Discover the best places to spot osprey in the UK
Ospreys are one of the larger bird species found in the UK. These majestic birds of prey are known for their incredible fishing skills and long-distance journey each year. Osprey can be seen in the UK from late March until the early autumn in September.
Their arrival varies, but all of the osprey centres will post when they have been seen and have started to nest. Despite being relatively rare in the UK, osprey can be spotted in a number of locations across the country, from the scenic hills of Scotland to the tranquil lakes of Wales and England.
This post will take a closer look at where to find ospreys in the UK and how to make the most of your osprey-watching experience. It will cover some of the best locations for osprey spotting, including Rutland Water, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cors Dyfi, the Loch of Lowes, and Llyn Brenig.
Whether you’re a bird enthusiast, photographer, or just looking for a unique outdoor adventure, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to plan your next osprey-watching trip in the UK.
Loch Garten
Located in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, Loch Garten Osprey Centre is run by the RSPB and offers visitors a chance to observe these magnificent birds up close through live webcams and from the centre’s viewing platform. The centre is also home to a visitor centre that provides information on ospreys, their habitats, and the conservation efforts being made to protect them. After the extinction of ospreys in Scotland in 1916, Loch Garten saw the first natural return to Scotland of a nesting pair in 1954.
Rothiemurchus Estate
Rothiemurchus Estate is located close to Aviemore and is a popular destination for osprey photography. The estate has several lochs and rivers where ospreys can be spotted, including Loch an Eilein, Loch Morlich, and the River Spey. The estate is committed to protecting and preserving the osprey population in the area and has worked closely with conservation organizations like the RSPB to create a welcoming habitat for these birds of prey. The estate’s osprey hides and viewing platforms offer visitors a chance to see these amazing birds up close and learn more about their habits and behaviour.
Loch of Lowes
The Loch of the Lowes is a nature reserve located in Perthshire, Scotland, and is home to one of the UK’s oldest osprey populations. The reserve features a visitor centre, observation hides, and live osprey webcams, allowing visitors to watch the birds up close. The ospreys at Loch of the Lowes have been breeding successfully since 1969, and the reserve has played a crucial role in the conservation of these magnificent birds. In addition to ospreys, the reserve is home to a variety of other wildlife, including red squirrels, otters, and waterfowl.
Kielder Osprey Centre
Northumberland is a lesser-known location for osprey watching, but it is still a great place to see these birds in action. The Kielder Water & Forest Park is one of the best locations for osprey watching in Northumberland, with several nesting sites and observation points. Visitors can take part in guided tours, visit the Kielder Osprey Centre, or watch ospreys on the live webcam.
Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake, located in the heart of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, is home to one of England’s osprey populations. Since the return of ospreys to the area in 2001, several nesting sites have been established around the lake. Visitors to the area can enjoy guided osprey tours, watch the birds on live webcams, or visit the Osprey Viewpoint at Dood Wood, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area and the ospreys in flight.
Rutland Water
Rutland Water is a top location to see ospreys in the UK, with the Rutland Osprey Project being a conservation success story. After a 150-year absence, ospreys have returned to breed in the area, thanks to the efforts of the Rutland Osprey Project. The numbers have grown since 1996 and there are now birds that have returned year after year. Visitors can watch ospreys on live webcams, take part in guided tours, or visit the Lyndon Nature Reserve to see these magnificent birds up close.
Horn Mill Trout Farm
If you want to watch the osprey hunt up close, the Horn Mill is the perfect location. They have a low-level photography hide on one of the trout lakes that the osprey visit on a regular basis to fish. It is just a short distance from Rutland water so it is possible to visit the hide in the morning and evening and spend time at Lyndon Nature Reserve during the middle of the day.
Poole Harbour Osprey Project
The Osprey Project at Poole Harbour is located in Dorset, on the south coast of England. Poole Harbour is the largest natural harbour in the UK and is located between the towns of Poole and Bournemouth. The project is a joint initiative between various conservation organisations and involves the construction of artificial nesting platforms, monitoring of breeding pairs, and public education programmes. The Osprey Project has set up a viewpoint at Ham Common Nature Reserve, which provides excellent views of the ospreys in action. The viewpoint is also a good place to see white-tailed sea eagles.
