At 10:18am on Sunday the 11th April, NC0 laid her first egg of the season! This is particularly exciting as this is the first egg NC0 has laid on our nest at Loch of the Lowes.

We were all delighted that NC0 laid her first egg after the strong winds had passed, 17 days following our ospreys’ first successful mating. The eggs are off-white to pinkish or buff in colour, and are highlighted with mottled dark brown or reddish splotches, that vary in their size and distribution. Some eggs have a uniform mottled appearance while some can have more of this reddish-brown colouration at one end. To us, they may appear quite obvious in the nest, however when looking from above, they are incredibly well camouflaged.

Eggs are usually laid 1-3 days apart, but can sometimes be laid as far as 6 days apart. In their first-year ospreys often lay just one or two eggs, building up over their first three years up to the average number of 3 eggs in total. These are usually laid within the space of 10 days.

The female is responsible for the majority of the egg incubation, but will leave the nest to eat when the male brings over a fish. LM12 is very good at carrying out his incubation duties and will remain on the nest until NC0 returns.

Amy
Visitor Centre Assistant

The Trust’s Osprey Protection Programme at Loch of the Lowes is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery