LAST week we were very concerned about Pinky (PY1), the young, female osprey that was making her way on her first migration south, writes Diane Bennett, Tweed Valley Osprey Project Officer.

She had set off on August 26, and was making good progress. 

But on August 30 she began to cross the Bay of Biscay despite having already flown a staggering 388km that day. 

It was early evening and that meant only one thing, she was committed to making the full crossing of this dangerous and stormy sea in an all-night flight. 

Thankfully, she made it safely across after a 12-hour continuous flight with no rest. 

She reached the coast of Spain after her 456km journey over the sea, arriving at Pendueles at 5.53am for a well-deserved rest in a tree. 

She rested for two hours and then, driven by hunger, flew into the steep landscape, crossing a busy motorway just a few metres above the road and over the hill to find the River Cares-Diva and some good fishing. 

She restored her energy with fish, which would also have rehydrated her and prepared her for the onward journey. 

After a rest on August 31 she then proceeded inland along the steep sided valley of the River Diva and high over the mountains, which was possibly a ploy to use the upward thermals to make flying less arduous.

She then changed direction towards the south west from the town of Cabuerniga. 

She stayed overnight at the River Carrion, where she made good use of the chance to fish once more and rest.

She then pressed on, in a south westerly direction until she reached the River Huebra and she has since spent five days there in beautiful surroundings with a wide open river and good fishing. 

Pinky’s brother, Perky (PY2), has made it down to Switzerland and it seems he likes this osprey paradise so much, he has decided to stay...

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