This August and September, join conservation charity Birds of Poole Harbour for our award-winning Osprey Cruises! These incredible experiences offer the opportunity to see one of our most spectacular raptor species and learn more about our work to restore its local breeding population.
The Osprey
The Osprey is a migratory, entirely fish-eating bird of prey with a wingspan of up to 1.8 metres. Once widespread across western Europe, including the UK, Ospreys were heavily persecuted by humans from the Middle Ages onwards. This was mainly because they were seen as a threat to fish stocks, while egg collecting and the use of pesticides such as DDT also contributed to population declines. As a result, the Osprey became extinct as a breeding species in England in 1847 and across the UK in 1916.
White-tailed Eagle pirating Osprey for fish © Matthew Robbins
Species Recovery
Fortunately, the species began its recovery when a pair naturally recolonised RSPB Loch Garten in the 1950s. To create a self-sustaining population in central England, the Osprey Translocation Project began at Rutland Water in 1996. It was incredibly successful, with 11 breeding pairs now established there. In total, it is estimated that there are now around 300 breeding pairs in Scotland and approximately 50 pairs across England and Wales.
In 2017, Birds of Poole Harbour began our Osprey Translocation Project in collaboration with the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation. Over a four-year period, 43 Scottish Osprey chicks were translocated to Poole Harbour under licence. The project has been incredibly successful, with two breeding pairs now established in southern England, including our well-known pair, CJ7 (female) and 022 (male), who became the first Ospreys to breed in the area for more than 180 years when they successfully nested in 2022. They have bred successfully every year since, producing 17 chicks, including four in each of the last three consecutive years.
© Birds of Poole Harbour
Join Our Osprey Cruises
In August and September, our local birds are joined by migrant Ospreys, many of which have spent the summer breeding elsewhere in the UK. Poole Harbour serves as a vital refuelling stop for this iconic bird of prey, with many taking advantage of its abundant fishing opportunities before continuing their epic 3,000-mile journey to their wintering grounds, predominantly in West Africa.
Our cruises depart from Poole Quay and spend three hours exploring the harbour in search of the "mullet hawk" during the peak autumn migration. We'll spend time in the Wareham Channel, the harbour's premier Osprey fishing grounds, where the shallow waters teem with mullet, bass, and flounder, attracting both resident and migrant Ospreys. No two trips are ever the same as birds pass through the harbour, and other raptors regularly encountered include Marsh Harrier, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, Hobby, Kestrel, and Sparrowhawk.
© Alison Copland
Customer review from our 2025 Osprey Cruises:
"A wonderful day osprey (and White-tailed Eagle) watching with the experienced guides. The crew and guides work together and clearly know the best places to go to maximise the chances of seeing Ospreys (trips run from mid-August to mid-September). They also willingly share their extensive knowledge.
We were treated to a White-tailed Eagle harassing an Osprey that had just caught a fish, successfully forcing it to drop its catch, all within a couple of hundred metres of the boat. You can even borrow binoculars!"
With regular morning and afternoon departures, you could even double up and enjoy a full day on the harbour searching for Ospreys. Along the way, you'll learn about the Poole Harbour Osprey Translocation Project, which has restored Ospreys as a breeding species to the south coast after an absence of more than 180 years. Binoculars are provided free of charge, and the boat offers plenty of seating, onboard toilets, and a licensed bar serving refreshments.
By joining our Osprey Cruises, you'll also be supporting our conservation, education, and engagement work across the harbour. We were thrilled that these trips won the Dorset Tourism Gold Award for Experience of the Year in 2025.
You can find out more about the charity, by visiting the Birds of Poole Harbour website.
Book an Osprey Cruise
Booking onto one of the 2026 Osprey Cruises is easy to do via the Birds of Poole Harbour website.
Just select your chosen date and then add the number of adult or child tickets you require.
