A long migration is underway...
The Llyn Brenig osprey family has enjoyed a successful breeding season, raising two healthy chicks: 9L1 (male) and 9L2 (female).
As migratory birds, ospreys leave the UK between late August and September to spend the winter in warmer regions. Most travel around 3,000 miles to West Africa, including Senegal and The Gambia. The journey typically takes four to six weeks. Although some ospreys stop in Spain or Portugal.
We know that LJ2, the Brenig Project’s resident male osprey, was seen in The Gambia as a youngster. The destination of 372 remains unknown, although this year she spent two weeks at a lake west of Madrid, Spain on her return journey. Whether this is her wintering site or simply a stopover to rest and feed before continuing north is unclear. The chicks will also begin their migration alone, facing the challenge of travelling to unfamiliar destinations. As always, we hope for a safe and successful journey.
Although we would love the ospreys to remain in the UK, their movements are driven mainly by food availability and daylight hours. During winter, fish move into deeper waters and shorter days reduce hunting opportunities. With summer ending and the breeding season complete, the birds head to areas where food is plentiful and conditions are more favourable.
At the end of each breeding season, the family bond breaks as each family member departs alone, over a period of a few weeks. As ever, nature does not always follow expectations, and this year is no different. Recent sightings of the Llyn Brenig ospreys 2026 family are:
- 9L1 (male chick): Not seen since 20 August - presumed to have begun migration.
- 9L2 (female chick): Not seen since midday on 31 August.
- LJ2 (adult male) and 372 (adult female): Both seen on the osprey peninsula on the morning of the 2nd September. 372 last seen later that day at 4pm with a large trout. No further sightings. LJ2 has not been seen since late morning on the 4th September when he gave an arial display in front of the Brenig Visitor Centre, before flying off over the dam.
While pairs do not stay together outside the breeding season, they often reunite at the same nest in future years. If their migrations are successful and depending on weather conditions, LJ2 and 372 are expected to return in March / April, to reclaim their nest. Young birds often remain in Africa for several years until they reach breeding age, after which the cycle begins again.
Since arriving at Llyn Brenig, LJ2 has fathered ten chicks, four of which have returned out of six that are mature enough to return: two are not due back until next year and the two hatched this year will be navigating their first southerly migration. He sometimes tours the area to make sure everyone has gone – we will let you know if he is seen again after the 4th September...
Fair winds and a safe journey to all the Llyn Brenig ospreys!