Third chick for Lakeland ospreys

Fish King raised three chicks last year with his previous mate

The Lake District's resident ospreys have hatched triplets for the second year running.

Fish King, the male who has nested at Bassenthwaite Lake since 2001, found a new mate when his long-term female, GreenXS, failed to return from Africa.

The first two chicks hatched during the same night last week, which experts say is unusual as there is normally a gap of at least a day.

The third chick was spotted in the nest on Tuesday.

The male osprey will now be kept very busy providing fish for the three chicks and his mate Graeme Prest, Lake District Osprey Project

There had also been fears that the arrival of a new female osprey very late in the breeding season, might result in no chicks this year.

In previous years, the chicks have hatched out before the end of May.

Graeme Prest of the Lake District Osprey Project said: "We are delighted to be able to confirm that there is a third chick in the Lakes nest. This is fantastic news for everyone involved in the project.

"With the hatch of the chicks there will now be even more action at the osprey nest with lots of feeding, tending and growing to be done.

Giant screen

"The male osprey will now be kept very busy providing fish for the three chicks and his mate. This is an ideal time to come and see the ospreys from one of the viewpoints near Keswick."

Nearly half-a-million people have visited the viewpoints overlooking Bassenthwaite and the giant screen at Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, which displays images from the nest camera.

It is estimated that the ospreys boost the local economy by up to £2m every year.

The project is a partnership between the Forestry Commission and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds with the support of the Lake District National Park Authority.