It was more like an extended scene from 'Top Gun' a few days ago above the Loch, when a pair of intruding osprey drifted into the Lowes breeding pair's territory!

Things appeared fairly relaxed for the first hour, with the unringed male and female not really bothering NC0 who was brooding her two chicks. However, with LM12 away fishing, the larger female became bolder and at midday began a series of determined and sustained attacks on the nest.

This is quite common when ospreys without territory are trying to seize a breeding site of their own. It may be that this pair are returning youngsters, trying to test the strength and bond of more established pairs to find their own nesting site.

NC0 did a fantastic job of defending the nest and her chicks, showing her experience and matching the female in the air with strength and speed. After 20 minutes or so LM12 returned from the Tay with a large brown trout. He quickly took the meal to safety, closely watching the proceedings nearby and like the other much smaller male, stayed out of the way of the melee.

After another half hour the female finally gave up and drifted off, allowing calm to return to the nest once again and the chicks to enjoy a hearty feed.

Watch our live osprey webcam at Loch of the Lowes reserve to follow another exciting season. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/...