BASSENTHWAITE has welcomed the arrival of three osprey chicks.

The trio hatched between May 30 and June 3 and bird-lovers at the Whinlatter Visitor Centre have had the opportunity to watch them via live nest cam images.

Pete Barron, of the Lake District Osprey Project (LDOP), said: “The 14th year of successful hatching is obviously brilliant for the ospreys, but it is also a fabulous reward for our dedicated staff and volunteers, who have spent thousands of hours working hard to protect these fantastic birds.

“Since the LDOP began in 2001, the ospreys have nested successfully at Bassenthwaite every year, raising 29 chicks - some of which are now colonising other areas including Cumbria, which is a success story in itself.”

The new arrivals are the first full clutch of three chicks for ringed female KL and the unringed male.

Last year, KL was a first time breeder and successfully raised two chicks with an unringed male, believed to be the same male as this year.

For more information visit www.ospreywatch.co.uk or www.facebook.com/ospreywatch