Phone lines have not stopped ringing at a Perthshire nature reserve as word has spread over the possible arrival of a resident osprey.
An osprey, which is thought to be a male, landed on the nesting site on Friday afternoon at the Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre at Dunkeld.
From its size, colouring and frame, it is believed to be a male osprey possibly the same that has bred at the site in recent years.
There have been no signs as yet of the resident female, affectionately known as ‘Lady.’
However, staff at the nature centre are awaiting her possible return. Now aged 29, she is believed to be the UK’s oldest breeding osprey.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Perthshire ranger, Emma Rawling, said: “As soon as this osprey was spotted, the phones at the Scottish Wildlife Trust Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre have not stopped ringing.
“Many have been asking if this is the return of our resident female, but all indications suggest that this is a male.
“The Scottish Wildlife Trust would suggest that people keep an eye on our webcam because her return could be imminent,” she said.
“The osprey that was spotted may be the breeding male from previous years.”
She continued: “The behaviour he presented is certainly consistent with a resident bird, having arrived ‘home’ and checked in at the nest, going to get something to eat after a long journey.”