Happy news as Britain's oldest osprey, Lady of the Loch returns to her nest for 24th year in a row

Apr 01, 2014 10:19

By Carla Callaghan

THE veteran bird was given a warm welcome by Scottish Wildlife Trust staff on Monday as she flew into her usual nesting place at Loch of the Lowes.

THE oldest osprey in Britain yesterday returned to her nest from her winter away – and immediately won back her mate from a younger love rival.

Lady, who is believed to be 28, has nested at Loch of the Lowes near Dunkeld, Perthshire, for 24 years in a row and has reared a record 50 chicks.

Click here to watch the Loch of the Lowes webcam

The veteran’s return after a 3000-mile migration from west Africa has delighted Scottish Wildlife Trust staff.

Perthshire Ranger, Emma Rawling, said: “Everyone at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre is thrilled that our resident osprey has returned.

“She is a very old bird and for her to undertake another successful migration is testament to just how special she is. However, it does demonstrate the conservation success story of the species as a whole.

Continued

Extraordinary 'Lady' osprey lays 2 more eggs, 65th and 66th of her lifetime

Lady lays yet more eggs 

April 2013. The record breaking osprey, known as ‘Lady', at the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve in Perthshire has laid two more eggs, the 65th and 66th of her lifetime.

The osprey, affectionately known by many as ‘Lady', has been returning to Loch of the Lowes, near Dunkeld in Perthshire, for an incredible 23 years. The female osprey and her mate are now incubating the eggs, which will take five to six weeks. Last year, one of three eggs hatched and the chick was satellite tagged by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. 

The whole laying process was seen live on the nest camera, which is available to view online. 

Scottish Wildlife Trust Perthshire Ranger Emma Rawling said: "The first egg was laid on 18 April amid very high winds and with an intruder osprey in the vicinity. The second arrived just after 1 am on 21 April but it wasn't until first light we got a good view of it as she rolled it delicately with her beak in the nest. 

Third egg possible?

"We are over the moon as this effectively doubles our chances of having chicks hatch this year at this famous nest. We are also hoping our bird might equal her historic average of three eggs, as she is stilling mating with the male. If this happens, the last egg would be laid sometime over the next day or two. Our 24 hour nest protection now becomes even more important. We will be monitoring the nest for as long as the ospreys are here and we hope we'll see the eggs hatch in a few weeks' time. 

"We're still learning so much about osprey behaviour. Having the camera in the nest and so many enthusiastic visitors and viewers around Loch of the Lowes at the moment makes this time of year incredibly exciting." 

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/osprey-lady-eggs.html

Remarkable Osprey, 'Lady', returns to Scotland for 23rd year - Ospreys update

'Oldest breeding osprey' Lady returns to Loch of the Lowes

Lady has returned to the Dunkeld reserve for 22 consecutive years

An osprey which is thought to be the UK's oldest breeding female has returned to a Scottish nature reserve for the 23rd year.

Lady arrived at Loch of the Lowes in Dunkeld on Saturday from her winter home in West Africa.

She is believed to be about 27 years old and has laid more than 60 eggs in her lifetime.

In previous years, thousands of people have watched her progress on the reserve's webcam.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-21993446