'Soap opera in the skies' - record-breaking year for Kielder ospreys in 11th year since birds returned

The eleventh year since ospreys returned to Northumberland has seen yet another record broken.
Ospreys are going from strength to strength at Kielder.Ospreys are going from strength to strength at Kielder.
Ospreys are going from strength to strength at Kielder.

As the ‘soap opera in the skies’ that is life for the Kielder ospreys continues for another season, 2019's chicks have now been ringed and named, with Kielder's heaviest ever recorded chick weighing in at 1,910g.

This is the third year that chicks have been officially named, using Northumberland place names starting with the letter C.

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Cragside, the record breaking heaviest chick at 1,910g, is one of seven female chicks, along with Cheviot, Chesters, Coquet, Chirdon, Catcleugh, and Corbridge.

The names given to the male chicks were Craster, Cawfields, Charlton, and Chipchase.

Ornithologist Martin Davison said: "The weather conditions have been challenging for the Kielder ospreys this year, but to have eleven chicks thriving and one even coming in at a record weight is a real tribute to the parents.

"The Kielder ospreys are now a firm fixture in our area's wonderful wildlife calendar and this hardiness - to be able to adapt from the climates of Africa to those of a Northumberland summer - is a real example of this.

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"The group continues to grow from strength to strength and as we approach the end of another osprey season, we look forward to what year 12 will bring."

Osprey Watch continues at Northumbrian Water's Landal Kielder Waterside, from 10.30am to 5pm every Saturday and Sunday, as well as some Wednesdays, until August 18.

It is delivered by Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Forestry England, Northumbrian Water and Calvert Kielder.

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