A regular question we are asked by visitors and followers is “Does anyone look out for your birds in Africa?”. Friends of BGGW, such as Chris Wood, Joanna Dailey, and Pip Rowe, in normal years, visit Africa on a regular basis and Chris has spotted former Glaslyn Valley
resident 5F/Seren on many occasions in The Gambia. Last November, Joanna, Pip and husband Vic, spotted and photographed Glaslyn born Blue 8C (2014) in Senegal. We are always eager to receive news of the Ospreys that they see and are always hopeful of a sighting of Glaslyn or Welsh birds.
In November 2021, a group of Glaslyn volunteers and Welsh osprey enthusiasts will travel to Gambia, on a bird watching tour guided by Iolo Williams and Barry McDonald from Natoura Voyage Wildlife Travel. A few weeks ago, we sent a list of the Welsh ringed Ospreys to Barry so he could pass it on to Dembo Sonko, our guide in The Gambia, in order that he could keep a look out for our Ospreys.
On 21stNovember, Dembo, who has 26 years of experience as a guide on birding tours in The Gambia, spotted a ringed Osprey perched near his home village in Farasutu Community Forest. He realised that the bird had a blue ring on the right leg and using his telescope and magnifying glass, he could clearly read the ring number as KC2. On checking the Welsh Ospreys list, he realised that this was one of the Glaslyn chicks from this year.
Unfortunately, KC2 flew off before Dembo could get a clear photograph that positively proved her identity, but he hopes that she stays in the area and he gets to see her again.
A friend of Dembo has spotted another Osprey with a blue ring on the right leg, near the river that borders The Gambia and Senegal, but unfortunately he only had his binoculars with him at the time and he could not read the ring number. They are going to keep a look out in the area for this bird, which is likely to be a Welsh or English Osprey.
Fingers crossed that we will receive more news soon.