Ospreys are now becoming well established in the Lake District and this year have raised young at five known sites. This week I visited a recently discovered future nesting site near to where Arthur Ransome spent many happy years.He is buried nearby alongside his wife in a beautifully situated local churchyard.This latest site is being visited on a regular basis by a pair of young ospreys.They are not yet ready to produce young but are showing great interest in the nest site and are bringing in sticks and branches to build up the nest construction.All being well next season may see this site occupied and the ospreys continuing their expansion in the area.
I have shown above some of the many images I have taken recently. These show particularly the new possible future nesting site and the lovely location where it is sited.Although distant ( I was probably about six hundred yards away ) there were excellent views of the ospreys as they explored the area.In keeping with Arthur Ransome's title I have also included some images I took of swallows which although late in the season appeared to be mating and were showing interest in nesting nearby. It has been such a cold summer and maybe there is still time for the swallows to raise a brood.Thanks for looking in and you can be sure I will be reporting again soon from this lovely part of the Lake District.
Great images Brian, obviously love the Osprey images. I take it these are up at Eshwaite again. Are these this years youngsters in the photos as they will migrate and won't be back for 2/3 years, or non breeding young birds from previous years prospecting for new nest sites? It is great to see that more and more Ospreys are settling in Cumbria, there is no reason why this shouldn't continue. I doubt I will get chance to get up before they migrate, back up to Scotland soon, but I will have a chat with you about getting up there next year when hopefully this nest site is occupied.
ReplyDeleteHi Gary.Fairly certain these are non breeding birds from previous years at Esthwaite prospecting.Back to Scotland again !! You have got a very serious attack of Ospreyitis.Good luck and keep in touch.
DeleteGreat pics, thanks Brian - hope you'll be able to update us next year! The south Lakes is doing well for nests!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sally.Hopefully next year should be another good one for the Lake District's Ospreys.
DeleteI recently started trying my luck at nature photography. Although Ospreys fish right in my neighborhood, so far I've captured bunnies and pine cones. I find your photos quite inspiring.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob. Thanks for kind comments...Keep clicking and enjoy your photography.
Delete