Osprey Pair Returns to Nest After Previous Love Triangle
A pair of ospreys appear to have avoided the love triangle drama that occurred last year, as both returned to their nest near Wareham, Dorset.
Female CJ7 was first seen landing on a webcam in the walled garden on Wednesday at approximately 18:30 GMT, followed by male 022 arriving on Thursday at 06:40.
The situation contrasts with 12 months ago when CJ7 returned to find 022 had spent several days in the nest with a new female.
History of the Ospreys at Careys Secret Garden
CJ7 and 022 were the first ospreys to breed on England's south coast in 180 years. They have nested at Careys Secret Garden since 2022 and successfully hatched four chicks in both 2024 and 2025.
The charity leading the breeding project described the pair's arrival as
"brilliant news"and expressed hope that a second pair, which nested for the first time in 2025, will also return this year.
Last Year’s Love Triangle Incident
In 2025, 022 was the first to return to Poole Harbour. Before CJ7 arrived, female 1H1, who typically spends spring and summer in Rutland, settled at the nest.
Female 1H1 spent some time with 022, but CJ7 quickly displaced her upon returning from migration to West Africa.
Following this brief romantic entanglement, 1H1 paired with male 374, becoming the second breeding osprey pair in southern England since 1847. They successfully hatched two chicks in early June 2025.
Conservation Efforts and Future Prospects
The charity has installed 10 nest platforms in Poole Harbour with the aim of attracting a third breeding pair this year.
Many of the ospreys in southern England are ringed but do not carry trackers. They typically return from their annual migration, usually from West Africa, in late March.
The reintroduction programme in Poole Harbour began in 2017, with the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable breeding population.
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