Welcome back to the Poole Harbour Osprey Diary! With CJ7 and 022 both returning safely back onto their nest on the 25th March at 18:29 and 26th March at 06:40 respectively, it’s been all go ever since! There’s been lots of nest-building, fish deliveries, and plenty of mating. 022 returned back to his old ways, bringing some black plastic onto the nest, mistaking it for nesting material. Thankfully this has been taken away each time and, in the last few years, has not caused issues for the eggs or chicks. We monitor the webcams and site closely 24/7 for occurrences like this. We’ve spoken to landowners locally about removing black plastic from their land, but with the Ospreys travelling several miles to collect nesting material, it is a difficult task to reach all potential sites.

We are thrilled that at 12:56 this afternoon, CJ7 laid her first egg. Eggs tend to be laid 3 days apart, with delayed incubation until the second or third egg is laid not uncommon. This is where the pair will delay the initial incubation of the first egg to limit its development early on. This can bring the hatching times closer together, resulting in a less significant size and development difference between the chicks.

With the pair back for their fifth breeding year, having produced 13 chicks since 2022, we’re wishing them another successful season. There’s lots more to be excited about, with hopes of 5H3, a male chick from the 2023 Carey nest that returned back to the harbour last year (and showed interest in Lancashire female 6C6) for the first time, coming back and potentially pairing up with any roaming females. We’ll also be awaiting to see if any of the 4 chicks from the 2024 Carey nest (5R0, 5R1, 5R2, and 5H6) which were all male, return back to the harbour. 2 year-olds tend to arrive back a bit later in May/June time, as they do not reach breeding age until 3 years old. They’ll spend the summer looking for potential females and nest sites for the following year. We’re also pleased to say that female 1H1 and Poole Harbour translocated male 374, the second pair of Osprey to breed in southern England for over 180 years last year, have returned safely back onto their nest. On top of that, 5H1, the female chick from 2022 (the first year CJ7 and 022 bred), has returned back onto her nest in the East Midlands, where they bred for the first time last year and produced 3 chicks, with her mate Rutland male 3AY!

We’ll be updating this Osprey Diary throughout the season, sharing key moments, sightings from the Osprey Viewing Platform, and any interesting behaviours. This week we also launch our Carey Osprey Tours, an exclusive opportunity to view the Carey Ospreys from a safe distance at our viewing platform in partnership with Carey’s Secret Garden. The viewing of the nest at Carey is carefully managed to avoid any risk of disturbance to the birds and is only possible via booking on to these tours, with a limited number of tickets available for each session, so please make sure to book onto one of the tours in advance if you would like to visit. 

Diary Entry 12/06/26

Well, what a change in the weather this week that our Osprey family had to contend with. No longer acting as a ‘sunbrella’, CJ7 is now protecting her chicks from the heavy rain and strong winds, sharing her body heat with them and providing shelter to them as until the chicks are 3 weeks old, they are unable to Thermoregulate. CJ7 is particularly good at focusing on protecting chick no 4, along with the others. Despite this inclement weather 022 continues to bring in 4/5 fish to the nest daily to feed his growing family. 

CJ7 and 022 bring more sticks to the nest to build up the sides in preparation of the chicks growing. Both parents continue to show tenderness to their precious and vulnerable family. In many nests, the male Osprey would just provide fish and protect the nest but 022 was involved right from the start by sharing incubation duties and now he can be observed trying to feed his chicks on occasions. Perhaps this evidence of shared care by the adults is the reason why this pair have been so successful in rearing all their hatchlings to fledge over the last several years.

This week we can see a noticeable difference in size and development between chick no 1 and chick no 4 with a 7 day difference in when they hatched. At this stage chick no 1 could well be double the weight of chick no 4. There are several observations of CJ7 continuing to feed chick no 4 after the larger chicks being satiated which ensures it’s continued growth. Chick no 4 is now joining the rest of its siblings by entering the “reptilian” stage of development with the emergence of their 2nd down. In the next few days, the first rusty-brown pin feathers will be appearing on chick no 4. 

During this week, we have observed several intrusions around the Carey nest site one of which was a Red Kite. CJ7 can be heard alarm calling to her chicks who can be seen ‘pancaking”. This process is known as Thanastosis which is a natural defence mechanism where the chicks flatten their bodies and reduce their heart rate, respiration and metabolism to avoid predation where they blend in with the nest. There was also a Kestrel with prey making a visit to the site.

As the chicks grow bigger and stronger we can see them having more squabbles which is only a problem if there was a shortage of fish; this is not the case with this Osprey family with 022 bringing in plenty. This behaviour is not always food related and is natural behaviour observed in most nests known as sibling rivalry. It usually stems from a pecking order established when the oldest, largest chicks dominate during feeding. 

