Ospreys are large birds of prey that are a spectacular sight to witness in the wild. These fish-eating raptors migrate long distances and have made an inspiring comeback in Scotland after being absent for many years. There are now several places across Scotland where you can reliably watch ospreys fishing, nesting and raising their young during spring and summer.
Best places to see ospreys in Scotland
Some of the best locations in Scotland to spot ospreys include:
- Loch Garten in the Cairngorms National Park
- Loch of the Lowes in Dunkeld
- Loch Arkaig Pine Forest near Spean Bridge
- Aberfoyle near Loch Lomond
- The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Loch Leven reserve near Kinross
- Kielder Water and Forest Park across the English border
At these sites, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Forestry and Land Scotland, RSPB and other conservation organisations have provided observation facilities, trails and viewing platforms. This gives visitors excellent opportunities to watch the ospreys going about their daily business, often with the aid of telescopes and live streaming webcams.
When to see ospreys in Scotland
The best time of year to spot ospreys in Scotland is between April and August. This coincides with the breeding season when the birds are most active at their nest sites.
Key osprey watching dates are:
- Late March – mid April: Adult ospreys arrive back in Scotland from their wintering grounds in Africa.
- April – early May: Females lay eggs and start incubating them.
- May – July: Osprey chicks hatch and are reared by their parents.
- July – mid August: Juvenile ospreys take their first flights and learn to fish.
- August – September: Ospreys depart Scotland on their long migration back to Africa.
During this period, you have an excellent chance of observing male ospreys bringing fish back to their nests to feed the females and later their offspring. The young birds’ first tentative flights and plunges into the water are also spectacular sights.
Loch Garten Osprey Centre, Cairngorms
One of the most popular places to admire ospreys in Scotland is the RSPB’s Osprey Centre at Loch Garten near Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park. An osprey pair has returned to nest here every spring since the 1950s.
Facilities at the Loch Garten Osprey Centre include:
- An observation hide just 150 metres from the nest platform, so visitors can watch the birds coming and going.
- Live CCTV streaming footage from the nest to the visitor centre when the female is incubating eggs or has small chicks.
- Expert RSPB staff on hand to answer questions and provide guided walks.
- Spotting scopes to get better views.
- Forest trails and boat tours on Loch Garten itself.
You can observe the full story of the ospreys’ breeding season unfold at close quarters here. Arrive early in the morning or late afternoon for the best chance of seeing the adult ospreys hunting and feeding their young.
Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve, Dunkeld
Operated by the Scottish Wildlife Trust near Dunkeld in Perthshire, Loch of the Lowes is another prime location for spotting nesting ospreys between spring and summer.
Visitors can watch all the action from two bird hides on the shore of the loch itself. There is also a live nest camera allowing you to get incredible views of the ospreys rearing chicks via screens in the visitor centre.
The loch and surrounding woodland are simply teeming with other wildlife too. Look out for red squirrels, treecreepers, woodland flowers and dragonflies from the hides and 4.5 km of nature trails.
Aberfoyle Osprey Camera, Loch Lomond & Trossachs
The Forestry and Land Scotland have set up a nest camera near Aberfoyle, allowing anyone to watch live footage of ospreys raising their young. The birds have nested in this area close to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park since 2015.
You can watch the birds on the nest via live stream on the website Visit Loch Lomond between April and August. There is no visitor centre here but you have a good chance of seeing ospreys fishing at nearby Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.
Kielder Water & Forest Park, Scottish Borders
This huge man-made lake and woodland on the edge of Scotland in Northumberland is home to the largest concentration of breeding ospreys in England. There are around 20 breeding pairs here each summer.
Kielder Waterside visitor centre has telescopes, children’s activities and guided walks to teach people about the ospreys. You can also watch live HD footage from several nest cameras set up around Kielder Water.
April to August offers the best osprey sightings. But Kielder Water is also a top spot for winter birdwatching, when you may see goldeneye ducks, fieldfares, redwings and other waterfowl.
How to watch ospreys in Scotland
Here are some top tips for observing ospreys when you visit Scotland:
- Bring binoculars and/or spotting scopes for the best views of the birds on nest platforms or fishing on the water.
- Pack some patience and allow plenty of time. Ospreys are wild birds – you may need to wait quietly for them to appear.
- Aim to visit in the early morning or evening when ospreys are often most active.
- Chat to the reserve staff for the latest updates on nesting progress and osprey movements.
- Follow the rules and don’t disturb the birds – keep noise to a minimum.
Osprey facts
Here are some fascinating facts about the ospreys found in Scotland each summer:
- Ospreys only weigh 1.5-2kg but have a huge wing span of up to 1.8 metres.
