A pair of breeding ospreys has returned to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, for the 12^th year running. Hopes are high for another successful breeding season at our stunning wetland nature reserve near Witherslack.

Blue 35 and White YW first nested at Foulshaw Moss in 2013 and a year later raised their first chicks here. Since then they have successfully raised 27 chicks.

White WY (the male) arrived on Sunday 24 March and Blue 35 (the female) arrived on Thursday 28 March. Her return was quite dramatic: she arrived to a crowded nest, as in addition to her mate there was an intruder osprey there as well, which she quickly dispatched!

Paul Waterhouse, Reserves Officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “Last year we had a few nerve-wracking days, as White YW returned first but his mate Blue 35 didn’t arrive till five days later. She arrived a few days later this year too, but we’re delighted to see them both now back at their summer home here at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, having once again safely made the 4,000-mile-long migration. Last year we celebrated a real landmark – the 10^th consecutive year of osprey chicks at Foulshaw Moss. This year, will we reach another landmark? Maybe 30 osprey chicks raised here since 2014? Keep watching our live streaming webcam to find out!”

Paul continued: “What a great conservation success story this pair of ospreys are! These amazing birds of prey had been wiped out in the early 1900s by persecution, but since then, thanks to brilliant conservation efforts, their population has slowly grown. It’s fantastic to see the year-on-year breeding success of the Foulshaw pair playing a key part in this recovery.”

Visitors are welcome at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, which is open daily and located near Witherslack, off the A590. Staff will be on hand throughout the season to ensure you get the most out of your visit, including helping you use telescopes to see the osprey nest from one of the viewing platforms.

Ospreys Blue 35 and White YW started nesting at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve in 2014, following major habitat restoration by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. This large-scale conservation success story saw a 900-acre site, previously drained and used for commercial forestry and farming, being transformed back into a healthy wetland, teeming with wildlife.

The nature reserve is now home not only to migrating ospreys, but other birds of prey including peregrine and marsh harrier. In the summer months, it’s alive with dragonflies and butterflies, wetland-loving plants such as Sphagnum moss and bog rosemary, and adders and lizards can be seen basking in the sun. 

We will offer special half-day Wildlife Experiences at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve later this summer, to showcase the wealth of wildlife found there. You’ll have exclusive access to parts of the nature reserve not normally open to the public. Keep an eye on the website for details.

We hope you enjoy watching this family of ospreys through the webcam for the whole season. It costs us around £12,000 to get and keep the osprey web cam running for the season. If you can, please donate to help with the costs to keep this broadcasting for you.   

Use #FoulshawOspreys to join the osprey conversation on social.