A PAIR of breeding ospreys has returned to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, prompting hopes that osprey chicks will hatch here for the sixth year running

Blue 35 and White YW, the two ospreys who successfully raised and fledged three chicks last year, returned to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve this week.

The female, Blue 35, returned at 7.43 am on Sunday, March 31, following weeks of speculation and eager anticipation among the online osprey-watching community. Blue 35’s mate appeared within a couple of hours of her at 9.26 am.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserves officer Paul Waterhouse, who looks after Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, said: “We’re delighted to see Blue 35 and White YW back again.

“They’re an incredibly successful breeding pair, raising 14 chicks so far since 2014. Fingers crossed that this year, their sixth, will be equally productive.

“We recently had positive sightings of two of their chicks from last year, one over-wintering in Southern Spain and a juvenile in The Gambia.

“As their long migration is so arduous, sadly most osprey chicks don’t make it, so it was great to hear that two of last year’s brood had made it to young adults. Let’s hope that this year’s chicks will be equally successful.”