Rutland Water's most famous Osprey has returned to her Manton Bay nest.

As the Ospreys return to Rutland following their annual migration to Africa and Iberia, local birdwatchers have had their eyes to the skies on the look out for resident female, Maya.

They have, this weekend, been rewarded with a glimpse of the bird as she returns for her 14th summer at Manton Bay on Rutland Water.

Since 2010, Maya has reared a remarkable 34 chicks and been captured on the Rutland Water Osprey cams.

Tim Mackrill, a nature conservationist and consultant to the Osprey Project, Tweeted:

Three's a crowd! Great bit of action in Manton Bay @rutlandospreys this morning when Maya returned for her 14th summer at the nest. She's reared an amazing tally of 34 chicks since 2010. Suffice to say it didn't take her long to see off the imposter! pic.twitter.com/iXGEuVb5UQ

— Tim Mackrill (@timmackrill) March 19, 2023

The Rutland Osprey Project has been running since 1996, and the team are beginning to catch their first glimpse of the majestic birds as they return from their yearly migration. 

The preservation of Ospreys in the UK began much earlier though, when, in 1954, a pair of ospreys believed to be of Scandinavian origin, kick-started the slow recovery of the population of ospreys in the UK, having successfully raised chicks close to Loch Garten, Aviemore. 

Maya had to scare off other local Ospreys looking to settle in her nest. Image credit: Rutland Osprey Project.

However, it was predicted it could take over 100 years for ospreys to naturally repopulate central England.

In 1996, a translocation project began, which involved moving osprey chicks from nests in Scotland and releasing them at Rutland Water with the aim to create a self-sustaining breeding population of ospreys in central England.

Thanks to this pioneering project started by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust in partnership with Anglian Water, ospreys have made a triumphant return to England.

Now, residents can see Ospreys in Rutland from late March - a popular tourist draw to the area too.

Find out what else residents and tourists can enjoy in the local area by catching up with our article from English Tourism Week, a campaign running from 17 - 26 March.

Read more here.