An osprey chick from Dorset risked drowning, starvation or being shot on its first 4,000 mile trip to Gambia, making history as the first of the species from southern England to make the perilous journey in 200 years.

The magnificent birds of prey went extinct in most of Western Europe in the 19th century because of shooting by humans and loss of habitat.

Now, they are being reintroduced across the country, with successful populations already breeding in Scotland, Northumberland and Rutland Water.

Those who visited the coast in the South of England long ago were able, if they were lucky, to spy one of the legendary birds.

Birdwatchers hope this could become a reality again, centuries later, after the chick became the first to make the journey to Africa.

The Birds of Poole Harbour group have been carefully nurturing some osprey chicks for three years, and this bird has become the first to migrate.

They were delighted when an eagle-eyed twitcher saw the bird of prey perching on a wooden stump halfway across the world.

Most ospreys don't survive their first migration as they get caught in adverse weather systems or drown, so this sighting is hugely encouraging.

Paul Morton, of the Birds of Poole Harbour, said: "The osprey is a very impressive, large bird of prey and they used to be very common across the whole of Western Europe until they were wiped out 200 years ago because of persecution and disease.