The Flight of Bird S08 1999

This Osprey was a juvenile male, caught by Roy Dennis on Forestry Commission land, near Nairn 21th August 1999. BTO ring number 1342798. Black ring, with white numbers 6I on left leg. One of three young ringed in the nest on 10th July 1999 at nest 56.
Wing 336mm, tail 140mm, weight 1300g on 10th July.
Wing 460mm, tail 202mm, weight 1285g on 21st August.

This young male was one of three young, the other two were females and one of them, R06 was translocated to Rutland Water in 1999. Its mother was osprey S07.

S08 was located close its nest site several times. The two locations on 10/9 suggest it may have travelled south through Ireland but we'll never know whether it actually flew over the Bay of Biscay. Roy Dennis commented:

I have always had a hunch that some of the Scottish birds migrate through Ireland (I've had three recoveries of ringed birds in Ireland) and possibly then head towards Iberia, which is a long sea journey but in my view possible for an Osprey. I have also had two young Ospreys land on fishing boats well out at sea off the Bay of Biscay so S08's journey will be very interesting.In changeable stormy weather this western route must be hazardous for Ospreys and could mean a higher mortality rate for young birds.

The position on 17/9 was a flooded river valley, west of the Spanish border and bird S01, the young breeding female was probably also there. However, S08 moved west within Portugal and stayed near Lisbon moving distances of 5 -10km for 10 days, whereas S01 moved south and crossed the Sahara.

Unfortuantely no transmissions were received after 6/10/99.

Map produced using DMAP software