When you start out on a long term project, the ‘long term’ element of it never really sounds that appealing. Almost to point where you don’t ever really believe you’ll reach that point at all. Back in early 2015 we began putting an application together to start an Osprey reintroduction here in Poole Harbour, with the main objective seeming a long, long way away. However, today a milestone was reached and the date April 23rd 2022 will potentially go down in conservation history as the date the first (fertilised) wild Osprey egg was laid in Southern Britain in c200 years. At 14:58 this afternoon female Osprey CJ7, having spent a while prepping moss in the bottom of the nest suddenly settled low in the nest, making movements and behaving in a way that suggested she was about to lay an egg. Sure enough, a few minutes later, she was up on her feet examining the new addition to her nest. Male Osprey 022 soon joined her and spent quite a while figuring out what was going on, what this new object was before playing football with it for a while, pecked it a lot before then accepting his new responsibility. We’ll be writing a more detailed account over the coming days but this is such a big moment for the project and for everyone involved. This is a big step forward, but there’s still a long way to go. With both CJ7 and 022 being new parents they now have a steep learning curve in figuring out to now raise a family. Thanks so much to everyone thats followed this story and all your support, this is (one of) the moments we’ve been waiting for and we can’t wait to see what the spring/summer ahead holds. Please keep watching the OSPREY NEST CAM LIVE STREAM for all the latest updates and developments.
CJ7 having just laid her first egg before 022 quickly learns he has now become a parent!
Elsewhere there were 8 Yellow Wagtail at Lytchett Fields along with 3 Wheatear and a Common Whitethroat. At Swineham 11 Whimbrel flew over and there were 2 Bearded Tit off the point and an Osprey (likely 022) was out hunting in the Wareham Channel.
022 and CJ7 looking at their first egg!
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