Steppe Eagle movements so far

We have been tracking the two Steppe eagles caught in Oman for about 7 months now.  Below is a map of their movements during that time.  During the time we have tracked them they have spent a couple of months in northern Oman, migrated north, and spent the summer in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Russia.  A feature of their summer movements is that they seem to be wandering over large areas, and one of the birds seems to be doing this while also having a base area in far western Kazakhstan to which it regularly returns. Remember, you can click on the map and it should open in a new window and be easier to see.  In the coming days I will post more detail about the summertime movements of these birds, so revisit the site soon.

Movements of 

Steppe eagle movements 1 June - 7 July 2017

Well, I thought the Steppe Eagle we are in contact with had settled in for the summer in western Kazakhstan, near the Caspian Sea.   However, on 3 July it set off from the area in which it has settled since it migrated, and by 6 July it had moved almost 900 km to a location north of the Aral Sea, about 60 km north of the town of Saksaulskiy.  I found a photo on the internet from near Saksaulskiy (below).

Generally speaking, we know little about what non-breeding eagles do during the breeding season, but this behaviour is not what has been seen in other species, where the eagle settles then makes occasional moves.  We'll see what this bird does now.  The times on the map below are GMT; local time is GMT+5 hrs.

We have not heard from the other birds we are tracking.  Presumably the other Steppe Eagle is out of GSM range, so can not upload data.  The Egyptian Vulture we are tracking in Oman may be still hiding out in the steep canyons and wadis of Wadi Sareen in an attempt to escape the heat!

Movements of a juvenile Steppe Eagle during 1 June - 7 July 2017

Landscape aroudn Saksaulskie (http://www.q-rider.de/2007/html/070610-aralsk.html)

Kazakhstan also has camels, albeit with more humps.  (http://www.q-rider.de/2007/html/070610-aralsk.html)