I've waited until the end of the week to write the 'So Far This Week' blog hoping to get some news from Africa. Roy Dennis has been in Senegal and Gambia looking for Einion and Dulas with the BBC this week - we'll have to watch Autumnwatch on Friday for news of what they saw.

We've also had another email from our dear ornithologist friend, Frédéric, from northern Senegal. Earlier in the week, I sent him the precise latitude and longitude coordinates of Leri's last position - here is his unedited reply:

"I am so sad for you and the Dyfi friends: last 3th of november we would want to understand what happened to Leri in the Khant marigot !

I watched the Leri 'point' from the dried bank, last day. But with the aquatic grass, we don't know if the tamarix senegalensis bushes in the marigot are out or in the water !? Next days (probably on the 11th) I will take my complete waterproof wetsuit to go directly by transect on the Leri position. By hot sun - the good weather in december...-, this is difficult to dress with this wetsuit in Senegal ! I really think that transmitter failed and Leri is alive !

Mengueye Boye is a very old village in the region. It is a very traditional community, soufi - where cigarettes are not accepted: you can smoke if you are a stranger, but people will pick up your cigarette end to bury it ! No alcohol, obviously. No music. Just people with God... A nearest village, Ngaye, doesn't know this system.

The Haratines fishermen I asked in your web blog don't live in those villages; they come from Ndiawdoune bridge, on the main road (on the Ngalam river). We'll take a stop on the next journey to speak with fishermen (and asking them about ospreys...). If we can, we'll go in Mengueye, also.
Regards. Frédéric."

Here's a photo of Frédéric in the area he looked for Leri last week, it looks very dry and arid:

However, judging from his email, he's not sure whether Leri's last position is in water or not. Here's a photo of his friend in roughly the same area:

So, we don't know for sure whether Leri's last position was in water or not, hopefully our friend Frédéric will be able to tell us when he goes out in his full wet suit! For those that are interested, here are Leri's last coordinates: 16.02817 - 16.37967 (copy and paste these two numbers exactly as they are, including the dash, and place in the search box in Google Earth, then press enter.)

If you are reading this, Frédéric, we all wish you the very best and pass on our greatest thanks. Merci je l'apprécie vraiment, bonne chance. Good luck mate.