youngsters are making good progress on their migrations to warmer climes, the RSPB has reported.

Site manager Richard Thaxton was commenting as another successful season at the reserve near Boat of Garten draws to an end at the centre which closes this Sunday.

This year’s family of four have all now departed from Loch Garten.

Regular veteran adult female EJ, who has breed for her 11th consecutive season at the beauty spot, was first to leave on August 19.

She was followed by eldest youngster Oighrig the next day; adult male Odin flew the nest last Wednesday and finally younger osprey chick Breagh headed off on Friday (August 23).

Mr Thaxton said: "For the adult pair, it is destination unknown, but for their two juvenile offspring, we are about to find out where they will end up.

"Both young ospreys were fitted with satellite tags in early July and data is already coming in plotting their movements so far."

Oighrig is now in France having crossed the Forth west of Queensferry, through south Lanarkshire and onwards through Dumfries and Galloway.

He pressed on through the Lake District, passing over Liverpool, Chester, Shrewsbury, Bristol and then he made his first sea crossing, heading out into the English Channel between Weymouth and Swanage on the Dorset coast.

Mr Thaxton said that the young bird had covered an incredible 700 kilometres in just one day - August 24 - as part of his migration.

His younger brother Breagh covered 85 kilometres in his first day of migration, passing over Ballater before stopping to rest near Glenfarquhar Lodge in Aberdeenshire.

Next day he moved on over Brechin and Dundee before crossing the River Tay and resting for the night.

The next data download at the end of the week will give the RSPB their latest positions.

Mr Thaxton continued: "After the shaky start to our season, back in April, where EJ’s dalliance with another male, prompted Odin to kick her first two eggs out of the nest, we thought our season was over before it began. "Thankfully though, he accepted her further two eggs and as a result two more healthy ospreys have entered the Scottish population.

"They have a made a great start. It is going to be interesting to see where they go and by what route."

The journeys and fortunes of the pair can be followed on-line: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/tracking/lochgartenospreys/

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