Loch of the Lowes Ospreys

Took advantage of a break in the weather to visit the Loch of the Lowes Ospreys.

In the photo you have Mum (Lady) and her latest two chicks, Dad's off hunting (and chose to return to the nest five minutes after we left the hide).

Lady is the UK's oldest known breeding female osprey and has been returning to Scotland for 20 consecutive years via a 3,000 mile migration from West Africa. She's estimated to be 25 years old, three times the average lifespan of an osprey, laid 58 eggs, 46 of which hatched into chicks that left the nest and chicks 47 & 48 are looking good to follow them.

This year she's got a new mate a 10-year-old male, her previous mate did not return this year. Three weeks ago things weren't looking too good for her as she stopped feeding and became very weak. It was assumed that she would not survive - fortunately the experts got it wrong and she rallied - truly a game old bird.