Raptors are early birds for nesting

Some early birds of prey are already nesting at sites ranging from city cathedrals to Scottish lochs, conservationists have said.

The RSPB said the early arrivals of ospreys, peregrine falcons and goshawks in their nests was "unexpected".

But with a series of "date with nature" sites that allow people to witness the lives of wildlife they would not normally see, the public are getting an early chance to follow the lives of feathered families across the UK.

In Manchester, images from a camera positioned on a skyscraper where a pair of peregrine falcons are nesting are already showing four red, speckled eggs.

EJ the osprey has been mating with her partner at Loch Garten Osprey Centre following her return to the Cairngorms for the ninth year.

Brian Reid, the "date with nature" project manager, said: "These early arrivals have been an unexpected but very welcome surprise.

"Some of these birds return to the same site year-in, year-out, so they've built up quite a fan base."

And he said: "Date with nature events are wonderful ways to introduce people to the wildlife that lives right on their doorstep, giving them intimate glimpses of something they might otherwise never have seen."