STAFF at the Dyfi Osprey Project have heralded the return of ospreys for summer.

At 10.20am on Saturday, 1 April, volunteers in the centre’s 360 observatory, which sits in the Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve on the A487 between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth, started shouting “Osprey, osprey” through the two-way radios.

These cries soon turned to “Glesni, Glesni” as the volunteers realised the returning osprey was in fact the matriarch.

But it seemed Glesni was not the first to return.

Emyr Evans, Dyfi Osprey Project manager, said: “Glesni was soon in nest-furbishment mode, bringing back clumps of sward and grass, then re-arranging some of the sticks Blue 24 had meticulously placed in the nest for her during the previous week.”

A cousin of Glesni, Blue 24 is a female osprey, born in 2010, who is known by staff and visitors alike as both the firm favourite, and the unconfirmed underdog.

Blue 24 and Glesni are known to have an active dislike for each other, and the pecking order was soon re-established on both birds’ return.

Mr Evans added: “It wasn’t long before both cousins were reunited. Blue 24 made two sweeps over the nest before giving up — these girls have history, there was no need for a protracted fight.

“Blue 24 was testing the water, having a quick look. Her cousin was in great condition following her long journey home. Game over.”

And as if the excitement of both female birds returning was not enough, the patriarch, Monty, was soon on the scene.

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