Dyfi Osprey Project
Cors Dyfi, located in mid-Wales, is home to the Dyfi Osprey Project, which has been working to reintroduce ospreys to the area since 2007. The project features a visitor centre, observation hides, and live osprey webcams, allowing visitors to watch the birds in their natural habitat. The centre also offers educational resources and hosts events throughout the year, making it a great destination for families and bird enthusiasts alike. In addition to ospreys, Cors Dyfi is also home to a variety of other wildlife, including otters, water voles, and dragonflies.
Glaslyn Osprey Project
The Glaslyn Osprey Project, located in the heart of Snowdonia National Park in Wales, is one of the most successful osprey conservation projects in the UK. The project was established in 2004 and has since been working to protect and increase the osprey population in the area. The project’s viewing site offers visitors a chance to see the ospreys up close through telescopes and live webcams. The project also has a visitor centre where visitors can learn more about the ospreys, their habitats, and the conservation efforts being made to protect them.
Llyn Brenig
Llyn Brenig, located in the Denbigh Moors in North Wales, is a popular destination for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers. The lake is home to a thriving osprey population and is one of the best places in Wales to see these magnificent birds in their natural habitat. The ospreys can be observed from a specially constructed observation hide on the shore of the lake, which offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
Other places to see osprey
This is a list of some of the places to see osprey across the UK. Their range is increasing year after year and they can sometimes be seen on Loch Lomond, Loch Awe and Loch Insh in Scotland. In England and Wales, young osprey pop up from time to time fishing across lakes. They stay for a few days before moving on with some deciding to stay for the summer before heading south back to Senegal and other parts of Africa.
Tips for watching and photographing osprey
- Bring a lens that is suited to the position of the hide to the areas where the ospreys fish. Horn Mill is really close to the pond so you don’t need anything more than 300mm. In contrast, Loch Garten’s hide is a fair distance from the lake and you will need a longer lens.
- Ospreys are pretty quick when they land and can be in and out of the water in under 10 seconds. Make sure you have the fastest lens you own with you, have all your settings correct (take a test shot!) and are concentrating. Many of the hides have a spotter who will tell you when they are overhead so you can be ready.
- An ISO of up to 5000 may be needed if the light is really low. The shutter speed needs to be fast at around 1/3200 of a second.
- Photographing ospreys can require a lot of patience. These birds can be unpredictable and may not always cooperate with your plans. Be prepared to spend some time waiting for the perfect shot, and be ready to adjust your camera settings and composition as needed. Remember, the most rewarding shots often require the most effort and perseverance.
- If you are watching the osprey without a camera bring binoculars so you can track them coming in and out of the area. Remember to keep your distance from nests as ospreys are skittish and a protected species.
Osprey conservation projects
Ospreys, once found throughout the UK, became extinct in England in 1916 due to hunting and habitat destruction, followed by extinction in Scotland in 1918. However, the natural return of ospreys to Scotland occurred in 1954 when a pair of ospreys nested at Loch Garten in the Cairngorms. This event was a significant turning point for the species, and conservationists began to implement efforts to protect ospreys and encourage their return to the UK.
Over the years, conservation efforts in Scotland have been successful, and the number of breeding pairs has risen to over 200, with several established populations around the country. In contrast, ospreys remained extinct in England until they began to recolonize in the 1990s. Since then, their population has continued to increase, and there are now around 300 breeding pairs in England.
Thanks to conservation efforts and the protection of their habitats, ospreys are once again thriving in the UK, and their continued success is a symbol of hope for other struggling species. With continued conservation efforts and protection, ospreys may once again be a common sight throughout the UK.
Places to see osprey in the UK
- Loch Garten
- Rothiemurchus Estate
- Loch of Lowes
- Kielder Osprey Centre
- Bassenthwaite Lake
- Rutland Water
- Horn Mill Trout Farm
- Poole Harbour Osprey Project
- Dyfi Osprey Project
- Glaslyn Osprey Project
- Llyn Brenig
