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-URDAIBAI RESERVE- Cousteau is one of the ospreys which were released in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. He was tagged with a satellite device which sends a signal at regular intervals and allows us to know his exact position. In September 2016, Cousteau migrated to the Senegalese region of Casamance and he has remained there ever since. Last year we went to his favourite location to observe him in situ. Sadly, however, our attempts resulted in failure. This was due to the fact that Cousteau moved from his customary wintering grounds just one week before our arrival.
This autumn, Aitor Galarza made another trip to Senegal in the hope that he would be able to locate our osprey, get to know the area which he inhabits and also take photos and videos of him. This is a chronicle of part of his journey.
Wednesday 15th November.
I left Dakar at midday, heading south on the smart yet empty motorway. My plan was to spend the night near the small lakes and estuaries which dot the coast near Mbour and to check out the area for ospreys. The Popenguine Reserve is made up of a lake surrounded by hills, the slopes of which are covered in semi arid vegetation. Amongst this vegetation are a number of baobabs which serve as excellent perches for ospreys.
The area is also of interest because of its cliffs. It is one of the few places where the blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius) can be observed.
Having spoken to the rangers of the reserve, I obtained a pass which allowed me unlimited access. At sundown I saw a number of ospreys and grey herons which were returning to the reserve after a supper caught in the sea.
Thursday 16th September
A little further south is the Somone Reserve, which is another good place to observe ospreys. I have visited on several occasions but this time, rather than stop there, I decided to carry on to Nianing. At this location there are a couple of very small estuaries where many water birds congregate. From the road I observed large flocks of bird gathering in an estuary of little more than 20ha. There were mainly grey-headed gulls (Larus cirrocephalus) and sandwich terns. Of special note were a number of caspian terns (Sterna caspia), and royal terns (Sterna máxima) in addition to a dozen ospreys which were resting on the mud or having a freshwater bath. Only one of them was ringed. Using my telescope, I was able to read the code on the black ring: ZU9.
Daniel Schmidt me informó posteriormente desde Alemania que era un joven anillado en Brandenburgo en 2016. Las posibilidades de fotografiar a las pescadoras parecían buenas, así que decidí pernoctar en un alojamiento situado junto a la playa (Akwaba guest house), justo en la boca del estuario.
Friday 17th November
At dawn I set up watch on the beach. I waited for the ospreys to start fishing in the hope that one of them would come close. As soon as day broke, there was a great deal of activity. In addition to the gulls and terns, the comings and goings of fishing boats added to the bustle. A healthy group of herons were fishing near me in the mouth of the estuary. Most of them were western reef heron, (Egretta gularis) or great egret (Egretta alba).
Soon the ospreys were also out and about. Most of them were far away but a few were exploring the water near the beach. All of a sudden one of them came close. She dived into the water right in front of me! I got the perfect shot just when she was taking to the air again!
That afternoon, I made my way to the Le Thiosanne Camp (Mbodiene), which is located by the mouth of the estuary where “Urdaibai” wintered. This osprey was one of the first to be translocated from Scotland and released in Urdaibai. Being in Le Thiosanne brought back memories and, as I have done on many occasions, I enjoyed the spectacular landscapes and wildlife. I observed great flocks of pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) and groups of waders and cormorants (Phalacrocorax africanus).
A great variety of birds were flying around the bushes and a Nile monitor lizard had dug its burrow in a secluded corner.
Saturday 18th November
My plan for the next day was to cross Gambia and to get to Cousteau´s wintering grounds as soon as possible. Driving from Mbodiene to Toubacouta I went directly to the border and entered the Sine-Saloum National Park. The roads in Senegal have improved a great deal in recent years and the journey was noticeably quicker and more comfortable. I made frequent stops, mainly to take photos. I saw numerous blue-bellied rollers (Coracias cyanogaster) and also blue-cheeked bee eaters (Merops persicus) perching on trees or on electricity posts.
In the Joal wetlands I saw a pair of ospreys that were ringed. They were probably British but I was unable to read the rings due to the distance and the heat haze.
Once in Sine Saloum I was able to photograph a group of Tota monkeys amongst the mangroves (Chlorocephus aethiops) and a palm vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) flying against a clear blue sky.
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