Ospreys in the Tweed Valley
This weekend I had the privilege of seeing a family of ospreys from relatively close proximity. Despite living in Scotland for 30 years there have only been a few occasions where I’ve seen them close up, usually as they swoop into a body of water fishing for food for their young.
Apparently the best view of an osprey I never got was up at the mouth of the River Findhorn, in those days I was self employed and had turned my back to the wind to take a work call whilst enjoying some time off, my friends witnessed an osprey swoop down and catch a fish as I battled modern communication.
I knew that they lived somewhere in our local forest but non the less stumbled across them as I cycled up to the top of the hill to see if my legs still worked. I watched mesmerised as they fed their young and patrolled the skies around the nesting area between fishing trips. I had my camera with me and took some snaps I’m proud off but it’s got me thinking about a new zoom lens…
The osprey is a large fish-eating bird of prey that has a white head with a distinctive brown eyestripe, they are a migratory bird and can be seen in Britain in summer with a wingspan of 1.6m and an average Lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
Males and females are generally white below and darker (brown) from above.They can be mistaken in flight for a very large gull or a buzzard but do have a different silhouette shape. Ospreys have the highest full legal protection under UK law (Schedule 1). It is an offence to injure or disturb any bird, nest or egg.
The Tweed Valley Osprey Project was set up in 1998 to help to establish a breeding population of ospreys in the Scottish Borders. When the project started there were no known nests in the area. Now, 25 years later, there are around 18 active nests and over 350 chicks have been raised across the Tweed Valley.
During the nesting season you can visit the Tweed Valley Osprey Project Wildlife Hub at Glentress Forest. You’ll find tips on where the birds can be seen and be able to see these magnificent birds up close via the live camera feed. I recommend following the Tweed Valley Osprey Project on Facebook.
Another great reason to visit the Borders.
Other potential raptors to see in the Scottish Borders.
Ettrick Valley: Red Kites, Common Buzzards, and Goshawks.
St. Abb’s Head: Peregrine Falcons.
Glentress and Cardrona Forests: Sparrowhawks, Buzzards, and Kestrels.
Tweed Valley: Barn Owls and Tawny Owls.