Where do they go?

Most British ospreys end up in Senegal, Gambia and a handful of surrounding west African countries, but a few – maybe upto 5% - wil never see the African continent, choosing instead to winter in southern Europe, mostly Spain and Portugal.

 Here are the exact timings we recorded this year:

 🦅 Cwellyn last seen - 21^st August at 11:00 

🦅 Honddu last seen - 21^st August at 11:02 

🦅 Telyn last seen - 23^rd August at 07:52 

🦅 Brianne last seen - 6^th September at 08:49 

🦅 Idris last seen - 7^th September at 19:40

Idris watched his daughter go last week, but still decided to stay another two days, just to make sure. Monty used to do the same – such amazing parental investment. 

Record Breaking

We've seen a few records broken this year, from the earliest ever arrival (21^st MARCH: IDRIS arrives home 18:44), the earliest ever eggs at this nest (🥚 9^th APRIL at 13:48) and many more.

We also observed some individual bird records. 

After fledging on 10^th July, Brianne stayed around the Dyfi for another 57.9 days before migrating - a new record. She also became the oldest ever (out of 36) chick at this nest before migration - 111.7 days old, beating Padarn's, her sister's record of 109.1 days in 2022.

Then we have the 'longest-stay' records for the parents.

Idris smashed the record this year with a loooooong 170-day stay at the Dyfi, beating's Monty's 12-year-old record of 166-days in 2013.

And if you're wondering about the females, Telyn stayed 148.8 days at her Dyfi nest this year, very close to her Dyfi record of 150-days in 2024.

Notice how consistent Telyn has become over the years - just a 5-day variation in stay time over eight years (except 2020 - must have been the pandemic!).

Reflection

As we end DOP 2025 and reflect on the year, we have been blessed with what is, as close as you can get to, a 'perfect year'. Both Telyn and Idris returning early, three eggs, three healthy chicks, and five ospreys heading south late-summer. And no major dramas. We have a lot to be thankful for.

In the osprey world, this is as close to perfect as it comes.

In terms of ringed ospreys intruding at our nest, we managed to positively identify 10 youngsters this year, just one short of the all-time highest record.

Sadly no Dyfi offspring this time, but they'll come.

Many thanks to our volunteer moderator for updating our Observation Board daily again this year, and compiling these great tables.

More to come

DOP 2025 has now ended and we switch the live streaming off tonight, 14th September, at 7pm.

We've made it through to the end of the season and to within £800 of our Camera Appeal target - thank you all so much for your support, both financially and otherwise.

If you have enjoyed the live streaming and would like to donate, you can do so here. We pay for 100% of DOP, no external funding of any kind.

The new hide is taking shape, replacing the old tower hide we had. Keep an eye out for updates throughout the winter, both on social media plus the odd blog here on the DOP website.

We are also intending to overhaul the whole nest camera, microphone and IT systems before DOP 2026. We will (hopefully!) see a measurable uptick in the live streaming experience, including picture quality and new camera angles, starting from March 2026.

There will also be a new book! All about the Dyfi Wildlife Centre and how we built it to be one of, if not the, most carbon-negative buildings of its kind in the UK, full of superb images. One just needs to find the time to write it!

By the way, The Dyfi Wildlife Centre will remain open until Christmas, open 10am - 4pm every Wednesday to Sunday. Then we take a big break in January before starting all over again. 

The end of an era

A couple of weeks ago our people engagement officer, Alwyn, told me that he would be retiring at the end of this season.

To be fair, he's told me this before, only to be 'persuaded' back the following year. I think this time, however, he's beyond persuasion.

Alwyn and I have worked together working with ospreys for 20 years. I am confident in saying that there is nobody else that does it better than him. Even our longest serving volunteers say the same. He's been a mentor to all of us, truly a one of a kind.

I was with him briefly in the Obs during his very last day last weekend, listening to him, watching him. He was fielding questions from a three-generation family from child to grandparents. He answered their questions with the passion, enthusiasm, knowledge and drive as if it was the very first time he's been asked those questions.

After 20 years. In two languages.

That is literally priceless. You can't train that.

We wish Alwyn the very best as he sails around the Llŷn Peninsular on his new boat. After educating countless thousands of visitors, witnessing the osprey population in Wales expand from one pair to probably 15 now, and fast approaching his mid-70s (amddiheuraf!), we'll have to let him hang up his binoculars this time.

It's been an absolute honour working with you Al for all these years.

Diolch o galon am bob dim ti wedi neud i fyd y Gweilch yng Ngymru, Al