First osprey eggs laid at Kielder for Easter
A timely egg - or three - for Easter. Tony Henderson on an osprey first.
Female osprey KX7 has produced the goods at Northumberland’s nesting colony – just in time for Easter.
The occupant of the “nest with a view” over Kielder Water has laid two eggs - the first of the colony’s breeding season.
She is maintaining a cracking pace as she set a new record for early arrival at Kielder on her migration flight from overwintering in Africa.
She was soon joined by her mate KM18 with whom she has bred at the Kielder nest since 2020, raising 14 youngsters.
“She is a good breeder and a good mother,” said Kielder osprey monitor Joanna Dailey.
Her double has been followed by an egg for female KF13 and her mate W6 on Nest 1A.
They will be hoping for a better season than last year, when they lost their three chicks to bad weather conditions.
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So far between seven and eight nests at Kielder are now occupied, with a mixture of pairs of ospreys and single birds.
The pair on Nest 10 are female 330 who hatched in the Tweed Valley and male PY0 from Jedburgh in the Borders. They raised five chicks in their first two years together.
Another pair are KF13 and W6 who are back on Nest 1A and are hoping for a better season than last year, when they lost their three chicks to bad weather conditions.
KF13 was a long term breeder with male YA from 2013 to 2022, when he disappeared – presumed dead – near the end of the season.
Brothers UV and Y1 the sons of YA and KF13,- who have returned to Kielder in the past- are also back this year.
More arrivals are expected over the next two weeks.