Osprey
Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Lochs, estuaries (summer).
Diet: Fish only.
Best time to spot: Summer migrant; Scotland mainly.
When to look
Resident in the UK, so it can be found year-round. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in UK raptors and owls.
Where to see it
Reserves where the Osprey is on the list:
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Black-throated DiverRare · Highland lochs (summer)
- Slavonian GrebeRare · Highland lochs (summer)
- Common GreenshankUncommon · Bogs (summer); estuaries (passage)
- DunlinCommon · Estuaries; uplands (summer)
- Eurasian CurlewCommon · Moorland (summer); estuaries (winter)
- Red-breasted MerganserUncommon · Sea-lochs
Kit that helps
Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, tested picks, no extra cost to you.
See Osprey sightings on the map