This adult female Amur Falcon - Falco amurensis - which I fitted with a 5 g satellite tag (No. 95778) in Newcastle (South Africa) in January 2010 has returned to the colony where it was trapped a few days ago after a long stay in the Kruger NP in January. We have several very good fixes (LC:2 and 3) for Newcastle. It can therefore be no doubt that the bird is staying in the colony. According to information from Newcastle there are now thousands of Amurs in the colony at the moment.

The falcon is apparently searching for food some 17 km to the east.

We have now tracking data for two complete annual cycles of this little bird spending the summer in NE China where it is probably also breeding.

The data set comprises four non-stop crossings of the Indian Ocean between Somalia and India in spring and autumn. Total km done during migration +- 59 000km. The non-stop crossing of the Indian Ocean between Somalia and India is between  2500km and 3100km average speed +- 42km per hour, duration +- 2.5days!

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a customized tour for you to see these Falcons or join one of the Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures scheduled tours: -

Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.