Osprey Lady returns to Africa

Published on 08/08/2012 02:06

A BIRD believed to be Britain’s oldest breeding osprey appears to have left Scotland to return to Africa for the winter.

Affectionately known as “Lady”, she was last seen at Loch of the Lowes wildlife reserve near Dunkeld, Perthshire, on Friday.

Lady has returned to the site every year for the past 22 years and this year astounded wildlife enthusiasts by giving birth to a male chick, named Blue 44, despite her advancing years. The male osprey believed to be the chick’s father – nicknamed “Laddie” – remains at the reserve.

In 2010, Lady appeared to be close to death after she fell ill and stopped eating. But thousands of webcam supporters around the globe watched her make a remarkable recovery.

Staff had feared she would never return to Perthshire, but she was positively identified after appearing at the end of March this year.