White YW & Blue 35 – The experienced guardians

At 17 years old, White YW is a bird that has seen it all. Nest One has long been his domain, and this year he continued to make a story of success alongside his loyal mate, 14-year-old Blue 35. Together, they raised three healthy youngsters – no small feat given the challenges of weather, food supply, and protection. These three young ospreys had their own quirks and challenges, each showing us a different side of life in an osprey family.

The arrival of a hungry stranger

Then the story of Nest One took an extraordinary turn. Late in the summer, after Blue 35 had begun her migration, a hungry stray youngster, perhaps from a failed nest, suddenly appeared.

Much like a cuckoo in the nest, the stray youngster displaced the three resident chicks claiming the nest for itself. Instead of rejecting the intruder, White YW’s instincts took over. Hearing its urgent calls, he accepted the newcomer and responded with generous deliveries of fish to keep it well fed.

Our three youngsters were fortunately just old enough to manage without the nest. We think they may have moved into the surrounding trees on the Moss, continued to receive food from YW alongside the intruder, or perhaps even set off on an early migration.

An act of pure instinct, or something more?

Scientists will tell you that most bird behaviour is driven by instinct. But even they sometimes admit there are moments that seem to transcend biology.

Why would an adult male, in the demanding final weeks of the breeding season, spend his energy feeding a chick that wasn’t his, delaying his own migration?

Maybe it was instinct. Maybe the cries of the hungry osprey triggered an automatic response. Or maybe White YW recognised a need — and simply chose to help. We'll probably never know.

Lives spanning generations

Over the course of their remarkable lives, White YW and Blue 35 have raised over thirty fledglings. Many of these offspring have taken to the skies themselves, some establishing nests of their own. 

White YW and Blue 35 aren't just ospreys, they're a symbol of what's possible when wildlife is given the space and protection to thrive. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, ospreys like them are no longer just struggling survivors of habitat loss and persecution —they’re thriving legends. 

Blue 476 & Blue 717 – The young pioneers

Meanwhile, just a short distance away, another story unfolded. Male Blue 476, only four years old, took his first real steps into adulthood. He built a nest, wooed mate Blue 717 with fish deliveries, and together they raised a chick of their own. 

For a young male, this is a huge achievement. Ospreys may take years to establish a territory and breed successfully, often facing setbacks and failed attempts before everything falls into place. Blue 476’s determination and instinct have given him a strong start to what we hope will be a long and fruitful life at Foulshaw Moss.

New beginnings at Nest Two: A season of hope, loss and one strong survivor

In the world of ospreys, every nest tells a story — of resilience, instinct, and the delicate balance between survival and struggle. This season, Nest Two was home to a compelling new chapter, starring a young pair of first-time parents.

What began as a shaky start soon transformed into a tale of partnership, perseverance, and the unlikely success of a single, spirited chick, 9K4, who is now preparing to embark on the greatest journey of its life.

A wobbly start for a new pair

Blue 476 and Blue 717 arrived separately and as strangers, uncertain and inexperienced. For the first few weeks together, their interactions were tentative — awkward deliveries, unsure responses and the typical teething pains of a brand-new pair trying to find their rhythm. At just three years old, Blue 717 appeared not quite ready to take on the responsibilities of being both a mate and a mother.

We weren’t sure if the pair would settle down enough to breed. But to everyone’s surprise and delight, the bond solidified. Mating followed, and soon, three eggs were laid in the windswept nest. It was an exciting moment, not only for the parents, but for all those following their journey. A brand new generation, from a brand new pair. To our surprise, all three eggs hatched – a testament to the determination and the provisioning efforts of Blue 476.

However, this is where nature showed its harsher side. Whether through inexperience, misjudged feeding times or simply misfortune, two of the chicks didn’t survive those fragile early days. It was a heartbreaking outcome, though not an uncommon one for first-time parents. 

9K4: The lone survivor who thrived

But one chick, 9K4, held on. The young osprey grew stronger each day. With determination and no siblings to compete with, 9K4 flourished under the growing confidence of its parents.

Blue 476 became a more consistent and reliable provider, bringing in fish to feed the chick and his mate. Blue 717 grew into her role as a watchful, attentive mother. Slowly but surely, their instincts kicked in and 9K4 benefited from their learning curve.

The story of Nest Two is a reminder of how even shaky beginnings can give rise to something beautiful. The young pair may not have raised three chicks this season, but they overcame challenges to raise one. And that one might carry their genes and their legacy into new territories.

Two paths, one future

Though at different stages of life, our two #FoulshawOspreys pairs remind us of the extraordinary adaptability of ospreys. One continues to cement their reputation as master providers and nurturers, while the other begins their journey as a new parents. 

Both pairs have contributed to the future of the species, sending young ospreys into the skies with the chance to one day return and raise families of their own.