Osprey is back again
Early morning return from Africa
Female osprey LF15 has returned to the Loch of the Lowes The first osprey has officially touched down in Perthshire.
Returning female osprey LF15 flew back to her nest at the Loch of the Lowes nature reserve near Dunkeld on Tuesday, March 20, at around 7.30am in the morning.
This is the fourth year in a row the female osprey has made the long winter migration to West Africa before returning to spend the summer months at the idyllic Perthshire loch.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust now says the staff and the host of volunteers at the nature reserve are eagerly awaiting to see if her longterm male mate LM12 will also return to the Loch of the Lowes.
Rachael Hunter, Perthshire ranger with the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “LF15 isn’t ringed but she is easily identified by the tell-tale ‘Y’ of dark feathers around her face.
“She’s only been back at the reserve for a few hours but she seems very much at home.
“We’re now waiting to see if she will be re-joined by LM12 for another season.”
She added: “The best way to keep up to date with our ospreys is to visit Loch of the Lowes wildlife reserve and visitor centre or tune into the trust’s live osprey webcam.”
Since the osprey pair began breeding back in 2015, they have successfully fledged eight chicks.
Last year, LM12 arrived first on March 16 2017, the earliest an osprey has landed at the Dunkeld loch for a number of years. After being joined by LF15, the pair laid three eggs, with two successfully hatching.
It is hoped last year’s success will now be repeated this year.
The Loch of the Lowes nature reserve is supported by funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Ospreys were extinct in the UK for most of the 20th century, however through funding their numbers began to recover in the 1960s.
Sanjay Singh, senior programmes manager at the People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “It’s great to see LF15 back on her nest and we’re hopeful of another successful season for these iconic birds.
“Our players will be delighted that their support helps people to discover more about the lives of osprey.”
The Loch of the Lowes visitor centre is open daily throughout the summer osprey season from 10am until 5pm each day, with 24 hour access to the reserve hides available to ensure a round-the-clock surveillance of the ospreys.
The live webcam stream of the osprey nest can be viewed online via www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ reserve/loch-of-the-lowes/