Loch Garten's new arrivals: All three osprey eggs hatch

May 2010: Loch Garten‘s most famous feathered family is welcoming the arrival of its newest additions. At about 20 to midnight last Friday, the first of the chicks arrived, followed by another on Sunday and the final egg hatching at 4.30am on Wednesday.

The Loch Garten nest earlier in the year

Speaking after the arrival of the first chick, David Anderson, RSPB Scotland's Osprey Information Officer at Loch Garten said; "Breeding season is always an exciting time and EJ and Odin are something of a celebrity couple here now. Both staff and visitors are thrilled to see these amazing birds rear their young just a short distance from the Osprey Centre's doorstep.

"The hope now is that this time next week EJ and Odin will have three healthy chicks. As the male, Odin will be responsible for providing for his young family. He'll need to bring back around five fish a day to ensure their survival. But if last year is anything to go by we're sure Odin will rise to the challenge, and if not he'll have EJ to answer to!"

And a week on and Odin seems to have more than lived up to his reputation as a fine provider. RSPB spokeswoman Louise Smith said: ‘ The family seem very happy. Odin is bringing plenty of food - they have all been very well fed. The future for the three chicks looks very promising.'

EJ, the female osprey, is now enjoying her eighth year at the Cairngorms having returned to the nesting site at the end of March. Just under a week later, she was joined by her toy-boy partner of last year Odin. Having prepared the nest and settled in to life in their summer home, the couple went on to produce a clutch of eggs, the first arriving on the 15th of April.

The Osprey Centre is open to visitors daily 10am to 6pm until early September. The nest can already be viewed on-line at www.rspb.org.uk/lochgartenlive