Cumbrian Osprey

[goosey]

Tuesday 17th April a male Osprey arrived Whinlatter Forest in Cumbria. It has been confirmed that the male is the same unringed male making his 7th visit. It is the latest it has ever returned. Lets hope the female follows very soon. Roll on July when I will be able to go and look for myself.

[canonman]

Hi Goosey
Lets hope for the best and the female comes back.
Mick

[The Woodman]

For the last few years I have had good close quarter views of Ospreys at Esthwaite Water near Hawkshead. I'm not aware of nesting in that area, but birds are there regularly.

[JeffH]

Yes, saw a report about the arrival of the Bassenthwaite Osprey in today's paper - that's great news.

Also good to hear they're being seen a little further south around Esthwaite.

It's a few years since I did any birding in the Lakes - does anyone know if the Golden Eagles have nested at the head of the Haweswater valley in recent years?

Jeff

[The Woodman]

There's only been a solitary male there for a couple of years Jeff. The original pair were together since 1981 and the old male disappeared Oct 2001 and was replaced with a younger adult by the end of 2001. No eggs were laid in 2003 for the third consecutive year. In 2004, the female died. I believe the male continues to display in '05/'06 but I havn't heard anything this season nor been up there. I saw one two years ago quartering Crookdale west of the A6 but that was probably the solitary male.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by goosey

Tuesday 17th April a male Osprey arrived Whinlatter Forest in Cumbria. It has been confirmed that the male is the same unringed male making his 7th visit. It is the latest it has ever returned. Lets hope the female follows very soon. Roll on July when I will be able to go and look for myself.

Today a Female Osprey has been seen flying over Bassenthwaite, but she isn't one of the original pair, So I wonder what will happen if and when the other female turns up?

[The Woodman]

A good number of ospreys call in on waterbodies during their migration northward during the spring goosey. You say she isn't one of the original pair so must have been identifiable.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

A good number of ospreys call in on waterbodies during their migration northward during the spring goosey. You say she isn't one of the original pair so must have been identifiable.

Hi Woodman, I heard the story on BBC Radio Cumbria this morning and posted the news.
It is really good to be able to follow the osprey news through their webcams and diary updates. It is worth a look.
Here is todays entry for the Radio Cumbria Osprey Diary.

Ospreywatch
Friday 20th April 2007 A new female osprey has been spotted on the nest at Bassenthwaite Lake.The project team has had a number of enquiries over the last few days from eagle eyed osprey enthusiasts who have been watching live pictures of the nest at the Forestry Commission’s Whinlatter Visitor Centre and on the internet. Fish King, the male osprey that has been nesting at the same site in the Lake District for six years, was seen a number of times during the day in the company of another osprey.What everyone wanted to know was whether this bird was Fish King’s long standing partner, called GreenXS after the markings on a ring around one of her legs, or a new bird. After zooming in on the female, using a camera inside the nest, Project staff were able to confirm that this is a new osprey that has no ring. Live pictures from a camera overlooking the nest are beamed to a giant videowall at the Visitor Centre, near Braithwaite. The Centre is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

[The Woodman]

Thanks for the info goosey, despite living in Cumbria I rarely listen to BBC Cumbria since Foot & Mouth disease. The daily reports etc at the time .......nuff said. Glad you're following the progress and thanks for the info on Bass Lake, I will listen because what happens there reflects on osprey movement in the region.

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

There's only been a solitary male there for a couple of years Jeff. The original pair were together since 1981 and the old male disappeared Oct 2001 and was replaced with a younger adult by the end of 2001. No eggs were laid in 2003 for the third consecutive year. In 2004, the female died. I believe the male continues to display in '05/'06 but I havn't heard anything this season nor been up there. I saw one two years ago quartering Crookdale west of the A6 but that was probably the solitary male.

Thanks for the update Woodman - what a shame to have lost what I believe at the time was thought to be England's only breeding pair. I have very fond memories of observing them during several breeding seasons in the late 80s. Also of Peregrine in the Kentmere valley.

Jeff