Late Osprey, Angus, Scotland 8/11/14 (1 Viewer)

Stonefaction · Nov 8, 2014

Out birding locally today in Angus, Scotland and was rather surprised (to say the least) to have an Osprey circling round above us at Murton Nature Reserve, just east of Forfar for a minute or so before it drifted off westwards.

Not an uncommon sighting around this area, they even nest within a few miles, but it is now the second week in November! My previous latest Osprey sighting was probably around mid-September. Anybody had one later than this in the UK?

June Atkinson · Nov 8, 2014

Late osprey

Not serious, but maybe this is Beatrice, who migrates just to the south of Spain where she settles in her favourite area for the entire winter. I wish more of our ospreys would do this instead of risking the dangers of Africa.

Stonefaction said:
Out birding locally today in Angus, Scotland and was rather surprised (to say the least) to have an Osprey circling round above us at Murton Nature Reserve, just east of Forfar for a minute or so before it drifted off westwards.

Not an uncommon sighting around this area, they even nest within a few miles, but it is now the second week in November! My previous latest Osprey sighting was probably around mid-September. Anybody had one later than this in the UK?

Boro Birder · Nov 9, 2014

Very strange indeed and the latest I've ever known, so will she migrate (Which i very much doubt) and does anybody know if the bird is old enough to breed.

Thanks

Damian

MJB · Nov 9, 2014

Stonefaction said:
Out birding locally today in Angus, Scotland and was rather surprised (to say the least) to have an Osprey circling round above us at Murton Nature Reserve, just east of Forfar for a minute or so before it drifted off westwards.

Not an uncommon sighting around this area, they even nest within a few miles, but it is now the second week in November! My previous latest Osprey sighting was probably around mid-September. Anybody had one later than this in the UK?

Given that many migrants from Scandinavia and the Baltic States (areas within Western Osprey breeding distribution) are late this year, your Loch Fithie:t: record might not be quite so unusual as it sounds, especially if the bird concerned is a juvenile, which from tracking records, are prone to wander.
MJB

markgrubb · Nov 9, 2014

I remember looking this up topic before-a few years ago we had an osprey in the Scottish Borders well into November whilst doing winter Atlas work. There are a few records even nto December, presumably as MJB says Scandinavian or Russian young birds

Stonefaction · Nov 9, 2014

I assumed that Scandinavia was the most probable starting point for this bird's journey (although I did briefly wonder about a Gonzalo-displaced American one - saw something on a Faroes birding blog recently about a possible. From the limited info I could find on identifying American birds it doesn't appear to fit). I was surprised to see one quite so late having never seen one much later than maybe the second/third week in September. It doesn't surprise me that there have been later sightings though. It certainly wasn't in any great hurry, looked like it was scanning for a meal.

MJB, the bird wasn't over Loch Fithie when we saw it at first - most definitely over Murton. It did however seem to decide that was a better option and glided over the trees taking it above Loch Fithie (never realised that was the name of that bit of water before your post).

MJB · Nov 9, 2014

Stonefaction said:
MJB, the bird wasn't over Loch Fithie when we saw it at first - most definitely over Murton. It did however seem to decide that was a better option and glided over the trees taking it above Loch Fithie (never realised that was the name of that bit of water before your post).

It's now over 60 years ago when I used to explore the area between there and Balgavies (pronounced Buhl-guy)- my granny lived in Letham, and I would catch the Arbroath-Forfar local train to Balgavies Station, spend a couple of hours exploring, then walk over to Letham, where I had left a bike.
MJB

Stonefaction · Nov 9, 2014

That would probably still be quite a productive stretch now. I imagine the bird numbers would've been a good bit higher back then though.

MJB · Nov 10, 2014

Stonefaction said:
That would probably still be quite a productive stretch now. I imagine the bird numbers would've been a good bit higher back then though.

It was more the numbers on the steam locomotives that was the main attraction, then! But yes, the carpets of flowers, the variety of insects and the richness of the wild fruit crop are vivid memories. The northern banks of Fithie and Balgavies were sun traps in spring and summer, and even when it was windy, much of it was sheltered by the topography or the woodland.

I always carried a small pair of metal clippers so that I could cut my way through brambles to reach a good viewpoint. The smaller lochs and lochans held lots of squabbling Little Grebes and the bushes were alive with passerines.
MJB

Leakey · Nov 10, 2014

Osprey photographed over Kenfig pool today, news on Glamorgan birdclub website

Bubbs · Nov 14, 2014

Spurn had it's latest ever on the 7/11/14. First seen on the groynes before leaving to the south.

Original PaulE · Nov 14, 2014

There was one in Stoke by Nayland a few years ago was definitely there in November and i think it was seen in December

silverback69 · Nov 14, 2014

I visited a fish farm near Inverness around 1998. Chatting to one of the locals, he said he'd seen Osprey in November and December!

Nutcracker · Nov 17, 2014

One reported yesterday past Tynemouth, Northumbs., on birdguides.

Late Osprey, Angus, Scotland 8/11/14 (1 Viewer)

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