Jonathan Pinnick, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Visitor Centre Assistant, said:  “We are pleased to confirm that at around 12.10 pm today (Monday 28 March) an unidentified osprey paid a visit to the osprey nest at Loch of the Lowes. 

“The bird’s visit was brief, landing on the nest for only a few minutes before it flew off again.  As a result, we are unfortunately unable to make a positive identification of this bird.  However we are hopeful that it could have been our resident female osprey, known by many as ‘Lady’, because the bird did not appear to have a leg ring. 

“As always, we will be watching over the nest and we hope to make a positive identification of any bird which arrives and then proceeds to take ownership of the nest, occupying it for a prolonged period of time.” 

‘Lady’ is thought to be the oldest known breeding osprey in the UK, estimated to be 26 years old if she returns this year.  So far this bird has laid 57 eggs in its lifetime, with 48 chicks going on to hatch and successfully fledge the nest.  If this bird is back on the nest at Loch of the Lowes this year, it will mark its 21st consecutive breeding year.       

^{For more information, please contact Scottish Wildlife Trust’s PR and Communications Manager at nmcgovern@swt.org.uk or on 0131 312 4742.}