Ospreys over Badwell Ash!

Posted 01/09/2026 : By: Will & Sarah Draper

What a thrill that was! 

Last week our guests reported seeing Ospreys in the skies above Badwell Ash Holiday Lodges. We were understandably a little sceptical, given that we haven’t see them in over six years since we arrived here, and ospreys are an incredibly rare sight in the UK. What’s more, we have plenty of birds of prey here - buzzards, red kites, sparrowhawks, kestrels, owls, herons, egrets, and even seagulls - so we thought our lovely guests had perhaps just got a little mixed up.

How wrong we were! The next day, we saw them, a pair, swooping and displaying in the skies right above our lakes, unmistakably ospreys. They are very distinct - in colouration, wing shape, flight, size, and call. In particular the call is very different to that of buzzards and kites: have a listen to them on the Merlin Bird ID app.

After seeing the ospreys we started to do some research. It turns out that ospreys migrate southwards in late August/September, leaving their breeding grounds in Scotland, northern England and Wales, and heading for the west coast of Africa - Gambia and Senegal - where they overwinter. In late March/April they head back to nest, a round-trip of 8000 miles! The trip takes up to 4 weeks as they stop off at feeding grounds to re-fuel for a couple of days at a time. They are regularly seen in Suffolk as they pass through; there have been sightings this year at Lackford lakes, Lakenheath fen, RSPB Minsmere, Orford Ness, and Alton Water. And now we can add Badwell Ash to that distinguished list! 
 
We are not going to guarantee that you will see ospreys during your stay, but we but we do have a tremendous variety of birdlife year-round for you to watch. So do come and take advantage of the binos and birdbook that we provide in each lodge - and get twitching!

PS with our apologies to our guests for ever doubting them!