When do ospreys leave Virginia?

Most Ospreys have left Virginia by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.

When is the best time to see ospreys in Virginia?

The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 21% of Virginia checklists.

Osprey · Pandion haliaetus

When Do Ospreys Arrive in Virginia?

Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Ospreys reach Virginia in late February, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of August (21% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 22-28late February

Common byMar 8-14the second week of March

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals late February; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 21% of Virginia checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febrare
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novrare
Decnot usually seen

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Ospreys in Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Osprey	Feb 22-28	Mar 8-14	Aug 8-14	Oct 1-7	21%

Osprey

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Virginia that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Virginia

Best counties for Osprey

Share of checklists at the peak

Hopewell CountyBest mid July · 50 checklists that week, 3,116 in all96%
Surry CountyBest the second week of August · 46 checklists that week, 2,669 in all83%
Westmoreland CountyBest the second week of August · 64 checklists that week, 4,451 in all69%
Poquoson CountyBest mid August · 26 checklists that week, 2,669 in all69%
Mathews CountyBest late August · 120 checklists that week, 3,594 in all68%
Middlesex CountyBest early July · 60 checklists that week, 3,855 in all66%

Common questions

When do ospreys arrive in Virginia?: Ospreys reach Virginia in late February, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of August (21% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do ospreys leave Virginia?: Most Ospreys have left Virginia by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.
When is the best time to see ospreys in Virginia?: The Osprey is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 21% of Virginia checklists.