First ospreys land at Lakes nest

The first ospreys of the season are caught on webcam

The first ospreys of the season have been spotted at a Cumbrian lake almost one year to the day since they arrived at the site last year.

A pair of ospreys set up home at Bassenthwaite Lake in 2001 and have returned each spring.

Birdwatchers are now waiting to see if the pair are among the new arrivals spotted at the lake this week.

Thousands of people worldwide have monitored the ospreys' progress via a webcam installed near the nest.

'Tense time'

The Bassenthwaite female osprey arrived at the site in Wythop Wood on 4 April last year, and took up with a strange younger male.

However, her partner flew in from a winter in Africa days later and the pair hatched two chicks.

David Hirst, from the RSPB in the North of England, said: "This week, we started seeing some birds around the Bassenthwaite area with loads of birds coming through.

"Some are heading up into Scotland, but we hope our birds come back and decide to settle here for another season.

"Webcams caught some pictures on Tuesday and we are waiting for confirmation to see if they are our birds so it is a slightly tense time today and tomorrow."

Visitors who travel to see the ospreys contribute around £2m to the Cumbrian economy each year.