The 2026 Osprey Season has officially started, with the first osprey landing at the Manton Bay nest at Rutland Water.

Starting in 1996 and celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, the Rutland Osprey Project has fledged over 300 young Osprey, creating a new self-sustained population that went on to breed at other sites across England and Wales.

The birds are referred to by their ring number, such as 03(97), to stop anthropomorphism (giving an animal human traits and personality), with just one bird making an exception to this rule with Maya, the breeding female at the Manton Bay Nest.

At 12.29 on Sunday 15 March, the first osprey of 2026 landed on the Manton Bay nest, being caught on the live nest cam.

Osprey 25(10) is not one of the resident Manton Bay Osprey, however she has previously landed on the nest before others have arrived.

Throughout the breeding season, a dedicated team of volunteers from Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust will be working hard to provide invaluable support protecting the birds, as well as enabling visitors to enjoy in-person sightings, boat tours and education about the Ospreys.

The Manton Bay nest can be monitored with the Manton Bay Live Cam.