At 2.18pm on 11th September Ozzie got his first view of the sea. It was awesome. He arrived over the Pevensey Levels and was filled with uncertainty. To his left the low peninsular of Dungeness reached out into the English Channel and to his right a high chalk downland ridge was cut off abruptly at Beachy Head. Ozzie wasn't ready for the barrier of the channel and drifted over Eastbourne to get lift. At 2.48pm an old birdwatcher logged his third ever Osprey as Ozzie passed west over Whitbread Hollow to circle over Beachy Head itself. Out to sea visibility wasn't great, maybe only two or three kilometres. No, he wasn't ready to fly out into the unknown. Instead he went west along the coast, looking to get round the sea. Over the next four days Ozzie wandered the south coast searching a crossing point. He had his first experience of fishing in salt water and spent three days feeding well at Pagham and around Chichester Harbour, before straying inland again, pushed by poor weather.
On the 16th September Ozzie's frustration lifted as he reached Weymouth and saw the land stretch southwards. The early morning wind was from the north-east and it was clear and bright. Passing over Weymouth harbour Ozzie flew out over the Isle of Portland where he hesitated over the west cliffs, and circled the Bill. For a few minutes he circled, gaining height. His passing went unrecorded by the bird observatory team who were busy trying to relocate a curious looking warbler deep in the bushes. At 8.38am Ozzie struck out over the sea. Ozzies resolve was steadfast. For over two hours progress was good, Ozzie felt confident. Way beneath him a few Swallows passed, twittered on, small family parties southbound. The wind was still light, but had turned a little more westward and he felt an increasing side wind. Gradually he lost ground to the wind, it was pushing him west of his intended route. He knew he had to conserve energy, so he went with it rather than battle against it.