UKOI uses sightings posted on BirdGuides as its source of information regarding Sightings of Ospreys in the UK. Using this information we are able to look at Sightings, by Year, Month, Country and County, also the Earliest and Latest sighting per year. We have been able to use the information to populate Google Maps with sightings per Month covering 2023, 2024 and 2025.
A WORD OF CAUTION
These sighting are simply that, sightings they do not reflect actual population numbers or returnees, They contain muliple sightings of the same bird at the same site, taken over several days. With regard to numbers in Scotland which will appear alarmingly low, Birdguides considers Ospreys in mainland Scotland to be Common, so do not publish the sightings.
However, given that the above applies consistantly across the years, the figures can be used to indicate trends and offer general information.
SIGHTINGS BY YEAR
SIGHTINGS BY MONTH
SIGHTINGS BY COUNTY
2020 – 2029
2010 – 2019
2000 – 2009
EARLIEST REPORTED SIGHTINGS PER ANNUM
LATEST REPORTED SIGHTINGS PER ANNUM
SIGHTINGS MAPS
What can we read from the data we have:-
- Single Birds on a stopover can skew the figures for any given Month or County.
- Not surprisingly August and September are the most prolific months for sightings.
- There are reports for every single Calendar Month.
- As the Population Grows so does the number of Sightings.
- Although not obvious from the Data we publish today, There are more sightings on a weekend and on a Bank Holidays than on any other day, suggesting Sightings reflect people’s free time. They are also significantly reduced in periods of inclement weather, Neither of which is a surprise.
- Area’s with established populations appear to report less.
LINK TO BIRDGUIDES
NOTED RETURNERS/INTRUDERS 2026
NOTED RETURNERS/INTRUDERS 2025
OVERSEA’S SIGHTINGS OF UK COLOUR RINGED OSPREYS
This is an area where we rely on other individuals to report their Sightings and Share with UKOI directly or through posting to a Public Forum. Some of the Most Prolific in this area are, Jean-Marie Dupart, Fansu Bojang, Joanna Daily and in the Past the late Chris Wood.
We also check:-
https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/
Ther are also FaceBook Groups who are happy to Share sightings in Portugal, Spain and West Africa which we are members of and check regularly.
2023/24
2024/25
2025/2026
2026/2027
CHRIS WOODS DATABASE
