Well-kent face makes safe return to Loch of the Lowes.

‘Laddie’ lands at Loch of the Lowes near Dunkeld

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has confirmed that male osprey LM12 has arrived back at Loch of the Lowes nature reserve near Dunkeld.

The osprey touched down on the nest at 3.33pm on Saturday, clutching a fish in its talons.

LM12 spent just a few seconds on the nest before leaving, closely pursued by two crows.

One of the birds arrived at the lochside nest shortly after LM12’s arrival and began pecking at the osprey’s tail feathers.

However, rangers at the Perthshire nature reserve spotted LM12 back on the twig and grass nest again yesterday morning.

Now, Trust staff are waiting to see if he will be joined by his long-term mate LF15 for a sixth season.

LM12 and LF15, known more colloquially as Laddie and Lassie, began breeding in 2015 have successfully fledged 12 chicks at the reserve over the last five years.

Sara Rasmussen, Perthshire ranger for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “LM12’s arrival on the nest marks the start of another exciting season for the ospreys at Loch of the Lowes.

“He’s wasted no time in beginning to get the nest ready for breeding, and we can’t wait to see if LF15 will return in the next few days.

“Unfortunately there is no access to Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre or our hides at this time, but encourage people can keep up to date by following us on social media and by tuning in to our live webcam.”

Ospreys were extinct in Britain for much of the 20th Century. They began to recover in the 1960s, and now an estimated 300 pairs of ospreys breed in the UK each summer.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s live osprey webcam ensures people from around the world can follow events as they happen.

Scotland’s leading nature conservation charity has been able to continue its work protecting ospreys through the help of commercial sponsorship from the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Meanwhile, gamekeepers in the Angus Glens have assisted raptor watchers in erecting a secure nest they hope will lead to breeding success for an unfortunate pair of rare ospreys.

“He’s wasted no time in beginning to get the nest ready. SARA RASMUSSEN, RANGER

Rangers spotted the male osprey at the Perthshire nature reserve.