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Lake Clywedog Ospreys

A pair of osprey have chosen our site to nest! We have closed and diverted a section of our trail to ensure their safety and nesting success.

Path closure and diversion map

Ospreys at Lake Clywedog

There are around 4 breeding pairs of osprey in Wales one of which have chosen to nest at Llyn Clywedog. Our breeding pair has nested at Lake Cltwedog since 2023 and has raised one chick, a female ringed as Blue 7B9. After the pairs winter migration to Africa they've returned to nest again. 

Our ospreys

Species Information

Ospreys are large, migratory, fish-eating birds of prey found on every continent except Antarctica. They can be seen soaring over waterways and shorelines. Perfectly adapted to their aquatic hunting style, their reversible outer toe allows them a double grip, and special footpads ensure a tight hold on their slippery catch.

Rings are placed on birds' legs to help monitor them. In England and Wales, we put the rings on the right leg; in Scotland, the ring is put on the left leg. This also helps us identify where they come from at a distance.

Monitored birds are named based on the colour of their ring and alphanumeric combination. These rings tell us lots of information about the birds such as: where they are from, their sex, what year they were born and much more.

Migration

There are many populations of ospreys around the world. The migration route of our osprey and many like them takes the birds from the British Isles, where they nest, all the way over to Africa! Here, they spend the winter in the sun, before their return trip back to nest the following year.

Breeding pair at Lake Clywedog

Our breeding pair have been at Lake Clywedog since 2023 and have returned to the nest this year after their winter migration to Africa. 

Last year this pair raised one female chick, who was ringed as Blue 7B9. We hope to see 7B9 in 2025 when she will make her first return flight back to the UK from Africa.