Breeding ospreys lay egg for the first time this year
A pair of breeding ospreys have laid an egg at a wildlife reserve for the first time this year after a competitive mating process.
Ospreys were driven to extinction in Britain in the early 20th century, however they naturally recolonised Scotland in the 1950s and their numbers have grown steadily since – and latest estimates suggest there are around 300 breeding pairs across the UK.
Most of these birds migrate to West Africa, but some overwinter in Spain and Portugal.
Conservationists at the Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve in Perth and Kinross discovered that an egg had been laid on Sunday by a new breeding pair.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust manages the reserve and said that at least seven different ospreys have been contending for the popular nesting site.
A male and female, now officially known as LM24 and LF25 respectively, have fought off their competitors.
Male LM24 had appeared to show an initial interest with another female, the first bird to arrive this year, known as NC0, who landed on the nest on March 17 and had previously fledged seven chicks in half a decade, with former partner LM12 who died last year. Scottish Wildlife Trust Ospreys LM24 and LF25 sitting side by side
Following his death, NC0 seemed to pair up with LM24 towards the end of the season, but appears to have lost her hold on the territory before he returned this year, according to the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
She departed the nest in early April and has not been seen on the reserve since, however LM24, who was known as the Dark Intruder until he successfully returned this season, arrived the following day and was subject to attention from several females.
After spending a week with an unringed bird, he has since settled onto the nest with LF25, who was previously known as the Dark Female.
Hours before the laying process began, another female intruded into the nest, and after the breeding pair were left alone, LM24 attempted to mate with LF25 despite the laying process, with the egg expected to hatch in five or six weeks.
Sara Rasmussen, Perthshire ranger for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: 'We never knew what to expect this year, however we suspected there could be a battle for the territory after the tragic loss of LM12 in 2024, and that's exactly what has happened.
'We've seen courtship and breeding attempts between different combinations of birds, but with this exciting development, it seems that LM24 and LF25 are holding the territory.
'We understand there will be some disappointment at NC0 being unseated as the dominant female, but she is still in her prime and has every chance of finding a partner in another territory. For now, we've just got our fingers crossed that the new pair at Loch of the Lowes go on to hatch eggs and successfully raise their chicks.
'As exciting as it is to have an egg, we shouldn't count our chickens – or ospreys – before they've hatched. This is especially true this year, as new breeding pairs often need a few seasons to work things out and become experienced parents.
'Whatever happens, we can always guarantee drama with the ospreys. With the intruding female still in the area and the possibility of more eggs to come, there could still be plenty of twists and turns in the story.'
Last year, NC0 laid three eggs, but they were destroyed by another male bird around three weeks into the incubation process.
The Trust's Wildlife Protection Team will carefully watch over the nest in the coming weeks to give the ospreys the best chance of success.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
a day ago
- The National
The rarest and most stunning wild animals to see in Scotland
From the Highlands and Islands to the Scottish Borders, there are plenty of animals out there that will blow you away. If you are interested in learning more about Scotland's wildlife or simply want to know how rare some of our most iconic animals are, look no further. See some of Scotland's rarest and most endangered wild animals The red squirrel is under threat from the invasive grey squirrel (Getty) (Image: Getty) The Red Squirrel According to the wildlife charity Scottish Squirrel, this species, which is native to Scotland and the British Isles, is severely threatened by the invasive grey squirrel. Grey squirrels were introduced from North America in the 19th century and are said to be larger and more robust, allowing them to outcompete the smaller red squirrel for food and resources. Sadly, there are as few as 120,000 red squirrels remaining in Scotland, with many of these animals residing in the conifer forests of Dumfries and Galloway and the Caledonian pine forests of the Highlands. Beavers The Eurasian beaver was reintroduced to Scotland in 2009 (Getty) (Image: Getty) Beavers, which have legal protection in Scotland under the Habitats Regulations Act, were reintroduced to the country in 2009 after being hunted to extinction in the 16th century. The Scottish Wildlife Trust says that the Eurasian beavers are "adept natural engineers, with an incredible ability to create new wetlands, restore native woodland and improve conditions for a wide range of species, including dragonflies, otters and fish." Nature Scotland adds that there are around 424 beaver territories and 1500 beavers across Scotland. Bottlenose Dolphins There are thought to be 224 bottlenose dolphins in Scotland (Getty) (Image: Getty) Spotted on both the east and west coasts of Scotland, the bottlenose dolphin has a relatively small population of around 224 based on estimates from between 2015 and 2019. There are a number of pressures facing these cetaceans, such as the threat from human organic pollutants, recreational activities and collision with sea vessels. Golden Eagles The golden eagle population is once again growing in Scotland (Getty) (Image: Getty) Forestry and Land Scotland says that for a long time, golden eagles have represented a "classic symbol of the wild" in Scotland. Known for the "glorious light golden brown plumage on their head, neck and shoulders," these birds were driven to extinction in England and Wales. While their numbers did suffer in Scotland, their population is once again growing, with these birds being more common in the Highlands. Recommended Reading: Pine Martens Pine Martens primarily live in woodlands (Getty) (Image: Getty) These cat-sized mustelids are part of the weasel family and are recognisable for their dark brown fur and long bodies (which are around 65 to 70cm in length). Existing primarily in woodlands, the population of these animals remains low, with only an estimated 3700 adult pine martens being left in Scotland. This was because of a sustained persecution by gamekeepers in the 19th century, a practice which lasted until relatively recently.