Our adult pair continue their “nestorations “by aerating the nest throughout the day to maintain the nest structure and protect the bottom layers from rotting, preventing them becoming overly impacted from the rain. Unfortunately, 022 brought in black plastic but this has now gone. 

It was observed that the eye colour of chick no 4 has changed this week. Generally, Ospreys hatch with dark blue or black eyes but by the time they fledge the colour can change to a red/orange colour; this colour may then change to a more yellow colour once the Ospreys reach sexual maturity.

It has been a promising week around the harbour with visiting Ospreys. There have been several observations of the continued bonding of our 2 year old male 5R0 with the Scottish 2 year old female 6J8 at different times of the day and on different harbour platforms. 5R0 has been observed sky dancing with a fish, bringing it to a harbour platform for 6J8. This day he brought in a total of 3 fish, one of which was for his consumption, and he was also seen bringing in sticks.

The next day early in the morning an Osprey was observed in Lytchett Bay. At a similar time, one was sighted fishing near Round Island, it then ate a Sea Bass on a camera post above a nest. 6J8 remained in the Middlebere area during the day. More positive news is that our 2 year old Male 5H6 is still around as he landed on another harbour platform.  Those on the BOPH boat trips were lucky to see 022 catching a fish and then being mobbed by a Great Black Backed Gull. This same day, 3 Ospreys were seen in the Wareham channel one of which was interacting with 2 White Tailed Eagles.

On Monday, early in the morning an Osprey was in Lytchett Bay; 2 Ospreys were seen from the BOPH boat trip and late afternoon 6J8 and another Osprey were still in the harbour area. The following day 2 Ospreys were flying together in the Middlebere area, and an Osprey was spotted in the Wareham channel. Later in the week, there were further sightings of 2 Ospreys flying together in the Middlebere area. What is interesting is that these Ospreys have not been chased off by 022 which has occurred in previous years but feeding 4 chicks, CJ7 and himself is likely to be keeping him fully occupied.

Diary Entry 04/06/26

Friday turned out to be an exciting and satisfying day on the Osprey nest. Egg number 4 hatched at approximately 07.23. It is always a bit of an anxious time as successfully rearing 4 chicks is quite uncommon among Ospreys. It wasn’t long after hatching that the tiny chick managed to hold his head up long enough to get a small share of the fish. 022 kept up his regular deliveries throughout the day with both parents feeding the chicks. The nest cameras gave excellent views of the chicks being fed and a cooler day made them more active.

Over the weekend there seemed to be an abundance of Ospreys in the harbour. The 2 year old Scottish female was being seen regularly in the Middlebere Channel catching and eating fish. At one point she bravely (or foolishly !) was seen harassing a Goshawk that was perched in a tree. The 3 year old Poole bred male 5H3 came along with some nesting material but the female was eating and refused it.

At the nest, the 4 chicks continued to thrive with 022 bringing in ample supplies of fish. At one stage one of the younger chicks was seen fast asleep resting his head on a half eaten fish.

Not Osprey news but very upsetting for the Osprey Re-introduction team, volunteers and all those who’ve watched the White-tailed Eagles in Poole Harbour. It appears that the young White-tailed Eagle, known as G834 who fledged from Dorset last year, has disappeared. He was last recorded over the area in North Yorkshire that seems to swallow up numbers of tagged birds of prey. The matter is being investigated.

Monday brought a change of weather and CJ7 had to keep the chicks warm and dry. The heavy rain made it difficult for both adult birds, CJ7 had to act as an umbrella and 022 found fishing more difficult with the ruffled surface water. The two older chicks are growing fast and looking more dinosaur-like with large heads and feet. The difference in size between the 2 older chicks and the 2 younger ones is becoming more evident. However it was reassuring that chick 4 was managing to get a good feed despite the competition. During the afternoon an intruder was seen on one of the perches, probably 5H0. The rain on the camera made it difficult to get an identification. It was chased off by 022.

Tuesday’s rain held off and it was more of the same for the chicks-sleeping, feeding, sleeping and even more important, growing. Both parents were feeding the chicks and it was good to see the youngest chick feeding well. There was an occasional spat between the 2 older chicks but it never lasted long.

The following day was wet and windy .The chicks are growing so big that it is a challenge for CJ7 to cover them all with her outstretched wings. When the rain stopped there were several meals brought in and it was good to see the youngest chick getting strong enough to push its way to the front. The sun returned the next day but it was still very windy and cool so CJ7 spent most of the day brooding the chicks. 022 brought in at least 3 good sized trout so the chicks ate well.

