The 2020 UK Osprey season is underway

This was the week that the osprey season got underway in the UK, with the first bird spotted returning “home” for the breeding season. The only problem is that, as of the time of writing, we don’t know which osprey it is.

From the new Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust website:

On Friday we had confirmation that we have had our first Osprey return! She is a Rutland bird who has been returning to the area for many years. Here at the centre, we are unable to take our eyes of the webcam just in case Maya or 33(10) make their return!

Over on Facebook, they were happy to let us know it wasn’t Maya, but conspicuously failed to answer any questions about who it is.

Meanwhile, another bird from the area is on the move:

Early on during the week, data from one of our satellite tagged birds S1(15) showed us that he has left his wintering grounds in Guinea Bissau and has started his migration! This is really exciting and we are looking forward to tracking his progress, and of course welcoming him back to Rutland in a couple of weeks.

Two ospreys have been spotted at Llyn Brenig, too.

Glaslyn troubles

Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife are having a few troubles, as we eagerly await the return of Aran and Mrs G to their nest:

Our loyal volunteers have been working hard to get the Visitor Centre ready for opening, but sadly, due to concerns regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we have had to postpone the opening of the Visitor Centre. In addition to concerns regarding the Coronavirus outbreak, the condition of the Pont Croesor site is a worry at present after the flooding, especially around the Visitor Centre site, particularly the disabled parking areas.

The storms of the last few months have created trouble for nests all over the country — best wishes to all the volunteers in getting them ready in time.

Poole Harbour

I’m very excited by the prospects for Poole Harbour this year. It’s the closest osprey site to me by quite a margin, and if we do get nesting, I’m hoping to take a trip down there.

In the meantime, their new video blogs are a good watch:

And there’s exciting news of an additional nesting site being constructed in the town:

A new Osprey feeding platform has been installed on Pergins Island, Holes Bay to try and encourage migrating Osprey to use the busier areas of Poole Harbour, therefore bucking the trend of this typically shy bird of prey. The concept is being trialed due to the increase in Osprey activity in the northern area of Holes Bay last autumn, when three different Osprey began using the island as a feeding site in the early part of October 2019.

This makes me think of many of the web-streamed US nests which are right in towns.

Loch of the Lowes

No ospreys yet - but they have published a post full of lovely data from last season.

I like this graph of intrusions:

A little reminder of the dramas we’ll no doubt see later in the year.

News from elsewhere

One of last year’s Kielder fledglings, 201/Chirdon seems to be going on a wee holiday. Interesting that she’s on the move just as the older birds pack up their metaphorical things and head for Europe.

Activity is picking up in nests in the USA. The Chesapeake osprey nest had its first visitor of the season:

At SF Bay Ospreys, Rosie and Richmond are reunited, after a young female nickname Delilah occupied the nest for a while. Richmond was half-heartedly wooing the new bird, and rather more full-heartedly attempting to mate with her, prior to Rosie’s return.

And finally, there was some consternation when the male, Walker, at the Richmond nest brought back a bird carcass to the nest: