We’ve just been told that an Osprey has been spotted flying around the Driftwood Reservoir and the Fal, so fingers crossed it will fly over the Helford again.
Osprey Photo credit AK Wildlife Cruises
Ospreys are incredible birds with a wing span of 52-60cm. They have blue legs, brown and white feathers, a black beak and angled wrists on their wings according to the RSPB. Their favourite habitat is intertidal waters and wetlands of which the Helford is both.
No strangers to long haul flights they have been known to fly 420 km in a day according to Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
Unlike other migrating birds Ospreys like to take their time on their travels stopping off for a few days at the favourite eating places. Ospreys will spend the winters in Africa and then start to migrate through Europe to the UK in March and April and return in August and September.
They were made extinct in the UK in 1916, due to Victorian’s collecting their eggs and skins, but thankfully have been reintroduced in Cumbria and Scotland. The RSPB report that there are now 200-250 pairs in the UK.
So keep your eyed peeled whilst you are out and about on the Helford for this magnificent bird! If you have any sightings please post on our facebook page or tag us on facebook, instragram or twitter.com – Helford River Cruises. We would love to see your photos too!
Ospreys are not the only birds that migrate up from Africa and enjoy the Helford, the Little Egrets with their yellow feet do too.
Little Egret perfect on an ancient oak tree on the Helford River, Cornwall
Read more about our wildlife sightings on the Helford and what to look out for this September
