Moment first osprey of 2025 lands in Rutland

Ospreys returned to Rutland Water on Thursday after a winter in warmer climes.

Rutland Osprey Project was celebrating after the first spring sighting of the birds of prey was made at its Manton Bay nest.

British ospreys typically spend the colder months in West African countries such as Senegal and The Gambia before returning to the UK in spring.

But webcam watchers were quick to notice that the visitor was not the nest's regular resident - osprey Maya - but another female.

Ospreys spend the winter in west Africa before migrating back to the UK in spring

A spokesperson for the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, which runs the Rutland Osprey Project, said: "This is not the first time she has landed on this nest before any others.

"In 2023 she arrived before Maya, only to be kicked off the nest when Maya returned - we will have to wait and see what happens this year."

Maya has nested at the Manton Bay location since 2015 with a male osprey.

The pair had raised 20 chicks in that time, said the trust.

Volunteers will now begin monitoring the birds, which can be seen in person by visitors to Rutland Water, for the 2025 breeding season.