We have recently completed the crossing of the Atlantic on the cruise ship Oceana. On Sunday April 21, just as we were going for breakfast at 09.30 I saw a large bird flying in circles about 50 meters away from the ship. This was the first bird we had seen since leaving Antigua on the previous Tuesday evening. It was definitely a bird of prey and I think it may have been an Osprey. It flew around for about 5 minutes then gradually moved away from the ship. It did not seem to be in distress or looking for a place to land. We were still nearly three hundred miles from Madeira (at 31.16.29N / 24.16.30W) and nearly two hundred miles from the nearest land.
Deshar, the young Osprey who perished in the Atlantic last year after flying over 1300 miles nonstop had been in my thoughts several times since his death. I had been following his progress since hatching on an RSPB webcam. He had been caught up in storm in the Bay of Biscay during his first migration flight and his track was a few degrees off line. That meant he headed out toward the Azores instead of down through Spain to Africa. Several times I have looked out to the port side of the ship and thought of poor Deshar flying on and on and finally falling into the sea. We have found it strange to be in a place where there is so little, for so long, apart from water. God knows what he thought of it.
I’m sure this bird was sent to show the brave spirit of Deshar lives on. Live long and prosper Deshar.
Hi,
an interesting Osprey sighting was reported a year or two back. The bird was seen to hunt, catch a fish and then begin to cross a large body of water. So, not only can they hunt over the sea if they wish but they apparently will carry food with them:)
S
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