Well, she kept us waiting, but like the legend she is, female Osprey CJ7 arrived back into the harbour this evening at 17:50. She was captured on one of our nest trail cams on a different harbour platform where she only stayed for about 45 minutes before disappearing off. We’re sure she’ll visit the nest cam over the next few days so make sure you keep a close eye on that. This is such good news, but of course, it takes two to tango, so our anxious wait now continues to see if her mate from last year, male 022, returns. He arrived back on May 18th last year which is pretty standard for a 2-year old Osprey, but knowing he may have a mate this season, he should (in theory) return a lot sooner. So, it’s now just a waiting game to see if and when he arrives back which will be another landmark moment for the project. We’re trying not to get too over optimistic as don’t forget, we’ve been in this exact same position before in 2020 when CJ7 was waiting for her previous mate, LS7 to return, and sadly, he ever did. So, we’ll take each day as it comes, and should he suddenly arrive then it could be….game on! The next few weeks are going to be really interesting.

There seemed to be a sudden arrival of Osprey this evening because no sooner had CJ7 arrived another (un-ringed) individual was photographed on a different harbour nest platform eating a fish. There was also one photographed eating a fish at Morden Bog this afternoon too. How many will there be tomorrow?

Elsewhere, yesterdays Green-winged Teal was again seen at Lytchett Fields along with 5 Little Ringed Plover and 3 Spotted Redshank. There were 6 Spoonbill at on Shipstal at Arne. A Hen Harrier also passed by in Middlebere

(non HD image) CJ7 arriving into the harbour this evening 

Hen Harrier – Middlebere – ‘PennHillman’