The Flight of Bird U04 (2001)

Osprey U04 was thought to be a female. This chick was the smallest of three young from a long established successful pair breeding in Morayshire; both adults are over 15 years of age. T03 in 2000 came from the same nest which was first established in 1976. U04 was translocated to Rutland Water on 15 July 2001 and released on 31 July. Just before release this bird weighed 1750g and had a winglength of 485mm. BTO ring number 1385678.

U04 was the dominant bird in its pen before release. It was carrying a battery-powered radio transmitter.

U04 was last seen at Rutland Water at midday on 23/8.

There were three inaccurate positions on the evening of 27/8: all three were about 1200km from Rutland Water but well out to sea. At that point it was not possible to know whether the bird was in the air, (perhaps just completing a crossing of the Bay of Biscay), whether it was resting on a ship (compare S11's flight across Biscay on 12/9 last year), or whether it was floating on the surface (compare T09's flight).

The position on 2 September seemed to confirm our worst fears. It seemed that the Bay of Biscay had claimed another hapless bird.

Later came two puzzling locations which offered a ray of hope. On 8/9 a single very inaccurate position suggested a location off Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. We dismissed this at first but then another location of similar quality and position arrived 6 days later.

Then we received news that on 12/9 U04's body had been found in the water off a beach near Tuineje, Fuerteventura. It had moved about 1700 km from its position on 2/9, indicating a minimum average speed of about 300km per day.