Birdwatchers at a Perthshire wildlife reserve are mounting a vigil in the hope of spotting their most famous visitor.
One year ago on Wednesday, the bird thought to be oldest breeding female of its kind recorded in the UK returned for the 20th year to the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s (SWT) Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve.
Although the bird, known as Lady, has yet to be sighted in Perthshire, staff from Loch of the Lowes are hopeful she may return any day now.
“This individual female bird is incredibly old and her return dates have varied in recent years,” said Robert Potter, the SWT’s north-east reserve manager.
“Last year, she arrived at the nesting site on March 23. In 2009, she arrived on March 20 and in 2008, she was with us on March 30. So, we remain hopeful that we could see her any day now.
“However, we must also prepare ourselves for the fact that she might not return. She is the oldest known breeding osprey in the UK, and last year we watched as she fought for survival while plagued with an illness that experts predicted she was unlikely to recover from.
“Amazingly, she did defy the odds and recover and she left to migrate to Africa in August, but since then her fate is unknown.”
Lady is estimated to be 24 or 25 years old, and has produced and successfully fledged 46 chicks.Enthusiasts can follow the SWT’s Loch of the Lowes blog and watch the wildlife cameras at www.swt.org.uk.