This spring it seems that Mrs Osprey has decided it is time to move to a new nest. The pair are setting up home on the opposite side of Bassenthwaite Lake on one of the new nest platforms built by the Osprey Project team last year. No camera has been set up yet to show the new nest, but the birds can still be seen fishing in the Lake from the Dodd Wood viewing platform.
The Bassenthwaite Ospreys arrived back at the nest yesterday after overwintering in North Africa. The pic is from the nestcam yesterday, just after they arrrived from their 3,000 mile journey. Both birds arrived within a few minutes of each other, something not seen before. Usually there is a least a few days between arrivals.
The viewing point and video display at the Whinlatter Center opened 10 days ago while the arrival of the birds was awaited.
Last year this couple raised three chicks, and there is hope of a repeat performance.
A new bus service, called the Osprey Bus has been introduced this year to connect Keswick with the viewpoint at Dodd Wood and around the lake through Thornthwaite. Running at weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, a timetable can be downloaded from here.
These lambs were photographed in the field next door to us yesterday. Driving into Keswick there are lambs in almost every field you look at, some newly born and others old enough to be running and jumping about.
Spring really is here – althought there is still ice & snow on the fells.