Osprey returns to man-made nest at Powys nature reserve

The female osprey was on the same nest last year

A female osprey has returned to a man-made nest in Powys raising hopes it will breed this year.

The rare bird has returned from Africa and settled on the 50ft (15.2m) nest at Cors Dyfi reserve near Machynlleth.

Last year the nest was home to only the second known nesting pair in Wales, but the male arrived too late in the season to breed with the female.

The female was seen eating fish on the nest over the weekend and displaying and calling to a male bird.

The Cors Dyfi reserve attracted 31,000 visitors last year, and 4,000 have already visited in the two weeks it has been open to the public this year.

We're hopeful... they will start mating soon Emyr Evans, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust's Dyfi Osprey Project

Emyr Evans, of Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust's Dyfi Osprey Project, said the female bird had returned.

'Eating fish'

"There are several ways of recognising individual birds, and I know this is the same one," said Mr Evans.

"The plumage patterns on the body are a good sign, but the pattern on the head is individual to each bird.

"The female has been making the nest over the weekend and eating fish on the nest.

"A male bird was seen in the area and they were displaying and calling to each other."

Mr Evans said the male bird arrived too late for the pairing to produce chicks last year.

"We're hopeful things will be different this year and they will start mating soon," he added.