- They dive into the water feet first to catch fish up to 1 metre long, their main food source.
- Ospreys migrate more than 5,000 km between Scotland and West Africa every spring and autumn.
- They mate for life, returning to the same nest sites together year after year.
- Osprey numbers crashed in Scotland during Victorian times due to persecution.
- Conservation efforts helped them recover from just 1 pair in 1954 to over 300 pairs today.
Other Scottish wildlife to spot from osprey watch points
As well as the ospreys themselves, some of the best vantage points to observe them offer chances to see many other species of Scottish wildlife. Look out for:
- Red squirrels – Loch Garten and Aberfoyle are good spots to see these endearing mammals.
- Capercaillie – The male birds perform noisy mating displays at Loch Garten.
- Red deer – You may spot antlered stags around forest lochs.
- Woodland birds like crossbills, siskins, crested tits and coal tits.
- Black grouse – View their quirky mating rituals known as ‘lekking’ at Loch Leven RSPB reserve.
- Otters – Look for these elusive river dwellers at dawn or dusk.
- Wildflowers like purple orchids and yellow irises line the forest trails in summer.
Osprey cruises
As well as watching from land-based hides and observatories, you can also take to the water on dedicated osprey cruises. These trips allow you to get really close-up views of the birds’ nests and watch them diving for fish from the unique perspective of the water.
Top locations for osprey cruises in Scotland include:
- Loch Garten – 1 hour wildlife cruises with RSPB guides depart daily during peak season.
- Loch Leven – Hour-long osprey boat trips are available on the RSPB Loch Leven reserve.
- Loch Lomond – Several operators offer osprey and nature cruises on Scotland’s largest loch.
- The Firth of Forth – Forth Boat Tours run osprey-watching trips around the estuary.
Accommodation
As well as day trips, consider staying overnight or longer near one of the top osprey watching hotspots. This gives you the chance to spend more time observing the birds during the early mornings and late evenings when they are at their most active.
Handy bases for overnight stays include:
- Aviemore – For the Loch Garten Osprey Centre.
- Dunkeld – Close to Loch of the Lowes reserve.
- Aberfoyle – Near the osprey camera at Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.
- Kinross – Just 10 minutes’ drive from Loch Leven RSPB.
From cosy B&Bs to hotels and self-catering lodges, there are places to stay suiting all budgets around the prime osprey watching spots.
Combine with other Scottish wildlife experiences
Many visitors combine their osprey viewing with some of Scotland’s other amazing wildlife encounters. Here are some suggestions:
- Take an evening badger watching hide tour – popular around Aviemore.
- Go whale watching to hopefully spot minke whales, dolphins and porpoises off the coast.
- See Scottish wildcats at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie.
- Spot bottlenose dolphins from boat trips out of Aberdeen, Inverness or the Moray Firth.
- Visit the beaver wetlands near Dunkeld to observe these reintroduced mammals.
Guided osprey walking tours
Joining a guided osprey walk is a great way to learn all about these majestic birds from expert local rangers. As well as showing you the best vantage points, they can provide insight into osprey behaviour and biology.
Guided walks are available at reserves including:
- Loch Garten Osprey Centre – Regular guided walks April to August.
- Loch of the Lowes – Year-round guided walks plus special osprey walks from April to July.
- Loch Leven RSPB Reserve – Daily dawn strolls and wildlife walks with expert guides.
Take part in volunteer osprey conservation
You can also actively contribute to osprey conservation by getting involved in monitoring schemes run by wildlife organisations. For example:
- Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Osprey Protection Programme at Loch of the Lowes allows volunteers to observe and record data on the nesting ospreys.
- RSPB Phoenix Osprey Project at Glaslyn in North Wales welcomes volunteers to help safeguard ospreys in the area.
No experience is necessary and you’ll be trained in survey techniques. It’s a rewarding way to play an active role in ensuring the future of these special birds.
Conclusion
Watching ospreys fishing, interacting and rearing their chicks in the wild is a uniquely thrilling experience. Scotland has numerous excellent spots where you can reliably observe these majestic birds each spring and summer.
The live nest cameras, observatory hides and knowledgeable reserve staff make it possible to get amazingly close views. A guided boat trip or walk allows you to learn all about the ospreys’ habits and remarkable migratory journeys.
Seeing the parent ospreys bring fish back to their offspring and watching the juvenile birds take their first flights is a memorable sight. With plenty of other Scottish wildlife to look out for too, a visit to one of Scotland’s osprey viewpoints makes for an unforgettable day out.
