Update from Roland Digby
This will be my last update because, as I type, I’m finally waiting for my helicopter which should be here around 12:00 hrs local time.
Things have been going well since the release with the birds growing and losing any remnants of down on their heads as they settled in to life on the marsh, fattening up on insects before starting their migration south.
Pink left, fully developed and ready to go, 3 August. Photo by Roland Digby/WWT.
The birds have been spreading out nicely, foraging on different areas of the marsh. Using a mixture of vantage point counts and foot surveys we have maintained contact with the majority most days and all over a three day period. We have also been keeping an eye out for predators such as; foxes, stoats and skuas, and I’m glad to say that no birds have been predated this year.
Red left foraging at the far southern end of the marsh, 31 July. Photo by Roland Digby/WWT.
Since the release, we have seen good numbers of migrating waders, most notably dunlin, red-necked stints and western sandpipers, with the migration really picking up around 1 August. This was also the time that our spoonies started to migrate and, as of today 4 August, more than half of the birds have already headed south and we expect the remainder to leave over the coming week.
Western sandpipers and red-necked stints feeding on the shore of Lake Pekulneyskoe, 3 August. Photo by Roland Digby/WWT.
0C and his chick (lime green U6) are also still both doing well. U6 is 15 days old today so it should be able to fly short distance by tomorrow and be fully fledged by Thursday 10 August. Although 0C has, at times, chased away any of the headstarted cohort that have strayed too close to his chick, this year’s birds have certainly benefited from his vigilance, especially when it came to warning of hunting skuas and chasing away sousliks (ground squirrels) which will happily predate on chicks and young naïve birds. Although unfortunately I won’t get to see U6 fledge, it has been a real privilege and great learning experience to watch it grow.
Lime green U6, 31 July. Photo by Roland Digby/WWT.
That’s all from me from Meinypil’gyno for this year! Thanks and best wishes to all.
My photo captions have not appeared! Will fix as soon as I work out what I’ve done wrong! Baz
Wonderful pics – a delight to be able to share them.
I don’t do social media so pleased to receive the info this way.
Many thanks to all who made this possible
Safe journey home Roland and thank you for all your hard work
Thanks for taking such good care of these lovely little birds. I admire your patience and dedication, and the wonderful cooperation across continents. Great job!
Roland’s already back in Moscow so should be back tomorrow. Yay!
And thanks to Becs for fixing the captions. Even if she is on holiday in Canada!
Great photos Roland and well done for your massive effort.,also thank you for keeping us informed on what’s happening.
Peter Soper
Well done all you in the Russian Far East for an incredible breeding season. Thanks all of you who worked so hard and also for all the wonderful updates Roland. I hope you have a safe and reasonably comfortable journey home and hope to see you at Slimbridge too.
Helena
Heartfelt thanks to you for supporting these wonderful birds.
Well done!
Malcolm
UK
Many many thanks for the wonderful job and for the updates.
We are already looking forward to more news of their migration from other sources and also next year when they return.
THANK YOU!