Quick Miranda Update: Successful transmission from Miranda's tag last night shows that she is still well and remains roosting in Co. Mayo in the west of Ireland.

Grainne, Hattie and Miranda

The birds have remained in the same locations in which they have been recorded in over the past few weeks. Poor weather conditions mean that satellite transmissions are sometimes poor but all the birds have transmitted in the last 4 days.

Miranda, 9th January 2014, County Mayo, (transmitted weak signal 2 days later on the 11th
January)

 

Hattie and Grainne, 9th - 13th January 2014, Langholm area

 

18th Dec Harrier Update

Many thanks to Stephen Murphy for this update.

Dear All, 

The recent dour weather has reduced the efficiency of the satellite tags hence the amount of data from the birds. Grainne’s transmitter has not been able to pull in enough light in recent weeks. Therefore, despite not featuring below, it is not because she suddenly disappeared off the map. I hope the next few clear crisp bright mornings will bring her back on line. 

At this time of year the young hen harriers are usually in distinct home ranges and the area of land they utilise generally contracts. They will now be adept hunters having worked out where the prey is and how to catch it. They will also have a good spatial awareness of the landscape/topography knowing how to use its physical properties to sneak up on prey and where to roost. 

I have been lucky to see hen harriers in both lowland and upland sites in the last fortnight in great company. Many of the birds are returning to the roost well fed, most birds sporting massive noticeable crops.  Does their strike rate increase in these wild windy and wet conditions?  The harriers seem to revel in the wind and it could actually help them as we have recorded successful stoops on small passerines struggling to get airborne or whilst trying to fly into the wind. 

Miranda is in County Mayo. I type this as severe westerly’s rip across the country and 70-80mph gusts, driving rain and sleet are buffeting the trees outside and howling down the chimney. It must be bad as the two televised cup football matches were temporary halted by the referee due to horizontal white out sleet and swirling gale force winds.  

Hattie is still the “homely girl” the least travelled of all satellite-tracked birds.  

Harrier update

Not much change this week, Grainne and Hattie still staying local to Langholm,

and Miranda has spent time near to Carrowmore Lake.

Miranda in Mayo

Apologies for the delay in posts, severe internet broadband problems here..

Miranda is continuing her interesting journey and is currently in Mayo on the west coast of Ireland. This map shows her estimated route over the last four months.

Miranda 5th July to 21st November 2013

Miranda 21st November

 Homely Hattie and Grainne are static in comparison with Miranda but just as interesting from an ecological perspective. What has got into Miranda that has not (yet) got into her sister Grainne and neighbour Hattie?

Hattie and Grainne 10 day home range to 20th November 2013

 Take a look at these two graphs (and especially the scale on the y axis) Hattie has barely been 8km from the nest but Miranda is now around 500km away.

Hattie and Grainne maximum distance (km) from nest over time

Miranda maximum distance (km) from nest over time

many thanks to Stephen Murphy NE for all this information.

Our fabulous friends in treland are keping a close eye on Miranda as well as their own tagged bird Heather, check out Hen Harrier Ireland http://henharrierireland.blogspot.co.uk/ for more information

we are having serious internet/broadband problems, will get HH update as soon as possible

we are having serious internet/broadband problems, will get HH update as soon as possible