NINE young ospreys, all hatched and fledged at Kielder just a few weeks ago, are now ready to make the journey of over 6,700 km to West Africa, flying on average around 260 km per day.

Visitors are being reminded that this weekend will be their last chance to take part in Osprey Watch at Kielder Waterside before they all fly the nest to begin a perilous journey to southern climes.

But what makes this year’s departure a little more poignant is that for the first time, the osprey chicks have been given local names, rather than simply being named from their colour ring details.

In 2017, all the chicks were given Northumbrian place or river names beginning with “A”. From nest one, Amble, Ayle and Acton will be flying off to warmer climes.

From nest two, there will be Aln. And nest three will see big young female osprey Archer, followed by brother Ancroft, then small female Acomb making their departure.

Lastly, from nest four, there will be young lad Aydon and his sister Alwinton.

The new names have encouraged wider public engagement with the osprey project, as well as a blog written by Kielder osprey expert volunteer Joanna Dailey, including nest webcams and video footage.

In 2018, new osprey chicks will be named by Northumbrian places or rivers beginning with B.

“Kielder Water & Forest Park is proving to be a successful home for ospreys, with excellent habitat and food supply,” said Joanna.

“A special pleasure this year has been seeing our adult ospreys from nest three, who have been here every season since 2014, raise three chicks for the first time. It is apt that the official 50th Kielder fledge is from that nest.”

The return of the ospreys to Kielder in 2009 after an absence of 200 years in Northumberland is a conservation success story.

This year has been the ninth successive year that ospreys have nested, and from one pair in 2009, the Kielder osprey population has grown to four nesting pairs.

For a chance to see the ospreys before they leave Kielder, visit Osprey Watch at Kielder Waterside (behind the Boat Inn), open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday between 10.30am and 4.30pm.