All three osprey chicks have now hatched at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve in Perthshire.

The third chick emerged at around 6pm on Saturday 22 May, following its older siblings which hatched on 18 and 20 May.

All three chicks received a hearty breakfast of fish from their parents at around 7am this morning.

The Trust’s Perthshire Ranger Sara Rasmussen said: “We were thrilled to see the chick burst out of its shell. There was relatively little notice this one was on the way because part of another eggshell had found its way on to the remaining egg, fitting it like a cap and potentially hiding early signs of hatching.

“Ospreys gain 70% of their body weight in the first month of their lives and we can see the youngsters developing almost daily. It’s amazing to think that in around 12-13 weeks these tiny chicks will be young birds capable of migrating all the way to Africa.

“Even though all of the chicks have hatched, the nest is still vulnerable to disturbance. Our staff and volunteers, with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, will continue to keep watch over these amazing birds of prey to ensure they are safe and secure.”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “It’s great to learn that all three eggs have now hatched at Loch of the Lowes. I’m delighted that, thanks to the support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the ospreys at the reserves are enjoying another successful breeding season. We’ll be watching the webcam closely as these young birds develop.”

This is LM12 and NC0’s second season as a breeding pair. In 2020 they successfully fledged one chick.

Our live osprey webcam ensures people from around the world can follow events as they happen.

Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre & Wildlife Reserve is open to the public from 10:30am – 5pm, Thursday – Monday. Advance booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

The Trust’s Osprey Protection Programme is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.