We're delighted to announce that three osprey chicks have hatched for a landmark 10th year running at our stunning wetland nature reserve near Witherslack. The parent ospreys, Blue 35 and White YW, first nested at Foulshaw Moss in 2013 and a year later raised their first chicks here.

The first chick this year hatched on Monday 22 May, the second on Wednesday 24 May and the third on Saturday 27 May. They typically hatch within two or three days of each other.

Paul Waterhouse, Reserves Officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust said: “This really is a landmark moment! What a testament to the success of this breeding pair who have now been returning to this nature reserve for 11 years running, raising two or three chicks every year for the past decade. It’s also thanks to the huge conservation and restoration efforts we’ve made over recent years, to transform Foulshaw Moss into what it is today. Blue 35 and White YW first arrived in 2013 following major habitat restoration at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve. This large-scale conservation success story saw a 900-acre site, previously drained and used for commercial forestry and farming, being transformed back into the healthy wetland you see now, which is teeming with wildlife.”

“I’d like to send huge thanks to our faithful ‘osprey watchers’ who keep a close eye on the livestreaming osprey webcam, reporting these landmark sightings as and when they happen. This helps us locate photos and clips which we can then share with a huge number of osprey followers, online and on social media.”

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.

Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve is open daily, free of charge. It’s located off the A590 near Witherslack.

We're offering special half-day Wildlife Experiences at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve throughout 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. Click here for more details and to book

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.