Osprey

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Lochs, estuaries (summer).
Diet: Fish only.
Best time to spot: Summer migrant; Scotland mainly.

When to look

A summer visitor, typically in the UK from March to September. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in UK raptors and owls.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The Osprey sits in our Rare tier for the UK: scarce or very local, so most birders need a planned trip. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Where to see it

Reserves where the Osprey is on the list:

• RSPB Arne
• RSPB Loch Garten
• Rutland Water

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Black-throated DiverRare · Highland lochs (summer)
• Slavonian GrebeRare · Highland lochs (summer)
• Common GreenshankUncommon · Bogs (summer); estuaries (passage)
• DunlinCommon · Estuaries; uplands (summer)
• Eurasian CurlewCommon · Moorland (summer); estuaries (winter)
• Red-breasted MerganserUncommon · Sea-lochs

Kit that helps

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