Ospreys

Did you know that there is an osprey wintering in Urdaibai? Well there certainly is! Since the end of October we have been enjoying the company of an osprey which visits the lagoon in front of the Urdaibai Bird Center.
You might be surprised to discover that ospreys can be seen so far north in winter. It´s true that the vast majority of these birds spend the colder months south of the Sahara. Their most common wintering grounds are in countries on the coast of south-west Africa - from Senegal to Equatorial Guinea. This is the case of the birds from the Urdaibai Osprey Recovery Project. However, as the European populations of osprey increase, some choose to spend the winter in the more southern regions of our continent.

For the last three years we have been able to enjoy the presence of a wintering osprey. We believe the osprey is the same individual as it follows a very strict routine and always roosts in the same tree in the Gautegiz Arteaga marshes.
What is more, you too can observe the osprey from your home via our live camera.

Live cam images of our osprey taken by one of its ardent fans (Maite Txikixa)

If you want to see the osprey in the evening, it usually comes to roost from 5.30 pm to 6.10 pm. Our camera is carefully positioned to get the best view of the osprey and any cormorant with whom it shares its favourite tree. During the day, the osprey can sometimes be seen making spectacular dives and pulling fish from the waters of the marsh.

Live cam images of osprey arriving at roost

Click our live cam!! It's an incredible show! Don´t miss it!