Lake District Ospreys, Bassenthwaite.

Bassenthwaite Ospreys 2008
April 2008. The ospreys returned to Bassenthwaite Lake, the Lake District Osprey Project has confirmed. After a winter spent apart in Africa, the male and female ospreys were have reunited back at their Cumbrian.

On 10th April, just after 2 o’clock a female osprey appeared from nowhere and landed on the nest. Then just minutes later a male bird dramatically dropped out of a rain-filled Cumbrian sky to join her on the nest. The behaviour of the birds has left the osprey team in no doubt that they are the same birds that nested last year. Experts are astounded that both birds apparently arrived back simultaneously after a 3,000 mile journey from Africa.

8th Nesting Season
The return of the ospreys raises hopes for an eighth successful nesting season for Lakeland’s famous fish-eating birds of prey. A pair of ospreys first nested near Bassenthwaite Lake in the Lake District in 2001, the first ospreys to do so for at least 150 years.

It is thought that birds that have arrived back today are the male that first nested in 2001 (known as ‘No Ring’) and the female that he paired up with for the first time last year. The female from 2001 did not return in 2007.

Graeme Prest of the Lake District Osprey Project said: ‘We’ve had some pretty incredible moments with the ospreys over the years, but this must rate as one of the most dramatic days so far. One moment the Lake was quiet with no ospreys in sight and then a few minutes later both birds are back on the nest having appeared out of nowhere.’

Ospreys apeared in Lake District in 2001
After a long absence of over 150 years, ospreys reappeared in the Lake District in in 2001 on an artificial nest platform. They hd been sighted several times on migration in the late 1990s.

The two ospreys have nested succesfully every year from 2001-2006, raising 10 chicks during that time.

How to see the ospreys
The ospreys are normally present in the Lake District from mid-April to late August. The Osprey Viewpoint runs at the Forestry Commission’s Dodd Wood, near Keswick. The viewpoint offers magnificent views over Bassenthwaite Lake, a favoured fishing area for the ospreys. From here there is a direct view of the nest through high powered telescopes from a safe distance. This is an open air facility (no hide!).

The existing viewpoint at Dodd Wood remains open, with great opportunities to watch the ospreys fishing in the Lake, as well as to see red squirrels and watch woodland birds. A new viewpoint has also been set up about half a mile further on up the hill. Visitors are advised to go to the original viewpoint first where staff from the Lake District Osprey Project can provide directions to the new site.

 

The new viewpoint is only 400 metres away from the nest, which means you get really good views of the birds as they fly in and out. There are also impressive views across to Derwent Water and the Helvellyn range, so it's well worth the extra walk.

Osprey project staff set up telescopes for visitors to watch the action between 10am and 5pm daily at the lower viewpoint and between 10am and 4.30pm at the upper viewpoint.

Where to see the ospreys
The Osprey Viewpoint is situated 3 miles north of Keswick off the A591 – follow signs to Mirehouse from the A66. The Viewpoint is 10 minutes walk uphill from the Mirehouse car park. The Dodd Wood Viewpoint and car park are open all daylight hours. Staff from the Osprey Project partnership will be on hand with telescopes from 10.00 to 17.00 every day.

Grid reference: NY235281

Click here to go to the Osprey Watch website.

Bassenthwaite Ospreys 2007
Three chicks successfully fledged in the Lake District, probably 2 males and 1 female. They have all left for their long journey south. Interestingly one chick that hatched in the Lake District in 2004 turned up in Norway this year.

15th July. Not fledged yet, but looking very healthy.

15th June. The Bassenthwaite ospreys have hatched all three eggs, and the chicks all appear well, though the youngest is very small.