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

Regular sightings at RSPB Arne in Dorset, don't think anyone is bothering to report them now. One or more birds being seen morning and evening with fish on the perch erected for them at Coombe Heath. Not managed to catch sight myself, missed one by minutes the other day :-(

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