The third and final osprey chick of 2019 at Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve in Perthshire has emerged from its egg.

Staff and webcam watchers from around the world got their first look at the chick at 5:12 this morning, around 20 hours after signs that the egg was hatching were seen.

This chick is the thirteenth for female osprey LF15 and her mate LM12. The pair have now successfully hatched three chicks in three of the five seasons that they have spent together at the reserve.

Sara Rasmussen, Perthshire Ranger, Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, our team has been keeping watch on the nest around the clock since the end of March.

“We had hoped to see this chick hatch yesterday, which marked 50 years to the day since Loch of the Lowes became a reserve, but nature always has other plans!

“It’s an absolute delight to see all three chicks hatch successfully. We’re now looking forward to seeing them develop over the summer.”

Sanjay Singh, Senior Programmes Manager, People’s Postcode Lottery said: “Our players will be thrilled to hear the ospreys at Loch of the Lowes are having such a successful anniversary year.

“Our players’ support helps the Scottish Wildlife Trust to do a fantastic job of securing the nest at Loch of the Lowes from disturbance by people, and inspiring the public to value these amazing birds of prey.”

Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre is open daily from 10:30am – 5pm with 24-hour access to the reserve hides. The Trust’s live osprey webcam ensures people from around the world can follow events as they happen.

Ospreys were extinct in Britain for much of the 20th century. They began to recover in the 1960s and today around 250 pairs 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 players of People’s Postcode Lottery.