Egg watch at osprey nesting site

Ospreys have nested at Bassenthwaite since 2001

Cumbria's famous ospreys are thought to be caring for up to three eggs at a new nesting site in the Lake District.

Experts say the female osprey is now spending most of her time on the nest at Bassenthwaite Lake - behaviour that suggests she is incubating eggs.

This year's arrivals are the male who has nested at the site since 2001, and the female he paired up with last year.

It is thought the first egg was laid around 26 April, just a few days after the birds moved to the new site.

Peter Barron, of the Lake District Osprey Project, said: "We're delighted that the ospreys have settled into their new nest so quickly.

Surveillance operation

"We're now hoping that the eggs hatch successfully."

Incubation is carried out mainly by the female and can take up to 40 days.

Volunteers have mounted a 24-hour surveillance operation from secret locations near the nest.

Mr Barron added: "The move to the new nest has given a fresh twist to the osprey story and hundreds of people have already turned up to see the birds.

"The new viewpoint is only 400m away from the nest, which means you get really good views of the birds as they fly in and out."

Since ospreys first nested in 2001, more than 500,000 visitors have watched the birds nesting and rearing young from the viewpoints provided by the project, which is a partnership between the Forestry Commission, the RSPB and the Lake District National Park Authority.