The oldest chick of a brood of three males at nest A18 on Rothiemurchus Estate, near Aviemore, Highland. Ringed on 10th August 2009, one of the latest broods I have ever ringed. Ringed BTO ring 1410637 and blue/white AE on left leg. Radio transmitter 84131. Wing length: 358 mm. Tail: 162 mm. The oldest of the three young all of which were in great condition.

The female has nested at this nest since 2001 and has regularly reared 2 or 3 early young. Her normal mate was green SM, and in 2008 Simon King featured them in the BBC Programme Springwatch. This spring the old male SM failed to return and his mate waited until May for a new male to arrive and take his place – the reason for the late brood.

This young osprey is called Rothiemurchus after the land on which he was hatched; the Grants of Rothiemurchus are and have been very involved in the conservation of ospreys. The ancestors of the present owner, John Grant, did their utmost to protect the ospreys of Loch an Eilein castle in the 19th century, and nowadays the estate continues that tradition, and in addition the Rothiemurchus Fishery provides excellent fishing opportunities for ospreys breeding in Badeonoch and Strathspey, and a great experience for osprey photographers.