Updates from our Cuckoos

Since arriving in Chad Larry has been settled in the area in southern Chad close to the Manda National Park, presumably resting and feeding after his desert crossing. He used this stopover last year, leaving it on 10 October.

Jack's tag is sending in lots of locations that show he is alive and well. Twelve locations received on 25 August firmly place him in the Loire Valley, close to Saint-Polgues. Currently, the wind is very light, the temperature is 27 degrees and the forecast is for it to stay the same for the next few days. If he was thinking of making a move south the weather won't hold him up.

We haven't heard from Disco Tony's tag since 12 August, when a poor quality location showed that he was still in southern France.We haven't received a good quality location from Disco Tony since he arrived in southern France in mid-July, which suggests there might be an issue with his tag. We wouldn't be surprised if he dosen't pop-up somewhere further south - only time will tell.

The last few days have been a tense time for us here at the BTO. David has been attempting his desert crossing and for a while it looked like he might be in trouble. He left Montenegro during the evening of 17 August and we heard nothing more from his tag until a poor quality signal on 22 August put him in the Sudan desert, 700km (400 miles) short of a successful crossing, but around mid-afternoon on 24 August a series of good quality signals showed that he has successfully crossed the desert.

In doing so, David has become our most successful tagged Cuckoo. If he makes it back to his wintering location in the Congo rainforest, he will have completed four and-a-half migrations to and from Africa. We all have our fingers crossed that he makes it.

Since arriving in Burkina Faso 161324 has been settled in the area northeast of Ouagadougou. He appears to be using an area of cultivation around a number of small settlements.The nearest town is Kyentenga, 3.8km (2.3 miles) to the southwest.

On 4 August 161323 completed his desert crossing, arriving on the banks of the Senegal River on the border with Mauritania. He has since headed south and east into Mali and is currently close to the small town of Kinyema in fairly open forest.

We haven't heard from 161322 since the 6 August when he was in the middle of his desert crossing. The last locations received showed him in southern Western Sahara, 24km (15 miles) northwest of the desert town of Aousserd and we have to assume that he has perished.

Since arriving in Burkina Faso 161321 has been fairly settled in the area to the west of Ouagadougou. His current location is on the edge of a cultivated area just north of the town of Saria. The weather is similar to that in parts of the UK at the moment, with a temperature of 28 degrees and the likelihood of thunderstorms over the next few days.

We haven't heard from 161319 since 15 August and are slightly concerned about him. However, it is too early to reach any conclusions and he may still pop-up further south. The last locations received from his tag showed that he was in the mountains just north of Capanne di Fuori.

Larry has successfully crossed the Sahara and is currently in southern Chad, close to the Manda National Park.