In 2017 three healthy chicks fledged from the Glaslyn nest, all male. We felt hopeful that we would hear more about at least one of the ‘Class of ‘17’ one day. We have had quite a long wait, but we have finally received the news we had been hoping for and there is an amazing coincidence.
Last week Dan Brown was leading a wildlife tour at RSPB Loch Gruinart on Islay in the Hebrides when he photographed an osprey with a blue colour ring on the right leg. It turned out that the osprey was none other than the youngest of the 2017 brood, Blue Z8.
Male ospreys are generally highly philopatric and return to breed close to their natal area, so it is incredible that Z8 appears to have made his home so far from Wales. What is even more incredible is that Dan is also originally from North Wales and it isn’t the first time he has met Z8 either. Here are Dan’s own words about the amazing coincidence. “Whilst back ‘home’ in 2017 I paid a visit to the Glaslyn Osprey Project where the heads of three chicks including Z8 were just visible above the nest rim! Little did I know we would see each other again five years later and 200km north having both explored many different areas of the world!”.
We would like to thank Dan for sharing his photo of Z8 with us and you can read more about the wildlife tours he runs with his wife on their website.
Z8 is the eleventh Glaslyn born osprey known to have returned to the UK as an adult and yet another that does not appear to have read the rule book regarding philopatry!
