NEWS PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 2006

1st September

Migration of the juveniles

Earlier this week, the remaining three members of this year's Osprey family set out on the long journey (presumably) to West Africa.

On Monday 28 August, the juvenile female with the silver ring was last seen, flying southwards at 13:20. She was followed the next day by her brother with the maroon ring. He left at about 08:30 and sometime during that day their father 03(97) was seen for the last time too. Perhaps he actually began the migration with his male offspring, though this is not usually the case with Ospreys: they generally fly singly, with the juveniles finding their way to the wintering grounds entirely by instinct. They also need to perfect the art of fishing along the way: very few juveniles have caught fish for themselves before leaving, but once again an instinctive urge tells them that the shapes they can see moving below the water are the fish that they need to feed on.

Today, we sit and wonder just how these juveniles are faring and where they may be now. Judging by the birds we tracked by satellite in earlier years, four days after leaving Rutland if things are going well they could well be in southern France, or perhaps the Mediterranean coast of Spain. To see the details go to the satellite tracking page and look for example at the flights of T08, T01 and T02 in 2000.

A French juvenile satellite tracked to Spain

Meanwhile you can follow the actual progress of a juvenile Osprey (named Tom) from the population in central France. Its migration is being reported on the website www.balbuzard-migration.fr. For the moment the site is entirely in French, though an English version is promised. The site uses satellite images and maps from Google as well as animated flapping Ospreys! (follow the link to "En Direct" and then "cartes").

By 30 August Tom had flown 1125km in the 6 days since leaving the Forest of Orleans.

Squatters' rights

After the departure of the breeding family, an amazing competition began for the newly vacated nest site. Late in the evening of 29 August an Osprey flew close to the nest and landed there. The number, just visible on the orange ring on the right leg was 09. It was the non-breeding male 09(98) who has been seen close to the breeding nest all summer. We think he roosted on the nest overnight but in the morning he was joined in aerial conflict close to the nest by 08(97) and the 2-year old male 5R(04). It is interesting to know that all three males see this nest as very much the place to be, competing for it almost as soon as the nest's owner had left. Both 09(98) and 08(97) have their own territories and well-built nests, but they obviously would dearly love to supplant 03(97). Of course, the other competitor 5R(04) was showing very clearly the truth of the statement that Ospreys, particularly males, return to their natal site and try to breed there.

As the week has gone on we have been aware that other Ospreys are moving south too. There may be only 6 Ospreys present today, including 08(97), pictured above, now very isolated but visible in Manton Bay for much of the day.

6th September

Goodbye to 08 - and many thanks Once again this year, 08(97) has probably been the Rutland Osprey seen by the most visitors. In April he entertained us for 6 days as he wooed an unringed female, U6, and who got him to build a nest on the platform at the foot of Lax Hill. After she left him he returned gradually to Manton Bay and it was on that nest that his most recent conquest took place - a six week relationship with the young female 5N(04). Once she left on 22 August, he remained for another two weeks and was last seen sitting on a perch with a fish all the afternoon of 4th September. He has not been recorded since then, so may well be in France by now. So we say bon voyage to him once more. He will be 10 next year - and surely, surely 2007 will be the year he strikes lucky? Certainly we are grateful for all the excitement and delight he has provided this year. On behalf of all his many thousands of fans - we say goodbye and many thanks. That's it then To all intents and purposes the Osprey season in Rutland is over for another year. 06 and possibly one or two others may still be on territory but they are not as easy to see as 08 and they too will probably be gone by the weekend

08 building a first nest for U6 in April Photo: John Wright

03(97) being chased by a Great Black-backed gull Photo: John Wright

Beware the gulls! This was the frequent cry on our public events this year when visitors (and sometimes team members too!) mistook a distant large gull for an Osprey. The picture on the left , taken on one of the cruises, shows that the Ospreys need to beware the gulls too. It is one thing to read in the books that the wingspan of a Great Black-Backed is much the same as that of an Osprey, but this picture really brings it home, as well as the much greater bulk of the gull. This one cut 03's fishing attempt short and forced him away from the dam end of the reservoir and right back down the north arm. Un bon voyage pour Tom The French juvenile Osprey that is being satellite tracked has left Spain, changing course and flying northwest into Portugal ! See the maps and details in French at www.balbuzard-migration.fr. (follow the link to "En Direct" and then "carte"). Over six days to 2nd September Tom averaged 206km per day.

