The Flight of Bird U10 (2001)

Osprey U10 was thought to be a male. It was translocated to Rutland Water on 15 July 2001 and released on 31 July. Just before release this bird weighed 1500g and had a winglength of 445mm. BTO ring number 1385687.

U10 was an extremely aggressive bird during the translocation but was rather reluctant to take its first flight. It misjudged its first landing and then disappeared for two days. It was fitted with a battery-powered radio transmitter.

Three inaccurate locations were recorded on 27/8 but do suggest that U10 had safely crossed the Channel. It was then about 290km from Rutland Water.

By 2 September, U10 had left Europe behind and crossed into Morocco, travelling about 1750km in 5 and a half days. U10's positions are consistent with the routes of four other Ospreys S18, T08, S09 and R04 . However, all of these took at least 2 days longer for the flight from northern France to Morocco.

6 days later U10 had moved only 390km to the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains, perhaps indicating a stop-over in eastern Morocco. After 20 September there were no further transmissions from U10's radio.

©2008 Rutland Osprey Project.
Photographs and images by members of the Project Team unless otherwise stated.
The project is a partnership between Anglian Water and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust,
with funding from Augean Plc through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.
The project is based at Rutland Water Nature Reserve.