Sightings03/02/2025

Harbour Update – 03/02/24

Things started off pretty grim today but the day soon sorted it’s self out. Plenty to be seen with 3 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Black-necked Grebe and the Long-tailed Duck between Jerry’s Point and Redhorn Quay and out in Brands Bay there was a Barnacle Goose and a Spoonbill. There was another (the same?) Barnacle Goose out on Arne Moors this afternoon where a ringtail Hen Harrier was also seen. A male Hen Harrier was seen at Middlebere where the 3 Ruff were still present and 1 Spotted Redshank. The Short-eared Owl was seen again out over Slepe Heath then Arne Moors late this afternoon and the Cattle Egret was still in the Highland Cattle field at Norden.

We were also out today starting to service our various Osprey nest platforms and swapped out the trail cameras and retrieved in last years and have just looked through the memory cards. This was a very magic and historic moment from last spring when our first ever wild fledged juvenile from 2022, female 5H1, returned and settled briefly on the Middlebere nest platform at RSPB Arne, with her Dad 022, before disappearing off. 5H1 was the first wild-fledged Osprey in Southern England for nearly 200 years, and was a direct result of the translocation project we carried out with the Roy Dennis Wildlife foundation. Later in the spring of 2024 she was seen briefly on a nest in the Usk Valley in south Wales, and was then seen later in the summer on a nest in Rutland! Where will she appear this spring?

Our pair CJ7 and 022 have now succsfuilly bred at the Careys Secret Garden for the last three years, and this spring we’ll be on the look out for any of the juveniles from the 2023 nest, ring numbers, 5H3 (presumed male), 5H4 (presumed male) and 5H5 (presumed female). If any are to return then it will likely be some time in May.

Plus, last year saw CJ7 and 022 return the earliest they’ve ever returned with 022 on March 25th and and CJ7 on March 26th. This was aided by a decent southerly airflow during the early part of March which saw a lot of Ospreys arrive early. Lets keep everything crossed for their safe return in just over a months time!

Iconic and historic photo retrieved from camera trap memory card today of 5H1 and 022 together on May 14th 2024

Osprey nest prep at RSPB Arne.

Ruff – Middlebere – Mark Wright

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