13th September

It's a take-over job All summer the green ringed 06(00) has been holding territory and nest building at a remote location not far from Rutland Water. Sometimes there has been an unringed female (we call her U9) with him, though she has also spent time with another non-breeding male, 09(98). Then last week 06(00) decided to leave and, while he is presumably flying down through France and Spain, his territory is being usurped by another male 08(01). This is the red-ringed bird who is five years old and returned to Rutland for the first time on 19th June this year. (Details here). 08(01) has been personalising 06's carefully constructed nest by adding in his own sticks at a great rate. Not only has he usurped the nest, but the female U9 is still there too, showing a great interest in 08's endeavours. (Picture below)

08(01) buiding up the nest of 06(00) Photo: John Wright

Unringed female, U9. Photo: John Wright

09(98) is still here too Yesterday, another non-breeder was still present in Rutland. We described above how, soon after the family had left, 09 occupied the nest where breeding had occurred. Since then he has been hanging around, sometimes in his own territory and sometimes, as yesterday, back at the breeding nest. He is often one of the last birds to migrate - it was 14th September last year. The behaviour of 08(01) and 09(98) make it quite clear that ,once an Osprey nest has been established, it then has a great attraction for other Ospreys who would prefer to occup a successful nest site rather than establsh one of their own.

08(01) and U9, the last Ospreys to leave Rutland: both birds are holding a fish. Photo: Peter Dams

22nd September Very late Ospreys Today there were still two Ospreys present near Rutland Water. The male 08(01) and unringed female U9 were still here and behaving in the same was as described above. This is by no means the latest date for Ospreys in Rutland - the Nature Reserve's records include 5 records in October and even one in November in 1999. However, 09(98) probably left on 14th September - the same day as last year. One really wonders what it is that triggers them to leave.

Nest maintenance (1) Even now 08(01) is still engaged in nest building but the project team have been undertaking some maintenance of our own too. During the summer 08(97) and 5N(04) have built a huge structure in Manton Bay and, as in previous years we covered it for the winter months. This should prevent major storm damage but, more importantly it will prevent geese from using it. The growing feral population of Egyptian Geese are keen to occupy such nests near the waterside and they can start laying eggs in February, before the Ospreys return. The picture on the right shows this year's cover - previously a large builder's bag has been big enough to cover the whole nest, but this year it scarely reaches the edge of the nest. The large bulge at the top is a bucket - stategically placed to make sure goose eggs are not laid there.

The Manton Bay nest , covered for the winter

Manton Bay from Shallow Water Hide. The nest platform is just to the left of the Dexter cattle

Nest maintenance (2)

We have also been increasingly concerned about the state of the top of the oak tree supporting the breeding nest. The top-most branches are now very rotton indeed, leading us to think that the nest could collapse at any time. Last Friday, with the help of local tree surgeons Gary Jones and Mark Ashman, the top was taken out of the tree and rebuilt about six feet lower where the tree is much stronger. The new structure has a much broader base but all the sticks that the male Osprey had put in place this summer were reused.

30th September

The unringed female U9 stayed regularly until the end of the month, but she was not seen at all in October. She had arrived in Rutland on 14 July and had spent time with three of the non-breeding males: 09(98), 06(00) and fimally 08(01). Will she return here next year? Or will she, like other unringed females in the past, return instead to her natal site, which is presumably somewhere in in Scotland?

We will have to wait until late March or April next year to find out.