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Threave Ospreys NTS

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Threave Ospreys NTS

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Whether you are one of our invaluable osprey volunteers, a raptor enthusiast, or just want to stay in touch with what's going on, this page will keep you right.

09/09/2026

A drowsy 5B8 (female) at nest 3 this morning 😊

07/09/2026

After such a fantastic summer here for osprey watchers we're getting to the time when sightings are less reliable.. but the young female on nest 1 was around all afternoon for Dee View hide volunteer Paul - see his report below - and birds on nest 3 were photographed by early morning visitors Margaret and James - thanks all! 😀

'The young female on nest 1 was the only Osprey visible. She spent 3 to 4 hours either side of the nest, flitting from the camera platform and a nearby ash tree and back again. No sign of her eating or hunting and no sightings of her sibling or the adult male. She spent a lot of time on the camera platform being buffeted by the wind and driving rain before drying off later in the afternoon. Fewer visitors today but all of them really engaged.'

04/09/2026

5B8 looking rather stunning in the beautiful evening light tonight. What a bird. ❤️

02/09/2026

We were surprisingly busy today at Threave Nature Reserve today despite the rain! Ospreys are still on site and more otter sightings too this week! Here's volunteer Simon's report and photos from a soggy afternoon ☺️ Thanks Simon!

'Very wet grey day today, only one juvenile osprey seen at nest 3 from Stepping Stones hide very little flying lots of calling, later on way back could see both in the dead ash on the island again lots of calling. First otter seen for ages. Dee View hide poor visibility, solitary juvenile osprey found hiding in the trees, again lots of calling and few flights to nest and camera pole. Adult came with large flat fish, fed juvenile on nest then made off towards Loch Ken. Juvenile then flew into tree-top opposite hide until I closed down for the day'

01/09/2026

To cheer up a dreich morning, here's volunteer Paul H's report and fabulous photos from his Dee View wildlife hide shift yesterday afternoon - thanks Paul! 😀

'I started my shift journey with a quick reccy of nest 3 and saw an adult plus both juveniles on the nest. Later, visitors reported that there was plenty of activity over the river at Stepping Stones Hide by birds from nest 3. At nest 1, only the male adult and male juvenile were seen all day. The juvenile spending a lot of time on the nest eating what the adult had brought back earlier at the end of Ian's shift. He seems to be quite happy to accept dads hunting efforts rather that having a go himself at the moment. On two occasions, the adult male saw off an intruder, one of which was possibly from nest 3 as it headed back that way and the other an overflyer of the reserve, heading south-ish so possibly a bird passing through on an early start to migration??
No sighting of either the female adult or juvenile today. On my return to the bothy, I managed to see a resting Buzzard on the hill, a young male Roe Deer that was no more than 10ft away from me after being startled and disturbed from a lay down near the boardwalk and a well camouflaged Red Admiral against a mossy dead branch. A good day at nest 1 with plenty of wonderful visitors.'

27/08/2026

We're catching up this afternoon on a week of good osprey sightings - volunteer Fergus saw the nest 1 young male trying to fend off a buzzard today, helped out by his sister flying to the rescue, while Simon also reported both sets of young staying around the nests on Wednesday.

Meanwhile visitor Richard sent us this from his time at Threave Nature Reserve on Monday, along with these smashing photos. Thank you Richard! 😊🙏

'Visited the Reserve Monday morning - as probably the last chance for me to see the Ospreys this year. As ever hoping to see them in action in the sky close to a hide. And we were lucky! The young male from Nest 1 took off from his perch close to the nest and flew towards the Dee View Hide, circled above the river looking for fish then headed off towards the car park. In one photo I realised I had caught what I think is a Swallow in the frame and the size comparison speaks for itself. Also we saw many Sand Martins alongside the river - they were a delight. Finally a huge thank you to the Volunteers for their help - we talked to visitors some from the continent all who were thrilled at their visit. Well Done NTS!'

24/08/2026

Loads of action at Dee View hide today, and volunteer Paul was there to help visitors enjoy it all - here's his report and photos - thanks Paul! 😃👍

"A great shift again today at Dee View hide and nest 1. Warm sunny weather and fantastic views of the Osprey for the many visitors, lots of which saw Osprey for the first time.
The shift began with the adult male perched high a few metres from the empty nest. He left the perch heading over the river, circling as he went. Soon after, the female youngster arrived on the nest as did dad, loaded with a fish. No sooner had he dropped the fish into the nest, an "intruder" female took his attention and we all had a great view of the tussle to move her on and away. She was possibly the juvenile from nest 3.
Later, the young male arrived and tucked into the fish left in the nest and the adult male was seen with a small fish which he ate high in a tree above the river bank some distance away from the nest. No show from our adult female though. Other highlights included a mixed flock of over 100 Sand and House Martins feeding from the water surface. At one point a good number of them mobbed a Peregrine in sight of our visitors. Blackbird chased by a Sedge Warbler, Young and adult GS Woodpeckers flew past the hide and a noisy group of Grey Heron flew low past us including adult and two juveniles. Lots of Grasshoppers and Dragonflies as well as pair of Chiffchaff and juvenile Wren busying themselves near the hide.!"

19/08/2026

Good afternoon - some cracking footage from nest 3 yesterday - 5B7 (young male) on the nest, adult swooping in with a sea fish followed by young female 5B8. 5B7 can be seen mantling the fish - using his wings to shield it in an attempt to keep his sister off! 😃

18/08/2026

Birding Club - change of day! 🦆🐦‍⬛ Join us this *Thursday* for a relaxed walk around Threave Nature Reserve led by one of our Rangers or volunteers, stopping at hides and seeing what we can spot along the way.

Now every third Thursday of the month, rather than Wednesdays - all very welcome! 10am - 11.30am, meet at the Information Centre opposite the car park. Free, no need to book - suggested donation £5.

👀 Look out for our monthly Nature Photography Group starting in October!

Thanks to Simon for photo of a young peregrine spotted during July's Birding Club 😊

17/08/2026

It was good to see James and Margret Grieve back on Threave Nature Reserve this morning with their cameras. Here are some of their early morning sightings, including young osprey together on nest 3, reed bunting and a rather ruffled red kite!

The nest three youngsters could be heard calling for food this morning, while the slightly offspring from nest 1 were out and about trying their best to fish for themselves 😀

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Threave Nature Reserve, Threave Garden & Nature Reserve
Castle Douglas
DG71RX

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