Blogs

Although the adult female osprey has already left the area for the long southward migration to Africa, you can still catch some amazing, last minute osprey action at Bassenthwaite Lake until Friday 31 August.

Head for the Dodd Wood Osprey Viewpoint near Keswick, where staff and volunteers from the Lake District Osprey Project will be on hand with high-powered telescopes for visitors to use 10 am-5 pm daily (10 am-3 pm on 31 August).

Two of the young ospreys are regularly seen practicing their fish catching technique. They are diving into the lake in the hope of grabbing a tasty meal, but as yet no one has seen them actually catch anything! However, with dad on hand delivering plenty of fish they are certinaly not going without.
 
The ospreys may well remain in the area until early September, and although there will be no staff or telescopes at Dodd Wood after Friday, there is open access to the viewpoint during daylight hours.

Join RSPB staff and volunteers at our St Andrew’s Spire viewpoint, Worcester, and experience breathtaking views a male and female peregrine.

We will be at the Spire with telescopes and binoculars, 10 am-5 pm every day until Sunday 9 September.

For further information, contact Ross Lawford, RSPB Birds Near You Officer, on 07934 586579 or Dan Farber, RSPB Aren’t birds brilliant! Manager, on 07738 029559.

Our Montagu's harrier watchpoint at Digby Fen, near Sleaford in Lincolnshire has now closed.

This seven week project has been a great success with four juveniles fledging, and over 4,500 visitors enjoying great views of the birds.

Don't worry if you didn't manage to catch the full Monty, there are plenty of other projects happening this month around the country.

The three osprey chicks raised this year at Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria have all made their maiden flights in the last week.

Believed to be a female and two males, the oldest chick (probably a female) took the plunge on 31 July with the second chick making its first flight on 2 August. The third chick kept everyone in suspense until yesterday, when after a few test flaps, it flew from the nest at 1.35 pm.

Although the young ospreys are now independent, they haven’t gone far from 'home'. The adult male osprey (known as No Ring) is bringing regular fish suppers to the nest, and the young birds are regularly popping back for a quick snack.

The three young ospreys and the adult male are expected to stay in the Bassenthwaite area until at least the end of the month. The adult female always leaves first to start the long journey to West Africa and is expected to depart within the next couple of weeks.

The climax to any nesting effort is when the young fledge and start fending for themselves (albeit, with mum and dad not far away). So the juvenile Montagu's harriers have started flying and giving everyone who comes to our viewpoint great views.

However, it is possible that with their new-found freedom they may leave Lincolnshire any day now. If you are travelling a long way to see these birds we suggest you contact our Lincolnshire Wash reserves on 01205 724678 for an update on their activities.

An osprey raised at Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria in 2004 has been found safe and well – living in the Rogaland region of Norway.

This is the first time that there has been definite news of any of the young ospreys that have flown from the famous Lake District nest.

The bird – 'Green 5S' – was the fifth chick to be reared by the pair of ospreys that first started breeding near Bassenthwaite Lake in 2001, and is one of the ten young ospreys that have successfully flown from the Lake District nest.

Three chicks are being reared this year, and it is anticipated they could fly from the nest any day soon.

Come to the Lake District Osprey Project public viewing facilities, near Keswick, and enjoy watching the birds with us.