It's time for the osprey chicks to spread their wings

ALL six surviving osprey youngsters from this year's Northumberland nests have now fledged and are exploring their surroundings.

- TONY HENDERSON

The young birds have flown from four of the six occupied nests this season at Kielder Forest, which produced 14 hatchings. Two were predated and the others died from natural causes. Last year 10 birds fledged from a starting total of 22 chicks.

Each year the newly ringed birds are given names beginning with the same initial letter, linked to Northumbrian locations. Three from artificial nesting platforms that can be accessed for ringing have been called Ingram, Ingoe and Irthing.

The other three birds are without a name as they hatched in nests in natural trees, which cannot be climbed and so could not be ringed.