Catch the Ospreys Before They Fly: An August Family Walk at Kielder
Catch the Ospreys Before They Fly: An August Family Walk at Kielder
See Kielder's newly-fledged ospreys fishing the reservoir before they set off for West Africa - but you'll need to be quick.
There's a small window each summer when Kielder Water puts on one of the finest wildlife shows in England, and we're right in the middle of it.
This year's young ospreys have just taken to the air, and within a few weeks they'll be gone - a 3,000-mile journey south for the winter.
If a gentle Northumberland walk with a genuine "did you just see that?" moment sounds like your kind of day, August is the time to go.
Watch the Nests Live
Can't get to Kielder today? You don't have to wait - here are two of the nests, live right now, straight from the forest.
Fair warning: it's very easy to lose half an hour to these.
Why August Is the Moment
The ospreys don't hang about. Once the chicks can fly and fish for themselves, the whole family begins drifting south, usually through late August and into September.
Right now the birds are at their most active and visible - adults ferrying fish back to the nest, and this year's youngsters building up strength over the water.
Eleven chicks fledged at Kielder in 2026, a little later than usual after a wet early summer delayed some of their first flights by up to a fortnight.
Miss the next few weeks and you're waiting until next April.
Ospreys were extinct in England for almost all of the 20th century. They returned to breed at Kielder in 2009, and since then more than 130 young birds have flown south from here - some now raising chicks of their own elsewhere in the UK.
Where to Watch: Osprey Watch at Tower Knowe
Seeing them in the flesh is a different thing altogether, and you don't need to be a seasoned birder, or to scramble anywhere, to do it.
The Osprey Watch point sits at Tower Knowe, just behind the Kielder Water visitor centre, staffed by knowledgeable volunteers who'll point you to the action.
- It's open through the season, typically 11am–4pm
- A live camera beams the nests back to a big screen, so you can watch close-up even if the birds are distant — the same cams you can see above
- Volunteers have telescopes set up and know exactly where to look
- Entry to the watch point is free
Easy Walks to Make a Morning of It
The beauty of Kielder is that the wildlife comes with a proper walk attached.
- The Lakeside Way hugs the shoreline for around 26 miles all the way round the reservoir - but you can walk any bite-sized stretch and turn back whenever you like
- The sections around Tower Knowe and Leaplish are flat, well-surfaced and buggy-friendly - ideal with children
- Pack a flask and make the osprey screen your turnaround point
- Keep dogs on leads near the water and the nesting areas
Mornings tend to be best for fishing activity, and the light is kinder for spotting birds over the water. Bring binoculars if you have them - the ospreys often fish some way out.
What to Bring
- Binoculars (borrow the volunteers' scopes if you don't have a pair)
- Layers and a waterproof - Kielder makes its own weather
- Sturdy footwear and a good pair of walking socks for the Lakeside Way
- Snacks, a flask, and plenty for little legs
Make a weekend of it: if you're travelling any distance, Kielder pairs beautifully with a few days exploring Northumberland - our sister company Shepherds Walks Holidays can build a Northumberland walking break around it.
Further Reading
- Self-led walking guide — Kielder Water
- Walking events / guided walks in Northumberland
Get out and see them while they're still here.
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