BIRDCAM.IT

BLUE back on track in the Pyrenees and on through France

Blue got back on track today. Last evening he roosted beside the River Alcanadre near Ontinena and set off this morning at 0835GMT. He changed direction towards the north and tracked the valley of the River Cinca towards the mountains. At 1029 he passed Naval and at the last signal of the batch at 1127GMT he was heading into the Ordesa National Park in beautiful sunny weather. The border with France was just 40km away so by this evening he should be well on into France.

Blue gained height rapidly and followed the high ridges towards the French border – at 1152GMT he was at 3521 metres and then rose again to 3344metres to fly over the high mountain Cilindre de Marbore (altitude 3328m). Blue ' s flight altitude reached an amazing 11522 feet above sea level! He then dropped down into the French valleys and flew down over Lourdes at 1330hrs. He passed Tarbes at 1400hrs after 168km through France stopped to roost in the edge of a small wood near Barriquerre.

Blue made an early start around 0530GMT and had crossed the River Gironde at 0658hrs and the River Dordogne at 1114hrs. He then veered NNE towards Lisle at 1250 and then north to roost by 1600GMT in a forest near Mareuil. The weather was cloudy and not good for migrating so only 162km today

He was away early again but soon stopped by fish ponds from 0700-0925GMT near La Rochebeaucourt-et-Argentine. 0945hrs headed NE and then east towards Nexon before changing to north and flying to the west of Limoges at 1219hrs. He crossed the River La Vienne at 1232hrs and then headed NE to La Souterraine before wandering west visiting several small lakes before roosting for the rest of the day and night by a lake near Tilly. Only 168km today. The poor weather is holding him up and he is wandering too far east off his usual route north.

Blue arrived at Swanage at 1250pm on 6th April and spent much of the day around Poole Harbour. He roosted the night in a big wood to the north-east of Bere Regis. Today he headed north passing over Gloucester at 1.36pm and by 4.42pm had travelled 220km. At this point he was still flying north near Cannock.