Balgavies buzzing as feathered friends fly in to spend summer

Returning raptors have signalled the start of spring for birdwatching enthusiasts at an Angus reserve.

Just a couple of days after the clocks went forward, Balgavies Loch near Letham welcomed two ospreys in quick succession following their migration of thousands of miles from their wintering grounds in Africa.

Enthusiasts across Scotland eagerly anticipate the annual return of the fish-hunting birds and all eyes are now on the Angus duo to ascertain if they are the resident pair, who have raised no fewer than seven chicks in the past two years.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve was the setting for the hatching of the first recorded Angus osprey chick in 2012 and since then its reputation as a hotspot for breeding success has grown.

However, the natural protection afforded by the elevated island nest meant only that first young bird was tagged in a difficult and lengthy operation, making it tricky for regulars to identify returning ospreys if they do not have a ring.

In previous years, the male bird has been forced to repel the attentions of interlopers attempting to take a place on the Angus nest before the pair settle down to start a new family. The ospreys have also had to eject squatters, including geese and crows.

The compact nature of Balgavies has made it a mecca for visitors to the small hide, including photographers looking to capture a shot of the male returning with fish from the lochs of Angus and Montrose basin.

Perthshire’s Loch of the Lowes has also been gripped by osprey fever after its resident female, Lassie, returned to the nest near Dunkeld.