The first osprey has returned to Rutland Water for the summer after spending the winter in West Africa.
Having completed the 3,000-mile return journey, the 14-year-old bird, nicknamed Mr Rutland, dropped in to the same nest he used last year on Sunday afternoon.
He has raised 23 chicks with three different females since his first clutch in 2001.
His return this year comes just a day later than last year, and on exactly the same date as his return in 2009.
Tim Mackrill, Osprey project officer at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, said he hoped Mr Rutland's mate would arrive to join him in the next few days.
He said: "It's looking likely more birds will return in the coming few days.
"Calm, settled weather in southern Europe will encourage the birds to make the final step back to places like Rutland Water, where many will raise a family.
"Mr Rutland showed no signs of fatigue after his long migration, and set about building up the nest, helping himself to some ash branches we had pruned the morning before.
"The local crows gave him a bit of hassle to welcome him home, but that didn't last long."
The project, which is a partnership between the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and Anglian Water, released 64 Scottish ospreys at Rutland Water between 1996 and 2001.
The first birds were bred at Rutland in 2001 – including Mr Rutland – marking the return of a species that had been missing from central England for over 150 years. The visitor centre at Lyndon on the south shore of Rutland Water will now be open every day from 9am to 5pm for the summer.
For live pictures of the nests visit the project's website a:
www.ospreys.org.uk
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