Egg number 47 for elderly osprey

An SWT webcam will record the progress of the new eggs

An elderly osprey who laid her 46th egg on Friday 13th has thrilled Scottish Wildlife Trust rangers again by laying her 47th.

Staff at the Loch of Lowes reserve, in Perthshire, had anticipated that the female would be laying more eggs in the coming days.

The fate of the osprey had been in doubt last month after she disappeared.

Her return initially caused confusion among rangers who originally thought the egg had been laid by a new female.

Staff at Loch of Lowes had feared the mum-to-be, who has been at the site since 1991, had come to the end of her natural life span.

To compensate for the supposed loss, a new female osprey had been seen with a male at the reserve and hopes were high they would be producing young.

But the re-emergence of the elderly female coincided with the arrival of the osprey egg on Friday, 13 April.

'Nest cam'

Bird lovers will be able to watch the progress of the eggs via an SWT webcam.

Ranger Andrea Williams said: "This year we have a more advanced nest cam in place which allowed us to see the actual egg being laid - the first time we have seen this so clearly."

To date the female osprey at the reserve has produced an impressive 46 eggs - making a significant contribution to osprey conservation.

Ospreys are afforded the highest degree of legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

It is an offence to intentionally take, injure or kill an osprey or to take, damage or destroy its nest, eggs or young.

It is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb the birds close to their nest during the breeding season.

Breaking the law can lead to fines up to £5,000 per offence and/or a prison sentence of up to six months.