The mate of Loch of the Lowes osprey Laddie has reunited with her partner at the Perthshire site.
Lassie, or LF15 as she is officially known, touched down at 1.30pm today and quickly began rearranging the nest.
Laddie arrived on the nest at 2.30pm and the pair made their first attempts at mating shortly after.
Charlotte Fleming, Perthshire Ranger for the Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “We knew it was LF15 as soon as she arrived. She has unmistakable features including a prominent dark brown ‘Y’ on the top of her head and quickly set to work rearranging her nest to her satisfaction.
“LM15 was joined by her mate within an hour. While it was a frosty reception with lots of shouting and mantling at first it only took a matter of minutes for them to begin to mate.
“Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, our Osprey protection team is watching the nest round the clock, and members of the public can follow the exciting progress of our ospreys by visiting Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre or by watching our live osprey webcam.”
Clara Govier, head of charities at the People’s Postcode Lottery said: “It’s great news that the resident ospreys at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve have both arrived for their third season.
“While ospreys are a major conservation success story they are still rarer than golden eagles, and our players will be pleased that with their support Scottish Wildlife Trust is continuing to play a part in the recovery of the species.”
2017 is the ospreys’ third season as a breeding pair. The Trust is hopeful that the birds can repeat their successful fledging of three chicks in both 2015 and 2016.
Laddie arrived at the reserve at 3pm on Friday March 17 and over the last week he has been busy fending off crows and creating a deep cup on the nest to hold this season’s eggs.
Ospreys were extinct in the UK in the early 20th Century but there are now around 240 breeding pairs thanks to the efforts of conservation charities including the Scottish Wildlife Trust, whose Osprey Protection Programme is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
