Keep your bird’s eye out for osprey as it tours far north

BIRDWATCHERS are being asked to keep an eagle eye out for a young feathered migrant which has flown from southern Europe to visit the county.

The osprey is tracked via satellite having made an impressive 2335 kilometre journey from Portugal to Scotland and a further 1500km exploring Scotland.

The data collated by the Tweed Valley Osprey Project shows the two-year-old is now in the Thurso area.

And project officer Diane Bennett is keen to find out if anyone has spotted her or even taken a photo of her.

The bird’s leg ring number is blue with white letters FK8 on it.

The project, south of Edinburgh, aims to protect nesting ospreys and encourage them to settle and breed in suitable locations in the area.

Ms Bennett said: “The osprey migrated from Portugal on May 3 and has been touring Scotland since. “She seems to be fairly interested in settling up in the Caithness area.”

Ms Bennett said the osprey ventured west of Wick, roaming remote valleys and lochs and exploring the landscape from May 17 to May 22.

She said: “She flew right up the Thurso River on Sunday, May 29 and we believe she is still in the area.

“She was seen at Loch Garten recently and kindly obliged by going on their camera in the visitor centre, so we thought it would be great to hear if people have seen her and can let us know how she is doing.”

Julian Smith, chairman of Caithness Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, yesterday said a bird watch the group held last weekend proved one of the best they have had and it included four ospreys being spotted.

He said: “One of them could have been the Tweed Valley one and the chances are somebody’s seen it.

“Ospreys move through Caithness pretty much all of the time on migration, although it is quite late for birds which would be heading for somewhere like Norway to breed. Ospreys are usually one of the first migrants.”

Mr Smith said ospreys move around a lot so this bird’s behaviour is nothing out of the ordinary.

He said: “They can fly very long distances in one day so something like a 150-mile detour from Inverness-shire would be nothing for them.

“They will quite easily nip up to Caithness for a couple of days and if not breeding will move around.”

To find out more about the osprey’s journey go to the Tweed Valley Osprey Forestry Commission blog at https:

Anyone with a sighting of the bird, a photo or any information is asked to contact Ms Bennett at Tweedvalleyospreys@gmail.com or by calling 07908 098026.

Do you think you have you seen the Tweed Valley osprey? If you have, get in touch with us by phoning 01955 607060 or email editor@nosn.co.uk

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