Osprey couple return to their nest for a third year in a row

Aran and Elen are back in their nest in North Wales having migrated over 3,000 miles

Are you ready for a beautiful but rocky love story?

This pair of ospreys, named Aran and Elen, have been reunited for a third year in a row after returning to Porthmadog in Gwynedd, North Wales.

But it hasn't been plain sailing...

The birds of prey are thought to have migrated to West Africa for the colder winter months and have now returned to their newly restored nest, where conservationists are hoping they will create more new life.

Ospreys are known to mate for life, and this couple raised two chicks in their first year together and three more last year.

How did Aran and Elen meet?

Ospreys, like this one pictured in Scotland, are known to mate for life

Aran, the male osprey, has been a resident in the Glaslyn Valley for over 11 years.

He was previously partnered with another female called Mrs G.

She was one of the UK's most successful breeding female ospreys but is thought to have died in 2023.

Specialists observing Aran via a webcam above the nest said he was really sad to not see his long-term partner return from migration.

He was said to have spent many months alone on their nest, but he was then introduced to Elen, a new female.

She took over as the dominant female in the area, and it wasn't long before Aran and Elen became parents.

Three years later, they are still going strong and recently returned from migration separately, three weeks apart.

However, it was a rocky reunion.

Ospreys are known for being excellent at fishing

Elen arrived back at the nest first (in March), and Aran returned three weeks later to find another male osprey attempting to charm Elen in his absence.

Aran then started bringing Elen lots of fish to eat in order to win back his companion and stake his claim on the nest.

It worked, and Aran and Elen have been happily nesting ever since.

Osprey numbers are on the rise after successful breeding programmes across the UK - mostly in Scotland.

According to the Dyfi Osprey Project, there are thought to be around 300 pairs of ospreys in the UK.