Predators and storms blamed for ospreys' hard year

A sighting in March was the ospreys' earliest recorded return from sub-Saharan Africa

Ospreys are facing a difficult year, one of Northumberland's experts monitoring the birds of prey has said.

Despite a promising start to the breeding season, only six chicks ultimately fledged at Kielder Forest, fewer than in previous years.

Experts said there were a number of complex reasons why fewer chicks survived, including stormy weather conditions and the presence of other predators.

They said it was not all doom and gloom, however, with two new breeding pairs leading to much higher hopes for 2026.

At one point there were 14 chicks, but two were snatched by goshawks.

The weather also played its part, with one nest being destroyed by storms.

Illness and possibly parental inexperience - since one of the ospreys was breeding at a young age - is also thought to have hit numbers.

'Too late'

Ospreys bond for life and return to the same nest each season.

However, three of the adults which had paired failed to return from migration, and another later died of illness.

One of the females attracted four "suitors", but spent so long choosing between them that by the time she did it was too late in the season to breed.

Another lone male found a partner but again it was too late.

Kielder osprey monitor Joanna Dailey said: "This year there was no one, critical reason - multiple factors have led to poor productivity.

"However, six more youngsters in the population is good.

"And the two new bonding pairs will hopefully lead to breeding next season.

"So not all is doom and gloom."