UK Osprey Information

This site has evolved from the UKOspreys and UKOspreyInformation websites. It is an unofficial, searchable database of Darvic ring numbers, nesting/breeding information, links, articles and other information about Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) hatched, breeding and seen in the United Kingdom.

The credit for collating this information is due to the late Pete Dee and to Jeff K who ably took on the mantle when Pete passed away.

Reporting Ospreys

Any sighting of an Osprey with a Darvic ring should be reported to the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, run by Roy Dennis who pioneered the use of colour ringing in Ospreys. Colour rings were first used at the Loch Garten nest in 1966.

Reports of Darvic ringed Ospreys are important to build up a picture of the ecology, breeding successes, habits and return rates of birds on a population level. This can provide invaluable information to conservationists to help and direct conservation and recovery measures, as well as being able to provide information to ringers and projects about birds they have ringed on an individual level. It is of course also invaluable and fascinating information for reporters, osprey enthusiasts and the general public too!

It is therefore very important to report all sightings of ringed Ospreys, even if it is a bird which has previously been reported and information has already been made public.

Darvic Rings

When Ospreys are ringed they are usually fitted with two rings, a metal BTO ring which has a unique number and an address so that finders can send finding details to the BTO as part of the national bird ringing scheme, and a plastic ring known as a Darvic ring which can be viewed from at a distance with either binoculars or telescope.

Darvic rings are usually referred to by their two colours, e.g., Blue/White, where Blue is the colour of the ring and White the colour of the lettering. Initially rings had one character, then two characters and since approximately 2012 three, these characters are a combination of numerals and letters (Alpha-Numeric). You will also sometimes hear rings referred to just by their colour e.g., 'Red 8T' which is really 'Red/White 8T'. Rings should be fitted so that they read from the foot up, although you will sometimes find one fitted the wrong way round. In recent years, colour rings in Scotland have been placed on the left leg and those in England and Wales on the right leg. Most of Europe has now adopted a particular colour Ring for Ospreys. The UK is Blue, Germany/Black, France/Orange,Portugal and Corsica/Green and Spain are Yellow.