Diary Entry 29/05/26

What a glorious week it has been in Poole Harbour on several counts. The weather has been very warm and settled, perhaps more akin to the temperatures that CJ7 & 022 experience at their migration sites in West Africa. More excitingly on Friday was to see chick no 1 emerging from its shell at approximately 15.06 to be given its first feed by CJ7 soon after.

The following day was 022’s first attempt to feed the chick very much under the watchful eye of CJ7. By 12.09 chick no 2 hatched and had its first feed from CJ7 within the hour. There was a little disturbance at the Carey’s nest from a Red Kite, but all was well and under control. Around the rest of the harbour in the morning, the Poole Harbour hatched 2 year old male 5H6 was spotted fishing in the Middlebere Channel landing on a nest platform nearby to eat it. Also, at this time another Osprey was seen in the same area. Later in the afternoon 2 ospreys were seen flying over the Middlebere Hide and in the evening 5H6 was seen carrying out “nestorations” on the same nest platform that he was using earlier in the day.

Sunday was a sweltering day, but CJ7 & 022 did an amazing job of using their bodies and slightly outstretched wings keeping the chicks shaded. 022 continues as ever to bring in plentiful fish for all the family which is particularly important in the heat as the Ospreys get their hydration from eating the fish. Despite the heat of the day, 2 Ospreys were sited hunting in the Wareham Channel with 5H6 being spotted and he could well have been the intruder at Carey’s nest site during the day.

On Monday all was calm on the nest with feeding going well. Early in the morning an Osprey was spotted catching a fish near Round Island, 2 Ospreys were seen hunting in the Wareham Channel whilst later in the morning an Osprey was seen over Lytchett Bay. In the evening 022 was spotted catching a fish in the Wareham Channel returning to Carey’s nest soon after.

Another exciting day followed on Tuesday with the hatching of Chick no 3 at approximately 09.56, once again with the help of CJ7. During the day 5H6 was seen flying around the Middlebere area and the Wareham Channel. Later that evening an Osprey which could have been 5H6 landed on a platform in the Middlebere area of the harbour eating a fish where it stayed for an hour. Meanwhile another Osprey was spotted at Lytchett Bay.

The next day there was another highlight bringing great excitement. Whilst on Carey’s nest CJ7 & 022 continued dual feeding the chicks with plentiful fish and providing great shade, in another part of the harbour at approximately 14.00, Poole hatched 2 year old Male 5R0 landed on another nest together with the 2 year old Female from Tweed Valley known as “Teddy”. During the evening an Osprey was spotted hunting off Long Island.

So, at 07.00 on Thursday morning the excitement continued with 5R0 displaying and delivering a fish to 6J8 on the same platform as the previous evening. The early bonding continued and whilst they are too late to produce eggs this season, the hope is that if they stay in the harbour this summer, they could well return to Poole Harbour next year as a possible breeding pair. In the afternoon 022 was spotted in the Wareham Channel flying in the direction of Carey’s nest and once again later in the evening an Osprey was spotted hunting over Lytchett Bay.

CJ7 feeding her four chicks on the Carey Nest

Diary Entry 23/04/26

It’s nearly a whole month since CJ7 and 022 arrived back on their nest! Since then, there’s been lots of action, with nest building, plenty of mating, intruders (!), and now 4 eggs. We’ve had interactions with other birds of prey, including a Red Kite mobbing 022 carrying a fish back onto the nest and both 022 and CJ7 seeing it off on the 18th April. CJ7 laid her first egg on the 14th April at 12:56pm, followed by a second on the 17th April at 08:48am, third on the 20th April at 08:26am, and fourth on 23rd April at 6:57am. The average incubation period is typically 37 days, so we should see hatching begin towards the end of May. CJ7 will do the majority of the incubation, although 022 will take his turn when CJ7 flies off to feed on a fish he’s brought back, or if she needs to stretch her wings!

We had an extremely exciting visit to the nest by an intruder Osprey, none other than CJ7 and 022’s young from 2024, male 5RO on the 21st April at 07:41am. Two year-olds typically arrive back later than breeding adults from May onwards, so the fact that 5R0 is back this early is interesting! Male Ospreys display a behaviour called natal philopatry, which means they are drawn to come back to their natal ground, where they fledged as a youngster. 5R0 was first seen in Devon on the Axe Estuary on the 17th April, before intruding on the Carey nest and being seen off quickly by his parents! We hope that 5RO will stick around, set up his own territory, and breed in the next couple of years.