Tam's Tall Tales

- The Passing of a Lady


Osprey at Loch of the Lowes, graphic © Hugh Venables via Wikimedia Commons



The Passing of a Lady
Lady, the oldest breeding osprey ever recorded in the UK, is likely to be dead, according to rangers at the reserve where she spent 24 summers.

Scotland's most famous bird of prey has failed to reappear at her nest at the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes reserve, near Dunkeld, Perthshire.

Lady, who had reared a record 50 offspring in her productive life, would now be 29 years old - about three times the average lifespan for her species.

In 24 years, the latest she returned from her annual migration to West Africa was 7 April. Trust staff have now conceded the most likely explanation is that she has died.

However, her former mate nicknamed "Laddie" has teamed up with another female and the good news is that she has laid eggs at the Loch of Lowes nesting site which is in full view of the visitor centre.

Please give me whatever feedback comes to mind via tamfromrampant@gmail.com.

Tam O'Ranter
April 2015

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