We are delighted to announce that after an incredible osprey season at Loch of the Lowes, one of our satellite tagged chicks FR3 has set off on its autumn migration. It left Scottish soil just south of Ross on the south-west coast at 9am on the 18^th August, and by 1pm had made it across the Irish Sea to Wales. After spending 2 days in the south of Wales and taking a further 2 days to make its way down the south-west tip of England, FR3 left the UK shortly after 8am on Saturday 22^nd.

Navigating safely across the English Channel it was first picked up along Le Léguer, a small coastal river in western France. Our latest data showed the young osprey to be spending time around a small water body surrounded by agricultural land just west of Brittany yesterday evening.

Our other satellite tagged chick FR4 and our adult male could still be seen on the reserve yesterday, however there have been no sightings of our untagged chick FR2 for about a week now. The likelihood is that due to its close fledging time with FR3, it too has decided to leave for migration although we have no way of knowing this for sure.

This is a very exciting time and we are looking forward to following the progress of our chicks on their first migration. We will shortly be updating our website so you too can view the latest data as our chicks make their maiden journey south.

Charlotte,

Perthshire Ranger.