Osprey are back in Hampshire

A few days ago I was down at Fishlake Meadows, near Romsey, when an adult osprey flew in from the south and immediately started fishing from the main lake. For several minutes the bird circled, with talons outstretched, before diving down to the water surface and neatly plucking a foot-long fish out of the water. It was great to see an osprey back in Hampshire!

Osprey are a summer visitor to the UK and they start their 5,000km return journey from Senegal and Gambia in early March; with most of them back at their UK breeding grounds by early May. The adult birds normally pair for life, yet they travel to and from their wintering grounds separately-returning to precisely the same location every year to repair their giant next made of sticks, leaves and moss, before the female attempts to rear 2-3 chicks.

As I stood at the side of the water in the morning sun, it was impossible not to get moved by this incredible bird of prey. For several minutes it struggled with its fishy prey-with the fish attempting to squirm its way out of the osprey’s grip. But this amazing hunter has a secret weapon; unlike most other species it has a rough underside to its taloned feet that enable it to hold tight to its slippery catch. It also has a reversible outer toe, which can be turned to adjust the fish while flying. A few minutes after the battle started, the osprey managed to deftly turn the fish so it was facing head first, and was then swiftly taken to a fallen tree from which the osprey began its sushi supper.

Seeing such an incredible bird in action was rather reminiscent of a scene from a David Attenborough wildlife documentary. And yet it was happening here in Hampshire! Several osprey platforms have now been erected around the county to help create stable nesting places. In the past few weeks Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have put one up at Fishlake Meadows and hopefully sometime in the next few years we will see osprey nest in Hampshire.

In early autumn the osprey that breed (still mainly in Scotland) will begin their laborious journey back south to Africa. For the young birds it will be the first time they have ever made the journey and yet they seem to know precisely where they are going. Most will travel alone and the youngsters will often remain in Africa for the following couple of years, before starting to migrate again in year three as a young adult. It is often only in the fourth year that osprey will start breeding and will then live for a further 6-8 years.

In a time where there seem to be many reasons for doom and gloom, it is so exciting to have a brilliant success story right on our doorsteps. For now they are not breeding in the county, but with lots of suitable habitat, plenty of food and great nesting platforms it is just a matter of time…..

If you spot an osprey, why not let the newspaper know and send in your photo?