Celebrations as Lady the osprey lays 70th egg

Scotland’s best-loved osprey has helped celebrate the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s 50th anniversary by laying her 70th egg.

The raptor, known affectionately as Lady, has been migrating to the Loch of the Lowes reserve in Dunkeld, Perthshire for 24 years and could be the UK’s oldest breeding osprey at 28.

She laid her 70th egg in the early hours of yesterday morning, just a fewdays after she laid her 69th on Sunday.

Staff and volunteers at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s (SWT) Loch of the Lowes visitor centre areconvinced that Lady wanted to do something special to commemorate the organisation’s anniversary.

Perthshire ranger for SWT Emma Rawling said: “It is unbelievable that our famous osprey at Loch of theLoweshaslaidaneggto coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

“It is almost like she knew it was a special day and wanted to mark the occasion.

“Osprey conservation wouldn’t be possible without the support of funders and dedicated volunteers who give their valuable time to Scottish Wildlife Trust.

“It has given us the ability to ensure the best habitat for the wildlife on our reserves, so the trust must also thank everyone who have made the past 50 years so successful.”

On average, osprey incubation lasts between37and 39 days, so the earliest hatching of Lady’s eggs would be on May 20.

Lady fledged her 50th chick last year but the youngster – Blue YZ – died after travelling to Guinea Bissau, West Africa,

Lady's mate, known as Laddie, is much younger and is her fourth breeding partner in 22 years.

The SWT was established on April 16, 1964, and it manages more than 120 reserves across Scotland.