Osprey Sightings 2010

Lets hope so Sandy.

03/04 13:38  LANCASHIRE : Osprey, Rossall Point  [S]
one flew over heading northeast at 09:35 (09:35)

And still they come Alan thanks for updating with latest arrivals.

03/04 15:39  WEST YORKSHIRE : Osprey, Swillington Ings  [S]
one over this morning; also Knot, Marsh Harrier and 25 Whooper Swan (09:00)

French sightings update:

Faune Aquitaine update:
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Le Poutch Nord 1 / Carcans (33)
1 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) [Marie-Françoise Canevet ]
Comment : Non bagué, perché.
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Etang de Léon / Léon (40)
2 Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) [Paul Lesclaux ]
Thursday, April 1st, 2010
Etang blanc / Seignosse (40)
2 Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) [Stéphanie Darblade ]
Comment : dont un type mâle

Anjou update yesterday sightings:
la Vidange / Tiercé (49)
1 Balbuzard pêcheur (Pandion haliaetus) [Francis Cauet ]
Remarques : 11h10 en pêche
les Trois Maillets / Varennes-sur-Loire (49)
4 Balbuzards pêcheurs (Pandion haliaetus) [Thierry Printemps ]
Remarques : 3 oiseaux en vol de pêche active à 8h00, 2 avec bandes pectorales diffuses et l'oiseau d'hier. Le 4e est posé sur un arbre mort sur l'ile en face

Loire Atlantique today:
Marais de Grée / Saint-Herblon (44)
2 Balbuzards pêcheurs (Pandion haliaetus) [Hugo Touzé ]
Remarque : Deux individus vus simultanément. Souvent perchés sur des piquets ou posés sur les prairies. Ont quelques problèmes avec la femelle pèlerin et une buse.
And yesterday:
Marais de Grée / Saint-Herblon (44)
1 Balbuzard pêcheur (Pandion haliaetus) [David Grandière ]
Remarque : mange un poisson sur la berge

03/04 17:10  NORTH YORKSHIRE : Osprey, Wheldrake  [S]
one circling over Ruffhams Close for 10 minutes before flying north this afternoon (16:20)

03/04 17:12  LANCASHIRE : Osprey, Prescot Reservoirs (Permit Only)  [S]
one flew north this morning

An interesting question posed by Su on the Update thread: just how many ospreys are in the process of returning to the UK? 

There has to be some relationship with sightings - and I think the count kept by Alan P climbed over 100 yesterday. However, some birds may get counted twice, while others may not be seen by anyone, or only seen by people who don't recognise an osprey, or don't know where to report it.

Alternatively you can start with the latest figure from Roy Dennis of 230 pairs, or 460 birds, nesting mostly in Scotland. Given the hazards of migration, not all of these will be returning, but let's say about 430 will.

You then have to add to this figure a population of unpaired sub-adult and young adult birds, generally aged between 2 and 5, who have come back to the UK looking for nests and mates - but there my knowledge runs out and I have no real idea how many of these there might be. 

Perhaps the total might be in the region of 600-700?    

Thanks Sue C.  I think 600-700 is not far off the mark. I think Roy Dennis said 1 in 10 adults dont return so that brings it down to about 414. As to the number of unpaired adults returning, it probably depends on a number of factors. If you take Rutland Water as an example last season, there was 3 or 4 unpaired adults around to 4 nesting pairs so 600-700 looks pretty accurate to me.

03/04 17:57  WILTSHIRE : Osprey, Coate Water CP  [S]
one from the 2nd hide late afternoon (17:30)

I'd agree with that figure of 600-700, Sue (nice avatar by the way!).

It'll certainly be interesting in the next few years to see how much the population increases.

Roy recently updated the blog on his website saying that a friend reminded him that it is exactly 50 years since he began his involvement in ospreys. Back then (01/04/1960) he was anxiously awaiting the one and only pair in the UK (at LG, naturally). Just shows what can be done to help re-introduce a species if the will is there.