[E]xcitement and intrigue has been caused at Bassenthwaite Lake as the famous ospreys have returned for another breeding season, but all is not as it would seem.
For the past five years the same pair have nested at the site – a female known as ‘KL’ and her partner known as ‘Unring’. Unring returned on Easter Saturday and has been delighting visitors with views of him fishing on the Lake. Since then, staff and volunteers at the Lake District Osprey Project (LDOP) have eagerly awaited the return of KL. When a female arrived back late on 3 April, it seemed the pair had reunited once more. However, using the nest camera to take a closer look, it became clear that the female is not KL after all, but a new, unringed female.
Anthony Hills from the LDOP said: “There was something about the way this female approached the nest with caution and seemed nervous around Unring. If it had been KL, she would have confidently flown in as she knows the site well. When we looked closer, it was clear this female had no ring, whereas KL is ringed, and her feather markings are different too.
“The pair have been mating and sharing fish together, but there is still time for KL to return in the coming week, in which case she will likely boot this new female off the nest! With so much drama going on, it is better than watching the soaps on TV. We’re hoping lots of people will come up to the viewpoints at Dodd Wood and to see the camera footage at Whinlatter to get all the latest updates.”
Osprey fans around the world can get the latest news at ospreywatch.co.uk, on Facebook facebook.com/ospreywatch, or by following on Twitter @lakelandosprey.
To help support the project, which has attracted more than 1.5 million visitors since it started, people can also donate at justgiving.com/lakesospreys
The Lake District Osprey Project is a partnership between The Forestry Commission, the RSPB and the Lake District National Park.
