Osprey fans are preparing to bid a tearful farewell to their feathered friend.
After returning to Loch of the Lowes for an impressive 23rd year and raising her 50th chick, the elderly raptor known affectionately as Lady is now preparing to spread her wings and return to Africa.
Staff and rangers at the Dunkeld reserve say the 28-year-old bird could leave any day now, as she started her migration on August 3 last year.
Fortunately for visitors, the wind was blowing the wrong way over the weekend and has kept Lady, who is thought to be the UK’s oldest breeding osprey, in Perthshire for the time being.
Scottish Wildlife Trust ranger Emma Rawling said: “We have been asked by lots of people when the female osprey will leave and the truth is, we can’t be sure as only she knows when the time is right.
“Last year she left on August 3, so it may be very soon, though with a southerly wind blowing she has stayed a bit longer as this was unfavourable for her journey.
“It is entirely normal for the female osprey to leave first and alone. There is some good news for those still to catch a glimpse of the famous family, Lady’s mate and chick will remain on the nest for a few more weeks.
The male will keep feeding the chick, named Blue YZ, until she learns how to survive alone in the wild and catch her own fish.
Ms Rawling revealed the young osprey is very confident in the air and has already shown her fearless side.
She added: “There was a funny incident where the male brought in a pike and the youngster was eating it. The female wanted some, but the chick wasn’t letting her.
“Being our female, she wasn’t having that so firstly she started putting moss on Blue YZ’s back and when that didn’t work, she took a stick in her beak and levered the chick up to get her to drop it.
“Amazingly that didn’t work either, so she is definitely her mother’s daughter.”
Blue YZ has been fitted with a satellite tag and her movements can be viewed online. To follow the chicks’ progress, go online to www.scottishwildlifetrust.