LIVE OSPREY WEBCAM IN CUMBRIA

More info: The male osprey at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, who can be identified by his 'White YW' leg ring, hatched at Bassenthwaite in 2008. The female, identified by her 'Blue 35' leg ring, hatched at Kielder in 2010.

Ospreys migrate to West Africa during winter; satellite tracking has shown them flying up to 430 km in just one day. It takes them about 20 flying days to complete the journey, but, in autumn, birds stop off to refuel at lakes and reservoirs.

Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve is a lowland raised bog and was purchased by Cumbria Wildlife Trust in 1998. Areas like this are one of Western Europe’s rarest and most threatened habitats and are extremely important to a whole range of wildlife.

In spring, the ospreys arrive along with green hairstreak butterflies, tree pipits, stonechats, warblers and cuckoos. As well as the breeding ospreys, other summer sights are huge numbers of dragonflies, including the rare white faced darter dragonfly, large heath butterflies, lizards and adders. Autumn sees the heather flowering purple, migrating birds include ospreys passing through in September and red deer rutting. In winter both marsh harrier and hen harrier visit the site, along with large numbers of snipe and teal.

Water-loving sphagnum mosses, carnivorous sundews, cranberry and bog-rosemary are just some of the plants that thrive at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve. The plants create a living carpet of colour that is interspersed with the soft white heads of cottongrass in early summer.

The mossy hummocks and pools at the Reserve, provide essential nesting and feeding grounds for wetland birds whilst birds of prey take advantage of the abundance of food.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust is part of a partnership of 46 local Wildlife Trusts across the UK. With more than 800,000 members and 2,300 nature reserves, they are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species.