Osprey sightings 2013

There was a bird circling overhead, high up on a thermal drifting over my house in NW Cheshire late afternoon. By the time I had run for camera and bins it was drifting out of sight. Wings broader than a gull's (there were some around to compare) though not broad enough for a buzzard. Would love to think it was an osprey passing by.

French migration watchpoints:

Col d'Organbidexka

29th August : 4 ospreys

Chloe, might have been an Osprey on its way to Africa.

ChloeB said:

There was a bird circling overhead, high up on a thermal drifting over my house in NW Cheshire late afternoon. By the time I had run for camera and bins it was drifting out of sight. Wings broader than a gull's (there were some around to compare) though not broad enough for a buzzard. Would love to think it was an osprey passing by.

Seems quite likely to have been an osprey - you've already ruled out the two most likely alternative suspects, and I know you're better than I am at flight silhouettes :-)

Thank you fish and Rachel. Oh I do hope it was :)

31/08 07:50  NORFOLK : Osprey, Strumpshaw Fen RSPB  [S]

one flew from Ranworth Broad carrying a fish, north over the river towards Buckenham Marshes (07:30)

31/08 09:53  SUFFOLK : Osprey, Lakenheath (Hockwold) Fen  [S]
still over New
Fen viewpoint mid-morning (09:00)

31/08 11:34  CAMBRIDGESHIRE : Osprey, Milton CP  [S]
still present

31/08 11:36  EAST YORKSHIRE : Osprey, Leconfield  [S]
as viewed from Normandy
Barracks flying east towards Arram at 11:22 (11:25)

31/08 12:03  SOMERSET & BRISTOL : Osprey, Shapwick Heath NNR  [S]
one
eating a fish at Noah's Lake just prior to midday (11:55)

31/08 13:19  NORFOLK : Osprey, Breydon Water RSPB  [S]
one flew over
(11:52)

31/08 13:52  DEVON : Osprey, Exmouth  [S]
one flew north over Mudbank Lane at
09:45 (09:45)

31/08 14:18  LONDON, GREATER : Osprey, Walthamstow Reservoirs  [S]
one flew
south today

31/08 14:19  CAMBRIDGESHIRE : Osprey, Paxton Pits NR 
[S]
one today; also 2 Whinchats

31/08 15:26  HAMPSHIRE : Osprey, Farlington Marshes HWT  [S]
two still
present; also at least 5 Whinchats

31/08 17:21  STAFFORDSHIRE : Osprey, Blithfield Reservoir  [S]
one still;
also 2 Whinchats (permit only)

31/08 18:12  SUFFOLK : Osprey, Blyth Estuary  [S]
one early afternoon

31/08 18:15  DORSET : Osprey, Middlebere  [S]
one on pole eating fish this
morning then flew off (08:30)

31/08 18:21  CORNWALL : Osprey, Carnsew Basin  [S]
one late afternoon
(16:30)

31/08 18:22  HAMPSHIRE : Osprey, Langstone Harbour  [S]
one
fishing as viewed from Broadmarsh early evening (17:10)

31/08 18:39  HAMPSHIRE : Osprey, Langstone Harbour  [S]
still as viewed from
Broadmarsh this evening (18:32)

31/08 21:25  HAMPSHIRE : Osprey, Sinah  [S]
one mid-afternoon then flew north
(15:30)

31/08 21:55  NORFOLK : Osprey, Methwold  [S]
flew west near Fendyke fisheries
this morning (08:40)

31/08 22:24  HAMPSHIRE : Osprey, Lepe CP  [S]
one flew across Solent towards
Calshot (14:25)

01/09 10:55  SUFFOLK : Osprey, Lakenheath (Hockwold) Fen  [S]
still from
Joist Fen viewpoint mid-morning; also Spotted Redshank flew west along river
early morning (09:30)

01/09 11:03  ESSEX : Osprey, Hanningfield Reservoir  [S]
one late morning
TQ735985 (10:55)

01/09 11:11  DORSET : Osprey, Holton Heath  [S]
two over Holton Lees late
morning

Lindylou : Interesting that you should say that people are not bothering to report osprey sightings as I have been wondering why sightings this August are way down on the last 3 years. I was expecting an increase in sightings after a good breeding season and great weather for spotting ospreys.

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Migration counts at Nabben, Falsterbo in Sweden:

31st August : 8 ospreys