The recovery of Ospreys in England

The osprey became extinct as a breeding bird in England in 1840. It is generally considered that the species was absent from Scotland from 1916 to 1954. In 1954 Scandinavian birds re-colonised Scotland naturally and a pair has nested successfully almost every year since 1959 at Loch Garten Osprey Centre in the Scottish Highlands.

The early re-colonisation was very slow because of contamination of the food chain by organochlorine pesticides and the activities of egg collectors. However, in 2023 the RSPB estimated that there were over 240 nesting pairs in Great Britain. Some chicks from Scottish nests have been moved to England to establish new breeding populations, in particular to the Nature Reserve at Rutland Water. In 2022 there were 26 adult ospreys and up to 10 breeding pairs in the area of Rutland Water.

Scandinavian and Scottish birds migrate through England on the way to their breeding sites. It is thought that most of those observed passing through Norfolk are Scottish-hatched individuals. For example in 2023 an un-ringed male spent time at Ranworth Broad (I caught up with it in April), where it started to build a nest on a new platform constructed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust the previous year. See the local press report: https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23453240.norfolk-wildlife-trust-hopes-osprey-will-breed-ranworth/. In addition, I had distant views of an individual at Blythborough in Suffolk on 3rd September.

The osprey is one of the most widely distributed raptor species globally. It is found in temperate and tropical regions of all continents, except Antarctica. I have seen this species in Cuba, Antigua, USA (Florida), Cape Verde Islands and Egypt as well as at Rutland Water and Ranworth Broad.

Posted on 15 April, 2023 20:39 by heliastes21