The Flight of Bird R05(1999)

Osprey R05 was at first thought to be female. However, DNA analysis later revealed that it was a male. It was translocated to Rutland Water on 12 July and released on 29 July. Just before release this bird weighed 1430g and had a winglength of 470mm. BTO ring number 1342796.

Bird R05 had been a highly confident flier and was looking in excellent condition before it left Rutland Water.

After a seemingly confused start, R05 remained in the Massif Central region of France for three weeks, moving only a few km from day to day. Then it flew 100km W to the upper Dordogne before returning to the R. Loire.

Inaccurate locations for several days running suggested a movement down into Spain to Alicante. Then a very accurate location was received in the Atlas Mountains on 28th and another 346km south of the mountains on 29th. It took 7 days to cross the desert using a route that was further east than the three other Ospreys who had crossed the Sahara before. Apart from the uncertainty in southern France the direction of the bird's migration was remarkably constant.

On arriving in Senegal R05 moved short distances, apparently exploring various river systems before settling near the border with Guinea-Bissau. Then on 28/10 it moved 233km north across Gambia to the Dakar area. During January -March it moved small distances south to the River Soungrougron south of The Gambia before returning to the Sine-Saloum Delta in April.