Both our birds continue to do well- it is beyond my most optimistic dreams to have both our youngsters doing so well, alive and healthy and  providing such a fantastic insight into two completely different routes and strategies for migration. In the coming weeks we will be combing over every single day of data to compile comparative statistics and maps, not just for our two birds , but other satellite tracked ospreys, to calculate averages, trends and importantly, identify areas in which birds seems to overlap frequently- potential hotspots for future conservation and protection work.

Blue 44 continues to relax in the south ofFrance, and you now have to zoom in closely on the map to see his movements which are certainly becoming habitual- as our ranger colleagues told us, he has already developed favorite fishing and roosting spots.

Blue YD is now in Senegal, after his circular loop around the border region with Mauritania. He is now fishing on one of the Senegal rivers huge tributaries, and we hope he is finding plenty to eat after his mammoth Sahara crossing. Whether he stays here or heads to the coast after a good rest, remains to be seen.

Senegal is a huge and fascinating country- I had better start reading up on its culture and learning French if I want to visit our birds on their wintering grounds and learn more about their wintering ecology from the locals!