First Ospreys to hatch on an RSPB nature reserve in England since Victorian times 

Ospreys have successfully bred on an RSPB nature reserve in England for the first time since the Victorian period as three chicks hatched at RSPB Campfield Marsh in June.

Ospreys were persecuted to extinction in the UK in the early 1900s but they are steadily increasing in numbers, with Scotland as their stronghold. This success indicates the vital role RSPB nature reserves play in supporting threatened bird populations by managing suitable habitat through conservation work to aid species recovery.

Ospreys are migratory birds of prey, spending winter in West Africa and returning to the UK from March onwards to breed. They are significant in size, with a striking plumage of brown upperparts and white underparts and angled wings at the “wrist”. As a fish-eating species, they are typically seen over large bodies of water where they actively hunt for food.  

Despite going extinct as a breeding species in the UK in the early 20th century, Ospreys returned to Scotland in the 1950s and have continued to re-colonise across the UK with an estimated 316 breeding pairs.  

RSPB Campfield Marsh in Cumbria features an Osprey platform to attract these birds of prey to nest which can be viewed from the nearby hide.  

The three chicks hatched between 7 and 14 June and were fitted with leg rings in July. This will allow any further sightings of the young birds to be recorded once they have fledged and help monitor their movements.  

The chicks are expected to fledge in August but will likely remain in the local area whilst they learn how to fish and fend for themselves. They will start making their way back to Africa from September onwards and their migration will take approximately four to six weeks.

The adult birds are believed to be first-time parents, with the male (“Blue 571”) ringed in Dumfries during 2021 and an un-ringed female of unknown age and origin.  

The birds paired up after arriving at RSPB Campfield Marsh in April before settling on the nesting platform. The eggs were eventually laid between 30 April and 6 May. 

A local primary school helped to name the three chicks once hatched: Ash, Bownes Bobbi and Beau.  

“We are incredibly excited to be the first RSPB reserve in England to host a pair of breeding Ospreys. After last year’s shenanigans we had high hopes that one of the birds we’d seen hanging around last year would drop back in and pick up a mate. We were on tenterhooks after the eggs were laid and throughout the incubation period until they hatched.  There was huge collective sigh of relief when they did. 

 “Osprey parents are surprisingly tender despite their large size and sharp talons. They can also offer good comedic value with nest tidying exploits and antics. Ospreys are frequently site and partner faithful, so we’re hoping to see more of them and their offspring in the future. It will be exciting to know when and where the chicks are next seen and find out where they choose to breed in a few years’ time.”   

This good news is testament to the hard work of dedicated RSPB staff and volunteers and highlights the importance of RSPB nature reserves for providing suitable habitat for threatened species.  

RSPB Campfield Marsh in Cumbria is located on the southern shores of the Solway Firth, one of the UK’s largest estuaries. The wetland reserve is formed of a rich patchwork of habitats, including saltmarsh, peatbogs, farmland and wet grassland. Careful conservation efforts to create ditches, drains and high water levels support wintering wading birds and wildfowl, with the nesting platform specially designed and located for the benefit of Ospreys.  

Whilst Ospreys are still a relatively rare bird in the UK, they can be found at sites across the UK. With their stronghold in Scotland, RSPB Loch of Kinnordy and RSPB Loch Lomond are some of the best places to see Osprey in the breeding season.