Syfaddan

Syfaddan 2024

For comparison, let’s remind ourselves: Back in 2024 Syfaddan was “last seen” on the nest on 8th September, although it was highly likely that he was the osprey seen from the viewpoint the following morning, and at a distance on camera. This “last seen” business is never as simple as it sounds!

Now fast forward to Thursday, 11th September 2025, the day it is believed 9K5 departed, last seen at 08:59. If Syfaddan was around that day, he did not visit the nest at all. Luckily the cameras can confirm that.  But at 12:30 an osprey was seen flying from the direction of the river to the left of the nest area. It was too far to identify from camera images, but was thought to be carrying a fish. 26 minutes later, osprey vocalisation was heard very briefly. Not food soliciting or disturbance calling, but more akin to contact calls. These were the last osprey observations that day.

Syfaddan delivers one last fish to 9K5 in September 2025

The relief of having full camera viewing restored was short lived however, and in the early hours of Friday 12th the screens froze completely. This time, it could not be resolved. From here on, all information was derived from observation data logged by UVO’s trained Watchers at the Viewpoint.

The Watchers, who had already been out in some foul weather for the past ten days, set out again at 7am on 12th September.  Syfaddan was quickly located on one of his favoured perches under the Ivy Tree at 7:05. He was next observed flying to the river, rising and dropping down out of sight as he hunted. But it wasn’t until 15:00 that he was finally seen feeding on a fish and then preening. He was last observed at 17:49

Syfaddan seen from the viewpoint through the telescope 12th September 2025 © Louise Milne

On Saturday 13th September, Syfaddan was first spotted at 9:17 heading to the ivy tree with a fish, where he stayed for three hours before he moved to another favourite tree, closer to the river, and soon went foraging again. He hovered above the river, then dropped out of sight, returning to the same tree moments later with a very large fish. He fed there for just over half an hour and then continued to just sit, holding the remains of his prey. An hour and half passed before he resumed feeding for a while, before dropping down out of sight, masked by the greenery. The last observation of the day was at 15:06

Syfaddan from the viewpoint 14th September 2025 © Louise Milne

On Sunday 14th September at 08:03 Syfaddan was spotted coming in to land on a tree described as being right over the river.  He then took off to rise and fall in the familiar flight pattern of an osprey hunting. At 8:35 he flew down river and landed in front of the valley oak with a large fish, and started to feed. 

At 10:15 Syfaddan became suddenly alert and appeared to be watching something intently. He flew down river, landing on a perch low in the ivy tree. Simultaneously, another Watcher observed a second osprey, which flew low and directly up river, showing no intention of stopping. It was described as looking quite dark, but it was too far to see the underwing markings clearly or confirm whether it had rings.  Syfaddan did not give chase, remaining below the ivy tree with his fish, feeding periodically as the rain increased and visibility deteriorated.   With a yellow weather warning in place for strong winds and heavy rain, the Watchers departed from the viewpoint after one last look at Syfaddan and one last observation noted:  “Stopped feeding. Stationary in the pouring rain.”  

At this point in the season it’s hard to keep track of a breeding male osprey, who has no reason to visit his nest and no family members calling for fish to give his location away. Once September arrives, he could be well concealed among the semi-autumnal hues of his surroundings - or he could simply have gone.  

Despite searching for Syfaddan during the days that followed, there were no further confirmed sightings of him.

Syfaddan last seen 18:51, 10/9/2025 on Camera 

and 13:15, 14/9/2025 from the Viewpoint 

Syfaddan is the backbone of this osprey family. He built a substantial nest and defended it from intruders and potential predators. He provided the vast majority of the fish that sustained the family all season. But perhaps most importantly, and often touchingly, he learned how to be a good father; working out how to incubate eggs and how to feed a tiny chick with minuscule morsels of fish. These were new skills he was eager to master, and he did, whilst we mere observers were privileged to witness the tenderness and intimacy of these moments on camera. 

Syfaddan mastered feeding his chick - June 2025

Once Clogwyn had left, Syfaddan continued providing for 9K5 until the youngster too felt the urge to fly south. Syfaddan stayed behind longer than expected, perhaps suppressing the urge to migrate well after his own last sighting of 9K5, to ensure that his firstborn really had gone, and to fulfil his role as a diligent and dutiful father.

UVO hope that the wind and weather will be favourable for Syfaddan on his long journey south, and look forward to his safe return to the Usk Valley in 2026. 

UVO FOOTNOTE

The UVO Trustees, Committee and Watchers hope that all readers have enjoyed learning about Clogwyn and Syfaddan in their first successful breeding season. We have been privileged through the excellent services provided by our partners to have viewed these events at close hand. It is no mean feat to bring uninterrupted quality livestream for over 5 months from a remote rural area with incomplete internet and service provision – another two weeks would have placed the cherry on the top. We can strive to do better again in 2026. We are confident the birds will do their part too.

Judging by the feedback we have received these weekly News blogs have been well received and appreciated. We thank the various authors for reviewing the detail provided by UVO nest watchers and imparting their knowledge and experience to us mere mortals in a captivating style.  We have learnt already what amazing creatures ospreys really are.

Thankyou/Diolch yn fawr…..

Syfaddan and his family in the sunshine. Clogwyn (centre) 9K5 (right)  July 2025