Whilst sitting in the bird hide on Sunday another bird watcher drew my attention to two buzzards calling and flying nearby. I noticed another bird of prey flying quite low across the marsh, rising slightly to clear the trees around the hide. As it came closer I could see the long, distinctive wing shape and pale under parts. Jumping over the seat to get a better view as it flew over, I drew the attention of the others shouting, "Osprey".

Ospreys re-colonised Britain in the 1950's after being wiped out by shooting and egg collecting in the 1800's. First breeding in the area of Loch Garten in Scotland: they have slowly spread around suitable areas in Scotland and they are now breeding in the Lake District too.

As part of a reintroduction scheme young birds were also released near Rutland Water, where several pairs now breed. Young from that reintroduction have started to breed in Wales and this year at least two pairs bred. Up to now most British-ringed ospreys have wintered in West Africa, though some birds are now staying this side of the Sahara. This may be the result of climate change.

If anyone wishes to follow the progress and migration of some of the young birds there is a website run by Roy Dennis: http://www.roydennis.org   which is well worth looking at.  Also the RSPB website has several osprey pages, one showing the progress of the young birds reared at Loch Garten this year through satellite tracking: http://www.rspb.org.uk