First osprey chick of the year hatches

The only pair of breeding ospreys in southern England have hatched their first chick of 2026.

Their first chick emerged from its egg on Friday at 15:10 BST.

Birds of Poole Harbour, the conservation charity leading the reintroduction scheme, said it was a "great start to what will hopefully be another big successful year".

Birds of Poole Harbour previously said laying four eggs for a third year in a row was "quite a rare occurrence in ospreys".

"But [it is] great news for the recovering population here on the south coast, the charity added.

The pair have so far successfully bred at the nest site for three consecutive years, rearing three young in 2023, four in 2024 and a further four in 2025.

Birds of Poole Harbour and Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation began the reintroduction programme in 2017 with the aim of establishing a breeding population on the south coast.

Up to 14 osprey chicks were relocated from Scotland and released in the Poole Harbour area each year until 2021.

CJ7 and 022 have nested at Careys Secret Garden since 2022.

They hatched four chicks in 2024 and another four in 2025 and are the first ospreys to breed on England's south coast in 180 years.

The juveniles usually leave between in August or September, travelling to West Africa where they remain for a few years, before returning to Dorset when they are ready to breed.