A pair of Osprey’s have just arrived back at a nesting site by Bassenthwaite Lake, sparking a flurry of excitement amongst volunteers and bird watchers alike.
The male Osprey first appeared at the site in 2001 after an absence of any Osprey’s in the Lake District for over 150 years. Since then he has come back faithfully year after year, although he has only been with his current mate since 2007.
Due to the rarity of these birds in Britain, a 24 hour volunteer watch operates as soon as the pair are known to have arrived as Osprey eggs are extremely valuable on the black market.
Viewing points were setup a number of years ago at Dodd Wood with telescopes to watch the birds directly and at Whinlatter Visitor Centre near Keswick where a large screen broadcasts the view from the Bassenthwaite Osprey web cam.
Last year the pair raised two male chicks and it is hoped that they will raise another two this year.
Currently as the pair are only in the breeding stages they are unlikely to be on the nest a great deal, but when the first egg is born the web cam should show at least one of the birds on the nest at all times.
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