Osprey egg laid at Welsh reserve

A shot from the osprey cam shows a bird on the nest

The first egg of the season has been laid by a pair of ospreys who have returned to a reserve in Gwynedd.

It is the sixth season for the pair to produce eggs at Glaslyn near Porthmadog which is protected by the Royal Sociey for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Geraint Williams, project officer for RSPB Cymru, said he hoped it was the beginning of another productive season as three eggs were hatched last year.

A viewing scheme is open to the public every day from 1000 to 1800 BST.

"It certainly is exiting for the visitors to the site, as well as staff and volunteers, to witness such a wonderful spectacle," said Mr Williams.

Normally the female osprey will lay every other day, with a total of three eggs expected during the last few days, he added.

Each egg will be incubated for around 37 days, which means hatching should occur in mid-May, he said.

Readers are able to view the nest on the BBC Wales osprey webcam