Close watch on osprey's egg feat

The osprey developments are subject to close scrutiny

A female osprey has become the first in Scotland in a quarter of a century to lay a second clutch of three eggs.

EJ had mated with a rogue male called VS rather than her usual partner Henry at RSPB Scotland's Loch Garten Centre on Speyside.

Henry smashed his rival's clutch but has now fathered a fresh clutch with EJ, staff said.

Site manager Richard Thaxton said the female laid her third some time last Wednesday or Thursday.

The twists during this year's breeding season at the Highland reserve have drawn dozens of visitors but Mr Thaxton said it was too early to say how numbers compare to last year.

He said: "For an osprey to re-lay a clutch of three eggs is very, very rare.

Like all birds of prey, osprey start incubating from egg one and the eggs hatch in sequence Richard Thaxton, Site manager

"As far as we know the last time this happened was 25 years ago."

The first egg is expected to hatch on 15 June with the other two on 18 and 21 June.

Provided there is plenty of food, all three chicks have a good chance of surviving, said Mr Thaxton.

'Some competition'

He said: "Like all birds of prey, osprey start incubating from egg one and the eggs hatch in sequence.

"The first chick will be bigger and stronger than the second and third and there will always be some competition in the nest."

Osprey from West Africa have been flying to Loch Garten for 50 years.

This year, the saga of jealousy and violence began when EJ returned before Henry and mated with VS.

When Henry arrived he knew the eggs in the nest were not his and got rid of them by knocking them out of the nest.