The Scottish Wildlife Trust is pleased to announce that the resident female osprey at the Loch of the Lowes laid an egg in the early hours of Sunday morning (13 April).

This is the 69th egg laid by the bird, affectionately known by many as ‘Lady’, who has now successfully fledged 50 chicks in her time at the Trust’s reserve.

The laying of eggs is usually separated by a couple of days, so more could still arrive. Staff and volunteers at the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre now have a tense wait to see if the number of eggs laid by the potentially record-breaking osprey increases. On average, osprey incubation lasts between 37 and 39 days, so the earliest hatching would be on 20 May.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust Perthshire Ranger, Emma Rawling, said: “Everyone at Loch of the Lowes is overjoyed by this egg.

“It has come just as the Trust is celebrating its 50th Anniversary (on 16 April), so it is almost like she knew that it was a special occasion and wanted to make it extra special! Now there is a tense wait to see if there are any more eggs to be laid this season. This osprey never ceases to amaze, so it is certainly a possibility.”

To keep up-to-date with all the latest from the reserve, visit our Loch of the Lowes blog.