First osprey returns to its nesting site in Mid Wales

Dai Dot landed at the nesting site near Machynlleth, which is looked after by the Dyfi Osprey Project, marking the start of this year's nesting season.

The male bird, who usually spends his summers in Rutland, 180 miles away, stopped off at the nest last year as well, pairing up with Blue 24 before the pair were chased off by resident breeding pair Monty and Glesni.

He chose yesterday to return, delighting volunteers who help ensure the birds thrive in our region.

Emyr Evans, of the Dyfi Osprey Project, said: "He arrived at 7.49am on yesterday, landing on the Dyfi nest. The bird isn't Monty or Glesni though, but our old friend Dai Dot.

"Dai bred for the first time last year at a nest in Mid Wales and fathered two chicks."

Emyr said the warmer weather is likely to mean the skies over the reserve will become busier in the coming days.

He said another unringed male osprey was spotted at the weekend, hunting over shallow pools in the area.

He added: "That bird was not Monty, nor Dai Dot or the male we have seen before from Glaslyn. Whoever he was, he's continued his journey now."

Last year Monty returned on April 8 with Glesni following a day later. The pair, who are regular stars on BBC's Springwatch, raised two chicks, Gwynant and Deri, before leaving the nest in September for their annual 3,000-mile migration.

Bird watchers at the Dyfi Osprey Project are now expecting them to return any day.

Mr Evans said: "Poor weather in Africa, then Spain, and now France has had a knock-on effect on migrating ospreys, and other birds, and has held them up. For example, a 10-year-old Rutland female osprey is a week behind where she was last year, but she is alive and well in central France. Monty and Glesni are not usually here early and may have missed all this bad weather.

"After a barren week of arrivals due to poor weather in Europe, the migration window is well and truly open again. We will see a lot more ospreys arriving home over this Easter week.

"We expect to see Monty and Glesni, and Blue 24, from today onwards."

Ospreys always come back to the same nests in mid-March to April.

Bird watchers can keep up with the latest comings and goings through a 22-hour video streaming system which will give live coverage until October.

There is also a live online feed to the nest.