Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 17 July 2008

THESE are the Bassenthwaite osprey chicks who have delighted bird watchers who have been keeping their nest under 24 hour watch.

It was revealed last week that three chicks were in the nest, not just two as had been expected.

It follows the ospreys unexpected move this year to a new breeding site.

Osprey watchers thought they had glimpsed at least two osprey chicks but all was revealed when a ‘health check' of the chicks took place, and experts from the Lake District Osprey Project discovered three chicks.

The chicks had been carefully lowered from their treetop nest near Bassenthwaite Lake, so that experts could check on their progress.

The young ospreys are growing rapidly on a diet of fresh fish brought in by the parents.

The eldest of the three chicks is 48 days old and the youngest is 44 days old.

They are expected to take their first flight soon.

As part of a national monitoring programme to learn more about ospreys, the chicks have been 'ringed' and will be monitored on their migration between Cumbria and wintering quarters in Africa.

The Bassenthwaite ospreys re-colonised England naturally in 2001 as part of a population expansion from Scotland.

It was the first time that ospreys had nested in the Lake District for at least 150 years.

A new female osprey arrived last year and this is her second brood of three chicks to be hatched in the Lakes.

Since the birds returned in April tens of thousands of visitors have been to the public viewpoints at Dodd Wood near Keswick and the Whinlatter Visitor Centre.