Where do “our” Osprey go in winter? Up to now, at least two birds released in Switzerland have been seen wintering in West Africa. John Wright first photographed an unidentified male from 2016 in the Langue de Barbarie National Park, Senegal, in December 2016. Fusée (PR9), also from 2016 (the same individual?), was then spotted about 20 km away in the Trois-Marigots wetland by Jean-Marie Dupart in September and October 2018, and photographed in the same place by Marc Steinmetz in February 2019. It was then the turn of Flamme (ex-KF6), from 2017, to be photographed by Chris Wood and Joanna Dailey in Gambia, at the Gunjur Quarry wetland, on March 2, 2020.

In December 2024 we (Denis Landenbergue and Wendy Strahm) spent three weeks prospecting along the coast of Mauritania (with Abou Gueye), Senegal (with Jean-Marie Dupart), and Gambia (with Fansu Bojang), hoping to find one of “our” birds. Out of nearly 400 Osprey counted in total, we could read the codes of 20 colour rings in Senegal and Gambia, originating from Germany (8, black on left leg), Scotland (4, blue on left leg), France (3, orange), England (3, blue on right leg), Wales (1, blue on right leg) and Norway (1, black on right leg).

We also saw 4 other colour rings that could not be read in Mauritania, 3 in Gambia, and 6 in Senegal. Over half of the birds observed were unringed, and the others were either too far away or their legs were not visible. Above are a few photos of some of the more cooperative birds.

We now eagerly await the end of March when the first Osprey will start returning. As always, in order to identify territories of summering Osprey in Switzerland, we will hold two “Osprey mornings” this year in the Three-Lakes region and the trans-boundary Doubs river basin, on Sunday 15 June and Sunday 29 June 2025. More details about this will follow, but, in the meantime please reserve already these dates in your diary!