After a leisurely stay in the Italian Alps, Scottish-tagged Cuckoo Norman made his way east down past Turin, onto Florence, past Gallipoli and across to the Peloponnese. From here he crossed the eastern Mediterranean and made his way south through Libya. 

By late last night (28 July), having covered some 4,200 km (2,610 miles) since leaving Italy, he was in southern Chad, near the town of Massakory. Looking at weather maps of the region, we can see that there is currently a large tropical rainstorm moving through the area – no doubt offering welcome relief after that scorching dessert crossing! 

After what looked like a bit of a false start last week, with an attempt to head out to sea followed by a swift return, it appears Cores has now taken the plunge and finally set off south. 

Leaving Italy from just west of Genoa, he took off, passing over Corsica, and arriving on the North African coast near Tunis. From here he continued, into Libya and by yesterday afternoon was crossing the Sahara. Since leaving Europe a few days ago, he has covered around 1,750 km (1,087 miles). 

Having made his way into Spain over three weeks ago, we would have expected Frederic to continue his journey south. But Cuckoos will be Cuckoos, and he has not followed our logic! 

Ten days ago, he turned about-face and headed 450 km (280 miles) back north, and returned to south-western France. For the last few days, he has once again been exploring the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park, an area that he initially left in early July! 

In the last week, Wingston has been moving slowly eastwards into Nigeria. Currently in the Sokoto region in the north-west of the country, his arrival here is timed to coincide with the rainy season. 

Since our last check-in with Cleeve almost three weeks ago, he has remained in eastern Spain. He is currently lingering on the coast near Tarragona, just 65 km (40 miles) west of Barcelona. 

From here he could head straight out over the Balearics and on into Algeria, or take a more westerly route for a shorter sea crossing into Morocco? 

Cuach Cores has been feeding and resting up in the foothills of the Italian Alps for a good couple of weeks and is hopefully in fine shape for his next major leg of the migration journey.  

He has now made his way to the coast, and was just west of Genoa when we received his latest signal around 10am this morning. This is our third summer following Cores since he was tagged in Ireland in June 2023. 

In the last week, Joe has finally left his resting place on the French coast and headed south with gusto, covering some 4,000 km (2,485 miles).

He first headed past Sardinia, and arrived on the Algerian coast near the port city of Annaba before heading down through Tunisia, passing through the Jebil National Park. He then followed the Libyan border down into Niger and then swung south-east into Chad where he is now on the banks of the Chari River, and just 90 km (56 miles) from his Cuckoo cohort Ashok!

As predicted, Sayaan has sprung into action following his lengthy annual break in central Italy. He headed south-east via Naples and skirted across the southern tip of the Italian mainland before crossing approximately 765 km (475 miles) of Mediterranean Sea before coming ashore in north-east Libya. 

From here he flew on across the Sahara, before arriving in a lush region of eastern Chad, close to the borders with Sudan and Central African Republic. 

After a spell in southern Mali, Wingston has now moved 520 km (323 miles) east through Burkina Faso and into south-west Niger. 

His latest signal, received yesterday evening, reveals that he is close to the capital Niamey, not far from the northern border of Benin and the north-west border of Nigeria.

Seemingly one to take his time, Norman is still in Italy. In the past couple of days, he has moved a short way from the peaks of the Alps down into the green agricultural lowlands around Turin, close to the Po River. 

When will he tackle the crossing into North Africa – and which route will he take?