Osprey ringing 2026

The 2026 Osprey "season" has so far been a busy one for a couple of members of the ringing group, with lots of work done on monitoring the expanding local population. In recent weeks, the usual experienced team of ringers attended both sites we have previously reported ringing at. First up was the Usk Valley Ospreys site where the birds can be watched on a 24 hour live stream, this has provided fascinating viewing for many people again this year. The unringed resident pair have returned and have two healthy female chicks which are now fast approaching an expected fledge date, with the live stream showing more and more "helicoptering"! The relevant ringing details were as follows:

Chick 1 (age 37 days) colour ringed 0U0 – wing-measurement of 348mms and weight of 1820g.
Chick 2 (age 34 days) colour ringed 0U1 – wing-measurement of 308 mms and weight of 1750g.

0U1 and 0U0

The second site we have reported on in previous years was only a few days behind the UVO nest this year, the same adults are again present at this site. Male KA7 (who has lost his colour ring), he is a 2019 bird from the original nest at the nearest "cluster" of nests to his own site. This is around Clywedog Reservoir where John Williams has done so much wonderful work protecting Ospreys as they colonised the area as they have spread through Wales. Female 469 (2021 bird from a Private Lancashire site) appears a fierce protector of the site against Osprey intruders. The same experienced team again visited and ringed 3 chicks at this productive site. The details for these three chicks C/Rs were:

Chick 1 0U2 - wing 327, weight 1600 - Female,
Chick 2 0U3 - wing 321, weight 1520 - in the "overlap zone", won't be sexed when officially submitted, possible Female
Chick 3 0U4 - wing 286, weight 1440 - Male. 

0U2, 0U3 and 0U4

It is important to acknowledge the work that has gone in to protecting the birds at both these sites, the volunteers at Usk Valley Ospreys maintain a 24 hour watch of the nest which, with the additional security measures, provides the best protection possible for this pair. We are thankful to each and every one of these volunteers who give so much of their time.

At the second site there has been significant disturbance in both previous years they have bred. This is primarily because the vulnerable location has been shared on social media by a few individuals. This disturbance has included a "forced fledge" in 2025 when all three chicks were witnessed leaving the nest for the first time, in a panic, together, as a couple of humans approached the nest with camera's. On this occasion, thankfully enough information was recorded of the individuals in question, which resulted in the police taking formal legal action against the perpetrators. This isn't the only time the police have had to take legal action at this site. Given a forced fledge can often have dire consequences for the birds we were extremely pleased to have had the sighting of 9K7 on its wintering grounds last winter (as reported here). If you know of the location of this nest, it is extremely important for the continued success of these birds that you don't share it. It is also very important that if you are viewing the site that you view from a safe distance.

The persistent disturbance led our ringing secretary and schedule 1 licence holder to form a small group of local observers to watch over this nest from 2026 onwards, this has proven very successful with all disturbance events being reported to the relevant authorities quickly so action can be taken. This has led to a large reduction in the amount of disturbance this pair have faced in 2026, although there have still been concerning incidents. We are incredibly proud of this improvement and the work of this small group has been absolutely invaluable in this, so we couldn't be more grateful to them for the time and effort they have put in, every day, to help us protect these birds.