Conservationists
say they have not yet given up hope that one of Scotland's best-known ospreys
will return to a nest in the Highlands for a 16th season.
EJ is the
most successful breeding female osprey at Loch Garten, an RSPB Scotland reserve
near Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms.
Ospreys
migrate to Scotland from west Africa to breed.
Until
now, EJ has always returned to Loch Garten by 4 April.
Over
previous seasons, 25 of EJ's chicks have fledged.
The
raptor, which is nearly 22 years old, is not only known for her breeding
success. She has also gained fame for the adversities that she has overcome in
previous seasons.
In 2017,
she refused to leave her clutch of eggs after they were buried under snow.
Another
season saw EJ forced to defend her nest against a rival female.
Reserve
staff monitoring CCTV images watched as EJ's eggs rolled around the nest while
the pair scuffled.
EJ has
also had to defend her nest from crows, buzzards, a white-tailed sea eagle and
a hungry pine marten.
Back in
2007, EJ incubated two separate clutches to rival males but they all perished.
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