Cumbria Wildlife Trust confirmed it has now switched off its popular webcam on September 22 after seeing many firsts at the successful site.
This season saw two nests active on the reserve, bringing drama, change and success to both sites.
Poor youngster 7K0 even faced an unknown visitor at one point who came to steal a fish from under him.
This year, White YW and Blue 35 once again reared three chicks called 7K0, 7K1 and 7K2 – after first nesting at the site in 2014
Mum Blue 35 departed around August 5, while resident male White YW stayed on longer than usual. In behaviour described as “rarely documented”, he was spotted as late as September 12 feeding an unringed chick.
Both he and an intruding female were last seen on September 14 before beginning their long migration to West Africa.
The whole family at nest one(Image: Cumbria Wildlife Trust)
Over at Nest Two, first-time parents Blue 476 and Blue 717 successfully hatched three eggs after arriving separately as strangers. Sadly, only one chick survived.
This was 9K4 who thrived with no siblings to compete with. The youngster was last seen on September 13.
Male 476 remained until September 15, while female 717 left earlier, last spotted on September 2.
Volunteer Jenny Cornell, who followed the birds closely throughout the season, reflected on events in a blog for Cumbria Wildlife Trust. She described 2025 as ‘a tale of two osprey families’.
Cornell wrote: “The season started with two nests and four birds, and as autumn approaches, each bird has followed its own path. Watching them come and go, raise chicks, and prepare for their incredible journeys never fails to inspire.”
She added: “Watching the dynamics between the pairs has been fascinating this season – from the familiar sight of White YW returning, to the drama of the intruder at Nest One.”
Young osprey 7K0 faces a surprise visitor at the Foulshaw Moss osprey nest(Image: Cumbria Wildlife Trust)
Nest Two, she said, had been especially rewarding: “476 proved himself as a dedicated male and 717 showed her strength as a mother. Their chick 9K4 has given us some wonderful moments before setting off on migration.”
Cornell also reflected on the emotions of seeing the young birds take to the skies: “There’s nothing quite like that first lift-off moment. It’s a mixture of pride, relief, and hope – pride in their strength, relief they’ve made it this far, and hope for the long journey ahead.”
The Foulshaw Moss osprey cam once again proved a major draw for wildlife enthusiasts across Cumbria and beyond, offering a unique window into the lives of these rare birds.
Blogs from Cumbria Wildlife Trust, including Jenny Cornell’s full reflection on the season, can be read at: cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/blog.