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Ospreys Return: 180-Year Wait for South Coast Nest
5 Mar
Summary
- Ospreys have returned to breed on England's south coast after 180 years.
- A pair has nested since 2022 at Careys Secret Garden near Wareham.
- A reintroduction scheme began in 2017, bringing chicks from Scotland.
Conservationists are eagerly anticipating the return of ospreys to England's south coast, a nesting presence not seen for 180 years. The osprey pair, identified as male 022 and female CJ7, have established a nest at Careys Secret Garden near Wareham, Dorset, since 2022. They are expected to return in late March from their annual migration, typically to western Africa.
This remarkable return is a testament to a reintroduction scheme initiated in 2017, which involved relocating osprey chicks from Scotland to Dorset. The charity Birds of Poole Harbour reported that a second pair nested in the south of England in 2025. Hopes are high for a potential third pair in 2026, as a young male osprey hatched in 2023 has shown interest in returning to the area.
