FEMALE OSPREY LAYS EGGS AT NEW NEST IN THE LAKE DISTRICT

The Lake District Osprey Project team believe that Lakeland’s famous ospreys are now looking after up to 3 eggs on their new nest on the east side of Bassenthwaite Lake.

The female osprey is now spending most of her time on the nest, behaviour that suggests she is incubating eggs.

It is thought that the first egg was laid around the 26^th or 27^th of April, just a few days after the birds had moved to the new site. Ospreys normally lay three eggs and by this point it is likely that there is a full clutch.

Incubation is carried out mainly by the female and takes between 34-40 days, so the eggs should hatch in early June.

Peter Barron of the Lake District Osprey Project said: "We’re delighted that the ospreys have settled into their new nest so quickly. We’re now hoping that the eggs hatch successfully."

A devoted group of staff and volunteers from the Lake District Osprey Project have begun a 24-hour-surveillance operation from secret locations near the nest. Their job is to safeguard the birds from egg thieves and prevent disturbance to the rare birds.

The Lake District Osprey Project team has also moved quickly over the last week to provide new opportunities for everyone to follow the osprey story after the birds move to the new nest.

The existing viewpoint at Dodd Wood remains open, with great opportunities to watch the ospreys fishing in the Lake, as well as to see red squirrels and watch woodland birds.

A new viewpoint has also been set up about half a mile further on up the hill. Visitors are advised to go to the original viewpoint first where staff from the Lake District Osprey Project can provide directions to the new site.

Peter Barron said: "The move to the new nest has given a fresh twist to the osprey story and hundreds of people have turned up over the Bank Holiday weekend alone to see the birds.

"The new viewpoint is only 400 metres away from the nest, which means you get really good views of the birds as they fly in and out. There are also impressive views across to Derwent Water and the Helvellyn range, so it’s well worth the extra walk."

Osprey project staff set up telescopes for visitors to watch the action between 10am and 5pm daily at the lower viewpoint and between 10am and 4.30pm at the upper viewpoint.

The Lake District Osprey Project team also hope to install a new camera pointing at the nest fairly soon, to send pictures to the giant videowall at Whinlatter Visitor Centre near Braithwaite.

Until then visitors will be able to see archive film of the birds before they left the old nest and find out more information about them in the osprey exhibition. Volunteers are also on hand to answer questions about the birds.

Since ospreys first nested in 2001, more than half a million visitors have watched the birds nesting and rearing young from the viewpoints provided by the Lake District Osprey Project.

It is now easier than ever before to visit Dodd Wood and Whinlatter thanks to a new Osprey Bus. The liveried bus service named after the spectacular birds of prey operates around Bassenthwaite Lake at weekends, Bank Holidays and school holidays.

The new service has got off to a flying start since it was launched in April with many visitors choosing to leave their cars behind to travel on the bus to visit Osprey Country.

For the latest updates on the ospreys and information on how to see the birds visit www.ospreywatch.co.uk. Once the new camera has been set up it will also be possible to see the pictures on the website and at www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria.

www.forestry.gov.uk

www.rspb.org.uk

www.lake-district.gov.uk