Scottish ospreys begin perilous journey

A young, female Scottish osprey, which is being tracked by satellite, has embarked on a celebration zig-zag-tour of the remainder of the mainland UK and a flypast of a number of RSPB nature reserves before heading for Africa for the winter.

Last Wednesday morning (17 August) the three-month old bird, christened 'Tore', was still at its parents' nest at the RSPB Loch Garten reserve, in the Highlands of Scotland.

By Thursday afternoon, the bird completed a flypast of the RSPB's nature reserve at South Stack, on the Welsh island of Anglesey, after passing through Dumfries and Galloway and flying over the Isle of Man.

Perilous Journey across Wales and England
After roosting overnight in North Wales she headed across the industrial Midlands of England and rural East Anglia to the RSPB's Minsmere reserve on the Suffolk coast.

Staff at Minsmere saw an osprey with an attached aerial, proving beyond doubt that it was Tore. The latest update revealed that Tore had skirted around the worst of south-east London and the RSPB's Rainham nature reserve, en route for the British Channel coast near Portsmouth.

The journey of Bynack, Tore's brother, has also been followed using GPS satellite technology. Worryingly he headed from Scotland over the North Sea, heading towards Norway, sparking considerable alarm. However, he has since reappeared near Bruges, in Belgium.

Loch Garten, one of the best Breeding Sites of Scottish Ospreys
The Scottish Osprey's prefer to nest in the tall Scot's Pines, which are found in the more remote and mountainous regions of Scotland. The habitat is not only one of the most picturesque areas in Scotland but it is also home for many other rare creatures and threatened bird life e.g. Pine Martin, Capercaillie, Red Squirrel, Crested Tits, Red deer, Crossbills, etc.

GPS Satellite tracking
Caroline Rance, an osprey information officer at Loch Garten, in Scotland, has been following the reserve's osprey stories. She said: 'Ever since they hatched Tore and Bynack have become stars of the reserve. Visitors to the reserve and the website have been following their fortunes.

'The satellite technology is fantastic, allowing us to follow their travels in detail, but it can cause our hearts to leap into our mouths when these birds do something unexpected like taking a wrong turn.'

The Ospreys are not expected to return to Scotland from Africa until late Spring or early Summer next year (2012). Until that time, and in association with all our migratory birds, they face an uncertain future from predation, habitat loss, human destruction and conflict.

Scottish Pine marten (Martes martes)

Pine marten (Martes martes) climbing tree, Cairngorms National Park

New sightings of Red Squirrel

There is an abundance of wildlife and fauna in the hills, forests and fileds that surround the Garrique. Every year when we are visiting, we discover something new or some new activity that we have not seen before.

This year my wife had the great pleasure of a brief encounter with the local Red Squirrel.

Sadly a species that is struggling to survive alongside the more invasive grey squirrel, one of which was a regular visitor to our bird feeding station at the back of the cottage.

I know I should discourage the greys as a pest species but I still enjoy watching their antics and even managed to get a couple of fuzzy snaps of them.

Our generous host spends many hours per day walking in the forests and fields with her her lovely spaniels and she had alerted us to the recent sightings of the red squirrels in the area.

I suspect they are enjoying the magnificent and ancient Scot's Pine trees that tower above the smaller Birch and the more recent conifers.

The mighty Scot's pine stand like sentinels in the forest and serve as host and protection to a large number of woodland species, including the Pied Woodpeckers.

We spent a pleasant time on our walks in the forest listening to the Pied Woodpecker drumming on the exposed trunk of a sturdy Scot's Pine, without ever seeing it clearly. A good pair of binoculars would have helped.

We saw the occasional flash of wings as it moved from tree to tree or branch to branch and heard it's rather harsh and rakish cry. A song that only the local crows and ravens would envy.

Because Spring decided to emerge just after we arrived, the forest and fields were full of thrilling activities.

The number of lambs in the fields were increasing daily, the hares were dancing and boxing, the trees and bushes were starting to open their buds (despite the efforts of the Bullfinches) and the Woodpeckers were establishing and declaring their territory by drumming on the Scot's pine.

Each drumming sound we heard nearby was quickly answered by a more distant response, from a potential rival. An ancient dialogue between breeding males to dominate their chosen patch of the forest. It was ever thus.