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Daily Record
Perthshire nature reserve osprey Dark Female lays her first egg
Osprey couple have fought off competitors for the Loch of the Lowes nesting spot - for the time being. Perthshire's Loch of the Lowes top osprey pair are now incubating an egg. Male LM24 and female LF25 have fought off competitors for the nesting spot - at least for the time being. The female LF25, also known as Dark Female, laid her first egg just before 2pm on Sunday May 4. The first bird to arrive this year had been the female known as NC0, who landed on the nest on March 17. She previously fledged seven chicks over five years at Loch of the Lowes, all with her former partner LM12, who sadly died of natural causes last year. The Scottish Wildlife Trust, who run the Loch of the Lowes reserve, said this week that at least seven different ospreys had been contending for the popular nesting site this season. And right up until to Sunday's crucial egg laying moments another female intruded upon the nest for several hours. Scottish Wildlife Trust Perthshire ranger Sara Rasmussen said: 'We never knew what to expect this year. 'However, we suspected there could be a battle for the territory after the tragic loss of LM12 in 2024, and that's exactly what has happened. 'We've seen courtship and breeding attempts between different combinations of birds, but with this exciting development, it seems that LM24 and LF25 are holding the territory. 'We understand there will be some disappointment at NC0 being unseated as the dominant female, but she is still in her prime and has every chance of finding a partner in another territory. 'For now, we've just got our fingers crossed that the new pair at Loch of the Lowes go on to hatch eggs and successfully raise their chicks.' Osprey eggs normally take between five and six weeks to hatch. The female incubates around 80% of the time, with the male taking over for brief periods so she can feed. Last year, NC0 laid three eggs, but they were destroyed by another male bird around three weeks into the incubation process. Following LM12's death, NC0 seemed to pair up with LM24 towards the end of the season, but appears to have lost her hold on the territory before he returned this year. She departed the nest in early April and hasn't been seen on the reserve since. LM24, who was known as the Dark Intruder until he successfully returned this season, arrived the following day. Since then, several females have vied for his attention, and after spending a week with an unringed bird, he has since settled onto the nest with LF25, previously known as the Dark Female. The Trust's Wildlife Protection Team will carefully watch over the nest in the coming weeks to give the ospreys the best chance of success. Ms Rasmussen added: 'As exciting as it is to have an egg, we shouldn't count our chickens – or ospreys – before they've hatched. This is especially true this year, as new breeding pairs often need a few seasons to work things out and become experienced parents. 'Whatever happens, we can always guarantee drama with the ospreys. 'With the intruding female still in the area and the possibility of more eggs to come, there could still be plenty of twists and turns in the story.' Ospreys were driven to extinction in Britain in the early 20th century, however they naturally recolonised Scotland in the 1950s and their numbers have grown steadily since. The latest estimates suggest there are around 300 breeding pairs across the UK. Most of these birds migrate to West Africa but some overwinter in Spain and Portugal. The recovery of ospreys is thanks to the efforts of conservation charities including the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The Wildlife Protection Team at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve is supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery, with funds awarded by Postcode Planet Trust. Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre is currently open seven days a week from 10.30am to 5pm.
The Herald Scotland
05-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Breeding ospreys lay egg for the first time this year
A pair of breeding ospreys have laid an egg at a wildlife reserve for the first time this year after a competitive mating process. Ospreys were driven to extinction in Britain in the early 20th century, however they naturally recolonised Scotland in the 1950s and their numbers have grown steadily since – and latest estimates suggest there are around 300 breeding pairs across the UK. Most of these birds migrate to West Africa, but some overwinter in Spain and Portugal. Conservationists at the Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve in Perth and Kinross discovered that an egg had been laid on Sunday by a new breeding pair. The Scottish Wildlife Trust manages the reserve and said that at least seven different ospreys have been contending for the popular nesting site. READ MORE: Popular osprey returns to Perthshire reserve Livestream star Louis the osprey returns to nest after illness Loch Arkaig osprey chicks bound for Spain as dad's catch ... A male and female, now officially known as LM24 and LF25 respectively, have fought off their competitors. Male LM24 had appeared to show an initial interest with another female, the first bird to arrive this year, known as NC0, who landed on the nest on March 17 and had previously fledged seven chicks in half a decade, with former partner LM12 who died last year. Following his death, NC0 seemed to pair up with LM24 towards the end of the season, but appears to have lost her hold on the territory before he returned this year, according to the Scottish Wildlife Trust. She departed the nest in early April and has not been seen on the reserve since, however LM24, who was known as the Dark Intruder until he successfully returned this season, arrived the following day and was subject to attention from several females. After spending a week with an unringed bird, he has since settled onto the nest with LF25, who was previously known as the Dark Female. Hours before the laying process began, another female intruded into the nest, and after the breeding pair were left alone, LM24 attempted to mate with LF25 despite the laying process, with the egg expected to hatch in five or six weeks. Sara Rasmussen, Perthshire ranger for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: 'We never knew what to expect this year, however we suspected there could be a battle for the territory after the tragic loss of LM12 in 2024, and that's exactly what has happened. 'We've seen courtship and breeding attempts between different combinations of birds, but with this exciting development, it seems that LM24 and LF25 are holding the territory. 'We understand there will be some disappointment at NC0 being unseated as the dominant female, but she is still in her prime and has every chance of finding a partner in another territory. For now, we've just got our fingers crossed that the new pair at Loch of the Lowes go on to hatch eggs and successfully raise their chicks. 'As exciting as it is to have an egg, we shouldn't count our chickens – or ospreys – before they've hatched. This is especially true this year, as new breeding pairs often need a few seasons to work things out and become experienced parents. 'Whatever happens, we can always guarantee drama with the ospreys. With the intruding female still in the area and the possibility of more eggs to come, there could still be plenty of twists and turns in the story.' Last year, NC0 laid three eggs, but they were destroyed by another male bird around three weeks into the incubation process. The Trust's Wildlife Protection Team will carefully watch over the nest in the coming weeks to give the ospreys the best chance of success.
