New osprey couple are ruling the roost at nature reserve

TOP DUO ARE RUFFLING FEATHERS

- ALASTAIR MCNEILL

Four pairing combinations of ospreys have been spotted on the nest at a Perthshire nature reserve in recent weeks.

But it appears that a new osprey couple are now ruling the Loch of the Lowes nature reserve roost.

It follows the return of a female osprey, known as NC0, in mid March this year for the sixth successive breeding season.

Her long-term partner LM12 sadly died of natural causes last year.

The pair had previously fledged seven chicks together.

However, as well as NC0, other ospreys have now appeared at the SWT reserve nest near Dunkeld with no fewer than four combinations of osprey pairings observed.