The Osprey, one of the UK's most spectacular birds
Without
a doubt one of the most spectacular sights of nature within the British Isles
is that of an Osprey plunging down into a lake to catch a fish. With a wingspan
close on five and a half feet the bird is an impressive enough sight alone, yet
when it splashes into the water head and feet first after a spiralling plummet
from great height, the spray of water and audible crash leaves a lasting
over-awing impression of natural power and precision diving. Within the
regularly seen range of British birds of prey the Osprey is one of the biggest
with only the eagles larger and it has evolved with unique adaptions for its
fish catching habits. It has incredibly long curved talons of which the outer ones
are reversible, it has backwards facing scales on its feet that act like barbs
when clinging onto a fish while it nostrils are able to close when it dives
underwater.
The recent Osprey at Holkham Lake in the process of devouring a fish
Not
only is the Osprey a spectacular looking bird but it is also quite a rarity.
Once widespread over much of Britain it was persecuted to such an extent in
Victorian times that it was feared to be nationally extinct by 1916. A slow
process of re-colonization begun in the 1950s in Scotland and thanks to greater
protection initiatives the species had increased to close on 300 pairs by 2011.
Re-introduction in the Midlands around Rutland Water has also helped the
species move south into suitable habitat away from the lochs and rivers of
Scotland, its traditional homeland. Our UK Ospreys are migrant birds, heading
south into Africa to spend the winter after a breeding season in the north. And
this is where Norfolk and Holkham come into the story. Despite still being a
rare sight within Norfolk they are still regular enough to be recognised as a passing
migrant both in Spring and Autumn. Occasionally birds might make longer stays
at places such as the Norfolk Broads, the West Norfolk fishing lakes and even
Holkham Lake.
Holkham Lake occasionally attracts passing migrant Ospreys
At
Holkham we eagerly anticipate the appearance of one or two each year but
usually they are just passing through. Blink and you miss them! You always know
when an Osprey is about due to the sense of sheer panic shown by other birds on
the ground. Here on the coast flocks of gulls and ducks along the marshes erupt
en masse when the long winged shape
of an Osprey drifts overhead. Migrating Ospreys actually look a bit like large
gulls, due to their white underparts and lazy bowed winged profile even though
they can sometimes pass at great height. Holkham’s marshes and lake has however
through the years managed to attract a few lingering birds all that have left a
lasting impression with those lucky enough to have seen them.
My first view of this year's Osprey, overhead from the tractor window!
One
such bird arrived this September. I had heard several reports of one flying
over the marsh causing its usual sense of panic but always managed to be in the
wrong place to see it, yet that soon came to end one day when I was out topping
in the tractor. Geese, gulls and ducks flying in every direction, the local
Marsh Harriers and kites all flying up to investigate and there amongst this
melee of wings was an Osprey! It circled the marsh even dropping low over where
I was working before heading off towards Holkham Park and the lake. We later
heard from one of the keepers that it had been visiting periodically, fish the
undoubted attraction. As the weeks progressed so it turned out that the bird
settled down into a little routine – flight out and around the nature reserve
before returning to fish on the lake. Here it would sit up on the tallest trees
seemingly admiring its surrounding before periodically sailing around the
length of the lake, hovering with great ponderous wing beats and crashing into
the water. This particular bird was a juvenile perhaps from a Scottish or even
Scandinavian nest pausing on its southbound migration, its immaturity perhaps
explaining why its fishing forays were not always successful. About one in four
attempts usually resulted in a catch.
Claws outstretched, head tucked in line with talons, wings swept back, impact imminent!
Splashdown! Only the bird's wings tips can be seen amidst the spray of crashing water
Like many other keen naturalists I spent
my time off encamped along the lake’s shore waiting for that magical moment
when amidst a crescendo of wings and water I hoped to see the Osprey emerge
with a fish. Holkham Lake’s association with Ospreys goes back further than
this year’s social media celebrity. One of my own most cherished sightings is
of a similar young autumn visiting Osprey in the 1990s. It caught a fish so
large on the west shore that it had to swim/clamour its way through the
shallows. I was hidden behind a tree about ten feet away. I could see the glint
in its eye and the wind take away the fish scales as it was ripping apart its
prey. Even further back in time was the pair of Ospreys that made the lake
their home in May 1970. Sticks were being carried and a likely nesting attempt
seemed more than a fanciful thought. Yet their efforts were perhaps merely a
practise for a more concerted attempt further north as they departed never to
be seen again.
Osprey and Great Crested Grebe;two Holkham Lake fishermen, one successful as the other looks on!
Andy Bloomfield
Warden