Ospreys to be named by voters

Three osprey chicks with more than a quarter of a million fans are to be named after an online vote.

Rugby legend Doddie Weir, Forces Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn and lockdown hero Captain Sir Tom Moore are in the running to become the chicks’ namesakes.

The young birds – two males and a female – were hatched in a nest at Loch Arkaig Pine Forest in Lochaber, where they can be watched on a livestreaming camera.

Thousands of members of the public suggested names for them and the Woodland Trust is now holding a vote which closes at 8pm today.

The contenders are: Doddie, Vera and Captain; Ally, Bally and Bee; Thor, Freya and Loki, or Hagrid, Boudica and Merlin.

George Anderson of Woodland Trust Scotland said: “We have two males and one female to name. There were lots of suggestions from Celtic and Norse mythology, and we thought the words from Coulter’s Candy could work well too.

“Many wanted to honour individuals who have been on people’s minds during this lockdown summer.”

The nest camera has been running since 2017. The public can vote to name the chicks on the Woodland Trust Scotland website.