Three eggs for breeding ospreys

Three eggs are now in the osprey nest

Three eggs have been laid by the only pair of ospreys which have returned to breed in Wales for a third season.

The eggs were laid over Easter at their nesting site near Pont Croesor between Tremadog and Beddgelert in north Wales.

A 24-hour scheme to ensure the nest is not disturbed in the incubation period is being mounted by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

The ospreys had a successful breeding season in 2005 when two of their three eggs hatched successfully.

"This is fantastic news, both birds are looking healthy and the male is certainly playing his part," said Emyr Evans, RSPB Cymru osprey officer.

This is a great time to visit, as there is plenty of activity in the nest. Emyr Evans, RSPB

"He provides the female with fish each day and takes turns at incubating the eggs to give her regular breaks from the nest," he added.

The birds returned to Gwynedd at the start of the month after wintering 3,500 miles away in Africa.

The viewing site at Pont Croesor is open to the public and 3000 visitors used the facility in the first two weeks alone.

Live footage from the nest is shown on screens in the visitor centre.

"This is a great time to visit, as there is plenty of activity in the nest. The live images are extremely popular allowing visitors to get close-up, intimate views of osprey behaviour," Mr Evans added.

Last year 75,000 visited the centre to see the pair successfully rear their male and female chicks.