Nick 2

Named after the tag’s funder Nicholas Watts, founder of Vine House Farm bird food company.

Status : Active
Tagged : Mon, June 03, 2024 - 05:30
Age when found : Adult
Tagging Location : Worlingham Marshes, Suffolk, England

Satellite Tag No. : 262928
Wing Length (mm) : 229
Sex : Male

Nick 2's journey from 3rd June 2024 to 14th May 2025

Updates on Nick 2 's movements

Time's up for Nick 2

14 Feb 2025

Having made slow progress initially last autumn, Nick 2 eventually powered on and swiftly crossed the Sahara. By late July he had made up for lost time and already reached the southern Mauritania and Senegal border.

He lingered in this area for some time, but unfortunately, this appears to be as far as he got. His tag has continued to transmit from the same area, suggesting that he died here.

Nick II's African adventure

22 Jul 2024

This is one feisty Cuckoo! The last of our tagged birds to leave the UK, Nick II has really ploughed on and is now the second of our birds to tackle the Sahara.

He is currently on the coast of Mauritania, having left Suffolk just 11 days ago! Since our last update, he has flown south through Spain, and cut across north-west Morocco before passing through Western Sahara, and arriving just to the north of Nouakchott, Mauritania’s sprawling and densely-populated capital.

His next move should see him moving south through Senegal or Mali, before heading to his wintering grounds.

Nick II gains ground in Spain

17 Jul 2024

He may have been the last of our tagged Cuckoos to leave UK shores, but Nick II has made steady progress in recent days.

Since our last update, he has flown a further 700 km (434 miles), crossing the western Pyrenees and into central Spain. He is currently in an area close to the River Tagus, just south-east of Madrid. This puts him well ahead of many of the other Cuckoos!

Late starter Nick II makes progress

15 Jul 2024

The latest of our tagged Cuckoos to set off, Nick II left Suffolk on 11 July. He headed south, cutting across open water at Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, before skirting the Kent coast and heading out across the Channel from Dover.

From here he continued down past Rouen, bypassed Tours and is now close to Angoulême, a small city by the confluence of the Charante and La Touvre rivers.