The Trust is delighted to confirm that male osprey LM12 has arrived back at Loch of the Lowes reserve near Dunkeld.

LM12 touched down on the nest at 15:33 pm on Saturday 21 March, clutching a fish. He spent just a few seconds on the nest before leaving, closely pursued by two crows. LM12 has been seen on the nest again this morning, and Trust staff are waiting to see if he will be joined by his long-term mate LF15 for a sixth season. LM12 and LF15 in 2015 have successfully fledged 12 chicks at the reserve since 2015.

Sara Rasmussen, our Perthshire Ranger said: “LM12’s arrival on the nest marks the start of another exciting season for the ospreys at Loch of the Lowes. He’s wasted no time in beginning to get the nest ready for breeding, and we can’t wait to see if LF15 will return in the next few days.

“Unfortunately there is no access to Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre or our hides at this time, but encourage people can keep up to date by following us on social media and by tuning in to our live webcam.”

Ospreys were extinct in Britain for much of the 20th century. They began to recover in the 1960s, and now an estimated 300 pairs of ospreys breed in the UK each summer.

This recovery is thanks to the efforts of conservation charities including the Scottish Wildlife Trust, whose Osprey Protection Programme is supported by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Sanjay Singh, Senior Programmes Manager, People’s Postcode Lottery said: “I’m so pleased that funding raised by our players is able to support the work of the Scottish Wildlife Trust in its ongoing work to protect ospreys at Loch of the Lowes. The work is incredibly inspiring and we can’t wait to see what this season has in store!”

The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s live osprey webcam ensures people from around the world can follow events as they happen.